The First Arch

Monday, March 24^th

Climbing, half way up

We leave Page and the oldest drives us to Moab. Enroute we stop briefly at Monument Valley and take a short hike to view the magnificent red buttes. My husband and I were both on this path fourteen years ago. We drove the Grand Circle route and spent thirty days camping during one of my maternity leaves. We are partially retracing our steps but now with a fuller family of four. Our time is shorter and so we do not stay long as the 17 year old is eager to begin mountain biking in Moab. As we near the end of the day, we round a corner and come face-to-face with a tremendous sandstone arch thrusting up along the edge of the highway. We pull over.

Under the arch

Before we have a chance to organize the team the nine year old is out of the car and scrambling up the sand dune and rock face. “You better go after him,” I advise the 17 year old. The six year old is off next and I am in chase position. The arch is majestic in the late afternoon sun. The boys want to climb more. We usher them back to the car to finish our journey at dusk. There will be more tomorrow.