Excited to check out the rocks in the dawn light, I got up early and explored while others slept. The sandstone is perfect for scrambling around on – in bare feet it’s got almost limitless friction, and you can get up high onto outcrops and into arches all over the place.
Before it got too hot, we all walked the Devils Garden loop – a 6 mile hike/scramble through yet more mind blowing scenery just to the north of the campground. I was surprised at how technical and sometimes exposed the trail was. Normally Americans put barriers and signs up all over the place, but out here it’s just a few cairns marking the trail along thin arêtes, down steep sandstone faces and along precipitous edges.
Everyone has to come here at some point in their life. It’s incredible.
Starving after our expedition, we rustled up a gourmet egg muffin lunch at the picnic site, trying to tuck under the shade of a tree in the baking heat. Then back into Moab for fuel, and onwards to Canyonlands!
We found a peaceful camp spot at Horsethief campground, just before the entrance to the park, set up the tarp as an awning, chilled out for the afternoon and then wandered off into the desert for an incredible sunset. A couple of photos from Jon:
Road and Ocean 