Sometimes it just takes a place upon a map that sounds interesting for a great hike to happen. Wanting to escape the cold of Norwood, Jacqueline and I packed up the Xterra for a long day hiking in Canyonlands. Knowing that with her nearly eight months pregnant, we would not have much of a shot at hiking together in this rugged landscape, she was prepared for a boring day while I got to get my last hurrah on before settling in to wait for the baby to be born. I saw Druid Arch on the map and decided that would be an interesting destination. We drove the long drive of over two hours to get to the Needles District of Canyonlands before taking a dirt road to Elephant Hill. Jac
queline was afraid once again for the health of the baby on the dirt road, but I assured her that it would be alright. Nervous about being away from my wife for so long, I promised to be back by 4pm, giving me just about five hours to do a 14 mile hike in rugged terrain. I knew I had to put the jets on. The beginning of the hike was mainly flat, but with some vistas. I could see the rising spires of the Needles coming ever so much closer. I saw a family walking with a baby in a backpack and hoped that that could be Jacqueline and I a year from now. Soon the
flat open terrain was giving way to the less open and more canyon like terrain. I took a series of turns that led me through the canyon country. I began going downhill instead of uphill. After a quick stop for lunch and to change from pants into shorts, I was going down some steep sections of trail to hit a canyon bottom that I would follow for quite some time. The difference in the cliffs above me was that now what I was looking across at was now what I was looking up at and looking up made it so much more impressive.
I was surprised how many people were out. I guess it was a warmer day in spring and they were all chomping at the bit to get their season started to. I saw a park service volunteer who asked me where I was going. It is good to see at least the volunteers getting out. At that point I had made my last turn and was following the canyon that would lead me to Druid Arch. At one point, I had to hop out of the canyon in order to avoid a big pour-off. There was a drop-off on my right side that kept me honest, but nothing too bad. When I got to the place right before the arch, the climbing got a bit steeper including the first ladder of
the day. No problem and I soon popped out at the spot across from the arch itself. Man, was it impressive. It was probably the most impressive arch that I ever saw. Just the size, shape, absolutely impressive. There was a couple up there which I got to take my picture. They were soaking it all in, but I only stayed long enough to really enjoy it. I had a deadline to meet without the knowledge if I could actually live up to that deadline. I headed back down the way I came at first, but instead of turning left at the junctio
n, I turned right. This led me towards Squaw Canyon, though it would not be that simple. At first it was just easy canyon walking, but this canyon was soon to run out, so the trail headed toward the cliffs. A long ladder was my only option. It makes you worry when you are so far away from the trailhead and you know the park service budget, to see a ladder out in the wilderness. It turned out to be fine and so did the other one that lead me down off the rocky slickrock pass. I was now hiking on the edge of a canyon, high on the rocks. I came to a junction, both of which led back to the trailhead I was heading towards. One went toward Big Spring Canyon, while the other continued to Squaw Canyon. I thought about Big Spring since it was shorter, but since I had trouble seeing the route even from the junction, decided to stick
to Big Spring. This was a good idea because even though it was longer, I managed to hit my last ladder and drop into the canyon bottom. Looking at my watch, I thought that there was no way I could make it unless I really stepped on it. Now that it was flat, easy canyon hiking, I even ran for short stretches. In this area, I was away from other people most of the time only seeing one other person. I could sense that I was getting closer to the trailhead, but time was running out. Soon the parties started to increase and I passed a big group who had been out backpacking and looked worse for the wear. Amazingly, I could see the trailhead with only a few minutes to spare. I stepped on it and made it to the trailhead right as my watch struck 4pm. Proud of myself I looked around for my pregnant wife. She was nowhere to be found. Turns out she went to the other trailhead over the rocks on the other side of the campground. I reluctantly took my weary self and climbed over the rocks to find her content at the other trailhead, unconcerned that I was now twenty minutes late. I was proud of her as even though she was carrying a bunch of extra weight, she found the time to go for a few short hikes on her own. Unfortunately the day was now over though, as far as hiking would go, and I was now forced to settle down and weight for the birth of our baby girl.
queline was afraid once again for the health of the baby on the dirt road, but I assured her that it would be alright. Nervous about being away from my wife for so long, I promised to be back by 4pm, giving me just about five hours to do a 14 mile hike in rugged terrain. I knew I had to put the jets on. The beginning of the hike was mainly flat, but with some vistas. I could see the rising spires of the Needles coming ever so much closer. I saw a family walking with a baby in a backpack and hoped that that could be Jacqueline and I a year from now. Soon the 
flat open terrain was giving way to the less open and more canyon like terrain. I took a series of turns that led me through the canyon country. I began going downhill instead of uphill. After a quick stop for lunch and to change from pants into shorts, I was going down some steep sections of trail to hit a canyon bottom that I would follow for quite some time. The difference in the cliffs above me was that now what I was looking across at was now what I was looking up at and looking up made it so much more impressive.
I was surprised how many people were out. I guess it was a warmer day in spring and they were all chomping at the bit to get their season started to. I saw a park service volunteer who asked me where I was going. It is good to see at least the volunteers getting out. At that point I had made my last turn and was following the canyon that would lead me to Druid Arch. At one point, I had to hop out of the canyon in order to avoid a big pour-off. There was a drop-off on my right side that kept me honest, but nothing too bad. When I got to the place right before the arch, the climbing got a bit steeper including the first ladder of
the day. No problem and I soon popped out at the spot across from the arch itself. Man, was it impressive. It was probably the most impressive arch that I ever saw. Just the size, shape, absolutely impressive. There was a couple up there which I got to take my picture. They were soaking it all in, but I only stayed long enough to really enjoy it. I had a deadline to meet without the knowledge if I could actually live up to that deadline. I headed back down the way I came at first, but instead of turning left at the junctio
n, I turned right. This led me towards Squaw Canyon, though it would not be that simple. At first it was just easy canyon walking, but this canyon was soon to run out, so the trail headed toward the cliffs. A long ladder was my only option. It makes you worry when you are so far away from the trailhead and you know the park service budget, to see a ladder out in the wilderness. It turned out to be fine and so did the other one that lead me down off the rocky slickrock pass. I was now hiking on the edge of a canyon, high on the rocks. I came to a junction, both of which led back to the trailhead I was heading towards. One went toward Big Spring Canyon, while the other continued to Squaw Canyon. I thought about Big Spring since it was shorter, but since I had trouble seeing the route even from the junction, decided to stick
to Big Spring. This was a good idea because even though it was longer, I managed to hit my last ladder and drop into the canyon bottom. Looking at my watch, I thought that there was no way I could make it unless I really stepped on it. Now that it was flat, easy canyon hiking, I even ran for short stretches. In this area, I was away from other people most of the time only seeing one other person. I could sense that I was getting closer to the trailhead, but time was running out. Soon the parties started to increase and I passed a big group who had been out backpacking and looked worse for the wear. Amazingly, I could see the trailhead with only a few minutes to spare. I stepped on it and made it to the trailhead right as my watch struck 4pm. Proud of myself I looked around for my pregnant wife. She was nowhere to be found. Turns out she went to the other trailhead over the rocks on the other side of the campground. I reluctantly took my weary self and climbed over the rocks to find her content at the other trailhead, unconcerned that I was now twenty minutes late. I was proud of her as even though she was carrying a bunch of extra weight, she found the time to go for a few short hikes on her own. Unfortunately the day was now over though, as far as hiking would go, and I was now forced to settle down and weight for the birth of our baby girl.
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