In Arches National Park there are over 2000 arches, some you can see easily from the winding access road, others are a little hidden and require some effort to reach. But there is one arch though, that everyone wants to see, Delicate Arch. It’s the famous one, on Utah license plates, and just about every travel blog you visit.
I was no different.
February 16, 2015: Our group got to the trailhead not long before sunset to make our way to the arch. It was supposed to be about a 1 km hike. We had about 35 minutes to get there before the light was gone. (I usually like to be where I need to be at least an hour before the actual sunset to prepare and scout the location, but this time we just didn’t have the time). So off we went, the younger students bounding along the path like antelopes, full of anticipation to see “the arch.” I on the other hand, much older and slower, was at the end of the pack.
After a few minutes of the open and nicely flat trail, I rounded a big bend and was presented with am impossible sight – the “trail” to the arch was now what looked to be about a mile of hiking over bare rock, at what seemed to be a 45 degree angle straight up! I could see small groups of people at what looked to be the top of the mountain, looking just like ants slowly (very slowly) wandering over the rock face.
It was a hot day and the rock was warm, the sun was setting faster now and I thought I could see some of my group way up at the top, so I continued the climb, pausing every now and then to get a photo of the vista that was unfolding behind me.
When I made it to the top, there was no arch.
The light was almost gone, I would not have my sunset shots of the most famous geological artifact in North America. I asked someone who was on their way back down how far I had to go. “Not too far” they said, “About 1/4 mile.” This trail veered off the the left through some trees, and was thankfully level for the most part, and not wanting to be the only one in my group that didn’t see the Arch, I soldiered on. 850 feet higher that I had been only 1 hour ago. The treed and rocky trail soon gave way to a wide expanse of bare rock, with people all heading back down to the parking lot. It was almost dark, and still no arch. But by this time I didn’t care about the darkness, I was going to SEE the arch even if I couldn’t shoot it. And besides, all the others were there, and probably waiting for me. I did not want to be the only one who didn’t see it. After all I had come 2300 miles to see THIS!
Then I heard someone call my name. Behind me I saw a shadowy figure running my way. It was Adam, one of the college students. He was one of the first group that seemed to bound up that huge rock face, I assumed he was on his way done and was wanting me to come down with him.
But no, nothing was farther from the truth. The first group who so nimbly ascended the sheer rock has seemingly taken a wrong turn and gotten off the tail. But Adam was adamant he would see the Arch and went off on his own to find it. And instead found me!
We continued on the new trail, Adam ahead of me, while I lumbered on, quite calm now in knowing I would soon be there. Walking a narrow and very sloping path around the cliff face, I had great views of the valley below, but masses of people were coming down on the same trail made this ascent a bit unnerving.
And then all of a sudden there it was – the holy grail of rock formations! Delicate Arch.
There were a handful of people still there, Adam was one, and I navigated my way over the boulders and the strangely sloping rock surface to meet up with him and find a spot to shoot some night shots.
After a few minutes my eyes adjusted to the dim light, and again I heard my name, it was Barb, another one of our group – one of the members of my Women’s photo group. The three of us made it, but the others were no where to be found. They had probably gotten their iconic sunset shots and left before dark.
But we were there now, and the rock was amazing, and being there with the last rays of sunlight piercing the horizon was mystical. I just sat for about 10 minutes, I didn’t even touch my cameras. I just wanted to soak it all in. The first star appeared. I didn’t want to leave.
In time though we all got some shots and realizing just how late it was, and how dark, we got ready to leave, reluctantly, and make our way back down. With only tiny flashlights and headlamps getting down was as much a challenge as getting up. The night sky was truly awe-inspirng, as Arches is one of the darkest places on the planet as well. No time to shoot the sky though – we had to find the trail again and stay on it. Getting lost in the high desert at night would not be a pleasant experience.
We finally made it back to the parking lot and the bus was waiting for us. The others, even though they got to the top first, had gotten off the trail, missed the sunset and so had headed back down some 40 minutes before.
As it turned out we were the only 3 who saw that Arch. And I will never forget the experience.
Here’s my favorite shot.
Is there a moral to this tale? hahahahaha! The tortoise and the hare, perhaps? Or good things come to those who wait. Determination will be rewarded?