Almost one year ago to the week I was in the beautiful and world famous Arches National Park which is little more than 4 hours drive from my home in Utah. Just this week perhaps Tuesday one of the famous sandstone arches fell, Wall Arch is now Wall Pile. While Wall Arch was not the most spectacular or stunning, it was a beautiful arch.
Arches are formed by an ever changing nature and erosion and leave us with only a small window of geological time in which to marvel at the arches before they succumb to gravity. Who knows, perhaps another arch was born that we have not seen in the past year as well. Last year while I was photographing many of the arches and absolutely enjoying the natural beauty and silence in between the tourist buses,
I hiked back to Landscape arch which itself had suffered a partial collapse in1991. Since it was so hot that day and I figured I would get back there again soon I did not hike the remaining quarter mile to photograph Wall Arch by the Devils Garden. Now I will not have the opportunity to photograph Wall Arch except the remnants on the ground. It is another example of how things you take for granted may disappear.
If you ever have the chance to Visit the Moab Utah region or Southern Utah you should do so as it is beyond words and one of the reasons I know call this state home. This is photography heaven for color and so many varied landscape and rare geography. One of the other things I love about the area is the history of the Fremont people from thousands of years ago leaving their art on the rock walls and then last but not least Green River Utah having the worlds best watermelon when hiking in 100+ deg F. weather. If you are ever in Utah let me know as I am always happy to get an excuse to head to Moab and love showing the hidden gems beyond the tourist trails.
Here are a couple of my photos from the hike back on August 4th 2007 in Arches National Park. I still have hundreds of photos yet to publish, It may sound odd for someone to see some sense of loss in what to some may just be a sandstone structure born of erosion but if you have ever been there in the silence and the vibrant glow of red at twilight you would understand the magic of the area. This is natures art and landscape at it’s finest.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/btl/
Never take for granted who or what you can see today, you may not have the opportunity tomorrow.
Have a great weekend,
Shaan
Beautiful photography, stunning scenery. I hope to be able to see it for myself one day.
It is so cool to see pictures of where my family and me were standing less than 2 months ago. EVERYONE should take a tour of all the national parks in Utah and Arizona. Arches is beautiful and serene and definitely reminds us that we are just a blip in earth’s timeline. Delicate Arch was my favorite.
Natalie aka Hikergirl,
It is great to hear from you. It was an amazing hike/climb this weekend out to Wall Arch then on the primitive loop which is excellent.
One of these days we are going to hit the same trail together, and we may not even know it.
Happy and Safe Trails,
Shaan
PING:
TITLE: Headed to California, with a Laptop on my Knee
BLOG NAME: Between the Lines
After a week back after a trip to Atlanta Georgia I am once again packing to head to the airport. This time heading for Autodesk HQ in San Rafael California and a afternoon trip to Los Angeles.
I was not stationary over the weekend as I took my oldes…
I worked out in Canyonlands during the summers on a trail crew years and years ago. I had been out to this arch during this time. What an amazing place this area is. I feel extremely blessed to have been raised in Southern Utah!! I owe my love of the outdoors to places like Canyonlands. What an amazing place this was and still is!!!