Adventures in Erietown: Royal Arch

Hiking day (last Thursday) was again forecast to be rainy and cold. But since we have a pact to go every week we figured we'd give it a try. Calling ahead to the ranger station, we learned that the trail to Royal Arch was clear of all ice and snow, and also cleared of a previously un-thought of obstacle - tree debris! Apparently some of the Spring snows that we'd had the previous weeks had knocked down quite a bit of branches and trees, and crews had be up clearing that out of the path earlier that week!

We got to the parking lot, and though the sky looked a bit ominous, we figured we'd give it a go. We just wanted to avoid being up on a bare rock during a lightning storm, but figured that if we ran into rain we could stay along the Mesa Trail instead of heading up, (our packs have rain canopies for the babies so at least they wouldn't get wet!)

It was a bit cold and I'd forgotten Natalie's gloves, but luckily these socks worked even better. I don't think she missed her thumbs at all!!

At the top of Bluebelle Road we began to see a bit of a break in the clouds... this put a little more wind in our sails. I don't know if we could have faced another defeat on this relatively easy trail that we'd both done before!!

Here are the kids. They don't seem to understand that their mom's will take advantage of any excuse to take a break! What a nice bench - let's stop and take off our jackets before the big climb!!

What a nice rock - let's stop and take a picture!! This is in front of a boulder field left from some old landslide. We never even noticed this the last time we passed it because it was covered in snow!!

Here are the steps where we turned around the last time when it was so icy. This climb was so much easier this time - except for the climbing part! And I think maybe Natalie has gained a bit since then as well! Phew!

The top of the steps and switchbacks - is that the end in sight? Nope. Just the false summit.

That's the one really annoying thing about this trail. Even when you know it's coming. Seeing that sky peeking out up above a big climb makes you sure you're almost there.

But it is a nice place to take a break. Natalie was really whining for lunch at this point too, so we took advantage of the break and stopped to eat. Aanya was actually taking her nap for the day so we didn't get much food in her at this stop.

We (more like Natalie) shared our lunch with a little chipmunk. He was definitely used to people eating here and seemed to have a sixth sense when any food touched the ground. Natalie was perfect for him because for some reason every other piece of food in her lunch was not adequate and got discarded. So chipmunk friend here feasted on cheese and bread and avocado.

By the way you would not believe how many chipmunk pictures I have! There are ones of him eating, and running and posing, and a number of him as just a blur. And also quite a few of the ground and rocks where I'm sure he must have been a fraction of a second before I hit the button.

Heading over the false summit, down for a bit. Hiking down is a nice break, but at the same time frustrating because you know for every step down you're just going to have to head up in a minute!

A view of NCAR between the trees and rocks. We'll head there one of these days. There's a neat little weather and science interactive museum there that's free!

A little glimpse of Royal Arch!

Cool cave - we had to stop and pose!!

This is the trail below me!! Yes - that's a little waterfall going down it!! I don't think it's usually there but we had had a bunch of spring snow the past few weeks.

Woo hoo! We made it!!

A perfect place to set my pack - and baby. There wasn't much flat space up there.

I stepped out a bit to take some pictures! Look! Do you see it? I think that's Kansas off there on the horizon!!

And behind me Nupur poses with the babies!

I don't think Natalie's going to have my vertigo. She didn't mind being set up here on this rock at the edge of the world in the least!!

Group shot! Good thing the other people who were up there didn't mind trading photos!

Natalie eating Aanya's lunch. Luckily Nupur gave me the recipe because Natalie really liked it!!

Baby on the edge, (not really - but it looks like it!)

And a shot from below with the whole arch and us! For real perspective!! We finally made it!!

The way down was pretty uneventful. Except for I fell!! On totally flat ground!! Pretty ridiculous. I have a skinned knee, and a bruised hand. Natalie was napping and didn't even wake up, so that's good.

The hike was quite a bit harder than the last time I did it, and tougher than the others we've done so far this season too. We're getting into shape though, and hopefully will be able to keep up with the growing weight on our backs!! Natalie's about 20 lbs, plus the pack and lunch etc. I think it's about 30 lbs, but I haven't weighed it all. I think Royal Arch will probably be the most difficult trek we'll do this summer. Hopefully we'll head up into Rocky Mountain National Park a few times to change up the scenery. There are some beautiful trails up there.

Once we got down, Natalie and I spent a bit more time enjoying the now sunny day. We played on the grass in Chautauqua Park, (that's the historic dining hall behind her).