Arches Day 3

This morning before we headed back home, we wanted to hit Delicate Arch.  So in we drove from Moab.

On the walk towards the rock face we would climb to get there, we checked out the petroglyphs, which are so mysterious and fascinating to me.

Everything was fine as we climbed, until we got to the eastern face that is still in shade much of the day, where there was still a ton of ice.  It was FRIGHTENING to watch no fewer than two people slide down the side off the trail, and see a handful of others slip on the ice and catch themselves before they went further.

Thankfully the actual bowl itself is in much more sun, and safer to walk on.  Although after watching people slip and slide on the trail, I was feeling a little shaky, and I DID NOT remember this bowl so steep, nor so huge.  Somehow I had remembered Delicate being on a flat surface.  Um, no.  So I was VERY careful with my footing heading over to the arch itself.

Jon, as always, a little more brave and fearless, chose perches further down for impressive pictures!

We both chanced a walk over to the rock underneath the arch...it looks pretty flat in the picture, but in the shady spot in front of the nearest arch bit, there is precious little footing, and it's a sheer drop down the bowl if you fall.

Jon climbed up on the rock formations nearby and got this shot, showing the valley just on the other side of the arch.  It really is delicate, all up there exposed!  If you look closely, you can see me perched on the rock just trying not to freak out at the impending walk back across the bowl rim.

The trail on the eastern side with lots of ice was just as treacherous on the way down, with a few spots that people slipped in pretty reliably.  Jon helped a couple people feel more secure, and it was honestly a little scary.  Even if you didn't slide down forever, if you hit the ground hard enough, a broken bone would be bad news up there!!

While we were heading back down we saw an elderly couple hiking up, and I kid you not, the man was in a full suit, looking dapper as can be, complete with a jaunty little hat, dress shoes, and a stylish cane.  His wife was in a skirt and blouse with pretty shoes.  It was crazy, we couldn't figure out if they were just super classy old people, or this was just a tradition before church, or what!

We headed home this afternoon, after this lovely weekend together!