Moab Campout

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Dawn at our Sand Flats campsite, with a half moon over the slickrock.

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Our campsite, from a sandstone dome behind it. Out tent is the yellow one half hidden by a juniper. A-liner type campers are becoming popular with some of our group.

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Sunrise, Sand Flats

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Looking west as the sun begins to hit the Moab Rim in the distance

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Our first hike, a last minute substitute. The off-trail hike we had planned in Arches NP was not possible because the access road was flooded. So we did the popular Devil's Garden trail instead. Here the group is starting out in a dry wash through a narrow sandstone defile.

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We took the short side trail to Tunnel Arch

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And Pine Tree Arch

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Our San Juan Outdoor Club hikers at Pine Tree Arch.

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Yucca and slickrock

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Slickrock aliens?

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Back on the main trail, Landscape Arch. It's 290 feet wide, considered the fifth longest natural arch in the world. Because of rock fall from the thinnest part of the arch, one can no longer hike underneath.

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Beyond Landscape arch, the route climbs a narrow spine. It's steeper than it looks. I had forgotten just how steep; the previous time we did this hike was 2004.

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Near the top of the climb, a bit of a "pile up" as Steve gives folks a hand over the final boulder

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Looking down from the top at another group gives an impression of just how steep the final pitch is.

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Sue, standing in front of Partition Arch; Steve (red jacket) has walked to the other side. But no where to go from there!

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During a brief sleet/snow storm, we are huddled beneath Navaho Arch

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The sleet did pile up a bit

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Back on the trail, which crosses a fairly narrow and somewhat exposed fin of sandstone. Note the puddles.

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Steve scrabmling to check out the lower part of Double O Arch.

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Heading back across the sandstone fin

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Helping hands on the descent as we approach landscape arch. The hike, as most of us did it, was about 6.3 miles.

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It was still early, so several of us decided to visit Corona Arch, west of Moab. Looks like the cairn ferries have been busy here.

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First visible is Bowtie Arch

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Part of the tail includes cables, cut steps and even a ladder to assist the climb up the slickrock. Here Sue is taking advantage of the cable