When Lynne and I were caravanning to Big Bend last March, we celebrated her birthday with a trip to the “Star Party” at the McDonald Observatory. So since my birthday just passed, she kindly offered to reciprocate with a Ranger-led tour through the Fiery Furnace in Arches National Park. Little did either of us know that this trip books up months in advance. They were sold out straight through the end of the season’s online availability.

“Fiery Furnace,” a labyrinth of fins, spires, and canyon walls.

However, serendipity intervened as I was standing at the Ranger desk in the Visitors Center, asking questions about the area hikes. Lynne/Ethel was over in the bookstore with her nose in a photography book. “We really had hoped to do the Fiery Furnace, but I understand it’s booked solid. Anything in the same area?” “Well, you are in luck! Just this minute, a school group released five spaces on the hike at 10:30am tomorrow. If you want them, you’d better act fast!”   I look nervously back over my shoulder at the line behind me, estimating how fast I can race back over to the bookstore and grab Lynne. We return to stand anxiously peering over the shoulders of the people now in front of us in line, calculating. They are taking two tickets. Will we be able to get to the front of the line while there are still two remaining? SCORE!

Though once we have secured the tickets, we are not so sure as the Ranger pulls out a two-sided laminated 8 1/2 X 11 page of photos, showing all the obstacles we must be able to crawl over, stoop under, leap across, slide down, or squeeze through! And once you begin the 2 mile, 2 1/2 to 3 hour tour, there is no turning back. :-O

The words “school group” haven’t sunken in just yet though, until we get to the trail head. We are the first two to arrive, so I begin to pace with angst over just what kind of school group will it be. There will be twenty of them, and apparently they are all coming together. Visions of a big yellow school bus screeching into the parking lot, screaming sweaty bodies, arms flailing out the windows, yelling prepubescent voices competing over each other for air time. GOD, the never-ending anticipation in the parking lot is painful!

Soon three car loads of 13 year olds pull up and begin piling out of the cars, along with their three young, fit chaperones, all assembling their gear. I look at Lynne and say “Where are all the old people???”

Entering “the furnace.”

“Skull Arch”

The first clue that this is no ordinary school group is when the teacher and main group leader, Mr. Wiley comes over to say that he is there to look out for the group, but he is also going to look out for us to make sure we have an enjoyable hike. HUH?? The next clue is the orderly fashion in which they all line up at the toilets in single file. When Ranger Alice, who will be leading our hike asks for their attention, silence falls over the crowd. Ranger Alice begins our orientation of why it is important to stay on the trail, followed by questions. “Why don’t we want to ‘bust the crust?” Half a dozen hands fly up. “Because the crust contains cryptobiotic soil, which contains cyanobacteria to support plant growth.” Who ARE these people?

Turns out it is a “Challenge for Excellence” class, whose focus is on Science and Technology. They must have recommendations from multiple teachers to participate in this annual week-long field trip to Arches NP. They are studying all aspects of science, geology, and even a little astronomy thrown in.

These kids are also POLITE! When Ranger Alice tells them to let us geezers go in front to help set the pace, they all fall out of single file and wait for us to pass to the front. On more than one occasion, I was offered a helping hand from one of the young boys….helping the old lady cross the chasm!

Anyone who knows me knows I am not a big fan of “the children.”  But even with 20-thirteen year olds along, the hike was a blast. I would prefer this type of camaraderie over a group of 20 assorted adults, most with large egos and attitudes.  We learned almost as much from the kids as we did from Ranger Alice. But the real fun came in learning new scrambling skills.

The canyon was steep in some parts.

We learned how to walk along the walls like “spiders” or scoot along on our butts using all fours like “scorpions.” (I actually put this skill to good use later, when I found myself in between two narrow canyon walls that required gaining height to exit.)

Ranger Alice demonstrates how to get into the “Spider position.”

And of course, there was the “penguin” to walk the length of the chasm.

The Penguin Walk. I feel like I am playing “Follow the Leader” all over again. 😉

As we neared the end of the hike, Ranger Alice saved the best for last; “Surprise Arch.” She takes a seat over in the corner, and asks everyone to get comfortable in the large rock “room” that looks like a stone-age theater. Take off their backpacks. Get quiet, lie back on the cool slick rock stone, and stare up at Surprise Arch overhead. Then she pulls out her well worn copy of Edward Abbey’s “Dessert Solitaire,” and reads from the book.

“For a little while we are again able to see, as the child sees, a world of marvels. For a few moments we discover that nothing can be taken for granted, for if this ring of stone is marvelous then all which shaped it is marvelous, and our journey here on earth, able to see and touch and hear in the midst of tangible and mysterious things-in-themselves, is the most strange and daring of all adventures.”

The “stone-age theater” under Surprise Arch

Looking up at the arch overhead.

As we exit the labyrinth of unmarked trails through the Fiery Furnace, I tell Mr. Wiley that he is doing a wonderful service by introducing this group of kids to the wonders of nature. I also asked him to tell their parents what a joy it was to meet such a well mannered group of kids. “I have renewed faith in the future of our nation, having spent time with your Challenge for Excellence Class!”

Thanks, Lynne, for such a memorable birthday gift!