Arches National Park: Day One

After leaving Snowmass just before noon, we made the four hour drive to Moab to visit Arches National Park, with a quick stop in Glenwood Springs for a Target and Sports Authority run. We needed snacks, a hat for Finley (she decided her old hat was too tight) and socks for me since I forgot to pack any. We stopped at a Mexican place for a very late lunch in Moab before we checked into our hotel. We geared up and headed straight out for Arches National Park. After a flash of our annual pass, we were in. We made a quick stop to the Visitor's Center and decided that we would hit the Windows Section first. This included the Windows Arches (both north and south) and the Turret Arch. We waited our turn for a photo op at the North Arch and I climbed up with Finley. As soon as we reached the top, Finley's hat blew off and down the other side of the arch. I was yelling at her to stay put, Clifton was clueless yards away trying to take a photo and I was climbing down the other side of the arch while watching her hat blow further and further away. I eventually got to it, Finley was fine by herself at the top and then a nice family offered to snap a photo of all of us together. We walked down to South Arch and Finley was complaining about her socks and shoes. Turns out climbing may have not been the best idea for her first wear of her new hiking shoes. Clifton carried her to Turret Arch. There was a guy climbing up in the circular arch, which Finley thought was really neat. We then drove through the Parade of Elephants on our way to the Balanced Rock. We did a quick walking tour around Balanced Rock with Finley in her favorite sandals instead of the hiking shoes. Our next stop was the view point for Park Avenue. There was a one mile hike through the canyon that Finley insisted she wanted to do the next morning. It was getting late and we headed back to Moab to rest up for our full Saturday at Arches National Park.