quest for arches

H and I both like books and maps.  We have a decent collection of hiking materials and are always happy to add to it.  I especially like finding odd little locally-published hiking guides at Back of Beyond, like a pamphlet and corresponding map to the Sand Flats Recreation Area.  The tricky part about these materials is that they were published in the early 1990s, before Moab really got discovered and all the new trails were put in.  This can make following the guides difficult as the landmarks and roads are often no longer there or new roads and trails have been put in after the book was printed.

Cute little Low Arch!

We discovered this challenge back in May, when we tried to find Pocket Arch.  Since that unsuccessful (but still scenic) meander, H found a booklet online devoted to all the arches in the Sand Flats area, complete with GPS coordinates.  On Monday, armed with our GPS, map and both books, we set out to find Pocket Arch.  Spoiler alert:  we were again unsuccessful.

Firstly, new campsites have been put in since our booklet was written so it took us a while to find the old road across the sagebrush meadow and out to the slickrock.  Once on the rock, we used the GPS to hone in on our goal, moving steadily towards the edge of the North Fork of Millcreek Canyon.  At first the booklet was right on:  she said she found Low Arch en route to Pocket Arch ... lo and behold, we found Low Arch!

From there, however, the GPS coordinates didn't make sense: we followed them right to the edge of the cliff where, even peering over the edge, we couldn't see anything that looked like Pocket Arch.  We went back and forth a bit (putting Milton on his leash when we were along the cliff edge) but couldn't see anything and couldn't find a way down into the canyon.  Curses, foiled again!

We halfheartedly tried to find a different arch and then had to laugh when we ended up out on the same section of Fins N Things that we had explored in November, when we actually found Little Eagle Arch.  It was starting to get late in the day so we gave up our quest for the day.  But we are determined to find Pocket Arch: H found some additional information online when we got back home and one of these days we're going to get to it - it's a matter of pride at this point.

Hike stats: 5.63 miles; 2:10 and 2.6 m.p.h. moving average / 2:38 and 2.1 m.p.h. overall; 840' elevation