I love Moab. It is so homy to me. I especially like the fact that at this time of year it was empty and I could see the sun and the blue sky without running into anyone on the trails.
I was feeling like getting away this last weekend and with still 3 National Parks left on my list I decided Moab and a stop in Canyonlands NP would be a great idea. I have 2 really awesome friends that live in Moab (I know, crazy to think they live there and they aren't river guides...we'll at least not anymore).
So I drove down Friday night and stayed with Levi. Levi just got a golden retriever, Utah. Utah is so cute. He is about 6 months old and is super sweet. He absolutely loves Levi and follows him everywhere. The house isn't very big, but if Levi walks from the kitchen to the living room (maybe 5 feet), Utah will follow him. If he walks to the bathroom (10 feet), Utah follows. To the bedroom, he follows. Back to the living room, yes you got it he follows.
Anyway, we just chilled and chatted then hit the sack. The next morning Levi went to work and after sleeping in I headed out looking for a 6 mile stretch of road for my 12 mile training run (6 miles down and 6 miles back if you didn't figure it out on your own). I picked up 2 hitch-hikers on my way back from Kane Creek. They were very nice, but like most Moab men were a little scruffy. Most smart, cute single girls would have kept driving, but something told me it was OK this time. And so now I can say I have picked up hitch-hikers (weird, but yes I have always wanted to say that...next actual hitch-hiking). After dropping my friends off in town, I started my run. It was very nice to run without inversion. I ran down Kane Creek Rd next to the river. The river was frozen in spots. It was awesome to see the river covered with snow and ice. The river looks so calm, but then you listen as it carries large chunks of ice down stream. The sound of huge blocks of ice crashing together reminds you that the river is still very powerful.
After my run, I went to lunch with my other buddy, Sterling. Sterling is so funny. I really enjoy hanging with him. I forgot how much I like talking to him. We had lunch at the Moab diner, then he took me to meet his crazy hippie landlord. Sterling's landlord is a off the charts hippie. We had fun categorizing hippie levels. In Salt Lake anyone that is outdoorsy or eats healthy is grouped in with hippies (I have even been called hippie), but when you are in Moab you have to be a little more specific who you call a hippie or even what type of hippie you rank them as. Mark (Sterling's landlord) is a true hippie. He played the harmonica in his room, the door covered in some sort of Hindu cloth. The walls had pictures of Buddhist monks and he was making hats to sale from old clothes. Lastly, when asked if he had visited a certain location his reply was "not in this life." HAHA, I know. It was awesome. At this point the trip was a success, but I decided to continue. Sterling and I hike for about an hour on the Moab rim trail. It was beautiful.
Happy hiker
Moab Rim Trail
On our way back into town we passed the Grand Center where Moab was hosting their annual Moab Scottish Music Festival. Of course we stopped in to check things out.
There they are, the Moab musicians
Everyone from Moab was in attendance
Sunday morning Levi and I headed to the Canyonlands. It was sad to leave Utah at home. Dogs aren't allowed in national parks. We made a quick stop at Dead Horse Point State Park because neither of us had ever been. Then we hiked near the point of the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands NP. The Canyonlands hike was amazing. It ended with a 210 degree view of the park. It also ended on top of a very tall spire. If you know Zion's Angel's Landing, you know how freaky it can be to stand up there. I thought this was worse. The approach better, but the drop off worst. Levi didn't seem to phased by it, but it got my heart pounding.
It was a little cold in Canyonlands
Secretly he was missing Utah
Walking back to the warm car
I was too scared to get any closer, so the pic doesn't do the drop off justice
It is hard to tell, but the rock I am on cuts back a few feet under me...doesn't look so safe.
All in all not a bad weekend trip. Thanks Levi for letting me crash at your place. Sterling as always you made me laugh til I had to run to the outhouse. And Moab...no one can replace you.
One last view of the Canyonlands
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