If I could figure out how to shrink the photo below, I would. I just thought that the graphic was really funny. Some kind of drug-induced stupor came to mind, a la Jack Kerouac or did Edward Abbey do drugs…? I’m just thinking of authors who waxed poetic about the desert and were possibly on some kind of pills. Anyway, let’s move on.
“Ok - so I’m thinking show Delicate Arch with some pills in the foreground that are larger than life - can you do that?”
Wander bread!
After several days of hard climbing in Moab, and several more much harder days to come in Indian Creek, we opted for a rest day of hiking in Canyonlands. It was my first time to Canyonlands, and I was excited to see some cool rock formations. I was not disappointed. Jason wanted some alone time, so I donned his running vest and decided to run a 6 mile out and back to Chesler Park while he hiked the same route.
Do I look legit?
The views from Chesler Park were fantastic and the route was fun to run. I typically mountain bike, not run, so I forgot that prancing and dancing over rocks can be enjoyable, too. There is something meditative about running, and since I don’t run very fast, it really feels like meditation. I reflected on how much of a golden retriever personality I am; even though Jason’s desire for some personal space after 20 days of living together squeezed into a 10’ x 4’ space is rational, some part of me felt rejected a little bit. Recognizing this as a personal problem, I tried to focus on running but some part of my mood was affected. I recognized that I have an incredibly high threshold, and maybe even need, for stimulation. I love talking to people and engaging, and I couldn’t help but feel disappointed that Jason didn’t always want to dive into deep discussions on the formation of cryptosoil, how the trails could be better signed, or why wars are fought. Taking a deep breath and reminding myself that I am loved and that I love nature, I plodded on. Luckily, the stunning views swept a smile to my face and I slowed to a walk and even a stop numerous times so that I could take in the landscape without tripping over myself.
Wow!
Ah, I forgot to mention - at the beginning of our expedition, we observed some 20-something year old boys clomping through the cryptosoil. “Hey - you are stepping through cryptosoil - that stuff takes a long time to form and it’s really delicate and important for the desert ecosystem. It’s hard to see but try to be careful,” I called out to the boiz. “Oh, I had no idea,” they called back, which is interesting because as Jason noted they had backpacking packs on and we are pretttttttty sure the issuing permit center educates backpackers on detecting and avoiding stepping on cryptosoil. For those of you who have no idea what I’m talking about, cryptosoil (remember “crypto” means hidden so we can cut these guys a teeny bit of slack) is a biological combination of fungi and bacteria that form crusts in the soil. These crusts help retain moisture and prevent erosion, and they are very delicate. They look like clumpy soil dusted in black. See the photo below:
Cryptosoil!
Since Jason and I were on the same route, I intersected him on my return trip. Perched above the trail in a cave, he beckoned me to join him. My feelings of rejection melted, and I wondered why my brain can be so easily hijacked at times by negative feelings. He gave me some water (I had already blown through my little 500 mL water pouch) and snacks, and soon I carried on my way.
My first visit (Jason’s second, I think) to Canyonlands was a complete success, and I can’t wait to return. Maybe to bike the ~100 mile White Rim trail someday, or to explore The Maze, the least commonly frequented district of Canyonlands three districts (Island in the Sky, the Needles, and the Maze). Fingers rested, legs satisfied, we laughed with new friends in the parking lot and my soul felt soothed by the warm weather, good company, and exercise.
I found a wild Jason!