One of the largest and most photographed arches in Arches National Park has collapsed.
The arch, called Wall Arch, was along Devils Garden Trail, one of the most popular in the park. For years, the arch has been a favorite stopping point for photographers.
Paul Henderson, the park’s chief of interpretation, said the arch had been claimed by forces that would eventually destroy others in the park: gravity and erosion. “They all let go after a while,” he said.
Officials from the National Park Service and the Utah Geological Survey visited the site Thursday, noting stress fractures in the remaining formation. The trail will not be opened until the debris is cleared away and it is safe for visitors, Henderson said.
Sad; but, inevitable.
I’ll have to wander back through old photos. I last camped near this arch, Thanksgiving Day, 1989.
Meanwhile, other arches are being formed?
or–should we rebuild this one? (Seriously==why not?)
I’ll bet Matt Harding danced on top of it, and wham!
ermmm… do you mean that wall arch had not been created by god in the initial seven days? Are we saying, the whole of creation is ever changing?
Scandalous!
pj
Is there some way to blame global warming for this? 🙂
No, the collapse was not due to global warming, but rather the result poor enviromental policies and of funding from the Bush adminstration.
Dr Scholl’s are good for falling arches…
#5, what do Bush’s environmental funding policies have to do with this? The arch was created by nature, and now it was destroyed by nature.
#5 You are a waste of space.
Geeze–2 in a row? Sea Lawyer, you should be ashamed.
Either Martin is showing why sarcasm doesn’t work real well on a blog post as goaded by ziggy’s more obvious and lighter humor, in which case he should be complimented or ignored, -OR- Martin is an idiot and should be ignored.
Until the evidence is clear, I think the better view is you haven’t had your second cup of joe as yet?
#9, caffeine is bad for your heart, so I don’t drink coffee. Plus it tastes horrible. =D
#10–SL==I’m in a small group of folks who email each other on the benefits/harm of coffee. It has been going back and forth for years now.
My last recollection was it helped arteries and protected against Alzheimers, but I may have that wrong.
I drink capacinno–ie milk, sugar, and coffee, so I have to admit, I don’t like coffee either.
I spent many years exploring Canyonlands in the 80’s and 90’s, it is astonishing what can happen overnight. Drove in one time on a Friday and by Sunday there was a rock the size of a house on the road on the way out on Sunday. Then there was the time I was camping there in the wintertime and an overnight snowstorm dropped about 6 inches of snow which broke a branch on the tree that my tent was under. The end of the branch came right through the tent and buried itself into the ground 2 inches away from my neck! Immediately I was pissed that the tent had been ruined but then I realized what a lucky bastard I was…
#10, SL,
caffeine is bad for your heart, so I don’t drink coffee. Plus it tastes horrible.
HERASY !!! You dare mock coffee. Luddite !!!
#11, Bobbo,
… I don’t like coffee either
Shame on you.
How is Juan Valdiz supposed to feed his ass with you two not buying his beans?
must be global warming!
Damn SUV’s and Hummers!!!
Wow! I was going to be sarcastic and say ,”Why wasn’t anyone blamed Mr Bush?” Guess the buck really does stop there.