SketchTravel in the Southwest – Moab

SketchTravel in the Southwest

Moab – Arches National Park – #1 of 4 posts

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From my journal…
Flew into Salt Lake City, drove to Moab in the rental car. Found our room at the Desert Gardens (no address) by asking at an information center. Two bedroom with a kitchen and yard. Made tacos for dinner – black beans, red and green salsa, forgot cheese. Sat out in the yard after dark watching a perfect half moon cross the sky.

Next morning we got to Arches National Park around 8:30. Changed into a t-shirt at Delicate Arch trailhead – already hot out. We hung out at Delicate Arch for awhile – long enough to do a quick pencil sketch. On the walk back I collected things to look at under the microscope for fun – sage, oak leaves, Mormon tea, juniper, quartz, some green volcanic ash rock. We saw many bright green frogs (toads?) on the banks of the stream near the Wolfe Homestead.

UFO Rock

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I love seeing all the fantastic formations of rock here. The softer layers give way to erosion more quickly, leaving the harder upper layers balancing in curious ways. Some reminded me of flying disks, almost separated from their bases.

Balanced Rock

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One day I think the top rock will become entirely separated from the lower rock, causing geologists to speculate on how it remains suspended! Secrets of the desert. haha Pottery shards were drawn from ones I saw in a museum.

Fin Canyons at Devil’s Garden Trailhead

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We made a quick lunch at Devil’s Garden trailhead before heading off to the northwest. Taking short breaks to appreciate the expansive views. Big fingers of red rock, entrada sandstone, side-by-side like massive drunken dominoes. Split apart from underground pressure pushing up the Colorado Plateau. They are then softened into rounded shapes from moisture, wind and time. Passed Landscape Arch and Wall Arch. Hiked along a narrow fin of rock with steep drop-offs on both sides, then along the edge of the outcrop to Double O Arch where we took advantage of the shade and breeze to rest, and do a sketch. Took a side trail to Navaho Arch and Partition Arch, both beautiful spots. I slept well that night.

Please look for my other posts of sketch travels in the Southwest here as well.

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My southwest posts:
#1 – Moab, Arches National Park
#2 – Arches, Arches National Park
#3 – Cliff Dwellings of the Southwest
#4 – Canyonlands