4/4/18 - Arches NP - exploring the top half of the NP. The day started off sunny and in the high 60's with afternoon clouds. The first hike of the day was to Devils Garden. A nice 1.6 mile hike.

Landscape Arch

                Next up was a three arch hike totaling 2+ miles meeting Alan at the end of the loop trail.

 Sand Dune Arch was a very cool climb into a narrow canyon filled with very fine sand. The kids (lots of them) in the canyon were having a field day at this spot.

                                                 Wendy thought she was at the beach.

              Sand Arch. It is interesting that this arch was formed inside a very protected canyon.

Next up was Broken Arch on our hike.

It was a bit of a climb to the base of the arch.

                                           There is a definite crack at the top of the arch.

                                             In fact Wendy had to try and hold up the arch.

Just after Wendy let go, a portion of the arch collapsed. 

                                    Actually the collapse was in 1991 at the Landscape Arch. 

After a fairly strenuous hike across a desert portion of the trail through loose sand, we arrived at Tapestry Arch. To get up to the arch required a bit of scrambling.

Needless to say these things are HUGE.

Well, as we were leaving we had problems finding the trail back to end of the loop where the car was parked. Sue thought we were lost and would be spending the night. Wendy figured it out remembering a tee in the trail. Thank goodness because we were less then a 1/3 of mile from the car vs a two mile hike back.