Five Kids and a Blog: Moab

Around these parts you find these bumper stickers plastered to cars, stop signs, and various other surfaces that say, "London, Paris, New York, Moab." You may find it odd to place a small town among such 'greats,' that is until you've actually been to Moab.

The Delicate Arch is absolutely awe inspiring and the hike will leave you breathless.

Balanced Rock in Arches National Park. /Part of the Double Arches (The kids favorite place to climb all over rocks and the hike was only 15 minutes)
It's not even so much the town; as food service is atrocious, the buildings are unkempt and a bit run down, and population is probably somewhere close to 4000 (a guess, not a fact). What is so spectacular about this place is the views. If the color of the red rock doesn't peak your interest, it's the ultimate spot for off-roading and dirt biking, the river rapids are to boot, and Arches National Park is amazing! Needless to say, you could spend weeks here and not run out of things to do. It's too bad we only planned a 2 night stay camping trip with our friends, the Hughes family.

Tarryn trying to keep warm in the cold, early morning. /Brandon trying to keep kids quietly entertained (Corban behind the camera) while our camping neighbors are still sleeping.

Brandon cooking pancakes outside the trailer while I'm inside cooking eggs. /Corban dancing for his breakfast.
As always, camping in tight quarters with a 6 person family is quite an adventure, but every moment was worth all the work to put this trip together. We truly enjoyed every bit of the sun baking us against the hot red rock during our 1 1/2 mile hike up to the Delicate Arch and even the 1 1/2 mile hike back (although Kellan and Corban didn't make it down awake). We enjoyed sand dunes, other arches, camp fires, gazillions of stars, lizards, and after a long day's hike the swimming pool. Most of all, we thoroughly enjoyed the Hughes' company. What a wonderful trip! We plan on going again next year.

Don't let the picture fool you, this hill on the hike to Delicate Arch was long and steep (once you're at the top, your half way to the arch). /Every one passing one of many rock cairns placed by the park rangers so you know where to go.

The Hughes and Fuller kids (minus Kellan who there was NO WAY we were going to place in another child's arms on this cliff) in The Window to Delicate Arch.

Corban hitching a ride as he's getting tired on the way down from Delicate Arch (Kellan kept hitting his bum). /Corban and Kellan exhausted from the sun on the way down from Delicate Arch.