April 18, 2017 Valley of Fire, Nevada

Today was in the high 80’s with high winds blowing dust.

We decided to hike into Natural Arch Canyon. I thought the wind would cool us off. It didn’t. Oh well. Tamarisk blooms, orange milkweed buds and a field of desert gold.

Cool holes in the rocks, wind patterns on the sand and a caterpillar. John in a narrow portion of the hike. 

The arch that the canyon was named after collapsed in 2010. But there were tons of other arches in it. One of the arches, a cairn in hole, purple flowers and moqui balls in the rocks.  The trail was a 5 mile round trip in this very fine sand. It was a slog, but a pretty slog.

We could walk on rocks for part of it.

John expressing his thoughts about walking in sand, in the heat with sand blowing in your face.  Bladder pod bladders and a couple shots of the blooms. Interesting looking plant.

Narrow spot, more aches and scarlet gaura.

Canyon narrows up near the end. John climbing a dry fall.

Cool rocks and clouds. Holes in the rock, one with desert nettles in the hole, close up of desert nettle blossom and more holes, this one looks like looking up a nose on a face.

John in the canyon. Two arches in one and knobby rocks.

Holes that look like a paw print, orange, yellow and white flowers, mossy moqui balls, another arch, desert nettle blossom and when the moqui balls fell off here the ground was cobble stoned. A sacred datura bloom, the side and the top, a desert mushroom and a hillside of backlit purple flowers.

Indian rice grass, phacelia, a weird thing near the trailhead and a desert 5 spot. When we got back hot, sandy and exhausted we took cold showers and washed the sand off. Thank heavens for  a campground with showers and hook ups.  Sunset view from camp.