Delicate Arch

Delicate Arch is the signature formation of Arches National Park. Getting there requires a 1-1/2 mile hike rising 500 feet in elevation along the way. We hustled to get there and arrived just as the warm, long rays of the setting sun basked the arch in all its glory.

Day Hiker on Mesa

During a day trip into the "Island in the Sky" unit of Canyonlands National Park, a funny thing happened. I forgot to gas up one of the rental vehicles (the needle was on empty). The National Park Service politely sold us two gallons of gas at the then steep rate of $2.50 a gallon but would not allow us to drive into the park scenic drive. Hence, me and a buddy (shown here) stayed behind while the other group drove into the park. Fortunately, there was some nice scenery near the visitor's center where we hiked, complimented by a multitude of passing storm clouds...

Fish Hook Cactus

During May of 2005, a number of us ventured off to southern Utah for a week of hiking and backpacking. Our very first day hike was through a canyon outside of Moab, Utah known as "Negro Bill Canyon". It was a delightful two mile hike, one way, that brought us to the world's longest natural land bridge. Being that it was spring, numerous wildflowers were in bloom including the showy Fish Hook Cactus that is shown here.