Arches or Bust

"I need more spontaneous friends!" I realized in frustration as yet another MINO (member in name only) of the Adventure Seeker's Society turned down my invitation to take off for Arches National Park for a couple days of sun and hiking.

I wanted someone to share the experience (and the cost) with, but nobody can seem to come on trips that aren't planned a month or more in advance -- and even then they don't want to commit themselves, but would rather have the option to leave us hanging with an empty seat and more expensive trip by canceling the day before we head out.

Determined to visit the desert playground of my childhood (I hadn't visited in probably 10 years), I made the decision to go solo if I couldn't come up with anyone by Friday morning.

I didn't, so I did.

In Spanish Fork Canyon I picked up a hitchhiker by the name of Tim Shey, who had been on the road non-stop for 13 years. He hit the road because God told him to do so, but Tim does not come off as a fanatic or weirdo -- he is very approachable and very nice. I took him to Moab, enjoying the conversation all the way.

After I had backtracked to Arches, I began looking for a place to park. I was planning on sleeping in the back of my new van, so really I just needed a parking space and, ideally, a campfire and someone to share it with. I found a nice couple relaxing at their fire in the campground. He was from England, she was from Denver, and both were more than willing to to provide warmth and company to a perfect stranger. I am glad I didn't have to try my new bottle of bourbon alone in the back of my van...

Saturday morning came and we went our separate ways for the day, with promises to cook and hang out together when night came again.

I hiked pretty much every foot of "tourist" trail in the park, logging just over 20 miles through the simple landscape of rock, sand and juniper. I love the desert more than any forest because of its austere beauty and clean, uncluttered peace. I got lost (mentally, not physically) for hours among the sandstone fins that bear the careful craftsmanship of millenia and basked in the hot desert sun, feeling warm and at home.



I sat on an outcropping overlooking Delicate Arch for a little more than two hours, soaking it all in. How can something seemingly so fragile, stand up against time and the unrelenting forces of nature? That spot has secured its position as one of my favorite places on the planet, behind only the bristlecone grove in Great Basin National Park (see posts from 2006) and two very specific beaches (one in southern California, and one in Mombasa, Kenya).


After my day of hiking I returned to the campground and tried my best to kill myself as I freeclimbed to the top of a nearby ridgeline to watch to sun set over God's country...

Later that evening as I was sitting around the fire with my new friends, two attractive young ladies strolled into the campsite. "The campground is full and we really need a place to crash, can we share your site?" And so we were five. We had a great time eating, drinking and laughing around the fire until the wee hours of the morning and a chilly breeze drove us all to bed.

Sunday morning I woke up, went for a dip at this great swimming hole east of Moab, then headed home.

I will most likely never see any of these "single serving friends" again, but they proved to be more fun than most of my current pool of camping buddies. My goals for this trip had all been met and exceeded: I connected with some genuine people, and reconnected with one of my favorite places in the world.

I hope that the next time I send out the invites, perhaps you, dear reader, will come along...