And Now! The Star of Our Show…

No question about it, there is a “star attraction” in Arches National Park. In fact, it has achieved downright rock star status. Not only does it have its own dedicated trail, but two overlooks as well! It graces the Utah license plate, was once featured on a postage stamp, and was a milestone on the 2002 Olympic torch route. Rock star, indeed!

As if you haven’t figured out by now, I am talking about “Delicate Arch,” the most popular attraction in Arches National Park. This striking, free standing, 65 ft high arch gets top billing in the park as a “must see,” whether via the paved walk out to the overlook, or the 3 mile hike to the base of the arch itself. I have been told the best view to be had is at sunset.

I feel as if I am going to an outdoor rock concert. There’s crowd control in the parking lot. A limited number of parking spaces are rapidly filling up before latecomers are directed to the “overflow.” People are unloading their lawn chairs, coolers, and tripods from the trunks of their cars in prep for the 1.5 mile OW trek to the “arena.” Bags are checked, camera gear loaded, and flashlights are packed for the trek back in the dark.

Historic Wolfe Ranch at Delicate Arch trail head.

Historic Wolfe Ranch at Delicate Arch trail head.

Cairns mark the trail up the slick-rock face.

Cairns mark the trail up the slick-rock face.

It’s a long schlep up the switchbacks which transition to a steep slick rock slope toward the arena. The setting sun is hot on my back, and there is not a whiff of breeze. The steady string of people gravitate to the worn path in the slick rock as if it were a moving sidewalk, even though the vast rock dome dictates no boundaries. It’s hot, and I am wondering if the star of the show is even worth it. Maybe the rock star has been over-hyped like a Justin Bieber. All hat and no cattle. Or is past his prime, like a 70 year old Mick Jagger, still trying to strut across the stage looking like an old queen wearing a feather boa. Maybe he’s much shorter in person. But still the star is iconic, so I feel I must go…

As I approach the arena, the stage is well hidden. I can hear the sounds of the crowd, but I can’t yet see them. As I skirt around the outside of the arena, the path narrows to a steep ledge cut in the rock.IMG_1737

I get a glimpse of a window opening overhead that looks down onto the stage, but it requires some scaling up the slick rock for a glimpse of the star. I decide to go for it, not knowing what lies around the ledge. The lights are coming up on the show and the crowd might rush the stage, so I had better try to get a photo with the star while I can.

"Fans" climbing up to get a look at the arch through another arch.

“Fans” climbing up to get a look at the arch through another arch.

View of Delicate Arch through a distant arch along the trail.

View of Delicate Arch through a distant arch along the trail.

Not close enough to the "star."  Must push on!

Not close enough to the “star.” Must push on!

Finally, I crest the ridge and see the crowd gathering. The media is in place with cameras firing. I get my first unobstructed view of the star, and he is every bit as magnificent and spell binding as all the pop magazines have described. I am in awe.

The audience

The audience

Media Section

Media Section

 

Seeing the "arena" makes the structure even more impressive.

Seeing the “arena” makes the structure even more impressive.

The house lights dim. The red spotlight comes up creating a vermillion glow across the arena. Typical restless chants come up over the audience, “DOWN IN FRONT!” IMG_1750

Setting sun lights up the arch in vermillion glow.

Setting sun lights up the arch in vermillion glow.

I take my seat amongst the crowd and watch as others take turns running up on stage to get their photo with the rock star. I pride myself in being reserved enough not to be a star-struck groupie. I snub and scorn the camera hogs that just can’t resist mugging for the camera, or even worse, asking the rock star for an autograph. Such shameless, narcissistic….Okay, well, maybe just one quick side shot. IMG_1752

Oh, what the hell! “GET OUTTA THE WAY! IT’S MY TURN!!!!!”IMG_1758

"The Banger Sisters" meet Led Zeppelin's Robert Plant.

“The Banger Sisters” meet Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant.

“And she’s buuuuuying a stairway…..to heaven”

16 thoughts on “And Now! The Star of Our Show…

  1. Wow – nice shots – loved the ones of you imbedded into the aura especially!

    Tan-gently speaking (as I most often do) for some reason the final star of the show shot sparked a memory of our childhood. I wonder why it was that I, unlike all my teenage friends didn’t like Led Zeppelin and you did? Growing up in that old Victorian farm house with the luxury of more rooms than we knew what to do with, most memorable from being conveniently cooled in the winter and warmed in the summer by the wicked Texas weather elements, and while sleeping in the room right above you, we were left to our own music devices yet still had to always share our respective entertainment sources as our tunes poured out the frequently open windows and always-leaky canvased-over ship-lap walls.

    Never the two shall meet was our theme back then while I listened to as many distant repeats of “I Got You Babe” in my own version of Ground Hog Day and as you listened to the same of “Save Your Heart for Me” from Gary Lewis & the Playboys. Then the unfathomable happened as we began to mature. How strange it was that you passed to me Leon Russell and I passed you Barbara Streisand (I can’t admit my fan-ship of her to too many people). And it wasn’t until years later that we would admit to swapping out fan-ship of each others respective music tastes (though my gender prohibits my admitting having ever liked Barbara Streisand 😉 ). Still, it was almost like we couldn’t allow our rival of a sibling to know we had picked up on the others’ music taste.

    As we mellowed over the years and while now thinking hard, it may be Joni and Norah being queued up on the “player of the day” that brings a smile to the others face when we take time out to sit down together for a glass of wine. For that you might say we have developed a “Whole lotta love”….. “Way-ee down deep inside …..” ;-).

  2. Glad you had nice weather for your hike to the Delicate Arch. While we were there, I had to ask a fellow to move somewhere else to talk on his phone besides under the arch!!! Can you imagine…he had no idea what I was talking about at first, then his son yelled at him!

    Love you narrative of your hike:) The sunset, brilliant, red arch is gorgeous!

  3. The national parks you’ve been exploring in Utah are some of my favorites, particularly Arches and Capitol Reef. I love this analogy you make to a rockstar and concert for Delicate Arch!

    I don’t read the blogs everyday so I’m slightly confused on who is out of sequence. The most recent post on Box Canyon indicates you may be in Zion at the same time you are exploring Arches. Have you become a time traveler in your new-found retirement bliss?

  4. How in the world did you ever get that final shot. That is just fantastic. What a great piece you’ve written here. I didn’t think Delicate was as Delicate as landscape but still it was fantastic. Our shortened trip forced us to have to see it from afar. We did experience the crowds for the opening act at Mesa Arch in Canyonlands. The media were in the front row and would now “get down”. Really irritating. On a separate note, I too am so sorry we didn’t grab a day together when you were in Virginia and I was too.

  5. Wow, now you’ve gotten to do your superstar pose under 2 magnificent arches– I think it may be becoming your new trademark– Suzanne Superstar under Half Dome, Suzanne Superstar under Mt. Rushmore… you go girl! Ha ha!

  6. Have loved your series from Arches NP as well as Lynne’s from Minnie Winnie. It is one of the best places we have visited. And the reference to Mick Jagger is now embedded in my mind just at the Delicate Arch has been since first seeing it in 1999. Photos from both of you are awesome.

  7. Brought back a flood of memories. I clambered up to the base of the arch just a little late for the glow – it was almost dark – shot my ONE remaining picture on my roll of film (forgot to bring an extra!!!), and started down in the almost-darkness. A never-to-be-forgotten moment, as I’m sure yours will be, too.

    Virtual hugs,

    Judie

  8. I’ve been to Delicate a dozen time and never was it so crowed as in your photos!!! All good thing get discovered I guess.
    Mr. Plant looks good, for an aging rock star. Him and Tyler and Jagger carry the torch for aging boomers as we slowly convert nursing home Muzak from Benny Goodman and Lawrence Welk to 60’s Rock and Roll.
    You are falling behind real time, my dear :)) Better take some time off Adventure Seeking…
    Box Canyon Mark

  9. I am in awe of your trip to the arch. I have to look at it twice before being able to express my opinion. My ignorance of the arch area of Utah is underwhelming but much less than before reading your blog. The well photographed story is excellent and the build up to the picture of the arch as the sun set just perfect. We both enjoyed the entire experience. Coming out of the amphitheater and back to the parking lot by flashlight would have been an interesting story by itself.
    Loved Don’s comment above. No problem in being a Streisand fan. I loved her work in the mid sixties before she became BARBARA the obnoxious one.
    peace and thanks.

  10. John — Thankfully, the crowds seemed to all gravitate to that one spot in my photo, and not to the arch itself!

    Donald — Loved your look back. We may not have always been on the same sheet music page, but one thing for sure, we both share a love of music! “,mmm, mmm…Memories….”

    Pam – We did have a “poser” for a while. A young girl doing a backward arch under the arch! Thankfully she waited until after sunset!

    Jeanne — You make me laugh. Yes, I am having so much fun in retirement that I had to clone myself! I am so far behind on the blog it is pitiful, but I don’t want to skip anything, because it will be gone from my memory bank by next month!

    Dave — It really was a gem, despite the admirers! Couldn’t expect to have such a beauty all to myself, I suppose…

    Nina — A hiking nutter, yes, but I keep asking my hiking pals, “Don’t you think that rock looks like a lighthouse?” 😉

    Lisa — I agree, it was impressive in its symmetry.

    Sherry — I am glad you and David at least got to see it afar. We had the same at Mesa arch. Someone brought a map to find all the landmarks, so their group parked under the arch with the map to identify and debate every rock on the horizon!

    Lynne — No, I think the pose needs to be preserved as the “Wow, this is one wide hole!” pose.

    Sandy — Thanks for the nice comment, and for following along!

    Hi, Ingrid — Nice to see you back. Thanks for the comment!

    Judie — I love that “one last shot.” It must have been a relief to have captured it when the film was developed back before the days of instant gratification.

    BC Mark — Have you ever known me to NOT be falling behind real time? Sands in the hour glass are drifting as with the golden leaves on the cottonwoods. No time to stop now! Forward! MARCH! 😉

    Allen — I do still love Streisand, but only her old stuff. Her voice just didn’t transition well for me either. But I do love her oldies! Thanks for the nice comment!

  11. Gorgeous … inspirational and fun … all hat and no cattle.. HAHaaaaaa

    I luv you! I’m about caught up with ya … every single post ~ gorgeous photography! and well the views ain’t bad! 😉

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