Join me for a few moments as we look in on a Walking The World adventure in the American Southwest. Our destination is the Primitive Trail in Arches National Park near Moab, Utah, a seven-mile loop showcasing a variety of outstanding scenery, fabulous viewpoints, unique geology, and unforgettable photo opportunities. After a hearty breakfast, we grab our gear, jump in the van, and make our way to the trailhead. Before we start our walk, we’ll go over our plan for the day, check to ensure we all have the appropriate clothing and gear, slather on sunscreen and chapstick, make sure our feet and socks are in good shape and ready to go, drink some water, and make sure our cameras are set to record the stunning beauty of the high canyon desert.
We have a local guide and a Walking The World guide. One leads on the trails and one brings up the rear, partly for safety and partly so everyone benefits from the knowledge each guide brings on trial techniques and the natural and
cultural history of the area.
It’s late April or early May, one of the best times to visit southeast Utah. The days are warm and sunny, the skies a brilliant blue, and the cactus and wildflowers are in bloom. While hiking, our goal isn’t to get from point A to point B as quickly as possible but to enjoy the spectacular scenery around us. We hike to experience not just to observe.
I encourage everyone to see, touch, taste, and smell the environment around them. To crush leaves of the desert sage between their fingers and smell the pungent aroma, to look for pine nuts in the cones of the pinyon pine, to search for the petrified tracks of the three-toed dinosaurs that used to roam the area, to breathe in the fragrant aroma of wild roses, and to be on the lookout for the vibrant blooms of the Claret Cup Cactus, Indian Paintbrush, and Desert Primrose.
We stop for short informative talks about geology, desert flowers, weather, trail techniques, and the Anasazi Indians who thrived here 700-1,000 years ago. Hikers always seem to want to know how the Anasazi made gin from the berries of the Utah Juniper tree. Normally, we hike three to four miles in the morning, then enjoy a lunch spread of fresh meats, cheeses, breads, veggies, and fruit, topped off with a variety of tempting desserts. Then, we’re back on the trail for another three to four miles before returning to our hotel to freshen up prior to dinner at a local restaurant. Of course, you always have the option of taking a break from hiking to explore the local town or just relax at our great
accommodations.
Join me for a few moments as we look in on a Walking The World adventure in the American Southwest. Our destination is the Primitive Trail in Arches National Park near Moab, Utah, a seven-mile loop showcasing a variety of outstanding scenery, fabulous viewpoints, unique geology, and unforgettable photo opportunities. After a hearty breakfast, we grab our gear, jump in the van, and make our way to the trailhead. Before we start our walk, we’ll go over our plan for the day, check to ensure we all have the appropriate clothing and gear, slather on sunscreen and chapstick, make sure our feet and socks are in good shape and ready to go, drink some water, and make sure our cameras are set to record the stunning beauty of the high canyon desert.
We have a local guide and a Walking The World guide. One leads on the trails and one brings up the rear, partly for safety and partly so everyone benefits from the knowledge each guide brings on trial techniques and the natural and cultural history of the area.
It’s late April or early May, one of the best times to visit southeast Utah. The days are warm and sunny, the skies a brilliant blue, and the cactus and wildflowers are in bloom. While hiking, our goal isn’t to get from point A to point B as quickly as possible but to enjoy the spectacular scenery around us. We hike to experience not just to observe.
I encourage everyone to see, touch, taste, and smell the environment around them. To crush leaves of the desert sage between their fingers and smell the pungent aroma, to look for pine nuts in the cones of the pinyon pine, to search for the petrified tracks of the three-toed dinosaurs that used to roam the area, to breathe in the fragrant aroma of wild roses, and to be on the lookout for the vibrant blooms of the Claret Cup Cactus, Indian Paintbrush, and Desert Primrose.
We stop for short informative talks about geology, desert flowers, weather, trail techniques, and the Anasazi Indians who thrived here 700-1,000 years ago. Hikers always seem to want to know how the Anasazi made gin from the berries of the Utah Juniper tree. Normally, we hike three to four miles in the morning, then enjoy a lunch spread of fresh meats, cheeses, breads, veggies, and fruit, topped off with a variety of tempting desserts. Then, we’re back on the trail for another three to four miles before returning to our hotel to freshen up prior to dinner at a local restaurant. Of course, you always have the option of taking a break from hiking to explore the local town or just relax at our great
accommodations.