The hike to Druid Arch was one I absolutely did not want to miss. Beforehand, I had immersed myself in this impressive rock formation, a 65-metre-high natural wonder that towers majestically above the Needles District landscape. With its striking, almost mysterious shape reminiscent of Stonehenge, this spot had long been on my list.
However, it did not promise to be an easy trek. A distance of 27 kilometres, steep elevation changes and temperatures reaching 35 to 38 degrees made it a challenge. The night before, we had put our water-filled Coke bottles in the camper's freezer - a simple but smart preparation.
At first light, while the sun was still hiding behind the horizon, we started our trek. The coolness of the early morning made the first few hours pleasant. But as soon as the sun showed its strength, the dried-up riverbed turned into a vast, blazing path. Shade became our ally, and we walked from shadow spot to shadow spot.
When we finally came face to face with Druid Arch, the heat and exertion were effortlessly pushed into the background. The colossal arch, a monument of time and nature, was a sight that proved well worth all our efforts.
My name is Gerry van Roosmalen, photographer and author with a passion for images and stories that touch. After years in the corporate world, I followed my heart and chose photography in 2002. I completed the Fotovakschool in Apeldoorn, specialising in portrait and reportage photography.
Documentary and landscape..
Read more…