Hiking the Slickrock Trail

This evening I hiked the fabled Slickrock Trail just east of Moab, Utah.
I had heard from locals about how great it was to hike the practice loop (3 miles round trip) during the winter when the bikes are few and the locals rule the place. I tried during New Year's weekend to hike the trail with a local artists but the snow was deep enough that we got off track and she fell on her rear-end a few times due to the icy conditions...not a good day.
But today was special. I started out from the parking lot at 5 PM, the sun still hanging in the west, no wind, temperatures in the high 40's, no people for miles. Imagine a place where you can hike for miles across twisting and turning sandstone trails that lead you past some of the most coveted views of the American west. It's really something to see, with 200 foot vertical gorges at your feet and the towering La Sal Mountains draped in fresh snow as a backdrop. The trail is marked with a white stripe every 30 feet which is a good thing because there are at least 2 opportunities on the practice loop to miss a critical turn and ride your bike into eternity. I love the wildness of this place.


Winter Day in Moab

Today, I hate to say it, was a gloomy day.
I had a bagel and coffee at the Red Rock Bakery, my local morning spot. The owner Howard assures me that it will eventually warm up and that I'll have plenty of good days to paint outside. I consider this as a sip my morning inspiration and read the latest edition of Fast Company. The article is on the 10 most important business conversations ever. It inspires me to believe that the planning sessions I have with my art partner are going to yield some great results for the coming tourist season.
After breakfast I go to the studio and study art. That brown leather chair in the photo is where I sit for 30 minutes each day and study one of many art instruction books that I own. It's essential to keep learning something new about art each day. Afterwards I sketch out new compositional ideas for an hour or so. These are usually imaginative ideas that encompass the trademark designs of Edger Payne. I have a notebook of twenty or so good ideas for future paintings. I was really planning on painting outside today, even with cold temperatures I had that itch to go down to the river and do a couple quick plein air paintings. But alas, the clouds rolled in and my hopes were replaced by a dull grey sky and an attitude to match.
After work I hiked again near Sand Flats Recreational Area. I started out later today than yesterday and got back to the car in the dark just as the snow started....good timing. These last couple nights I've been reading at the Grand County Library which is a really nice place to snuggle in for a couple hours with a good book. What am I reading you ask? The Journey Home by Edward Abbey. Tonight's chapter Fire Lookout: Numa Ridge.


Winter Hike on a Monday Evening

This evening I went on my first hike since arriving in Moab. I had previously hiked along this trail during Thanksgiving weekend with a local artist, but today I'm on my own, sort of.
The locals hike this no-name trail along Sand Flats Road, just below the fee booth as you enter the Sand Flats Recreation Area, home to the famous "Slickrock Trail".
It snowed on and off for a couple of hours today, but at 5 PM with the overcast skies holding the last of the sun's warmth close to the rocks, the conditions for a hike were superb. I park on the shoulder next to a young couple and their dog, we head down the snow covered trail in close company, but I speed up and give them some privacy. Grand County is a sparsely populated place; only 1 person for every 2.5 square miles. The locals generally like their privacy, the California attitude of "your here and I have a right to be right next to you" doesn't fly here...thankfully.
This is a great little walk, 3 miles round trip on a mostly level course with great views towards Spanish Valley. The trail itself wanders along the base of a large red rock wall. The wall has this smooth grey-black surface in some places called "desert varnish" which is actually clay that has been baked in the sun. It's wonderful to look at and the ancient ones preferred it's black surface for chiseling their petroglyphs into at a depth of 1/4 inch. Along this route there are 2 petroglyphs that I've seen; long, curvy, snake looking shapes that possibly represent the ridge line of the La Sal mountains or maybe the nearby stream bed, no one knows for sure.....mystery is a good thing.
It's quiet and peaceful here, yet only a mile or so from town. This is a great trail to let your mind wonder and your body get some exercise. Near the petroglyphs there's a large pile of broken stones at the base of the cliff. On further examination the broken stones are in the shape of soup cans. These rocks might have formed an arch on top of the cliff many years ago. At the turn-around point your treated to a view of the confluence of Mill Creek and North Mill Creek approximately 200 feet below you as it winds through the ancient slot canyons and eventually through the middle of Moab on it's way to the Colorado River. There is a nice big flat rock to sit on at this location; perfect for a friend and a bottle of wine on a summer evening.