Have you ever been so thankful for fully inflated tires? And if you’re twenty miles up a mountain road, having climbed 4,000 feet with your behemoth of an RV threatening to overheat, with not a hint of cell service around, would you then be thankful for six fully inflated tires? We sure were.

We had made the long drive into the La Sal Mountains above Moab, UT, to escape the heat we experienced the night before. We don’t sleep well unless it’s under 50 degrees, and we were too hot and sweaty from a day at Canyonlands to deal with heat overnight. After climbing over 4,000 feet in a short distance, the engine did indeed threaten to overheat. We gave the old girl a quick nap and then proceeded to the next pull-off we could find. Exploring for dry camping spots on forest roads always take time, and the gravel area where we stopped seemed more promising than the last few we had passed. We decided to move on and find a better campsite after a few minutes, and as soon as we got going, we heard an ominous thumping. Oh. No. We backtracked to the gravel and had a quick and desperate conversation about how one of us would need to ride the dirt bike down to cell service to call for help. And whoever showed up probably wouldn’t have the right tools to change the flat, so then we’d need to get a tow. But you can’t easily tow our rig down a steep mountain. And the whole thing would cost a fortune. Fortunately, we had a huge rock stuck between one set of the rear tires. Problem solved, thank you, God. The worst part of it all was that I tried to hit the rock out with the sharp end of the hatchet in an unsupervised moment and then unashamedly lied about it. I can’t imagine why Nic doesn’t appreciate the way I very skillfully dulled his hatchet blade. He kept the rock as a souvenir.

Our mountain campsite

The La Sal Mountains from a distance

The campsite we found shortly after the not flat tire incident is one of our favorites and gave us a reason to like Moab. At 8,200 feet in elevation, we had huge views of snowy mountains to the east and Moab and its surrounding rock craziness to the west. We were able to sleep well as the temperature dropped each night. Our little grassy knoll was serene, breezy, and delightful. I even found a level spot to do my old yoga routine, a weekly practice that has been sorely lacking (terrible pun, I’m sorry) from this trip. Every yoga session should be done at 8,200 feet with a cool breeze coming off the mountains and strong sunshine taking the edge off the wind.

Canyonlands

Overlook at Canyonlands

We sandwiched our mountain retreat between two long days at Canyonlands National Park and Arches National Park. At Canyonlands, we hiked on the rim of the Island in the Sky, a spit of land that juts out over layers of canyons carved by nature’s forces. At Arches, we hiked through sand and over sliprock to see many beautiful natural arches glowing red in the afternoon sunshine. We’re exploring Utah in high season, unfortunately, so the parks swarmed with a mix of interesting people: very dirty river-rat types who have given the grocery store a reason to post a “Do Not Shower” sign in the bathroom, sunburned college students who travel in packs and make sure everyone understands their central location in the universe, foreigners wearing all sorts of interesting hiking apparel, retirees with zip-off pants and matching Seattle sombreros, families with kids forced to pose for pictures at every step. We certainly had some opportunities to people watch as we hiked. I guess that’s what these parks are for, after all – for everyone to have a chance to enjoy the natural treasures of this country.

Mini cairns

Walking on fins

Delicate Arch from a distance

North Window and South Window

Call us antisocial, but after a few days in Moab, we’re ready for some peace and quiet. Our RV doesn’t allow us to drive endless miles down Utah backroads, but I’m sure we’ll find a few accessible and quiet spots for the next few nights. And we’re hoping for clear skies Friday night, so we can watch the Lyrid meteor shower. Views are supposed to be best over the western US and western Great Lakes, so check it out yourself!