Into the Fiery Furnace

Several weeks before we left, we made reservations for the 3-hour ranger-guided hike into the Fiery Furnace in Arches NP. Unfortunately, by the time we decided to do it (after watching the video), the only time slot available was the 10:00AM hike - yippee, just as the day is getting HOT! The description from the park website reads:

"These popular three-hour hikes must be reserved in advance, and are considered by most to be moderately strenuous. The Fiery Furnace hike is not a casual stroll and everyone attending the walk should be aware of the demanding nature of this hike and be properly equipped. During the hike, participants will be walking and climbing on irregular and broken sandstone, along narrow ledges above drop-offs and in loose, sometimes wet, sand. There are cracks which must be stepped over and narrow places in the rock that you must squeeze into and pull yourself up and through. In some of these places, you must hold yourself off the ground by pushing against the sandstone walls with your hands and feet. Due to the maze-like nature of the terrain, all participants are committed to completing the hike once they enter the Fiery Furnace."

Moderately strenuous. Demanding nature. Squeeze into narrow places. Ummm, let's see, did I really want to do this?! I told myself, if a 6 year-old is allowed on the hike, then surely I could make it through. Right?!

After breakfast, we were off to the visitor center to pick up our tickets. Good thing we reserved far in advance - I overheard the ranger saying that the next available tour was more than a week away! The boys found some floppy, wide-brimmed hats (camo, even better!) in the bookstore, an excellent purchase for the hike.

As we drove up into the park towards the Fiery Furnace trailhead, we were treated to many interesting formations (fins and spires)...

Park Avenue

Three Gossips (left) and Sheep Rock (right)

We arrived at the trailhead and waited for the ranger to arrive.

She checked us in, along with the rest of the group, and away we went into the Fiery Furnace.

Here are some pics that we took along the tour route, not that I could necessarily tell you what or where everything was...

Walkthrough Arch

Crawlthrough Arch

Skull Arch

As instructed, J using his behind to slide down the slope

M taking a leap of faith

Ranger Amy demonstrating the best way to navigate
this obstacle: scooching on your butt, with your feet on the opposite wall

The view from one of the stops

Surprise Arch overhead

Coming back out of the Fiery Furnace

Almost there!
(Doesn't the rock look like a "Planet of the Apes" ape?)

Thankfully it wasn't too hot while we were hiking. The canyon walls are steep enough to provide lots of shade from the sun, and there was a nice breeze blowing through. But the last part of the hike was completely exposed, and it was just after 1:00PM when we finished. Mmmmmm, toasty!

Yep, we hiked our way through there!
(the view from Panorama Point)

Balancing in front of Balanced Rock

We drove out of the park to grab lunch in Moab, and then it was back to the hotel to jump in the pool. Figured it would be better to wait to go back into Arches until later in the afternoon when it might be a little cooler (and the stinky children might be less likely to mutiny.)

That turned out to be a good plan, because by late afternoon, it was cooler and the boys were willing to do a short hike out to Double Arch...

...as well as hike to see Delicate Arch from the upper viewpoint.

Even though I was worried about rain spoiling our trip (see 5/24 post), there is a definite upside to the afternoon thunderstorms we've been caught in...