Arches & Moab 2009

Here are pictures and videos from our annual spring trip to Moab. Every year we say "we could have used one more day" so the next year we go an extra day and it's still not enough. It's so fun and beautiful down there - we love it! And Gibson did great on the hikes this year - we did all the long and hard hikes and he wore his little camel pack and kept right up!

Our first night in Moab, we went into Arches in the evening. It was so beautiful at sunset.

A view of South Window looking through Turret Arch.

A view of the sunset on the beautiful rock formations.

Gibson and I on the backside of North Window. We took the long route back to the parking lot and loved it! It was beautiful and peaceful (we were the only ones on the trail). We even saw a HUGE jack rabbit that Brady thought was a coyote because it was so large!

If you look closely, you can see the sunset on the rocks - it makes the red rocks glow. It was indescribably beautiful.

Here is a video of the sunset from "Double Arch" - it's kind of hard to tell, but we are really high up and it was kind of scary! This spot is where the third Indiana Jones movie was filmed (the beginning cave scene).

Our first, and longest, hike. Brady and Gibson at the Double O trailhead. In the past, we've only taken Gibson as far as Landscape Arch, but this year he made the entire trek (4.2 miles) to Double O Arch. And it was HOT, HOT, HOT - about 95 degrees.

Gibson posed and made me take this picture! Look at his cute camel pack and his wrapped-up knee. We didn't want him falling on his huge cut (that didn't get stitches, but should have) and breaking it open again.

Me and Gibson on top of the fin - looking out at Fin Canyon. Brady was freaking out because the fin that we were hiking on was so narrow. I told Gibson that we were "on top of the world" because it sure felt like we were!

All of us looking over Fin Canyon.

Standing under the 'lower' arch that makes up Double O Arch. The other arch is a bit smaller and right on top of this one. The shade from this formation makes a perfect stop for lunch!

At the end of the hike, Gibson amazingly had a sudden burst of energy (after making dad carry him) and had to run down this hill of sand! (p.s. I edited the video to be turned the correct way, but they never load the right way - so just turn your head sideways :) ).

We did something different this year and took a river rafting trip. We met some great friends at our campground and they talked us into going rafting with them. At the end of the day, we all laughed and said we "gently floated down the Colorado River", but Gibson enjoyed it and it was fun! Now I know we can handle bigger 'rapids'.

Gibson and Matt had a ball playing together. Here they are playing the giant checkers set at our campground. Our trailer neighbors were from Sandy and it was so fun meeting them! Their son Matt was so great with Gibson and they played together the entire time. Can't wait to see you guys again!

Our hike up to Delicate Arch - Gibson found this awesome tree (the best part of it was the shade!).

Gibson hiking up the open, exposed mountainside to Delicate Arch (3.1 miles)

The whole fam in front of Delicate Arch.

At the base of Delicate Arch.

A video of Gibson running down the sand hill at Sand Dune Arch.

Gibson found this awesome little nook at Sand Dune Arch. We all climbed inside for the shade. Gibson played in the red sand and Brady and I took a cat nap! We needed to rest up for....

THE FIERY FURNACE!!!

Gibson and Brady finding a creative way to get through this gap - no where to put your feet on the ground.
Another exciting crevise in the Fiery Furnace.

Here's some videos of hiking in the Fiery Furance!

I think desert flowers are beautiful! I managed to take a picture of every color of cactus flower (which is hard to do - you can find a lot of them, but you can't stand on the crytobiotic soil to take a picture).