This past weekend, I felt a touch of spring here on the Colorado Plateau. The sun shined, the temps steadily climbed during the day, and for the first time in weeks, I contemplated the that soon I won’t be able to get away if with wearing a thermal top during the day. In a couple of weeks or so, the license plates will turn green again. And Spring will be here in Moab.
On Friday, Micah of Hike Moab and myself explored the back of side of Delicate Arch. We, briefly, had this iconic arch to ourselves. A rarity indeed. From there we explored some lightly traveled areas that @ramblinghemlock and I had to skip seeing once due to weather. Arches is more than just Delicate Arch and Balanced Rock. And I look forward to seeing more of this place in the weeks and months ahead.
And on Saturday and Sunday, Joan and I went backpacking in Island in the Sky.
The Green River bracketed our route.
PCO Joan W.
Remnants of winter snow greeted us at a campsite and an impressive Pueblo site stood sentinel over the canyon and Green River below.
We never get tired of walking the paths in this park so close to our home. And we only saw people within perhaps a quarter mile of the car the entire time. We lucked out with the weather as the rain came at night, but blue skies broke out just in time not long after I consumed some morning coffee.
In a few weeks, if not less, the Moab area will again begin the busy tourist season. But for this weekend at least, the backcountry ended up being blissfully quiet and a place full of wonderful isolation.
Hey! What trail did you take for island of the skys
We started at the Syncline TH.