Day 26: Thursday, May 8th
Hike into the Fiery Furnace in Arches National Park
Today, we took a guided tour into the Fiery Furnace in the Arches National Park.
The park service offered ranger led tours, but they were all full (for many weeks to come). This section of the park is significant for its labyrinth-like features and every year many hikers get lost and have to be rescued. There are no paths there and many confusing avenues that lead to dead ends. So, not wanting to be one of those who have to be rescued we signed on with a tour company.
We were not disappointed.
We used Moab Adventure Company.
Our tour guide, Eric, took us to the petroglyth panel on a rock wall right outside of town first.
They were so interesting. He said many petrogylths were lost when the road was built.
Then on to a short 7 minute video on how to protect the environment and stay safe while on the hike.
A small window arch.
There were so many of these cool narrow passageways to squeeze through.
Then the narrow passageway would open up into a view something like this and we'd realize just how confusing the area was.
Yes, this was another area we had to scramble through.
We could walk through this just be mindful of our heads. Pretty tight up top.
Waiting our turn to slide down this rock.
Our guide called this skull arch.
I was really glad there was a ledge to walk on here, the drop off was pretty far down.
Only Natalie could crawl up through this narrow opening; the daring one.
Definitely need an adventurous spirit to enter this section of the Fiery Furnace.
But oh so worth it!
Group shot.
L. to R. we had Wayne, Eric (the guide), Alan, Natalie, me and Martha.
Afterwards, Adam and checked out the "Field Trip in a Box" from Arches National Park.
We identified the many different layers of sandstone making up the area and learned about when and how they were deposited. These kits were well put together and had lots of information about geology, animal study and such.
Adam is demonstrating how the fins and arches were formed.
Later on in the evening, Nana, Adam and I drove north past the town of Moab to the Colorado River where we turned right and drove east on hwy 128.
There was a Film Museum @ Red Cliff Lodge.
So every movie that was filmed in this area was displayed here.
Adam found Indiana Jones and the Last Cruisade, Mission Impossible 2, Thema & Louise, Austin Powers 3, Star Trek, The Lone Ranger, Dead Horse Point, and City Slickers and John Wayne's Wagon Master and Rio Grande.
The view from the Museum and the Red Cliffs Ranch & Lodge.
On the way back to the RV park, we stopped and ordered pizza at Paradox Pizza, just south of town. Very good place.
No comments:
Post a Comment