Delicate Arch

Yesterday we went to Arches

we were hiking on the Upper View Trail

to Delicate Arch, the iconic arch

that symbolizes the beauty of southern Utah

as we walked up the dirt path

me trekking along slowly with my poles

we came upon a sharp ascent

of stone stairs and a steep upwards path

Jackie, Andrew and Erin continued up

and I turned back

I walked back down the path

to the very short and flat

Lower View Trail

and to the lower view of the far away Delicate Arch

the blue sky and the red dirt

and the specks of people

I stood there at the park sign

marking the official lower view point

with an up close photo

and the explanation of mother nature

I stood there supported by my trekking poles

gazing at the expansive view

took a deep breath

read the sign and snapped a photo

then wandered back to the parking lot

sat at a picnic table

and waited for my family to return

earlier that day at Balanced Rock