Arches
The geology dates back to 300 million years ago when a sea flowed into the area and eventually evaporated. Over the intervening millions of years, the effects of water, ice, wind, and geological displacement created what has become one of America’s most popular natural attractions, Arches National Park. Adjacent to the Colorado River, the park is four miles north of Moab, UT.
More than 2000 natural sandstone arches (along with countless other natural rock formations) exist within the more than 76,000 acre high desert park boundaries (between 4000’ and 5600’ in elevation). Originally a National Monument (1929), the area was designated a National Park in 1971.
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| Arches rock formation with ancient tree. |
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| We didn't see much fauna in the park, but we did see birds and few lizards. |
More than 2000 natural sandstone arches (along with countless other natural rock formations) exist within the more than 76,000 acre high desert park boundaries (between 4000’ and 5600’ in elevation). Originally a National Monument (1929), the area was designated a National Park in 1971.
Native peoples have used this area for many thousands of years—the Archaic People, ancestral Puebloans (Anasazi), Fremont, Utes, and Paiutes. Non-native explorers came looking for mineral wealth in the 1800s.
Ranchers settled in the region to raise cattle and sheep on the sparse grasslands. Civil War veteran John Wesley Wolfe left a weathered log cabin, root cellar, and corral (late 1800s) which can still be viewed.
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| Moon Flower |
Ranchers settled in the region to raise cattle and sheep on the sparse grasslands. Civil War veteran John Wesley Wolfe left a weathered log cabin, root cellar, and corral (late 1800s) which can still be viewed.
We visited the park (our fourth or fifth visit) both early in the morning of one day to get morning light and then late in the afternoon for sunset views. Whereas visitors in the mid-morning (when we left) were lined up in double lines for almost a mile waiting to be checked in, we zipped in both times with nary a wait—it pays to pick your visiting time. On our morning visit I got good lighting for photos at Park Avenue and Courthouse Towers.
Our main morning objective was the Devil’s Garden—an area of hiking trail to some of the most iconic arches in the park. With stops at the Wolfe Ranch site to view Indian rock art (petroglyphs)
and at Skyline Arch near the main road, we arrived at Devil’s Garden parking area before it was too crowded or too hot. Though hikers can spend all day (or several days) on hikes out to spectacular arches, it was less than two miles total for Anne and I to hike out to Pinetree Arch and Tunnel Arch—
two nice sites we’d never been to.
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| Park Avenue |
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| The Three Gossips |
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| Courthouse Tower |
Our main morning objective was the Devil’s Garden—an area of hiking trail to some of the most iconic arches in the park. With stops at the Wolfe Ranch site to view Indian rock art (petroglyphs)
and at Skyline Arch near the main road, we arrived at Devil’s Garden parking area before it was too crowded or too hot. Though hikers can spend all day (or several days) on hikes out to spectacular arches, it was less than two miles total for Anne and I to hike out to Pinetree Arch and Tunnel Arch—
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| The Hike to Pinetree Arch |
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| Tunnel Arch |
two nice sites we’d never been to.
After a forgettable dinner at the Moab Diner (ask for that story), we made our second visit of the day to the park about 6:00 PM. Before going out to our main evening destination, we stopped at Balance Rock, another of Arches’ treasures.
From Balance Rock it is only a couple of miles to the area known for its numerous and easy to get to arches called The Windows. We took short hikes to several of the arches in the area
and then were treated to wonderful sunset views from the Balance Rock parking area.
From Balance Rock it is only a couple of miles to the area known for its numerous and easy to get to arches called The Windows. We took short hikes to several of the arches in the area
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| North Window Arch? |
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| South Window Arch, or is it North? |
and then were treated to wonderful sunset views from the Balance Rock parking area.
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| The LaSala Mountains |
As many times as we’ve been to Arches, there’s still plenty more for us to see on future trips. If only Moab weren’t so damned expensive—$200+ per night in the cheapest motel accommodations.
Games
On the weekend of June 8, 9, and 10 we participated in the McMinnville Celtic Festival held on the Linfield College campus. The Celtic Festival, America’s version of Scotland’s Highland Games, is a celebration of all things Celtic—music, dance,
food, sports.
The festival is organized by the Celtic Heritage Alliance organized in 2011, who formerly sponsored Highland Games at Newport on the Oregon coast.
The Alliance put on the Newport festival until 2016 when it was decided to seek another venue because the Newport venue, while great for flying kites, was often too windy for outside vendor tents or some of the traditional Highland competitions, such as the caber toss. After a one year hiatus, it was arranged to hold the 2018 event at Linfield College in McMinnville and name it the McMinnville Celtic Festival.
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| Haggis Eating Contest |
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| Apple Pie Fries--see photo below. |
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| Lightly battered slices of apple coated in cinnamon and sugar--Delicious! |
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| This lassie is throwing a 27 pound weight over a twelve foot high bar over her head. |
The festival is organized by the Celtic Heritage Alliance organized in 2011, who formerly sponsored Highland Games at Newport on the Oregon coast.
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| The Honor Guard officially opens the festival. |
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| The clans follow the Honor Guard. This is Clan McGregor (I believe). |
The Alliance put on the Newport festival until 2016 when it was decided to seek another venue because the Newport venue, while great for flying kites, was often too windy for outside vendor tents or some of the traditional Highland competitions, such as the caber toss. After a one year hiatus, it was arranged to hold the 2018 event at Linfield College in McMinnville and name it the McMinnville Celtic Festival.
We had participated in two Newport events and were thrilled when a closer venue was found to continue the event. It didn’t hurt my feelings at all that it would be held at my alma mater of Linfield.
Friday afternoon we set up the skeleton of our booth and then brought in our books and photos on Saturday morning. Saturday’s weather was cloudy, breezy (we had to hold our portable gazebo from blowing away a couple of times), but dry. Sunday was on and off rain—thankfully without much wind—all day.
We had an enjoyable time, though, both days making some sales of books and photos, visiting with people about Scotland and Ireland, seeing former students, and even reconnecting with a fraternity brother I hadn’t seen since 1967.
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| Setting Up |
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| We're Ready for Business |
Friday afternoon we set up the skeleton of our booth and then brought in our books and photos on Saturday morning. Saturday’s weather was cloudy, breezy (we had to hold our portable gazebo from blowing away a couple of times), but dry. Sunday was on and off rain—thankfully without much wind—all day.
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| The coat is made from the hide of a Hielan' Coo (Highland Cow or Hairy Cow). |
We had an enjoyable time, though, both days making some sales of books and photos, visiting with people about Scotland and Ireland, seeing former students, and even reconnecting with a fraternity brother I hadn’t seen since 1967.
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| Throwing a 50+ pound weight for distance. |
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| Mark Wechter is an international champion in the Masters Class (seniors). He is also a former student of mine from Brookings. Here he is throwing a 57# stone (upper right) for distance. |
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| Mark is an international champion in the Caber Toss--throwing a 14' 120# pole end-over-end. He made three perfect throws to win the event. |
From everything we heard and saw, it looks like the festival was a hit with sponsors, vendors, competitors, and locals. We look forward to year two next June.
A Story from Scotland
In 2010 we were staying with our adopted family in Crieff and had one dinner which was very memorable. There had been a special run of some small local fish (similar to smelt) which one of the B&B’s helpers said were very like a fish she used to cook in South Africa.
Jacky, the B&B owner, bought a mess of the fish and Annie, the South African helper, said she’d do a fry-up. Annie cooked the fish whole with only a light dusty of seasoned flour. I thought the fish waa delicious—head and all. A few of the other adults cuts the heads off before they ate the fish.
Ailsa, our 10 years old unofficially adopted niece, was adventurous and going to eat the whole fish. As she took the first one off the platter she looked at it head on for quite a while. Finally, she said with a sigh, “I just can’t get my head around it!” and set the fish back on the plate. Out of the mouths of babes!
NEXT: More of the SW and onto our upcoming Canada trip.
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| The Fishing Village of Crail near St Andrews. |
Jacky, the B&B owner, bought a mess of the fish and Annie, the South African helper, said she’d do a fry-up. Annie cooked the fish whole with only a light dusty of seasoned flour. I thought the fish waa delicious—head and all. A few of the other adults cuts the heads off before they ate the fish.
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| Anne with Ailsa at a dinner in the B&B. |
Ailsa, our 10 years old unofficially adopted niece, was adventurous and going to eat the whole fish. As she took the first one off the platter she looked at it head on for quite a while. Finally, she said with a sigh, “I just can’t get my head around it!” and set the fish back on the plate. Out of the mouths of babes!
NEXT: More of the SW and onto our upcoming Canada trip.
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