I’m in Moab, Utah with 3 of my nephews! We’re visiting my sister Laura and it’s so dry. It’s not as hot as it usually is when I visit, which is a relief. But it is sunny and we have to drink so much water all the time. Back home, where 85% humidity is the norm, we don’t have to drink nearly as much. I do drink plenty at home because I walk and climb Monks Mound so much for my job. But here it’s even more
Yesterday, our first full day in Moab, some of us went to Sand Flats Recreation Area for a little hike. It was beautiful!
The trail we hiked is called Pinyon trail. It wasn’t too long, only about a mile loop. The sky was so blue!
Appa had fun exploring.
There’s still a lot of snow on the La Sal Mountains. We might go up there to fish later this week.
Damon is thrilled lol.
This is a yucca plant with fruit. The fruit is not exactly what you’d expect, it’s hard and firm like a pumpkin as my nephew Teddy said. They’re pollinated by the Yuccca Moth.
Climbing “slickrock” which is actually super grippy sandstone. I looked it up, and it’s called slickrock because the settlers had a hard time with their metal rimmed wheels and their shod horses. It’s also probably a lot more slick when it gets wet. As for our rubber soled shoes, it’s super easy to climb!
Sand Flats Recreation area is also home to the worldwide famous Slickrock Trail. Mountain bikers come from all over the world to experience this trail. I like bike riding, but I’m not that adventurous! I need more practice so I don’t get tired on my flat streets back home.
Teddy found a Hot Wheels on the trail! He brought the truck in his other hand, and we found this “wild hot wheels” in the sand. It was a cool find even funnier considering he found a hot wheels in Moab last summer in the rocks at the condo we stayed at with my folks. I have his face blocked out because I don’t have his parents’ permission to post it and he’s a little too young to decide for himself.
My sister enjoying the view.
At the top of another slickrock!
This is the ephedra plant, also called “Mormon tea” round these parts. It has medicinal properties. You may recognize the name since it’s pretty regulated as a medicine/supplement in the US. Just chewing it like a piece of straw is no big. Teddy really likes it, though I think it just tastes like a random plant.
Teeny tiny prickly pear cactus! There’s a lot of these plants around, but this one was tiny and cute so I had to show it with my (already small) hand for scale.
I didn’t get as many photos of the trail as I would like, and I completely forgot to get a photo of the biological soil crust, but maybbe I will later on during the trip. We also went to Moonflower to walk about but we got attacked by mosquitos and there was poison ivy all around.
We had to cap off the day with MoYo, or Moab Fozen Yogurt.
The three of us decided independently to not smile for this photo. You can just barely see Jimmy’s bright red hair next to Damon. Yes I’m wearing a different shirt (I was getting a bit chilly as the sun was going down!
Today we’re packing up to go on the river (either tonight or tomorrow) and Teddy CAN’T WAIT. Neither can I!
The Solo Geographer 