I Love the Craft of Archery ... with HP on the side ....

Hello Folks,


I thought I had my internet woes licked last night - but apparently not.  I have confirmed that the problem is the router and not the computer - I was at the library today and was able to get a signal and get on line with no difficulty.  Oh well - we'll get it sorted out.  Another example of how indispensable internet access has become - I'd gladly give up quite a few amenities before giving up internet.

The web site Live Science has put up an on line profile of the the most awe inspiring natural wonders to visit within the USA - top of that list was Delicate Arch, in Arches National Park. I decided that that would be my destination yesterday PM.


I drove out to the Trail Head and got there at 4:00 PM - the hike would be 1 1/2 miles with an elevation increase of 480 feet over that climb.  Well that sounded easy - not quite.

Just as I started in on the trail a crew of men well laden down with huge backpacks were coming out - imagine  the movie Aliens - these guys are looked like they had been whipped by something serious - can you say exo-skeleton?  I soon found out that they had been repairing the trail and that their repairs left the trail a muddy, slogging mess.  So I hike through that - up and down - up and down  - for a little while - slipping and sliding - reeling and rocking - the mud sucking at your feet, resistance with each step increasing - and that was only the first step - well the first step in any journey is the hardest.

Eventually I got to slick rock but now the walking angle became very steep - 20 to 30 degrees - and folks what was advertised as 480 feet of elevation sure seemed like 4800 to me.  The slick rock trail was marked with cairns and the occasional sign - I asumed these were the crave markers of those who didn't make it - in fact I swore I met Hillary and Tenzing descending.  When the cairns were no longer visible, there was enough snow and ice such that the footsteps of my predecesors had been preserved - strange amphibious type foot prints - strangely 10 to 12 feet apart - almost as they were jumping their way to the top as opposed to walking.  I then noticed something carved in the soft Nevada sand stone - something about a shade ---- a shado --- and then some reference to 'in mouth' - it didn't make any sense ..... I carried on, by this time almost delirious .... basically falling up the trail .....







What seemed like an interminable climb on the slick rock gave way to a narrow trail hugging the now steeply rising slick rock wall.  The trail was 12" of ice and snow, pack hardened.  I picked my way through fresh snow on either side stopped on a level portion of the trail and sat down - I had been at this staggering along for 30 minues and it was 4:30 PM - I had until 6 PM to get back to the car in daylight - there was no way I wanted to come down from this hike at dusk.  I was deciding whether to go on or go back and I came to the conclusion that I would crawl along the trail 5 more minutes - I was rewarded - just as I rounded the top portion of the path, the Delicate Arch was revealed - looking like something out of Stargate - there it was.

There were two other people up there already - they had scrambled across the rock slope to the arch and were taking pictures from within the arch itself - every time they walked through it, there was a brilliant flash and they disappeared. But within seconds - another brilliant flash and they were back. But I knew this was not really happening - I was obviously suffering anti nitrogen narcosis - I had ascended the climb too rapidly .. 

I decided I could not trust the rock slope, let alone anything I was seeing, so I stayed in a good position to take pictures without attempting to cross to the base of the arch - I shot like a mad man knowing that only the objective lens could really capture what was unfolding in fron of me.  Eventually the two other people there came over - it was a young couple, I took their picture, not knowing if they were really there and we struct up a conversation.  They said they from New England - attending the Miskatonic University.  I couldn't stop looking at their hands - no - not their hands - their fingers  ... not so much fingers as fingers connected to each other with a membrane .....and then my senses screamed - they were't so much walking as much as loping - I can't describe their mode of perambulation other than it approximated a short, hopping gait of ...... 10 to 12 feet .......

I think I said I had to leave but they insisted I stay until the sun broke through the cloud - they would walk back with me. I couldn't say no - it was like a dream - we waited for the sun to drop below the cloud cover -  after what seemed hours it did - the arch was splashed with eldritch light - the arch glowed - the center of the arch became translucent - something was trying to break through - the young couple started chanting - a strange ululation - something about 'ka too lu' - I got a vision of what might be coming through - I screamed until my mind snapped - the next thing I know I am driving way too fast on the narrow road through Arches - I have no idea how I got to the car - or which direction I am driving in - the only important thing is to drive .... yes .... drive ....

I'm back at the condo now ... I am not even sure how I drove here - or even if 'I' drove here.  I am holding a CompactFlash card in my hand  - my hand is shaking - dare I load the pictures into the computer - or should I delete them right now .... I load the card into the reader and try to connect the reader to the computer - I can't - my hands are shaking too much .... too much .... I slam the USB cord into the computer ..... Lightroom starts automatically and now I have to make a choice whether to import the photos or not .... I decide not to ... and then by mistake ... at least I think it was a mistake ... I hit the import button instead of 'Cancel' - the software and hardware now takes over ..... the pictures start importing and I can see thumbnails of the photos ....  


oh no .... OH NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.... 


to be continued ......