I missed the WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge from May 25, because I was vacationing in Moab, Utah. Even though it wasn’t officially summer when I went, today is the first day of summer in the northern hemisphere. For me, this post is about summer vacation.
We enjoy outdoor activities and a couple of those include hiking and off-roading. Hubby also enjoys mountain biking. The Moab area with its breathtaking national parks and Slickrock biking is a great place for these activities! One of the trails we took during our trip was the Gemini Bridges Trail. It is one of the more famous mountain biking and popular 4×4 trails in Utah. The trail’s namesake destination, Gemini Bridges are natural bridges; a “massive rock span that has been cleaved down the center into two parallel bridges.” The trail leads you on to their flat tops where you can experience spectacular views and look 250-feet down over the edge, if you aren’t afraid of heights.
You will see many spectacular rock formations along this trail, like the one in the above photo. If you’re like me, you will need to be with patient travelers who don’t mind stopping frequently so you can fill your camera’s memory card with the surrounding beauty, large and small, and experimenting with different camera settings. In this photo, there is a dune buggy parked in the shade of the tallest rock (lower left side of photo), but it’s too dark to see. I hoped it would be visible to give a perspective of how massive the rocks are. I was also intrigued by the number of airline contrails in the sky that day.
The following photo was taken when we reached Gemini Bridges. To understand how large this formation is, you can see my hubby standing on the bridge taking a photo of me taking a photo of him. I didn’t look down over the edge, though. The cautionary butterflies in my stomach were holding me back, it was windy, I really didn’t want to get any closer to the edge, and I got some of the photos I wanted!
HAPPY SUMMER!!
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I’m also submitting these photos for Island Traveler’s theme this week of Weekly Image of Life: Fun in the Sun.
Other postings from my Southern Utah trip:
References:
- http://www.utahmountainbiking.com/trails/gemini.htm
- http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/moab/recreation/motorized_routes/gemini_bridges.html
- http://www.utah.com/bike/trails/gemini_bridges.htm
- http://www.everytrail.com/guide/gemini-bridges-4×4-road-moab-ut
- http://www.discovermoab.com/biking.htm
- http://www.utah.com/bike/trails/slickrock.htm
Looks fun……but damn the con trails, they get everywhere
Two wonderful photos to celebrate the first summer day.
Happy summer
Hi,
A remarkable place, I love the rock formations, on your second photo it looks like a natural bridge has formed over the many thousands of years, just amazing.
I also would not of got close to the edge wind or not. 🙂
Fabulous and i think the contrails adds dimension 🙂
❤ I miss Utah.
fabulous post fergie, very happy fun in the sun in such a beautiful place!
Great work my friend 🙂
Looks like an amazing place to visit. It’s good to have a person in the photo as it gives a city dweller like me a better sense of the vast size of the rocks and canyons.
It looks like you were very close to the edge… I’m glad you got some of the photos I wanted. Spectacular!
Happy Summer Solstice! Magnificent rock formations and… I don’t blame you far taking the steps back :S
Amazing!
I haven’t been to all of those places (yet), but I am enjoying living here in this beautiful state…my new home. 🙂
Thank you for all the information, Fergiemoto.
Gorgeous scenery. I like the sky in the first shot.
Wonderful photos – I’m looking forward to visiting this beautiful place some day.
Amazing scenery! Your images capture their grandeur well.
What a spectacular place! Amazing contrails too [or chemtrails… if you know the theory!]
Wow – what an awesome place. I wouldn’t want to look over the edge either!
That is one exciting and fun Summer start. Just looking at the photos, seeing how small your hubby looked in the picture as compared to the rocks just made me appreciate the grandiosity of mother nature. I too would probably feel butterflies in my tummy when closing towards the edge. Thanks for sharing a unforgettable and fun outdoor adventure .
Your summer sounds awesome That place is so large and unique compared to our country. Interesting.
That scenery is magical. Great shots.
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Wow greta photos Fergie!!!
OOOPS great photos!!!
These are great photos!
Fascinating landscape and a great vacation to start summer 🙂
Happy summer! Stay safe.
Happy Summer to you also! Greetings, Summer : )
Beautiful and interesting! Happy Summer to you!
Stunning photos–so colorful!
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