Rethinking Wall Arch
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1 National Park Service Visitor Guide U.S. Department of the Interior Arches National Park HIkING INformA 2010, No. 1 tIoN pageS 4 & 5 Rethinking Wall Arch SOmEtimes i’m cOnSidered bad luck. considering. beyond the sadness or things have a tendency to fall sense of loss that the collapse might wherever i work. in Sacramento, evoke, there is a realization that storms toppled trees in my agency’s something will eventually fill the void back yard more than once. When i where the arch once stood. Simply delivered pizza in college, a large iron put, another answer to the question parking gate inexplicably crashed “Why?” is, “So nature can make room to the ground within inches of my for something else.” car. later, i began my national Park Service career at carlsbad caverns, consider this: Arches national Park where a once in a lifetime rock slide contains a lot of rocks. the area is a occurred shortly before my arrival. virtual layer cake of rock miles thick, a So when i drove into moab on celebration of sandstones, mudstones, August 5, 2008 to start my new job at shales, salts, and limestones all Wall Arch (before) Arches, people who knew me were stacked one upon another. Each layer not surprised when they heard that 1776. And, most notably, it was still relentlessly ate away at the natural represents a different environment an arch had collapsed that exact same there on August 4 when everybody calcium “cement” holding the arch’s that existed here in the past. A band of morning. went to bed. sand grains together. Eventually limestone might indicate the presence there wasn’t enough of this cement of an inland sea complete with colorful Everyone else, however, was pretty So when the remains of the ancient left to withstand the pull of gravity, reefs. A section of sandstone tells shocked. After all, Wall Arch had arch were found resting peacefully on and so the whole structure finally the story of wind-blown dunes from spanned a 71-foot gap in the rock the Devils Garden hiking trail the next came crashing down. it’s a bit like a time that was even drier than it is since time immemorial. it was morning, it came as no surprise that sucking on a mint or a candy cane: it today. A layer of shale contains the already curving gracefully when the the main question surrounding the slowly dissolves in your mouth but will relics of a swampy river floodplain Egyptian pyramids were still under collapse was “Why?” usually break up into pieces before it’s ruled by dinosaurs and giant trees. construction. it stood defiantly completely gone. taken together, these layers reveal while the mighty Roman Empire was One answer is fairly straightforward. a picture of a Planet Earth that is collapsing an ocean away. it was still Erosion and gravity reign supreme Whatever the immediate cause, forever changing on a time scale holding strong when the Declaration over sandstone. For countless eons, though, there is also a more hidden beyond human comprehension. As of independence was being signed in rain, ice, and groundwater slowly but dimension to the incident worth story continues on page 3... EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA YOUR EXPERIENCE Hours of operation Arches is open every day of the year, 24 hours a day. The visitor center is open daily (except December 25) during the following hours: Spring through october 2010 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Moab, UT 84532 UT Moab, PO Box 907 Box PO November 2010 through Spring 2011 Arches National Park National Arches 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. U.S. Department of the Interior the of Department U.S. National Park Service Park National National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior General information CAmping BackPACkING traveling witH PetS Devils Garden campground has 52 sites Arches is a relatively small park, with very Activities with pets are limited at Arches. Pets and is located 18 miles from the park few areas far enough from roads to qualify are not allowed on hiking trails, at overlooks Arches Visitor Guide entrance. the campground fills daily as “backcountry.” Outside the developed or anywhere in the backcountry. Pets may between march and October. tables and visitor area there are no designated trails, accompany visitors in the developed camp- Published by fire rings are provided in each site. Water campsites, or reliable water sources. if you’d ground, and may be walked in the park along Canyonlands Natural History Association, and flush toilets are available in several like to backpack, consider nearby places like paved roads. Pets must be leashed at all times a not-for-profit organization that assists locations. canyonlands national Park that offer more when outside a vehicle. For your pets’ safety, the National Park Service in its educational, extensive backcountry opportunities. if do not leave them in vehicles when outside interpretive and scientific programs. For more individual sites are $20 per night. you’d like to backpack, obtain a backcountry temperatures are above 65F: they can die of information, see the back page. Wood gathering and ground fires are permit at the visitor center. heat exhaustion. there are two kennels with prohibited. Wood may be purchased boarding services in moab: Park mailing Address from campground hosts march through Arches National Park PO Box 907 October. two group tent sites are available karen’s canine campground Moab, UT 84532 for eleven people or more: Juniper basin 2781 S. Roberts Rd. (up to 55 people) and canyon Wren (up (435) 259-7922 Phone to 35 people). the group camping fee is $3 (435) 719-2299 (voice) per person per night, with a $33 per night moab Veterinary clinic minimum. no recreational vehicles or 4575 Spanish Valley Drive email trailers are permitted in group sites. (435) 259-8710 [email protected] reServatIons nearby, there are vast public lands that offer Website campsites at Devils Garden may be great hiking and do allow pets on trails. www.nps.gov/arch reserved for dates between march 1st and We recommend that you keep your pet October 31st. Reservations must be made on a leash, even on public lands, to avoid at least four days and no more than 180 uncomfortable encounters with wildlife and The National Park Service cares for the special days in advance. to prevent resource damage. places saved by the American people so that all may experience our heritage. to make a reservation online, visit www. foUr-WHeel Drive roUteS recreation.gov. to make a reservation by Arches has a limited number of four-wheel phone, call (877)444-6777 (toll Free), drive roads, including the Willow Springs Ranger-GuideD ACtivitIeS (877)833-6777 (tDD) or (518)885-3639 Road that goes west from balanced Rock Each day from mid-march through Octo- (international). biking along the scenic drive. to Highway 191. Please check at the visitor ber, park staff are located throughout the center for current road conditions. the park to help visitors understand the unique AccessibIlIty share tHe road bureau of land management (blm) has elements of Arches national Park. During not all park facilities meet mandated Park roads are narrow and winding. Do many popular 4WD routes offering a wide- summer months special family activities standards, but we’re always trying not stop in the roadway—save sightseeing range of difficulty. take place. check at the visitor center for to increase accessibility. We would for designated viewpoints. Watch for specific locations and times. Staff are al- appreciate your comments. Visitors with pedestrians and bicycles. Ensure a minimum EMERGeNCy! ways available during Visitor center hours mobility impairments can access: distance of three feet (one meter) when Any number of emergencies can occur while to help inquiring minds get the most out of passing. you are visiting the park: hiking accidents, their visit. Visitor Center medical emergencies or perhaps you have Ramp and reserved parking. bikes are permitted only on roads, not on locked your keys in your vehicle. if you have Fiery Furnace Walks Restrooms hiking trails or off-road. Ride single file, and an emergency: From mid-march through October, rangers throughout the park including the visitor be attentive to passing cars and recreational • Contact a park employee. many park lead walks into the Fiery Furnace twice each center and Devils Garden. vehicles that may not be aware of cyclists. rangers are trained emergency medical day. these 2½ to 3 hour hikes wind through Campsite On the paved road, there are no road technicians. law enforcement rangers can terrain that occasionally requires the use of Devils Garden site #4. shoulders or bike lanes. many dirt roads investigate vehicle accidents, handle other hands and feet to scramble up and through here are sandy, washboarded or gravel: Park Avenue Viewpoint police matters, as well as take reports of narrow cracks and along narrow ledges however, the Willow Springs road offers an Paved path with slight decline near end. lost hikers, fires, or other emergencies. above drop-offs. Due to their popularity, enjoyable two to three-hour ride. the most these hikes often fill in advance. Reservations Delicate Arch Viewpoint popular biking trails in the moab area are on • Go to the visitor center: if the building is can be made online at www.recreation.gov. Hard surface, level. bureau of land management (BLM) land closed, use the pay phones in front of the Reservations may also be made in person at building to dial 911 (no coin is needed). Balanced Rock Viewpoint outside of the park. the visitor center, but only up to seven days Paved surface, level.