Tyler
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- Joined
- Jan 18, 2012
- Messages
- 464
It was time to get away from the daily hustle and head down to Moab where it was 5-10 degrees warmer and a whole lot sunnier. Our plan was to head down early Saturday morning but I got really sick the day before and was hoping I'd sleep it off, but to my dismay, I was not able to get up early Saturday, so we didn't leave our house until 10am. Bill and April had left earlier, but due to some bad luck with Bill's sister's truck (flat tire) we only ended up an hour behind them.
This would be our first long trip with our newborn Waylon (4 months) and his first hikes. The drive down was not too bad. We had to stop a few times for some feedings, but for the most part he was a pretty good traveler.
On our way down we headed immediately to Canyonlands NP at Island in the Sky and drove to the trailhead for the somewhat secretive "False Kiva" trail. Bill gave me great directions over the phone on how to find it and said they would be hanging out there. We immediately headed out on the trail.
We ran into Bill and April as we came close to the approach. They were going to move on and see Upheaval dome and meet us at Mesa Arch while we checked out False Kiva.
Sunburst along the trail
Caiden taking a mini-break
False Kiva
At False Kiva there was an Englishman hanging out there waiting for the perfect picture. He said he had been there 39 times trying to find the right one. He was an awesome guy and I REALLY wished I had gotten his name/photo site. He spends about 6 months at a time in the states taking pictures, then working the other 6 months on a yatch. After hanging out about 20 minutes or so, we headed back to meet up with everyone else.
Alene and Waylon
Me and Caiden
Selfie along the trail
After False Kiva we drove over to Mesa Arch. It was my first time there and it made me VERY nervous with the young kids around. I could not believe how much of a sheer drop it was below the arch. The Arch itself was amazing how it shot right out of the cliff.
Picture of the canyon below from on top of Mesa Arch
After that we booked it over to the Green River viewpoint to catch some sunset. I loved seeing the white rim trail below and thought about how fun it would be to bike that someday (a guy can dream)
Sunset
Sunset with a different lens
After that it got really dark and we headed to our Hotel in Moab for the night.
The next morning Bill, Mark (along with his girlfriend Britnee), and I got up really early and drove back to Island in the Sky to catch the sunrise at Mesa Arch. It was a dud, but we had a lot of fun. Our Englishman friend was sleeping at the trailhead and hiked along with us to set up for pictures. We had a good time just chatting.
Waiting for sunrise
Non-sunrise. View was still spectacular as usual
We then headed back to the hotel to get the rest of our families and headed over to Arches. Weather was looking a bit sketchy, so we headed over to Devils Garden hoping the area would shield us a bit from the wind.
Landscape Arch
Hanging out at Navajo Arch for a break
Navajo Arch
I carried li'l Waylon back to the car while he slept
Little sleeper
After grabbing some lunch, we dropped Alene and April off in the campground and let them do the short hike through broken arch over to Sand Dune arch to meet us with the kids. We let the kids hang out and play, but it became very windy, so we headed back to the cars to wait.
Waylon
Kids
After the mom's arrived it started to pour rain, so we headed back to the hotel for a bit. Once it let up Bill, his sister Whitney, and I headed back up to Arches looking for a sunset. It lasted all of about 15 seconds. I can't really decide which picture I liked best, so I'm posting two of each.
View from the Windows
View from the Windows with Turret Arch
We headed back to the hotel, got cleaned up and our family headed to the Moab Brewery. I had a mountain full of nachos that I barely made a dent in and the family returned stuffed.
The next morning we headed up the Potash road over to the Corona Arch trailhead to do that hike.
Heading up the trail
The view from the top of the trail before you hit the train tracks (looking back at the Colorado River)
The train track crossing
Kids on the trail
Getting closer (you can see Corona arch)
Climbing up the ladder (this was Bailey's favorite part and she demanded no help)
Bowtie arch (literally right next to Corona Arch)
Corona Arch - This arch was MASSIVE
Coming back down the trail
Mommies with the babies
Corona arch was actually a lot of fun. Very scenic and short and something I'd definitely come back to see.
It was really nice to get away and be in an environment we all love. We can't wait to do it again.
This would be our first long trip with our newborn Waylon (4 months) and his first hikes. The drive down was not too bad. We had to stop a few times for some feedings, but for the most part he was a pretty good traveler.
On our way down we headed immediately to Canyonlands NP at Island in the Sky and drove to the trailhead for the somewhat secretive "False Kiva" trail. Bill gave me great directions over the phone on how to find it and said they would be hanging out there. We immediately headed out on the trail.
We ran into Bill and April as we came close to the approach. They were going to move on and see Upheaval dome and meet us at Mesa Arch while we checked out False Kiva.
Sunburst along the trail
Caiden taking a mini-break
False Kiva
At False Kiva there was an Englishman hanging out there waiting for the perfect picture. He said he had been there 39 times trying to find the right one. He was an awesome guy and I REALLY wished I had gotten his name/photo site. He spends about 6 months at a time in the states taking pictures, then working the other 6 months on a yatch. After hanging out about 20 minutes or so, we headed back to meet up with everyone else.
Alene and Waylon
Me and Caiden
Selfie along the trail
After False Kiva we drove over to Mesa Arch. It was my first time there and it made me VERY nervous with the young kids around. I could not believe how much of a sheer drop it was below the arch. The Arch itself was amazing how it shot right out of the cliff.
Picture of the canyon below from on top of Mesa Arch
After that we booked it over to the Green River viewpoint to catch some sunset. I loved seeing the white rim trail below and thought about how fun it would be to bike that someday (a guy can dream)
Sunset
Sunset with a different lens
After that it got really dark and we headed to our Hotel in Moab for the night.
The next morning Bill, Mark (along with his girlfriend Britnee), and I got up really early and drove back to Island in the Sky to catch the sunrise at Mesa Arch. It was a dud, but we had a lot of fun. Our Englishman friend was sleeping at the trailhead and hiked along with us to set up for pictures. We had a good time just chatting.
Waiting for sunrise
Non-sunrise. View was still spectacular as usual
We then headed back to the hotel to get the rest of our families and headed over to Arches. Weather was looking a bit sketchy, so we headed over to Devils Garden hoping the area would shield us a bit from the wind.
Landscape Arch
Hanging out at Navajo Arch for a break
Navajo Arch
I carried li'l Waylon back to the car while he slept
Little sleeper
After grabbing some lunch, we dropped Alene and April off in the campground and let them do the short hike through broken arch over to Sand Dune arch to meet us with the kids. We let the kids hang out and play, but it became very windy, so we headed back to the cars to wait.
Waylon
Kids
After the mom's arrived it started to pour rain, so we headed back to the hotel for a bit. Once it let up Bill, his sister Whitney, and I headed back up to Arches looking for a sunset. It lasted all of about 15 seconds. I can't really decide which picture I liked best, so I'm posting two of each.
View from the Windows
View from the Windows with Turret Arch
We headed back to the hotel, got cleaned up and our family headed to the Moab Brewery. I had a mountain full of nachos that I barely made a dent in and the family returned stuffed.
The next morning we headed up the Potash road over to the Corona Arch trailhead to do that hike.
Heading up the trail
The view from the top of the trail before you hit the train tracks (looking back at the Colorado River)
The train track crossing
Kids on the trail
Getting closer (you can see Corona arch)
Climbing up the ladder (this was Bailey's favorite part and she demanded no help)
Bowtie arch (literally right next to Corona Arch)
Corona Arch - This arch was MASSIVE
Coming back down the trail
Mommies with the babies
Corona arch was actually a lot of fun. Very scenic and short and something I'd definitely come back to see.
It was really nice to get away and be in an environment we all love. We can't wait to do it again.
