** reminder that all photos can be enlarged by double clicking on them**
The clouds parted for us and showed the sun for the first time in 2 days. Timing is everything as we had paid for a ranger guided hike in the Fiery Furnace area of Arches National Park today. On the rain front, we learned that average annual precipitation here is 8 inches, and most of that has come in the last week!!!!
There were about 25 other people in our group and it actually wasn't bad. The ranger did a great job of keeping things moving as well as providing some great interpretive information along the way. This trail is a led hike due to the complexity of the trails, the maze like structure, and the need to make your way through some tight squeezes.
Hunter was the youngest hiker but did a great job keeping up with the group. The toughest part initially was the noises that he made while driving his truck on the rocks during the interpretive talks :) Hard to explain that you need to be quiet when he is more excited that stops mean truck driving time...
The hike was 3 hours in length and Hunter was out running around for over 2 hours of it. He rode in the pack during a few tight spots so that Dad could use both hands to get up, over and through the cracks.
Once again, scenery is amazing and yet different. As the name infers, this is an area covered in natural Arches (have to be at least 3 feet in length to be considered an Arch), along with some great canyons, pillars and shapes.
We've started to make our way back to Las Vegas and are spending the night at the Holiday Inn in Green River. Another great pool session tonight and plans for 2 canyon hikes tomorrow on our way to Beaver.
