An Old Man's Ramblings

Last day at Arches National Park

2006-10-05T19:16:00.000-05:00

This was getaway day,,,and again it rained. Rain was the last thing I expected to be a problem in the Utah desert, but it rained two of the four days here. So, we again took in what we could, as we could. Just a few photos:

This is "Delicate Arch". There is a trail right to it, but the map rates the trail as "difficult and strenuous". The trail is also nearly 2 miles long and includes 200 yards along a precipice. This photo was taken from a lower viewpoint.

This is "Turret Arch". This arch is visible from the road from quite a distance. The trail up to it is rated as "easy".

This is "Windows Arch" from the back side. There is an easy trail to the front, and a primitive trail looping around to the back. There are a couple difficult places in the primitive trail. We were almost to the end when it started to rain again.

"Double Arch". Another easy trail.

"Pothole Arch". This arch is viewed from a turnout from the main road, no trail up to it. Park literature indicates that the arches start as small pools of water which eventually eat a small hole through the rock, and then the water running out the hole eventually forms the arch. So, this is a baby arch.

I noticed this arch high up on the face of the cliff. None of the maps gave it a name, so I guess I'll call it "Wesley's Arch". Actually, there are nearly 2000 cataloged arches in the park, so I would assume this has its own name. Oh, there is no trail to this arch either.

So ends my tour of Arches National Park. I would rate it as "must see". There's something for everyone: easy hiking trails, more strenuos ones, four wheel drive trails, camping,,,just about anything imaginable. There are three trails which should take about 3-5 hours each. The difficult trails have sections of "slickrock" and steep climbs. Probably one day for the remaining trails, and one should have a good feeling for having seen the park.

A day for hiking

2006-10-04T22:25:00.000-05:00

Today, we decided to hike at Arches National Park. We drove as far into the park as we could, to where a trail leads to several arches. Actually, hiking is the only way to see any of these arches. We didn't make it all the way in. Here are samples of what we did see:

These arches are named (from left to right): Tunnel Arch (actually there are two arches in the photo, the larger one is Tunnel Arch and I never caught a name for the smaller one), Pine Tree Arch, Partition Arch, and Wall Arch. The trail passes very close to Pine Tree Arch and Wall Arch, so it's difficult to get good photos of these two arches.

These photos are both of Landscape Arch. This arch reportedly measures 306 feet between the bases (the largest such measurement within Arches National Park). I couldn't decide which photo to post, so here's both.

This is the spot on the trail where we decided not to continue. Anyone for walking up a sliding board? My guess is that the incline would be about 45 degrees.

We then went driving to some of the other arches. They all have trails to them, but we were able to hike all of them.

The first two are of Skyline Arch. We had driven a trail across the "valley" and took the first one from about 2 miles away. The third and fourth are of Sand Dune Arch and Broken Arch. I don't know why the name "Broken Arch".

And one final photo for my son Jonathan. My first glimpse of this formation made me wonder if these guys couldn't be characters in the original Star Trek series. We believe that the real name for the formation is "The Three Gossips".

It rained......

2006-10-03T23:17:00.000-05:00

When we got up this morning, it was raining. We went to Arches National Park anyway,,,it rained. We climbed up a path to one of the arches, and got soaked. So we spent the rest of the morning driving around the park wet. Then we went into Moab to buy sweatshirts. I found one with a map of the Colorado River north of Moab along Utah 128 with Hittle Bottom marked, so I bought it. Then it stopped raining and turned sunny, too late to go back to Arches, so we drove up 128 and spent the rest of the afternoon there.

So here are some of the photos I took in the park:

And here are some Hittle Bottom photos:

This is the sign out on Utah 128

This is what remains of the "homestead". The foundation would measure about ten feet by sixteen feet. It's obviously full of muddy water in this photo, and I wonder what kept it from flooding when people were trying to live there.

This is a gravesite. The sign here indicates that the person buried is Tom Kitsen's mother, but there are other accounts as well. However, all accounts agree that the person was female, and that she was of the Kitsen family.

The remaining photos are all taken from Hittle Bottom. I wanted to try giving an idea of how gorgeous the setting for the homestead, regardless of how small and possibly primitive the accomodations:

And on to Moab, Utah

2006-10-02T21:54:00.000-05:00

After eating breakfast, we left Fort Collins and headed to Moab. My brother, Joe, had told me that I-70 west of Denver was fantastic,,,what an understatement! I had real trouble deciding which pictures to post (I shot nearly 75 today). Here's what I came up with:

These photos were taken at various spots along I-70.

The first three of these were taken from rest areas within Glenwood Canyon. I was hoping to find a parking place so that I could photograph the Colorado River between the cliffs on each side of the canyon, but it never happened.

The fourth picture is from another lookout. The scenery has really changed at this point.

These photos were taken in the canyon along Utah 128 between I-70 and Moab. This is one of the nicest canyons I've ever been through.

And finally proof that I have in fact reached Hittle Bottom. But it was getting late, so we decided to go on into Moab and set our room for the night. So, pictures from Hittle Bottom are to come another time.

I thought we going to Arches???

2006-10-01T21:40:00.000-05:00

OK, so this isn't Arches. After going to church this morning, we went up to Rocky Mountain National Park. The drive to the park alone is worth the time. US highway 34 winds its way through the canyon formed by the Big Thompson River. Sorry, no pictures, you'll have to drive it yourself.

US 34 then winds its way through the national park. Here are some photos taken from various spots along the way:

Rocky Mountain National Park has lots of elk. I grew tired of waiting for this one to stand up.

Further down US 34, looking back at where we'd been.

And another scenic lookout...I gave up waiting for the people to move

Above the tree line now

Still above the trees...What would the mountains be without snow

On the road again...

2006-09-30T18:47:00.000-05:00

So we're again in Colorado. Actually we got here yesterday, but between late flights and letting my driver's license expire, it was too late to do any serious picture taking. So we settled in at my son's house and had a nice visit (and a great dinner, super ribs, mashed potatoes, etc). After a late trip to Walmart for ice cream, we played "Phase 10" till 1 in the morning (All three of them whomped me pretty good).

Today, we had lunch at the Greekfest held at the Fort Collins Old Village Square, and made the trip out to Horsetooth Resevoir. The road over the dam was finished and open, so we got views that we hadn't seen before. So, for what they're worth:

Horsetooth Resevoir from a turnoff on the newly opened road on the East side of the Resevoir

Another view from the same turnoff, but showing more detail of the "shoreline".

Moving South, from another turnoff. The "flat spot" near the center of the picture is the general area from where the first two photos were taken.

This is Dixon Resevoir. This is a much smaller resevoir, but nonetheless pretty in its own right.

This is the back of the Colorado State University football stadium taken from Dixon Resevoir.

Planning trip to Colorado and Utah

2006-09-28T14:24:00.000-05:00

My wife, Cindy, and I are leaving on vaction tomorrow. Our plans include Denver and Fort Collins in Colorado, Arches National Park and the general Moab area in Utah, and then return through Fort Collins. We will spend two weekends in Fort Collins, and the week between will be spent traveling to, from, and touring Arches National Park. Our son lives in Fort Collins, so the Fort Collins time will be spent visiting him and his wonderful wife.

We have never been to Arches National Park. The park is featured in several websites, and the Travel channel has aired several TV shows with footage of the scenery and describing activities available there. Google "Arches National Park" and follow some of the links there if you want to kill some time.

An attraction for me in the Moab area is "Hittle Bottom Campgrounds". The story I have is that a distant cousin attempted unsuccessfully to farm this area, using water from the Colorado River to irrigation. After his unsatisfactory attempt, he left the area. Besides the campground bearing his name, all that's left of his efforts are the homestead and a gravesite.

The intent of this blog was to post pictures of interest. Since this trip is yet to come, the following will serve as previews of what I hope (and not) to see:

Denver, Colorado viewed from Buffalo Bill Cody's gravesite taken on a hazy November, 2005 day.

This large sculpture "lives" in front of the Interstate 25 Colorado visitor's center at Fort Collins, Colorado. This photo was taken in 2002.

Horsetooth resevoir just west of Fort Collins. This photo was also taken in 2002.

Colorado mountain provide many "Kodak" spots. This particular view is looking west and north from Buffalo Bill Cody's gravesite west of Denver on Interstate 70. Photo was taken in 2005.

Sometimes nature finds it necessary to grab our attention. This photo was taken in November, 2005 from our motel window. We were lucky being able to find a room, and only had to wait two days for the interstate to reopen. This photo was taken in Kearney, Nebraska on return from Fort Collins.

A "newbie" making all the dumb mistakes

2006-09-25T20:46:00.000-05:00

Today I set up this "blog"...I have an amateur interest in photography, and intend to post some of my travel photos. So, I'll need to learn how to do that...Here's a first try.

Little Sable Point near Mears, Michigan

Light at the end of the pier marking the entrance from Lake Michigan to the harbor at Charlevoix, Michigan.