A Oct. 2014 - Moab Family Trip

[jman]

Hello Bogley Family!

I have finally put our family's trips pics together and hopefully it can help other families who are preparing other family trips to the region.

So every year, our family tries to do "the whole family" vacation. A couple years ago it was Hawaii, last year it was San Diego, and this year it was Moab. Now, we aren't rich by any means and we all pay our own way. That way it keeps every honest, and essentially you do-what-you-want, eat-where-you-want, mentality perseveres.

A few months back my Mother reserved a townhome at the "Cottonwoods" which is directly south of the Moab Hospital. HIGHLY recommended! Fairy inexpensive, 3 bedrooms (2 with queens, and 2 twins), 2 pull-out twin beds for the family room, 2 bathroom (2 showers), our own personal hottub (each condo has their own), a closing garage, good size kitchen, and spacious living room! We were living like royalty! And the best part, was it was 3 blocks from downtown; a easy walk to Pasta Jays (the best place in Moab for Italian) and a very quite neighborhood (not noisy neighbors that are literally 10 feet away from your tent, or noisy neighbors upstairs in the hotel, or the roar of jeeps and 4x4s ALL DAY LONG....just the perfect getaway for a VERY BUSY U.E.A. weekend.


First on the docket was Delicate Arch.

Now I have hiked Delicate Arch probably 5 times in my life and I have never seen it this busy! The parking was insane. We parked probably 1/2 mile away from the TH, along with everybody else...

Here's a few pics:

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And a few more:

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After a short lunch at the arch, we returned the while and threw a few elbows to get our back down to our vehicles. About a 3 hour round-trip. And a LOT of frustrated parents with their kids (who would not move or hike).


Once we got back, some people returned to the townhome while a few of us did a few more things while we were in Arches and had plenty of daylight to burn!


We took a detour and did the Devil's Garden Loop. Again, a zoo of people!

And here are those pics:

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After that hike, we returned to go do one more "secret" hike that is right off that road near Park Avenue, which I discovered a while back. Which I am finally revealing to you! Enjoy!

So this is what I call the "Park Avenue 'Lake'". The climb (5.7 with exposure) up to it will keep post people at bay. Unless, you have someone who can climb a 5.7 who then can toss a rope down to belay everyone else up. If you are an experienced canyoneer, then you can do this, although it might be intimidating for some.

I'm surprised more people don't know about this, given the vicinity! It's probably the largest pothole in the Park Avenue area! It stores a LOT of water. It's an oasis - but there are no trees, just bushes and a few grasses. But that doesn't make this place any less special. If you want a great place to escape the heat, or have a R&R stop from the blistering heat, or to have a picnic up there - have at it! It's perfect for it!

There is only one way in to this place, and on all-sides you are completely surrounded by the sandstone walls.

If you visit it - please treat it with respect!!

Heck, I'll even bet that the Arches Rangers don't even know about it! HOWEVER, with the new arches rules - there is NO SWIMMING allowed.

the lake
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a huge smile on my face as I'm pretty proud of myself for finding this gem!
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Park Avenue parking lot below. You can see where this place is from this point of view.
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And here is the map to it!

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=zEeZRppFyXuc.k2RXqCjss89M



Part 2 - Will come tomorrow night - which includes Corona Arch (rappelling!) and Pleiades Canyon in the La Sal Mountains.

[Scott P]

Nice report. Looks crowded!


The climb (5.7 with exposure) up to it will keep post people at bay.

I haven't been there in a few years (maybe five or six?), but I don't remember it as being as hard as 5.7. Maybe 5.3? Does anyone else have an opinion as to the difficulty?



It's probably the largest pothole in the Park Avenue area! It stores a LOT of water.

Alas, I have hoped to see it full of water, but every time I've been there it's been dry or nearly dry. I guess now is a good time to go see it.

Anyway, great report. I'm looking forward to the rest.

[jman]

Nice report. Looks crowded!



I haven't been there in a few years (maybe five or six?), but I don't remember it as being as hard as 5.7. Maybe 5.3? Does anyone else have an opinion as to the difficulty?

Hmm...on second thought and looking at the pics again, it probably does range between the 5.4 to 5.5 range. But there is a spot where a 5.7 would qualify. I guess it depends on where you climb up at.

And...I'm not surprised that you have been here. ha ha.

When I was there in April - there was probably a foot or two more water than is pictured here. And in July, there was water (about the same pictured here) and two weeks ago there was water too. It's funny though, Google Earth has it pictured when it's dry too. I've only seen it when it has water. Go figure.

More to come later!

[Scott P]

It's funny though, Google Earth has it pictured when it's dry too.

I think what popularized it was that the previous Google Earth images showed it full of water. Before Google Earth, I don't think many people knew it was there.

Anyway, I did find my trip report with the pool (see November 6), if you are interested in reading it:

http://www.summitpost.org/arches-and-behind-the-rocks-photo-trip-report-november-6-7-2009/572099

In the report, it is referred to as the "swimming pool", but your name of "Park Avenue Lake" is better since swimming is no longer allowed.

[Sombeech]

Wow that's pretty crazy. UEA weekend is always hoppin' down there though.

I'll bet it was fun for the photographers waiting for an empty Delicate Arch to shoot without somebody camping under it :haha:

It would get to the point sometimes where people would just sit under the arch, oblivious to the hordes shooting it, sitting, waiting, while the cute young outdoorsy couple shot their yoga poses under the arch 15 minutes at a time. The crowd would start yelling "MOVE OUT OF THE SHOT!"

[Sandstone Addiction]

Loved your TR! :2thumbs:

Beautiful pics.

That is a LOT of people! I wonder if there is a single day in the year that there isn't someone at Delicate Arch? I hiked there once on a cold December day with some snow on the ground and there was still a few people up there...did get a fantastic twilight shot with snow on the arch though.

[jman]

Loved your TR! :2thumbs:

Beautiful pics.

That is a LOT of people! I wonder if there is a single day in the year that there isn't someone at Delicate Arch? I hiked there once on a cold December day with some snow on the ground and there was still a few people up there...did get a fantastic twilight shot with snow on the arch though.

Thanks Dave!

Yea, it was crazy! And those Moabites need to fix the road coming into town! Seriously a 1 lane road for 2 miles before it branches into two finally?! Frustrating! It's quite amazing how quiet the town is just a few blocks away from Main Street.

Yeah, tip to the wise. Avoid delicate arch on UEA weekend.

Arches, park avenue, and Devils garden seemed about normal otherwise. And we were alone at Pleiades (which is always nice).

[jman]

Sorry guys, I got preoccupied with other things and then forgot about this. Well, here is the last part.

The next morning, the family wanted to hike up to Corona Arch. Just a few of us have hiked it and so it would be a treat to have the rest of the family join in.

My older brother wanted to add some excitement to the hike and wanted to rappel down the arch. Personally, I have rappelled the over arch about 6 times now. And the only other sibling who has rappelled it too was my oldest sister. My older brother Brian has canyoneered with me a few times over the years (Subway, Spry, Pinecreek, and Keyhole canyons in Zion). So adding this rappel should be piece of cake for him.

Climbing to the top of the arch is a bit intimidating to climbing noobs and pros. It is best to protect this climb up with a 100 ft of rope. The rappel itself of the arch is anchored by 3 bolts on top and from memory is about 120ft in height. However, there are about 7 bolts up there that have been established for the infamous Corona Arch Swing. The 120ft may not be exact so double-check other sources before attempting it.

My brother was first down and handled it like a pro. He clipped in, said a few curse words and some "i hate you for making me do this" under-his-breath remarks, then went over the edge. By this time, there was maybe 50+ people who were at the bottom who were in awe as he rappelled and gave a few whoops and cheers when he landed.

Next, came my sister who had a rough time starting as there was too much friction (an ATC, single-strand, on a 9.1mm rope). It wasn't "too much friction" as it was about the rappelling technique. She finally made it over the edge and safely landed.

I was last to rappel and by the time I clipped in the audience was bored and dispersed. ha ha. All was well and made a safe landiing while my young niece and nephew's eyes were glued on me the entire time. It will be fun to ask them in about 10+ years if they remember us rappelling it...

Anyways, here are a few pics from that adventure.
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After returning back to our townhome, having lunch and taking a 2 hour nap, I asked my siblings if they were ready for the next adventure - Pleiades Canyon. This jewel of a canyon, found near the top of the La-Sal Mountains is a short canyon route that most people can do in under an hour (just the canyon, not the hike in and out). This canyon is well-hidden by the canopy of the tall aspen trees and what makes this canyon special is the fact that a perrenial stream flows through it all year-round and cascades down 7 waterfalls, which is appropriately named after the star constellation - Pleiades - the 7 sisters.

Here are the pics from that adventure:

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