May 19, 2005: Plan to stay a few days if you're on a serious photo trip to Arches. The reason for this is that the major points of interest are all several miles apart from each other; and not all are easily accessible by car. Some are only accessible on foot or by unpaved backroads.

This is on the trail through Devil's Garden, leading to Skyline Arch.

Skyline Arch, which has the longest span of its kind in the world. A few years ago, more rock broke off from its underneath part. How much longer will this arch last?

Here's where I hung out when I wasn't in the park. If you have a notebook computer, this is the place to go; both Eddie McStiff's restaurant (which brews a good microbeer) and Mondo Cafe (in the same plaza) have free wireless internet. Also in the same plaza are a copy center, a used book store and a music store. The town of Moab is a mecca for cyclists, rock climbers, and outdoor sportsmen of all stripes as well as neo-hippies and New Agers, and probably has the leanest population of Americans of any town I've seen. (...Lots of wiry long-haired dudes here...)

Rt. 128 east leading out of the park, along the Colorado River. There was a flood watch for the region because the weather was finally starting to get hot, causing snowmelt in the La Sal mountains. (Note the river looking muddy).