Hiking on Mars

This weekend was spent hiking around Moab! I know the first question you are thinking is, "Tami hikes?" Yes friends, I do and I love it! And what better place to go then in our own gorgeous state. Thursday, my aunt, sister, and some of the cousins headed down and hiked to Corona arch, one I had never seen. It was probably only about 71 degrees, but in a dessert landscape, surrounded by rock it felt like 171 degrees. This was the first time I have busted out the Camelbak, since a friend gave it to me as a birthday gift to climb Mount Timpanogous ...the bait should have been Moab:)

Afterward we met up with the rest of the group and checked into the hotel (sorry no hiking and camping trip combinations yet) and went to a local Mexican restaurant! Homemade salsa cannot be beat!

Friday we hiked about 8 miles of rugged terrain, first up to Delicate Arch, one of my favorite hikes...it was gorgeous, the sky was cloudless, and there were of course crows...how does that always happen? :) We decided to hike to Sand Dune Arch, which is a short walk and very secluded and we decided somehow to climb on top of this one, let me just say I have a new found respect for rock climbers, and that I almost fell to my death, well at least I almost fell to a broken femur a few times, but pulled through...by pulled through I mean literally my sister and two nice guys helped heave me up before I lost my grip.

After lunch we headed to the Double O Arch trail, there are a few along here, Landscape Arch, which has to be the longest, Wall Arch which just collapsed this August, forcing you to now climb up a huge rock to the east of it which pre-collapse you mentally assessed as, "So glad I don't have to climb up that way!". This hike also offers views of picturesque giant red rock fins, and miles and miles of glorious nothing. I am not kidding these views are so grand they look like Hollywood movie sets, but better.

The thing I determined I love most about Moab is that there is a "purpose" to every hike, meaning really...it is worth every sweating, straining moment it takes to reach some of these arches.

Saturday was the Fiery Furnace trek. I love this place, because it is quiet and grand and just makes you think that if you ever landed on Mars it would almost be disappointing because you would feel like you had already explored it. There are cool arches, secluded sand dunes, and amazing views. Plus the possibility of falling to your death, being the target of a search and rescue team, and going where no man has explored before just makes it that much more magical.

Highlights of the trip:

1. I started a game called, "Subaru!" a take on the good ole' "Slug-Bug-punch-your-car-companion-in-the-arm" game. You can't even imagine how many Subaru's with Colorado plates, and passive aggressive Eco-friendly bumper stickers there were, let's just say my left arm is pretty sore.
2. The orientation video to obtain a permit into the fiery furnace/ the catch phrase in the video, something to the effect of "Don't destroy the silence".
3. The constantly on edge Ranger's that are oddly passionate,have great poker faces and evil eyes, and make sure you foot never lands on cryptobotic soil crust!
4. Hot tubing every single night...who needs Ibuprofen after that!