Walking among the sandstone fins, a visitor can experience the rocks and rock walls up close. This yields a different visual perspective.
These pictures were taken along the short trail to Sand Dune Arch in Arches National Park, Utah on 19 May 2016.
These vertical sandstone rock walls are known as fins.
The trail goes between some of the taller fins in the vicinity.
Colorful rock against a blue sky.
Further along the walking trail, we approach the narrow gap between the fins.
A little further on, we see this scene. For perspective, we include a person in the image.
A moment later in the same area. The lighting can change quickly in these areas as clouds pass in front of the sun overhead.
A view between the rock walls.
A closer view of this close encounter with the rock walls.
Passing on to a wider area of the trail.
A pleasant feature of such a trail is that it affords areas of shade from the mid day sun overhead. Nearby and off the main trail, we walk up to the rock walls.
Another view of one of the rock wall “dead ends” to the side of the trail. Perhaps in the distant future, with more erosion, this area will be wider and allow for further walking.
Sunlight filters in from above. In winter, the sun would be much further south (and lower) in the sky and shadows would dominate much more of this trail even in the middle of the day.
Now the trail has widened as we are getting close to the arch. Lucy play acts at pushing the rock.
Do we ever look up along this trail? We did a few times, and we captured these next 2 images.
The sunlight hitting the rock wall is slightly distorted through the camera lens.
Another view of the widening of the sandy trail as the gap between the rocks is wider in this area.
Another nearby view between rock fins.
A very sandy trail. The sand is very fine and got into both our shoes and even into our socks. It was good that we kept a spare pair of shoes in the car.
Lucy below the arch. Reaching the arch was somewhat anti-climactic after walking this narrow trail between the sandstone fins.
This view of the arch is from behind it looking towards the trail. It does appear that the arch is breaking into 2 pieces so to speak. There was a sign that warned of recent rock falls and advised visitors to not stand directly under this arch.
In the same area, we see more rocks and a blue sky.
The rocks tower over the park visitors.
The rock wall in sunlight contrasts with the rock wall in shade in this photo.
Another nearby scene.
The rock tower or spire in this next photo is seen from a different angle at a another spot on the trail in the following pic.
Again, we see the rock tower in the distance, but now with different shades of color coming out.
Note the varied texture of the rock in this image.
We see here that rocks fall into the gaps between the rock walls.
A closer view.
Raising the camera in this shot to capture more of the sky above.
Continuing to pan upwards with the camera.
Turning around and facing to the west in this shot.
A pic showing the narrow gap between the rock walls.
Bizarre shapes and contours to the rock face.
More images looking up at the walls of rock.
Zooming back out for a wider view.
The next 3 images are of the same spot. It is perplexing why the colors of the middle pic are different.
This pic shows different colors.
Lucy stands in the narrow gap between the rocks.
As we walk back along the trail, we take this shot.
As I take a picture looking down, another visitor takes a picture looking up.
I let people pass on the narrow trail and take this last image.
copyright 2016 – larrysmusings.com Now, celebrating 4 years of blogging.
