After thinking about it later, I decided that I ought to create a Geo-cache, register it on the Internet and leave it on one of our ‘really-out-there’ hikes. Somewhere where noone would ever go – except for obsessed Arch Hunters of course.

Now what could I stick in my Geo-Cache to make it RELLY interesting to others?

The shortest way to the area was down Buckhorn Draw which gave me an opportunity to stop for a while to take a few pictures of the fantastic Indian pictographs located there.

This was a fairly easy 3 mile round trip hike up a small drainage, up a steep talus slope, across some flats and up some steep rocks to the arch.

However, about the time we climbed to the opening, dark clouds had moved in and rain showers had started. It was obvious the rain wouldn’t last long so we took cover under the alcove that included the arch.

As thunder rolled through the area, the rock alcove shook like small earthquakes. It then dawned on us that the vibration from lightning and thunder was probably the greatest threat to delicate arch formations. With this kind of shaking happening several times each year, it was plain to see why we didn’t encounter more falling rocks problems as we hike the canyons of Utah. The shaking from lightning/thunder would obviously topple most potentially dangerous rocks.

Still, I worry about what a major earthquake would do to many natural arches and bridges in Utah.

This time we each had small flash lights which allowed us to finish the loop without too many problems. It is amazing how many obstacles you don’t remember from previous hikes when it is dark.

The experience was rather enjoyable though. Hiking at night lets you experience a different kind of peaceful character of a location.  

When we exited the canyon and headed cross country back to the parking area, it was difficult to know where the vehicle was exactly until I activated the remote car alarm. Nothing destroys the peace and tranquility of the night like a SUV alarm going off with horn and flashing lights! But at least, we were able to locate the Explorer without any problems.

The arches turn out to be minor Class D arches and hardly worth the hike.

As dusk starts to dim the deep canyon, it’s amazing what the imagination does when you know you can stumble across a female bear with cub at any moment. We did’t see anything though I couldn’t make myself stick my head in a deep rock cavern marked with a ‘bear cave’ sign.

As David and I are going down the jeep trail, David notices a large arch in the distance between the trees. This arch would only be visible as an arch when the light was just right and only viewed in one place between the trees. We will need to go back for a dedicated hike to document this arch.

The hike up the side canyon to Queens Arch is trickier than we were hoping for. However, when we finally got to the top of the side canyon, there was another arch not far from Queens Arch. We decided to call it Pawn Arch.

Back at the parking lot we marvel that we attempted such foolishness and swore never to do it again. However, after thinking about it for a week or two we came up with another plan which will require going back up again.

Oh well. How bad could it be the second time?

David and I found an obvious and major Class B arch in Dry Canyon.

How was this arch possibly missed in all the Arch Hunter documentation?

We take the wrong left turn and find ourselves in a dead end canyon. By the time we get to the correct canyon, we can tell that we aren’t going to make it so we head back.

On the way out, we pass a boy scout troop. Some of them are carrying homemade packs that are obviously too heavy. Wherever they were heading, they weren’t going to make it either.

The round trip was 9.3 miles and we found out later we were one mile short of the arch.

Much too long of a hike after a long winter!

We will be back to try again when we are younger and stronger.

My two teenage daughters are involved in a serious traffic accident when the pickup truck they are in, runs a red light and t-bones another car. They weren’t wearing seat belts.

One daughter had major forehead lacerations clear to the skull plus concussion with bleeding. The other daughter had a concussion plus internal injures. She had to be dug out from under the dashboard.  While both daughters spent at least a week in the hospital, no operations or major treatments were necessary.

The boy driving was uninjured and one of Chonsie’s friends escaped major injury with only a broken nose. The lady in the other car was injured but not seriously.

A month later both daughters were both back at school as if nothing had ever happened. (The only lasting scars were emotional scars suffered by the parents – who aged 10 years that month.)

And how was this possible?

The same protection enjoyed while hiking the remote areas of the state, are obviously also protecting the rest of my family.

[Thank you Lord... again.]