Linda Mac's Orlando Adventures

Today's Theme: Nature's Fault

Breakfast started at 6:30 am because we had to be on the road by 8:00 am. Since it was Sunday, Red Cliffs Lodge offered a special Sunday Brunch which really spoiled me for the basic breakfast buffets we would have for the next two mornings. The brunch even included an omelet station and an amazing array of pastries. Several of the pastries were topped an orange flavor icing instead of your basic white icing.

Today we had the choice to hike up to Delicate Arch or take a tour by bus. Mike and Tiffany had talked about the conditions we would encounter on the hike which was a 500 feet elevation gain as well as being in the sun for the most of the trip. The Delicate Arch Trail is only a mile and half long but it is a hard mile and a half. I took the easy route so my tour included a walk around the area where the hike started from and a bus tour with two stops for photos. Prior to splitting up, we all made a quick stop at Balanced Rock.

After we broke off into separate groups, our group visited Wolfe Ranch Cabin which was built in the late 1800's by the first area settlers. They selected this spot because of the water and grassland for their cattle. After spending sometime at the cabin, we next checked out the Ute Rock Art or petroglyphs. Also called the Wolfe Ranch Panel, it is fine example of historic petroglyphs. Ute Rock Art was created between 1200 AD and the late 1800's and represented human forms on foot and mounted on horseback, hunting and warfare scenes, horses, and bison.

Our air conditioned bus took us to our second stop at the Lower View Point for the famous Delicate Arch. We can see hikers standing in and around the arch but they looked like ants to us. You might be able to see very small figures in the pictures below. Now I know I made the right choice. About 12 of us decided not to hike.

Tiffany and Mike took the hiking group while Dave, our local area guide stayed with us on the motor coach tour. He was a very interesting person. He works many rescues within the park and we enjoyed some of his funnier stories about the dumb things people do and then have to be saved.

Our final stop before returning for the adventurous hikers was a spot called The Windows and Double Arches. It was beautiful but it would have been nice to have some time to walk up to the arches. Several of us asked if we could get out for pictures because at first it was just a drive-thru viewing.

We were a little behind schedule because one of our friends had a some trouble with the hike. Dave, our local guide and Scott, a fellow adventurer, who is a doctor went up the hiking trail to help our friend back. He was fine by the time he got back to the bus. Thank goodness. But we had to stay on a schedule and when your traveling with a group being on time is very, very important.

Fun Fact: Delicate Arch is one of the Mother Nature's proudest sculptures and the crown jewel of Arches National Park. The Olympic torch relay for the 2002 Winter Olympics passed through the arch before its final entry into the host destination, Salt Lake City.

Route 128, the second most scenic roadway in America. The road starts in Moab and we would travel 14 miles each way to reach or leave the Red Cliffs Lodge.

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Crossing the Colorado River on our way to Arches National Park

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Arches National Park Sign at the Visitor's Center where we stopped to get our passports stamped

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One of the statues in front of the vistor's center

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Gift Shop

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I guess I was suppose to be holding up the rock??

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Wolfe Ranch Cabin

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Wolfe Ranch Cabin Interior

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Tammy, Bridget, Scott, Ann and our local guide Dave

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Ute Rock Art

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Our group who toured Arches National Park via the motor coach. This photo was taken at the Delicate Arch lower point veiwing area. Delicate Arch in directly above the boy with red cap

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The is the route that hikers took on the slickrock. Click on the larger version of the photo and you should be able to the hikers

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The famous Delicate Arch. Click on the larger version and you should be able to see the hikers.

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Linda Mac at the Double Arches

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Upclose view of the Double Arches

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Glenn and Bobby look pretty good after a 3 mile hike

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Forget about Emil Bleehall, Michelle from MouseFanTravel.com gets my vote for the Adventurer of the Year!

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Mission Completed!!! Linda Lou and Deb Wills

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Mike our Adventure Guide, Linda Lou and Deb Wills

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