+

This was our first hike to see an arch on this trip, so was the excitement. We headed out from the hotel upon the check-in right after 5PM after getting some valuable info from the front desk about the vicinity area where we stayed. The sun was high still in the sky, we made a second stop at the trail head.

The trail took us uphill right from the start, then leveled off. There was a family with young children going the same direction, I passed them quickly then there was no one around. We got to make to the bridge before twilight, about less than a mile ahead.

The trail dropped down to the water run-off level, winding through a long gorge. The rock walls surrounded highly around. No soul around on the trail as the sun came down slowly, some trail direction was not well marked (P1080486.jpg), one had to make good judgment to move forward to the right direction toward the bridge. There was quietness around, no wind, just rocks, no one around. The trail went uphill through a bowl area through the gorge, no sight of the bridge yet. After going up to a small hump, the scenery opened up by a bowl and the bridge was right in front of me, against its rocky walls.

The bridge was massive in peculiar, colossal shaped rocks and ancient colors, its surroundings appeared to have a sacred ambiance, secluded from the rest from the landscape. Visitors felt like being in a science movie of the alien world. A family with young children, whom I passed before, caught up at the foot of the arch, then left after a shơrt while. Then silence took over, the light was low touching the top of the rocks in the bowl. The place had a mystery ambience in the low light. We headed out back on to the trail.


+ +