Arches National Park, Utah
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Crystal Arch Arches National Park, Utah |
October 12, 2019
Day #2 of the Autumn Bucket List Odyssey finds me back in a favorite
park — one of my Big Four (the others are Yosemite, Glacier, and Zion).
Starting out on the main trail
Not far up the trail is a turnoff for some nearby arches. Almost as soon as I take the spur route to Pine Tree Arch, the object of my quest appears in the distance.
That does seem to be a sizable span over there
Meanwhile, I get to enjoy this one.
Pine Tree Arch
Although the official trail ends right here, it can save time and distance to continue northward through the brush and sand to regain the main trail shortly. Of course, hardly anyone does that, because hardly anyone knows.
Heading out cross-country
Presently, the longest arch outside of China comes into view on the left.
Two hikers above overlook Landscape Arch
Although one no longer can legally walk underneath the arch for safety reasons, viewing it from above looks like fun. Add another item to the Bucket List.
Getting closer
Not knowing precisely how to proceed, I plunge forward, running directly into this span:
Unnamed Arch #1
Continuing to the left, I must bypass a big rock wall.
This has to be the right way
Success!
Crystal Arch North, about 20×30 feet
Just to the right of this span is another one.
Crystal Arch South
It is easy enough to walk right through the big opening to the other side.
Nifty patterns on the wall
Crystal Arch North from the back
More interesting patterns
From here I head directly westward, knowing that the Primitive Loop Trail is nearby.
Unnamed Arch #3
Farewell
A hiker on the Primitive Loop
Rather than head directly over to that trail, I opt to shortcut southward, picking up the main trail instead.
Back at Landscape Arch — arguably the most fragile span on the planet
I could of course detour over there for some photographs; but I've been there and done that, and this mission is about new stuff, not old stuff.
Partition Arch is a double
Looking eastward
A ton of visitors use this wheelchair-friendly path; unfortunately, most of them are tourists who venture no farther than Landscape Arch itself, thereby depriving themselves of what probably would have been the most interesting route in their experiences.
Finishing up
§: Well, I found it! Score up three new arches in this park.
Now, only about 2,200 of them remain to be visited; and the day is young.
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