South-West Road Trip to Erosion Country II

After Monument valley, we headed through Mexican Hat and Blanding to Moab, Utah. Moab is right by the foothill of the Arches. Anyone planning a trip to Arches would do good to stay at Moab. The landscape in Utah is truly terrific, however, you cannot ignore the unmistakable signs that this is definitely a poorer state than most of it's neighbors. Utah, as a state, probably has the most number of national parks in USA - Arches, Canyonlands, Zion, Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef.

Arches National park, Moab, Utah: We started early to Arches, we wanted to catch some pictures of the Arches and the balanced rock by sunrise. If you have noticed any number plate on vehicles in Utah, they have the picture of an Arch. No points for guessing - the famous Delicate Arch in Arches National park. This national park has the highest concentration in the world, of arches formed on sandstone through the ages because of erosion. A must see for people who like Architecture - you would never imagine that erosion is such a great architect too.

There is also this foreboding tragedy about Arches National park - the very erosion that created these beautiful arches over the centuries is also working away relentlessly to destroy them. As consolation, it is believed that more arches will be formed because of the same erosion.

Three Gossips, Arches National park: Aptly named, I actually liked the Three Gossips a lot better than the Three Sisters.

Pic1: Three Gossips, Arches National park

Balanced Rock, Arches National park: Silhouette of the Balanced Rock, with the rising sun streaking in through the sides. Makes you wonder what's keeping this huge boulder unnaturally balanced atop.

Pic 2: Balanced Rock, Arches National park

Turret Arch, Windows section, Arches National park: Before you get to think that the name of the park is a huge misnomer, here's a faraway pic of the first Arch we came across. The smaller arch is not captured in the picture, but notice the arch by the right.

Pic 3: Turret Arch, Windows Section, Arches national park

South and North Window, Windows section, Arches National park: These arches are adjoining the turret arch. A bus load of Chinese tourists descended just then.

Pic 4: North and South Window Arches, Windows Section, Arches National park

Cove of caves and Double Arch, Windows Section, Arches National Park: This is right opposite the Turret and the Window Arches. The picture is not zoomed in, and you will have to look real close to the right to actually see the arches. Thank god for people who had the good sense to have a restroom at this place.

Pic 5: Cove of caves and Double Arch, Windows Section, Arches National park

Pothole Arch, Arches National park: The arch melts in the background, but if you strain your eyes, you would find out why it is named the Pothole Arch.

Pic 6: Pothole Arch, Arches National park

Delicate Arch, Arches National park: Most travel and photography books have the picture of the famed Delicate Arch when they talk about Arches National park. What makes it singularly beautiful is the dramatic surrounding - atop a sheer rock cut, the beautiful delicate arch does not even look like it belongs there.

Busloads of Chinese tourists have now become a common feature. Arches seems like a huge hit with them.

Pic 7: The famed Delicate Arch, Arches National park

Rhino Rock, Arches National park: You wont find this in any map of the Arches National park - because I just christened it. But seriously, can you see the resemblance??

Pic 8: Rhino Rock, Arches National Park

Fiery Furnace, Arches National park: I thought that the snow sullied the fury of the fiery furnace. What do you think?

Pic 9: Fiery Furnace, Arches National park

Devil's Garden Trail, Arches National park: The highest concentration of Arches in this park. The trail will take a good few hours to see all the arches, but it is a must see. The primitive trail branching off near the landscape arch is difficult at places, but I would highly recommend it to everyone.

Pic 10: Primitive Trail, Devil's garden, Arches National park

Saw Tunnel arches, Pine Tree arch, Landscape arch, Wall arch, Partition arches and Navajo arch. Missed out Double O arch as I had no time and we were trying to make it to Needlepoint overlook by sunset.

Pine Tree Arch, Devil's garden, Arches National park: The neat thing about this arch is that you can walk through this arch.

Pic 11: Pine Tree Arch, Devil's Garden, Arches National park

Landscape Arch, Devil's garden, Arches National park: The longest arch in the Arches National park, and the second longest in the world. Since 1991, three large slabs have fallen from the thinnest section of the arch. There is speculation that this might not last long. So, here's a pic for posterity.

Pic 12: Landscape Arch, Devil's Garden, Arches National park

Wall Arch, Devil's garden primitive trail, Arches National park: Just when I was about to give up on the primitive trail, I saw this arch which spurred me on to see the others.

Pic 13: Wall Arch, Devil's Garden, Arches National park

Partition Arch, Devil's garden primitive trail, Arches National park: The best view through any of the arches I have seen so far.

Pic 14a: View through Partition Arch, Devil's Garden, Arches National park

Pic 14b: Partition Arch, Devil's Garden, Arches National park

Needlepoint Overlook, Needles District, Canyonlands National park, Utah: Going down from Moab towards Gallup through Canyonlands National park, we detoured to the Needlepoint overlook just in time for sunset. The small road that leads up to the overlook is about 25 miles from the highway. It is relatively very less frequented.

Pic 15: Blurry pic of me, Needlepoint overlook, Utah

Pic 16: Needlepoint Overlook, Utah

South-West Road Trip to Erosion Country I

Ever since my road trip to the Grand Canyon from Houston last year, I have been aching to go on another one. Got the perfect excuse to do just that this Christmas ('06) with me having 4 days off and nothing to do. I asked for an additional day off and left early Friday morning from Austin.

The plan: first head to Arches National Park, Utah, and on the drive back take in Santa Fe and a few other national monuments. We made up for most of the miles on friday and drove 13 hrs straight to Gallup with brief stops for gas and food at Abilene, Lubbock and Amarillo.

The drive itself was uneventful, except for a speeding ticket violation at 96 mph near Lubbock..that sobered me up quite a bit!

Cadillac Ranch, Amarillo, TX: At the I-40 past Amarillo, stopped for this picture of the Cadillac Ranch. What started out as art by eccentric billionare Stanley Marsh III, is now very close to junk.

Pic 1: Cadillac Ranch, Amarillo, TX after sunset

Nevertheless, being out of the ordinary, it always makes for a very intriguing picture.If you are planning to be there, drive at a moderate speed past Amarillo (if you are heading West), or you might just miss it - there are no signs to anounce this. Also, you could spray paint your own graffiti if you like.

Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Chinle, Navajo Nation, AZ: Day2 we headed to Chinle in Northeastern Arizona to Canyon de Chelly (pronounced d'shay, a Spanish corruption of the Navajo word 'Tsegi', which roughly translates to 'Rock Canyon').

Easily the best part of my trip - absolutely no crowds, and vista points across the South Rim drive offer exceptionally dramatic views into the canyon. My favorites were the Tsegi, White House and Spider Rock overlooks.

White House Ruin Trail, Canyon de Chelly: Being part of Navajo tribal trust, there is no ticket to enter, however, access to the canyon floor is only permitted when accompanied by an authorized Navajo guide. Only exception to this - the White House Ruin trail.

Pic 2: White House Ruins (Anasazi ruins), Canyon de Chelley, Chinle, AZ

The trail leads up to the ruins at the Canyon floor, right by the bottom of a 600 feet sheer rock. The ruins are the dwellings of the Anasazis (believed to be the ancestors of modern Hopi and Pueblo Indians) built between 1100 and 1300 A.D., using adobe bricks carved from soft red sandstone.

Pic 3: Bridge by the White House ruins, Canyon de Chelley

The trail itself isn't too hard. It's about 2 miles, however, the winter snow made it a tad difficult at places. The trail snakes around till it takes you to the bottom - about 700 feet from the canyon roof.

Pic 4: White House ruins from the canyon floor, Canyon de Chelley

I decided to try the trail, and I was glad I did. My climb down took me to a very serene canyon floor. A walk by a half-frozen stream and a bridge past this stream lead me to the ruins.

Pic 5: View from the canyon floor, Canyon de Chelley

Fortunately for my full bladder, there was a primitive restroom by the ruins. A few navajo jewellery and pottery sellers were there, but I found it to be a bit pricey.I was surprised I made the climb back in about 39 mins. Considering my fitness level, that is a record!

Spider Rock, Canyon de Chelly: The most spectacular view in the canyon. Kept clicking away at this 800 ft sandstone monolith. Any way you took the picture, it turns out great.

Pic 6: Spider Rock, Canyon de Chelley

Revered by the Navajo, legend has it that the Spider Woman lives on top and keeps the bones of her victims there.If you got here by sunset or sunrise, it would be pretty cool, it would look like in McKenna's gold, as though the shadow was moving and pointing to gold..


Monument Valley, Navajo Nation, Kayenta, AZ: About half an hour from Kayenta is the Monument valley at the border between Arizona and Utah.

Pic 7: Approach to Monument Valley, Navajo nation

Made famous by Hollywood movies (Stagecoach, Forrest Gump, Indiana Jones and the last crusade etc) and the Marlboro Man ad, the celebrated buttes are accentuated by the flat surroundings and the dusty red sand. This is probably why, when I got here, the whole place looked vaguely familiar.

Pic 8: Three Sisters, Monument Valley

Pic 9: Monument Valley with the celebrated West Mitten Butte

We got there just in time for sunset. If you are planning to get here, do not take your car into the Monument Valley, even if it is a 4-wheel drive. Park and take the guided tour. The road is awful, very rough and relentlessly jarring, topped with a thin coat of red sand all over on the car.