Delicate Arch

When Archer (my son) was about 10 months old we went through a rough patch when it came to sleeping. I remember one evening about a year ago when he was having a particularly rough night. He wasn’t feeling well and he just couldn’t calm himself down. It was late in the evening and at that point I was just as exhausted as he was. I scooped up the little dude from his crib and brought him over to the rocking chair. He was fussy and I tried everything I could think of to calm him down. I fed him, I read him a story, I gave him a stuffed animal to cuddle with, I sang, but nothing could make little Archie relax. Then out of desperation (or maybe brilliance?) I decided to try the idea of a visual mediation. I picked one of my favorite spots, a place that I have always loved to hike, Arches National Park. (Quick side note - Arches National Park is Archer’s namesake so I was happy to to tell him about that beautiful red rock country.)

I started out by describing the winding road you had to take to make it to the trail head, how the trail starts nice and flat and how if you know where to look you can see some amazing petroglyphs. I described the red sand that lined the trail, the blue skies that juxtaposed so nicely with the stunning red rock, we even talked about the cryptobiotic crust and how it is a vital part in the desert ecosystem. By the time I talked him through the last corner of the hike where you get your first breath taking view of Delicate Arch, he had fallen asleep.

This hike is epic. No matter how many times I do it I am always blown away by the beauty of this unique landscape. To be able to share experience with my son (whether it be out of desperation when I’m trying to get him to sleep or when I actually get to hike it with him) it will always be a splendid experience. [Taken with a Canon 5D Mark II]