A Little Taste of Moab

Last week I went on my travel study to Moab, UT.

For those that know nothing about Moab it is a tiny town surrounded by 2 national parks: Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park. We mainly went to Arches of the two but we had many adventures.

The trip began last Wednesday with a 6 hour drive to Moab where we stayed in this lovely little motel. Surprisingly not as scary as I thought it would be but the tv's in the rooms were definitely a lot older than me.

Our first trip started about 30 minutes after we arrived where we headed right into the park to hike to Delicate Arch. It is quite a hike and quite a view.

This view is actually pointing away from the arch to show that there is a huge drop off on the other side. FYI not a huge fan of heights and no railing...but it was beautiful! (More pictures of much better quality coming later).

One of the nine other students on the trip, Adrianne. We became fast friends and hiking buddies.

The next morning we awoke at the lovely hour of 4am (having gone to bed around 11:30pm).

By time people started arriving in the park we had been there for at least 4 hours...no biggie. 

This was at Pine Tree Arch where we watched the sun rise.

That afternoon we went to Sand dune arch which I only have pictures of on my actual camera but it was BEAUTIFUL!

Then in the evening we went to the Window Arches, Turret Arch and a few more.

I stayed late to do some night photography and got some pretty cool shots. Sadly they are on film and I do not have any copies with me to scan in but I will later, promise.

This time I didn't get to bed until midnight when the full(ish) moon was high in the sky.

The next morning we got to get up at 3:50am....the moon was still up and fyi 4 hours of sleep really just feels like a longish nap. This time we went to Dead Horse Canyon which I have no pictures of on my phone because I was mostly asleep. It was a beautiful but surprisingly cold sunrise. 

Later that day we did get a nap which was as long as our sleep the night before. Then headed off to Hanksville where we were going to camp. 

It was too windy to set up camp so we went to Goblin Valley that evening where is was even more windy so we didn't stay long past sunset. We also managed to get sand and dirt in EVERYTHING.

We got back after dark and set up camp and passed out.

Luckily Saturday we got to sleep in to save up our rest for the hardest, craziest, most beautiful hike of all.

Horseshoe Canyon.

I recommend using the bathroom before you go because there is at least an hour drive on the bumpiest road ever and you'll likely have to pee when you get there just from all the jostling. 

It is 7 miles round trip and 5 of those miles are in the sand where you descend almost 800 feet into the canyon.

FYI hiking in the sand is much more difficult.

The first mile or so is just climbing down into the Canyon which isn't too bad.

Then you get to the floor and hike another 2 1/2 miles in. Along the way there are 4 or 5 panels of barrier canyon styled rock art which if I remember right is thousands of years old.

The final panel (well most of it) seen below is BEAUTIFUL! Much more amazing in person but this can give you a little feel.

Those figures are often a few feet tall.

It was breath taking and well worth the hike!

The hardest part was getting out though. 

Warning the trail to get up and out of the Canyon is kind of hard to see. Half of our group missed it at first and we may or may not have lost one of the teachers for about 3-4 hours...it was pretty scary...

Also I recommend going in the late afternoon because it isn't as hot and there is more shade. 

This is me after the hike feeling like a beast hiking that 7 mile trail!

We didn't get home until 1:30am.

Sunday we woke up, broke camp and headed to see a little more rock art and the Little Grand Canyon.

It was beautiful but at this point I was just ready to get home and see Garett.

5 days is far too long and I missed him like crazy.

Here is panorama of the canyon. You should be able to click on it and see a bigger version.

It was pretty but I'm not a fan of heights so I didn't get too crazy.

We finally got home around 8pm where my husband welcomed me home with marinated steak and potatoes and it was delicious! (Isn't he the best?) Of course I had to go back to school the next day and play catch up but it has all worked out. Now I am FINALLY getting to relax and slowly catching up on my sleep.

(Side note, a lot of places in the middle of nowhere have pretty good cell reception and I find that odd). 

Anyway that is all I have for now. I'll post later though it might not be until the end of the semester (4 weeks) but I will post eventually.

It was an adventuresome trip. To quote myself when asked why I chose this trip and what I liked about it.

"It seemed more interactive than going to a bunch of museums and looking at pictures and then it ended up being much more interactive than I thought".

It was great but next time I'd like to go with my husband and family.

Hope all is well with y'all and I'll try to post more in the coming weeks.

-Megan

There is a First for Everything

       Recently there have been a lot of changes in my life, both big and small. To start Garett and I just finished up winter semester. He took things like Immunology and Medical Microbiology which consist of a lot of large and weirdly pronounced words. Worse I had to try to help him study with flash cards and his hand writing is well....he writes like a doctor.... Between that and trying to pronounce many strange words I am not sure I was too much help. Either way I am very proud of him. I on the other hand took Doctrine and Covenants Part 2 and Marriage 300. I loved my marriage class and learned a great deal which I am slowly trying to incorporate into our marriage. As for my religion class I learned I am never taking an online religion class ever again. It just doesn't have the same feel and is more mundane and not as fun or spiritual.

       School ended and out dearest friends Katy and Sam moved to Utah for the semester. They are missed more than anything! We helped them pack and clean so at least we got to see them for two days before they left but already we are wishing it was fall. Also part of our spring break was heading down to Utah and spending part of Easter weekend with my fabulous parents, my brother Aaron and our good friend Haley. We saw the move "Transcendence" with Johnny Depp and it was thought provoking. It is not a movie I would buy and for the rest of you, wait until it comes out at Redbox but overall it is an interesting movie. More than anything it makes you think and I'd like to think that was the point of the movie; it was to raise questions in the minds of the viewers.

       While home I got some fantastic quality time with my little brother Aaron and let me tell you, he is turning into one incredible young man! I am proud of him beyond reason and I am excited to see where the future takes him. I don't get to catch up with him often but when I do I always enjoy it profusely. Watch out world because he's coming and he is going to do great things! 

       Our break ended far too soon as most do and now spring semester begins. I have survived my first week of classes and Garett has a few more tomorrow. In terms of new things or at least renewing things I am taking advanced black and white photography. I am very excited because I am going to get to do things I haven't done since high school like playing with medium and large format cameras and film and also to edit in the darkroom. Let me tell you, darkrooms were the original Photoshop and take much more skill and creativity than clicking some buttons. 

     More on a new note I am taking ceramics and I am excited and also quite terrified to begin. Once again I am learning a brand new medium and I'm hoping it's at least less scary than lithography and print making. Either way I think it will be fun! Between that and advanced black and white I will be in studios during all my free time. I am also taking 20th century art history and Teachings of the Living Prophets. My religion teacher reminds me a great deal of my U.S. History teacher for high school, Mrs. Ellison (Hannah you'll understand what I mean). He has already proven to be loud and boisterous and more passionate about his subject than any other teacher I have ever seen. I am looking forward to all he has to teach me.

      Finally I am doing my travel this semester. We are going to Antelope Island (which apparently everyone in my family has been except me), Goblin Valley and Moab. It's specifically for photography students and my favorite photography teacher is in charge of it! Already I have met a girl in my group because she is in my ceramics class, so at least when I go to my meeting tomorrow for the travel (Friday) I will know someone. 

       Again in terms of new things Garett is graduating this semester. He is taking Evolutionary Science, Virology, Epidemiology and the Capstone class as well as he is doing an internship with one of his teachers. The big thing is his virology class which will help him decide between that or immunology for what he wants to study in the long run. (Don't ask me the difference, I have no clue!) He's also enjoying his internship and is looking forward to getting some hands-on work. He thought he had more prerequisites to do and would be done next year in March but found out otherwise so he'll be graduating in July. I will be done with my schooling in December and then we'll have to come up with a new adventure. Garett is starting to look into grad schools which is exciting and nerve wracking all at once. 

      Along with Garett finishing his schooling, August will mark our 2 year anniversary. It doesn't feel like it's been that long, I swear it feels like only a few months have passed, and yet life before Garett is a blur. 

     Before I forget, another new thing is that some ladies in my ward have started a book club! I am really excited to take part in this as I am always on the hunt for new books to read (despite that my list of books to read will last me until I die). I just finished "Elfstones of Shannara" which was quite the page turner. For the book club we are starting with the book "The Help" while I am also planning on starting the "Goose Girl" series (thanks Catherine). 

    I think this semester is going to be a fun one filled with many new experiences. I look forward to all the learning I'll be doing and hope to have some fun along the way. I hope you are all doing well. Congratulations if you read this whole thing and I hope you have a great weekend! Also I now have Saturdays free for friends and family that want to catch up with me. I would love to hear from y'all!

Love y'all,

Meg