sand flats meander

We figured we were probably crazy for going back down to Moab for Memorial Day weekend - historically the busiest weekend of the year there, especially for the national parks - but since hiking and MTBing in northern Utah was curtailed due to the wet conditions (more rain! more snow!), we figured we'd go down anyway and hope to see the sun for a change.

Memorial Day weekend snowstorm

So Friday morning we got up at 5 a.m., were on the road by 5:45 a.m. and rolled into Moab at 9:30 a.m.  It was raining all the way from Sandy to Wellington, except for the half hour's worth of snowstorm from Soldier Summit to Helper.  Delightful weather.  Come to the desert, they said, it's warm and dry. 

Pothole up in the sandstone fins

After we got situated, we left Milton behind to sleep off the remnants of his Dramamine dose and drove up to the Sand Flats Recreation Area to look for Pocket Arch.  We had researched it: this arch was on our map, but there was no trail indicated; the hike to the arch was described in our book, but it was all but incomprehensible.

Fresh snow on the La Sals

We enjoyed our explorations along the stone fins regardless - we could go anywhere, as long as we stayed on the rock, and there was no one else up there with us.  The views were, of course, wonderful as the sun peeked in and out of the clouds.

Playing around on the slickrock

After our hike, we talked in the parking lot with 19 year-old Emmett and 20 year-old Lily from Alberta, Canada, who were on a month-long Rocky Mountains road trip, climbing and MTBing and living out of their homemade camper-minivan.  Later, we got cleaned up and walked to Woody's for a quick pre-dinner beer and the bartender was filling our pitcher before we even got to our chairs.  It was then a quiet night in - and early to bed as we had a plan to get up and get going early in the morning.

You can't tell but this is steep

Hike stats:  3.52 miles; 2:09 total time with 2.3 m.p.h. moving average