I have spent my entire life living in the Appalachian and flat Midwestern Ohio environments. I have explored down into Appalachian West Virginia, Virginia, and North Carolina. But this March I finally got the opportunity to see some new terrain.
When we arrived in Moab, Utah it was long past sunset. So when I first opened my eyes on that beautiful Sunday morning I was stunned by my surroundings. The difference between southern Utah and Ohio is monumental. Moab is all rocks. There were some trees and other vegetation (particularly at our campsite, which was by the Colorado River), but mostly, rock. Looking around, my eyes were filled with shades between red, orange, and brown.
The morning sun was blocked by the walls of the canyon. The air was cool as we woke and got moving. But as soon as the sun comes over the canyon I shed layers and absorb sunlight. On the first day we did day hikes through Arches National Park. The park was beautiful, but it was also filled with people and I felt more like a tourist than a real outdoorsman. Spending the following two days backpacking through the backcountry was exactly what I needed.
The Island in the Sky region of Canyonlands is incredible. As the backpacking trip began, we descended into the canyon. Looking down into this canyon was the most incredible thing that my eyes have ever done.
Water is quite scarce in the desert, and most organisms learn to get by without much of it. But part of our trip was along the Green River, and so we were able to retrieve water after the first night. We just let it settle over night to separate out the large particles, put it through a filter, and then added iodine to rid the water of any bacteria.
After the backpacking, I spent the rest of the week enjoying Moab’s world class rock climbing. Climbing is an ideal workout for mind and body: not only do you have to have the brains to see the best way to position your body to ascend the rock, but you must also have the strength to do it! I led my first routes at the crags Wall Street and Ice Cream Parlor. With only one major fall and (minor) scarring I would call it a successful trip!
By Roland Bennett