Arches Hikes
#1
Original Poster
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?
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?
#3
Join Date: Jan 2003
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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
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
#4
Original Poster
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.
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.
#5
Join Date: Jul 2007
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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.
#6
Join Date: Feb 2005
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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.
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.
#7
Original Poster
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".
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".
#8
Join Date: Jan 2003
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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
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
#12
Join Date: Apr 2006
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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
http://tinyurl.com/2cs49f
#13
Join Date: Feb 2003
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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 .
#17
Join Date: Apr 2006
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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.
Don't go "passing on" as I'm into search and rescue much more than recovery.
#18
Join Date: Oct 2003
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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.
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.