Longbow Arch, Utah

 Another great hike in the Moab area. I didn't know that there are sooooo many great hikes in the Moab area. I didn't know about Longbow Arch, but along with Jeep Arch I found it in the brochure from a grocery store in the Moab area. Since I love any kinds of arch, we decided to check this out. 

This hike has two bonus. One is dinosaur tracks. This was my first time seeing it. I didn't even know dinosaur tracks exist. Can you spot the dinosaur tracks? Two big one can be seen here. It is like a big bird track. This is under a half mile from the trailhead. Even just see this is worth it.

Right after the dinosaur, very big rock art panel is waiting. Maybe it lasts 0.2 mile even. Interesting to see some drawings are depicting hunting the animals (deer or bighorn sheep). It might be those Anasazi people's hope to hunt well. 

This left picture, a person in the right and left is trying to hunt the animal in the middle.

This is my favorite! Six people holding hands!

This is another hunting scene. Interesting.

Here is the longbow arch. The evening light hits perfectly. The color is amazing orange. Love this Utah rock color. We had snack under the arch. Always junk food is tasty in the wilderness.

On the way back to the trailhead, we saw very nice Alpen glow. All the rocks in the orange and then in the back snow capped mountains are reflecting orange sunshine. 

This is quite unique scenery because high mountains and desert rocks are in the same one view. Not only that, it is the special time point of sunset. Alpen glow in both two completely different geology. This moment stuck with me and remain in my heart.

Grandstaff Canyon/Morning Glory Natural Bridge

Another day hike in the Moab area, Utah.

Mr.N had done this hike before, but he was confused due to the name during planning. Yes, the name of this canyon was changed after he hiked this. Here is the history I read on the panel at the trailhead and book. 

William Grandstaff (or Granstaff), a man of African American decent, settled in the area in late 1870. He was referred to as "Negro Bill"

This canyon was called Negro Bill Canyon because of William Grandstaff, but more tourism and attention in the area led to the petition of terminology. Then it became Grandstaff canyon since 2017.

I was a little hesitant to hike this particular canyon, because the book had a warning about poison oak. I am very sensitive to poison oak. I get severe rash with itches even indirect touch with oil from the plant. For example, when I passed by a puddle near the poison oak ( I did not touch poison oak at all), I had a small splash from the puddle. I got rash on the splash shape. If you haven't had experience, it is difficult to imagine how itchy it is by poison oak-derived inflammation. It is 100 time more itchy than mosquito bites. For a week at work, I had to put ice pack on my rash to focus on working. With ice pack my nerve lose itch sensation, but without it, no way to work on anything.

At the trailhead, along with the Grandstaff history, there is a big sign warning about poison oak. I made up my mind that I turn around anytime if no way to avoid it. I cautiously walked and I didn't get any rash this time. Phew.

Natural Bridge

The hike is short (out and back 4.5 mile) and the canyon is gorgeous. The left picture is the first sight of the natural bridge going deep into the canyon. Technically it is an arch. You can go right under the bridge and inspect it from many directions. Below two pictures you can sense how close you can reach to observe the bridge. Cool and fantastic hike.