We camped in the RV. I use 'camp' very loosely. We actually stayed in an RV park, Arch View Campground. We had electricity, hot water, heat, and a non-communal toilet; not quite camping.
Arch View Campground is a unique place. It is 10 miles north of Moab on US 191. It really does have panoramic views of Arches National Park, it is 'Red Neck' heaven because of the ATV access, and the cabins appeal to the yuppie hiking biking crowd because of it's proximity to Canyonlands, Arches and dozens of biking trails.
Cristal and I tend to be Red Neckish, unless we're with our Red Neck friends, then we're the greenies. So I guess that really makes us more purplish than anything. In any case, we've always had a great time at Arch View and always meet interesting people.
We all arrived Thursday night to brewing thunder storms. The storms did not stifle a camp fire. Abigail experienced her first camp fire at the Arch View communal camp fire site; reds, greens, and purples all enjoyed a crackling fire underneath brewing desert storms, MAGNIFICENT!
Alex asked about going for a run Friday morning before the day's activities kicked off. I chuckled, obliged, and told her it would be raining; really having no expectation of running. However, at O-Dark-Thirty she rustled me out of my bag for a jog.
There are a few moments in a person's life that are permanently etched into to the archives of their mind. Our morning run was one of them. Alex and I exited the trailer to the moist, pre-dawn, Moab air. The skyline to the east was a blaze with the green hue of sun rise. The eastern horizon was dominated by the 'Windows' area of Arches National Park. I counted the arches as I ran.
We found ourselves running south on US 191. A glance to the west toward Canyonlands National Park drew us onto 313. We were then running directly into a storm; the sun rise behind us reflecting green on the western clouds and red on the cliffs. The rain was a slow drizzle. There was no sound other then our foot steps and the occasional truck on the fading 191 highway behind us. Alex was wearing her Army ROTC gear and out running me. We did not take any photos. We really didn't even talk; we both just took in the magic of a moment.
That run is definitely one of the highlights of the mural of my life. Thank God for parenthood and the strength to 'just do it'.
After the run, the crew wanted to hike in Arches National Park. However, the lightning and thunder cells hovering above the park pushed us to Canyonlands National Park; which was every bit as spectacular.
Canyonlands Island in the Sky district is comprised of many overlooks accessed by a vehicle. However, there are a few hikes here and there. We tried one hike, Upheaval Dome. About a mile into the hike a thunder storm rolled above us with gusting winds and sideways hail; we all ran a mile back to the vehicles. Thankfully, Cristal and Abigail had not left the truck yet due to the 100th feeding of the day.
Abigial's adventure was on the Mesa Arch hike. A relatively short and harmless hike. Harmless to the arch that is. Once we reached the arch, another thunder cell moved in, literally within seconds. The temperature dropped 15 to 20 degrees, the winds were 40 to 50 MPH, and the hail was hitting us sideways. The Mesa Arch photos were terrible because nobody could stand still.
I tucked Abigail into my gortex rain jacket and ran down the trail with Cristal following close behind. Cristal snapped a photo for posterity. The boys called the experience a 'memory maker'.
We took advantage of every break in the clouds to snap photos of the crew and canyons.
The day ended around the camp fire with the reds, greens, and purples...this time under the endless starry desert night.
Saturday on the Slickrock Trail was the mountain bike equivalent of a blue bird powder day on the Wasatch. Perfect temperature, perfect humidity, views of the slickrock topped by the snow capped La Sal Mountains, and two fearless young boys eager to bag a worldclass bike trail. Sam and Matthew rode the entire Slickrock loop with the added side trails thrown in for good measure. All in all, they rode about 13 miles on mountain bikes.
Of course 13 miles on a mountain bike required sustenance. The boys were introduced to my favorite energy gel. I'm pretty sure it was not their favorite.
The boys left some blood and skin on the trail, but not one tear. I couldn't have been prouder riding with them.
Sunday morning we had one goal - a hike in Arches National Park. Again, we were up to see the sun rise over the eastern horizon and the Windows arches area. We headed into Arches National Park and tackled the Delicate Arch hike.
Alex and Natalie had a different goal - mudding the Soveriegn Trail in the Rhino. They had already attempted the trail with the boys the night before; but, Sunday provided the opportunity to really hit it. As can be seen, Abi was the only helmetless law breaker the night before - laws are more of a guideline if you really think about them.
The hike was fabulous. There were only a few other crazies on the trail that early. Abigail rode on my chest and loved watching the red rock wonderland pass by. We made it to the arch and went photo crazy.
It was truly a magical trip for the VanDongens...a MEMORY MAKER!
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