Seen enough Rocks Yet?

Moab. UT

March 26-28, 2015

Bird Quiz

Is this an Eastern or Western Meadowlark?

Hint:  Check the distribution maps for each species

Answer:  Western Meadowlark, the Bird of the Day

Eastern Meadowlarks, which can be found in Arizona and New Mexico, don't come into Utah (unlike snowbirds).

This week is Jeep Safari week in Moab and spring break.  Nevertheless, we naively showed up at Arches National Park on Thursday without a campsite reservation.  They sent us off to a group of BLM campsites on the road to Canyonland National Park.  Fortunately, there were plenty of empty sites at Horsethief Campsite, which suited us fine.  Also lots of fine rocks to look at, though no arches.

On Friday morning we got up early to hike in Arches National Park and beat the crowds and the heat.  They provided us with a notice that we may not get to hike to the park's most famous sight, Delicate Arch, once featured on the Utah licence plate, because of a lack of parking.  This did not faze us, as we had seen it 10 years ago and assume it has not changed much.

Instead we headed to the Devil’s Garden, rated as a difficult and primitive trail.

Entrance to the Devil’s Garden

We wanted a short hike today since Leo was to run a race on the next day.  The hike started off pretty easy, but proved to be longer and more difficult than we thought.  Perhaps we should have listened to the difficult and primitive rating!  There was a lot of scrambling up rocks.  Fortunately, traction is very good on the sandstone, despite its being called slickrock*.

 Connie hikes the slickrock

Leo checks out one of 4 arches on the hike

We did beat most of the crowds, but the last section was hot, sunny and uphill.

Mammal of the Day:  

This Chipmunk likes to hike on sliprock too

*Apparently it's called sliprock because the pioneer's horses' horseshoes made them slip on the rock.