Merrimack and Monitor

 

These two are called the Merrimack and Monitor for their resemblance to the ironclad warships. Those two ships fought a Civil War naval battle at the mouth of the James River near Hampton Roads, Virginia on March 9, 1862. At this stop Virginia was talking to another traveler and heard horror stories about getting into Canyonlands too. Despite that news V+K plunged ahead. They got to the Visitor Center, got a wee bit of a briefing on what to expect on their visit in a few days, and then drove the 27 or so miles back to Arches.

Moab Fault

This time they got in with only a small delay. The ranger told them they close entry to the park every day for a few hours mid-day (something not mentioned anywhere in the information K+V had previously viewed.) This shot shows what is known as the Moab Fault. Notice how the land on the left (west side of US-191) is two thousand feet higher than the land on the right side. In simplest terms, the underlying salt dissolved causing the ground to sink and forming the bowl where the town of Moab is now located.

 

Four Features in One Shot

 

Taken from the La Sal Mountain Viewpoint and showing four features in the park. From left to right, Three Gossips, Sheep Mountain, then across the valley and road, the Tower of Babel and The Organ. K+V both like that the cars running down the road at the lower left give some scale to this shot.

Late Day Color

 

Looking east from the La Sal Mountain Viewpoint the sun was already having an effect on the colors.

Heading Down Park Avenue

At about 3:30 PM K+V started the 3.6 mile, 2 hour round-trip hike down Park Avenue. They hiked it in reverse from what many people do. They started at north end by the Courthouse Towers Viewpoint. This approach was something Ken saw noted during his research and was to avoid steps at the south end and their 322 foot elevation change up to the Park Avenue Viewpoint and trailhead parking lot.

 

Up Close with The Gossips and the Sheep

 

Sky, Rock, Tree and Sand

The trail was deserted in parts but a ranger apparently routinely walks it looking for hikers in distress. Fortunately, K+V didn’t need any help.