Arches Hikes
 

Sorry to bring this up again. I'm reading degree of difficulty of some hikes in Arches NP and having trouble translating them into my English.

Moderately strenuous could mean difficult or it could mean long or it could mean more than a certain amount of elevation change or it could mean. . . .

Referring to Firey Furnace and Delicate Arch hikes.

Tell me your six year old had no trouble with these and shame me into keeping them on my list.

Every since I started this hiking "thing" I've insisted that "I do easy". Other than it being a hot walk, I had no trouble with Upper Emerald Pool in Zion.

Am I spending time on this issue unduly?

If you can do Upper Emerald Pools, then I don't think you will have a problem with Delicate Arch.

Utahtea

Ok..I went and looked up the trails.

Upper Emerald Pool is approx. 2.6 miles round trip (depending on the route) and you ascent 350 feet.

Delicate Arch is 3 miles round trip and you ascend 480 feet. So it's alittle higher ascent but it's spread out over a little longer trail. I still say you could do it. My son was 8 when he did it.

Utahtea

Thanks utahtea.

My concern isn't stamina or a bit more elevation change. I can get into shape for that.

It's the scramble, chains, ladders and drop-offs.

Unfortunately we've still got months until this trip so I have a lot of time to agonize.

Definately do Delicate Arch Hike. There are no chains anywhere along the trail. The very last part is the only place along the way that you feel that you could fall off a ledge (and it isn't that scary). TAKE WATER and just take your time. I would do Landscape Arch Hike also. It much easier than Delicate. I wouldn't do fiery furnace without a guide. Everything starts to look the same and getting lost would be easy to do. We did Delicate Arch at Sunset. I think it would be cooler and just as impressive at Sunrise. I don't know which month you are going to arches, so it might be cooler weather.

IMO delicate is definately a great and relatively easy hike. you just need to bring water. fiery furnace should really be done with ranger guide. you can reserve a spot for the ranger led tour.

i have hiked several times in utah and cannot imagine doing fiery furnace without a guide. you get down in the fins and you have a hard time orienting yourself. with the guide who does the hike all summer long, they know where to go and give a very informative narration that you would miss if you tried this hike on your own. you need water on the ff hike too.

Oh, I wasn't thinking of Firey Furnace without a guide.

Also, I know about water having just been to Bryce Canyon, Zion and Sedona for a week's worth of hiking.

I just have to be convinced that even though I'm older than I once was I can handle hikes beyond "easy".

Meyer,

I'm 56 if that helps. I can do these hikes better now than when I was in my 30's!

There's just one short section at the very end that has any real ledge, but it's not that bad...and you won't feel like you're falling off the edge of the world or anything. Hey...I let my 8 year old go on it so it can't be to bad (and I'm a VERY over protective mom!)

My favorite time to do the Delicate Arch hike is to time it to be there just before sunset...this turns the arch a bright red.

Utahtea

If it helps, this spring I saw a woman who was 7-8 mos pregnant hike Delicate Arch. She took rests, but she did it. When I did Fiery Furnace, there were 2 kids under 6 who went on the guided tour.

OK!!!!!

Who takes responsibility if I don't make it back to write a trip report?

I did Delicate Arch at age 70, but not on a day in August.
Moderately strenuous is a relative term.
For some people it would be impossible; for others, an easy trail.

Here's some photos of our receint trip to Arch and the southwest. We hikes to Corona Arch, Delicate Arch and the Firey Furnace.



http://tinyurl.com/2cs49f

Myer, I've also been reading some of your other posts and while I am also planning to go to the Arches next year, I think since you've done Devil's Bridge in Sedona, you can probably handle these, JMO as this is my waiver if you don't return from the hike ;).

hugglyn,

While I did hike Devil's Bridge trail, I didn't climb those last thirty feet or so of vertical stairs. My photo is from underneath.

If you don't come back and write a trip report/post pictures of your hiking, I'm coming to look for you. Leave signs of your passing to make it easier for me, please. :^)

rm_mn,

Do you mean my "passing on" or the fact that I've "been there"?

Remember, "leave no trace".

Perhaps you could drop some pieces of cornbread to ark the trail you took and I could pick them up so as to "leave no trace"?

Don't go "passing on" as I'm into search and rescue much more than recovery.

The hike to Delicate Arch is pretty easy I'd say. It will wind you but just stop frequently and it is all good.

The bit at the end isn't so bad. It isn't a sharp drop off, and the trail is wide. Here is the worst of it:

http://www.pbase.com/peterb/image/34945817

and it isn't a long stretch of trail either.

peter,
If that's the worst of it then no problem.

Thanks.

Those were some great photos peterboy. I can see I will be leaving another set of (grasping) fingerprints along another wall. Thanks for the photo's.

I'm almost 67 and did Fiery Furnace this June. It sure did poop me out and my knees knew I had some serious exercise but the young kids loved it and had no problems. You have to use about every part of your body but is well worth the effort.