Zion National Park
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Two Pines Arch Zion National Park |
March 25, 2009
Having completed an investigation of Hidden Arch less than an hour ago, I once again consult online information on how to find this destination which also is not an official route.
Scrambling up an embankment from the highway enables me to go down into a
wash and head north up the canyon. There are footprints around, but no
other markings. Detouring around cactus and other obstacles for a
quarter-mile enables me to achieve a point where my objective can be
spotted.
Cactus is the most exciting plant around
Nothing but slickrock so far
The Greenleaf Manzanita are in bloom
The arch is well up the hillside
I head pretty much directly up the slope toward the arch. This probably isn't the easiest way to go, but when climbing it really doesn't matter. Along the way I encounter some interesting stuff.
One of the easier sections
Nice colors in the conglomerate
Beavertail Prickly Pear Cactus
A few rest stops later, I am almost there. This scramble was a deceptively strenuous workout.
It's just ahead
It is easy to see how this arch got its name. The two pine sentinels
straddle the monument as if protecting it. Being this close to such a
delicate and relatively little-known formation is a special experience.
Two Pines Arch
From here I can see the highway in two different places. This means, of course, that the arch can be seen from the road as well. I'll check that out.
The view back
After munching a bit of trail mix and utilizing the camera's self-timer
for a couple of wife-pleasing self-portraits, I head back down the
hill. This time I take a roundabout path that isn't so steep. The
slickrock here is treacherous, due to all the attendant surface sand and loose
pieces. One must tread more carefully around here than I am accustomed to
worrying about. In my home-territory Sierras, the rocky traverses
are mostly on solid, non-slippery granite.
Near the trailhead
Back at the car I peer up the canyon and, surely enough, the arch is in plain view. One needs only to know where to look.
The arch is indeed visible from the road
Telephoto view
§: This hike was fun, although I feel more worn out than expected
for a jaunt that took barely more than an hour.
| Scenery |  |
| Difficulty |  |
| Personality |  |
| Adventure | |
| Solitude |  |
