Arches turned out to be a bit of a mixed bag.  It was very crowded.  It was like Yellowstone on the 4th of July.  Cars everywhere.  Many of the view spots and trailheads had no place to park or even stop.  Many of the shots of arches were full of people.

The good news is, what that made me do, and others, was stop away from where everyone else was and look for my own shots.

Some areas of Arches Park is like a compact version of Monument Valley.  Monolithic rock faces, spires, and hoodoos with less open space between them.

There are over two thousand arches in the park area, the largest concentration of these type of erosion formations in the world.

 

Most are never seen by the people who visit the park each day and some are only rarely seen by the hikers that enjoy the remote treks.  Although I was off on my own when I took these shots, this isn’t really an example of that.  There was plenty of evidence that others had wandered off like me before.

The Park Service approach is to do things that minimize human impact in the park.  So they do discourage people from just going wherever they want.  But when it’s crowded, …………

Here’s a perfect example of the wisdom of the Park Service philosophy.  You probably have gotten the idea that I like old wood as picture subjects.  These ghost trees, (my name) are extremely fragile.  I would liken it to how fragile some coral is.  I walked up to this tree with the intent of shooting through it.  I accidentally snapped off a twig with a touch so light I didn’t even feel it.  I just heard it snap and then fall to the ground.  I had a momentary feeling of being where I didn’t belong.  I now give them more “room” or if I approach them I do it with great care.

Remember my whining at the beginning of this post?  Look closely, can you see all of those people up by the arch.  I felt no incentive to join them.

 

 

 

This turned out to be my favorite spot of the day.

 

 

 

Tight quarters.  Remember the story of the guy who had to cut off his trapped arm?  When I saw those rocks wedged in there I couldn’t help but think of him.

 

 

When I return to this area on future trips, I will visit Arches National Park again.  But I will do it at the crack of dawn for the best light and thinner crowds.

Every day my lungs are taking the hiking better.  I am well and hope you all are too.