The
Arches area was first brought to the attention of the National Park Service by
Frank A. Wadleigh around September 1923. The following year, additional
support for the monument idea came from Laurence Gould, a University of
Michigan graduate. Finally in April 1929, shortly after his inauguration,
President Herbert Hoover signed a presidential proclamation creating Arches
National Monument, consisting of two comparatively small, disconnected
sections.
In
late 1938, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a proclamation which enlarged
Arches to protect additional scenic features and permit development of
facilities to promote tourism. In early 1969, just before leaving office,
President Lyndon B. Johnson signed a proclamation substantially enlarging
Arches. Two years later, President Richard Nixon signed legislation enacted by
Congress which significantly reduced the total area enclosed, but changed its
status to a National Park.
The
colossal monoliths, outcropping, fins, bluffs, and fallen rubble are a
testament to the ever-changing landscape, and their time humble the meager 80+
years that we might be around to witness it. One can stand in front of
the many iconic monuments, read their name, learn their geology, but standing
there hardly allows for the comprehension of the wonders that abound in this
national park.
Up
high on a rock a lone individual sits in the sun, oblivious to those around him
as he finds ways to connect himself to this magical setting. From where I
am I can't hear him, and that's another marvelous thing about these great
outdoors...there is a solitude that blankets you. Your eyes drink in an
overwhelming array of sights, but somehow the body slows things down to give
all the senses a chance to coordinate.
Everywhere
one turns, a new and different experience. On the cloudless day that we
were in the park, the palette of colors was dominated by reds, oranges, greens,
and blues. Many shapes had names...Park Avenue, The Three Gossips, Sheep’s
Rock, etc... and yet there were many where the imagination allowed for your own
personal observations and naming. This was part of the joy of touring the
park...it was reminiscent of those days as a child lying on your back looking
up at the clouds and seeing many things...this was so similar.
A
drive through this national park presents many opportunities to view
spectacular geological formations from the roads and parking areas. In
addition, many miles of hiking were available to those who want to get away
from the crowds and enjoy the peace and solitude that national parks are famous
for.
Our
trip included a most special opportunity—a ranger-led tour through a
permit-only area referred to as the Fiery Furnace. This maze of vertical
fin structures is navigable by squeezing through openings, straddling fissures
and openings, and scrambling and climbing over a variety of physical
obstacles. This hike is not for the faint of heart, nor for those not
accustomed to physical exertion. It was difficult to judge one's
readiness for the hike based on the video that the Park Service has on their
website, and consequently there were a couple people on our group that would
probably not go on this hike again given the chance.
What
was supposed to take approximately three hours took nearly double that.
Yet, there was never a time when I got bored or ran out of things to look at or
photograph. The payoff for being in the Fiery Furnace is a view that few
see--hidden arches, panoramic glimpses, rare plants, and an abundance of
twisting and turning "paths". That's the other thing...there
are not really paths in the Fiery Furnace. One really needs to be with a
guide or risk getting lost. What an adventure!
Arches
National Park is a place I will return to again. Like so many places one
visits, a couple of days often is just not enough. So it was here
too. Not only were there more things to see, but being the great
outdoors, there are seasonal patterns that would change the conditions and
present completely different experiences.
To see my entire collection of images from Arches National Park, visit my website gallery at: http://www.costamesaphotography.com/National-Parks/Arches-Utah/
No comments:
Post a Comment