Our Utah trip has come to a close and we made it back home after a total of 20 hours in airports and on planes as well as over 1,000 miles of driving. It will be a trip written on our hearts for years to come.
Our favorite arch was Double Arch and our favorite hike was to Corona Arch. We prefer hikes that require dirt roads and climbing over rocks opposed to walking up stairs carved into the stone. All things wild prove to be worthwhile.
The boys were intrigued by the fact that you could see red desert rock right in front of you and also snow-covered mountains next to them. I was surprised by how there were mountains, buttes, and huge rock formations everywhere--it was not just a vast plain with a mountain here and there. They jutted forth and crowded in all over landscape.
On Thursday morning, the weather gave a noticeable shift. It was overcast, windy, and cooler. Sand blew in everywhere, rusty ghosts hovering above the road. We checked out of the townhouse and visited one last adventure: Canyonlands National Park. The drive took us up the road and to the west where we found more greenery than Arches. Cows grazed in the open pasture and one crossed the road before us.
The rangers were so nice this trip and treated Jack like a celebrity for helping us get our free fourth graders' park pass. They said, "Oh, wow! You have a fourth grader on board?!" It was really sweet.
First up was Mesa Arch. It is a short hike and we got in line to take a picture by the arch. You can see the canyon in the background of the arch. Afterward, we walked to the side and looked over the canyons below. I could have stayed a lot longer just sitting and taking pictures, but it was getting crowded and we had more to do.
We drove on to Upheaval Dome. Evidence points to this crater having been created by meteor. It's origins are not fully known.
Lastly, we went to Grandview Overlook. The viewing area was a little crowded, so we walked over to the side to take pictures.
Canyonlands was unique in its own way and it was nice to not have to hike too, too much with our sore legs. The perfect way to close out our trip. It was definitely growing more crowded as the day went on. From there, we drove four hours back to Salt Lake City to stay the night in a hotel in preparation for our 6:00 AM flight.
We all felt like we would have enjoyed another day or two in Moab. There is so much to do, and it felt like we barely began to cover it all. However, I know we pushed the boys with multiple hikes every day (and no rest days), so it was time to get on home and see all our critters again.
The flights home were mostly uneventful, which is always good. Tiring, but uneventful. Around 5:30 PM, we arrived home and felt relieved to sit in our backyard with our dogs, chickens, and trees. The yard is a mess, full of pollen and dirt, but it was refreshing to see trees and feel that sticky humidity. The trip was incredible, and we are blessed to feel content to be home.
So, what's next? Eliot and Jack really want to go to Sequoia. I need a couple of years to forget how nauseous I feel on planes and we'll need to save up. I do have enough points to cover at least one plane ticket. ;)
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