Arches National Park: Double Arch

With more than 2000 arches this park is a geological marvel. National Parks in America are so well designed and here in Arches each destination is a mindfully curated experience. Being here in winter is a joy too as the park is not busy at all. 

Our visit to the Windows Section of the park was a revelation starting with the spectacular Double Arch. There is no hint of what you are going to see at the start of the short hard-packed trail and then the blue sky starts to peep out as does these two stone arches.

Approaching Double Arch, its scale is spectacular.

Double Arch is a pothole arch, they were formed from a small depression on the top of the rock mass merging with an alcove on the rock face. I do not always understand these geological forces but they are they quite awe inspiring.

Fred sitting high up in Double Arch. 
a rather precarious adventure with the slippery rock and the fall off behind him!

The Double Arch in all its grandness.

The Windows Section of Arches National Park

 

Arches National Park, Utah: and our first viewing of the iconic Delicate Arch.

Delicate Arch from the Upper Delicate Arch Viewpoint, a short sharp trail to view the Arch from across a ravine.

Our first day exploring the Arches National Park on a clear, big blue-sky day. 

Our road trip to Moab, which lies just south of the park, brings us to this time and this place-both Fred and I have always spoken about coming back to Utah and taking in the magnificence of Arches. Fred already has hundreds of photos but it's perfect to start with Delicate Arch. It is synonymous with Utah, from stamps to vehicle license plates and everything else imaginable. 

And it is completely magnificent. 

Delicate Arch in context from the viewpoint.

A quiet meditative moment, completely at peace and marvelling at the beauty of Delicate Arch.
The special aura of time, silence and scale.

PS: Thank you Adrienne for this Tennyson quote, it resonates on all levels