Mountains and Desert

For various reasons, my vacations plans changed. It all worked out in the end.

By coincidence, Joan and I hosted a friend for a few days, and I played tour guide in both Arches and Canyonlands National Park. It’s been a while since I’ve been in Arches and the Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands, and I delighted in seeing places not seen in quite some time.

The view down Park Ave in Arches as one example/

.The change of plans also allowed Joan and I to attend a two-day workshop/conference in Price, UT, for the Utah site steward program. A chance to meet fellow site stewards, attend some exciting lectures, and take a field trip to a well-known panel in the San Rafael Swell.

The Barrier-era images, to me, always seem the most striking.

The images reach hundreds, if not millennia, old.

As always, I can’t interpret the images. But I can certainly admire and appreciate how these images still stand in our present day.

With a storm moving in, my plans became further changed. The chance of snow in the high country ruled out the mountains, and I did not wish to get stuck in muddy roads in the desert. I’d wait out Tuesday and start a five-day trip on Wednesday.

I did take advantage of the probable last day of autumn in the high country before the snow moved in up in the La Sals. As I look out my window and see the snow on the peaks after my five-day trip, I’m glad I took a short day of hiking to embrace the last bit of autumn color.

Fall in the mountains makes a fleeting season. But one I try to savor.

It is now time to head to the desert for a few months.

Fewer than 48-hrs after I did my La Sal hike.

I may grab my skis from time to time this winter, but we’ll spend most of our time among the red rocks and canyons. At least until the spring.