"E Ticket"! - Day 3 - Part 2

Next Adventure - The Fiery Furnace. 

When Tommy first told us we were going to hike through the Fiery Furnace, my mind jumped to the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego . . . thankfully, this Fiery Furnace is nothing like that!  But it definitely has it's own set of trials and tribulations.  It is a restricted area of Arches National Park, and is an amazingly beautiful and challenging world of monolith sandstone fins and towering narrow sandstone canyons.   Only a limited number of people are allowed in each day, and you must either go with a group led by a park ranger, or if you want to go privately, you must be issued a permit.  And to get the permit, you must watch an introductory video about the area, and there IS a test after - so pay attention! 

There are several reasons why access to the Fiery Furnace is restricted.  The first has to do with the fragile and sensitive nature of the plants and soil within the area.  Some plants are unique to this area and some organisms within the cryptobionic crust (soil) can easily be crushed and trampled by careless visitors just placing a single footstep in the wrong place. 



Cryptobionic Crust - very fragile.
Just one footprint can cause major destruction to the tiny organisms in this surface

A closer look at the Cryptobionic Crust

One of the unique and most protected plants in the Fiery Furnace. 
We were told the name, and then promptly forgot it!
This one looks really healthy

 

These look a little more ragged.
 It's amazing that plants can grow on these rocky surfaces. 
Nature is so awesome!

Want to know more about Cryptobionic Crust?  

 

Read this.

The second reason has to do with the confusing labyrinth of narrow canyons and rock formations.  It is very, very easy to get lost in the Fiery Furnace.  Trails are not marked and routes are unclear.  Once inside the Fiery Furnace you can literally get lost for hours, walk around in circles in confusion, and completely lose your sense of direction.

All that being said . . . DO IT!  It's probably the best hike in the entire park, unquestionably the most challenging and the most fun, and should not be missed!

Tommy had checked yesterday and found that permits were available, so last evening before we left the park we watched the video, took the test, passed with flying colors, and were issued our permit.  And now we were at the entrance to the Fiery Furnace and were ready for our adventure to begin  . . .

Some info about the Fiery Furnace

We have our permit!  We're good to go!

The Fiery Furnace

Approaching one of the obscure entrances

Once inside the Furnace, the rock formations and scenery are just incredible, and it only gets better and better . . .

This "hunchback" looking formation is one of the first we saw.

We were totally in love with these Utah Juniper trees

At this point we were still able to follow a semblance of a trail

We went under and through these two rocks -
Check out the little rock balanced on top -
Please don't fall!

 

Looking between and beyond the two large rock formations

These sandstone fins are massive and gorgeous

 

Sandstone fins and formations in every direction

 

Each one unique and different and intriguing

Looking up at the sky

The path became more and more obscure.  As best we could, we were following the sandy washes between the sandstone fins and soon we were traversing areas like this . . .

 

Yep, like this!  And this was one of the easier ones -
It's steeper than it looks in this photo!

 

I'm at the bottom watching Tommy and Carol climb up

Carol's safely at the top and now it's my turn. 
Tommy came back down to make sure I made it up in one piece.

We continued through the furnace for awhile and came upon this big crack in the rock . . .

Of course it had to be straddled and photographed

It looked like this- trust me, that's a LONG way down!



While we were hiking along, we had to be constantly looking down and watching our feet to be sure we weren't touching that precious crust and were only stepping on the sandy surfaces or on the rocks.  It was impossible to walk and look at the scenery at the same time, so we stopped every now and again to look around, soak it all in and snap photos . . .

Just amazing

And then we'd move on to the next challenge .. .

Through that?

Tommy showing us how to do it

Really showing off now!

My attempt

Next challenge - crawling along this rock wall

Piece of cake!

And over a small canyon . . .

Tommy was always right there to offer his hand in assistance -
But it was a little unnerving to step on this rock that was jammed
between the two sides of the chasm.  Please don't come loose!

Tommy dropped some smaller rocks down into that opening ... and they took FOREVER to hit bottom!

About this time we ran into another little group of hikers and they told us to go around this little bend to see something special.  We did and . . .

Surprise Arch!  Perfectly named, doncha think?

Looking up from underneath Surprise Arch

Surprise Arch is at a dead end in the Furnace.  We had no choice but to go back along that rock wall again to get out . . .


We have to do this again?  Yikes! Once was enough!
That drop-off is a LONG WAY down!

But we made it.  We continued along for awhile with Tommy going up ahead to scout out the trail .. and showing off his mountain goat skills . . .

One second after I took this shot, he jumped across that canyon. 
Sure glad he didn't make us do that!

Instead, he found this narrow crevasse for us to crawl through.
He beckoned us to "come on down!"

A little butt-scootin' boogie! We did a lot of  that!

Looking back at what we just squeezed through



Another "look at the scenery" break . . .

I don't have enough adjectives to describe it all - it's just incredible! 

We're still seeing animals in the rocks.
Can you find the geese?

How 'bout now?

More rocks to climb - just kidding, we didn't climb this one

Throughout the day we had little rain storms passing over us, so we'd get a little wet but we just kept on trucking.  One time it was coming down so hard we had to duck under some rocks until the rain stopped.  It never lasted very long and actually just added to the fun of the day.  The one drawback to the rain . . . since there are no set paths or marked trails in the Furnace, we were trying to follow the footprints that other hikers had left in the sandy washes.  And every time it rained, the footprints were washed away.  But Tommy was up for the challenge and somehow always managed to figure out where to go.

And when the rain stopped, the sky was absolutely gorgeous . ..




Beautiful!



 

Continuing along, we came to this .. .

Hmmmmmm . . . Which way?

The narrow rocky ledge on the left?

Or over this huge boulder and through the crevasse on the  right?

We chose...
 

The rock ledge on the left!
Whew!  Made it through!

Another Utah Juniper

While we're taking a scenery break, Tommy is showing off again and somehow scurried up to the top of these enormous sandstone rocks . . .

 

How the heck did he get up there?

He was scouting out the trail and said we had to go ...



Down there!  Really?  How?

Like this!

And this!

Here's what it looks like from the other side!

And from a little distance away looking back! 
We just came through that very narrow passage between those sandstone fins

 

We climbed up on top of these

And took a look around at the scenery again

And found this incredible arch.
It looks like two eels kissing so . . .
we named it "Kissing Arch" 

And this rock that looked like something out of Star Trek

The sides of the sandstone walls (or fins) were really interesting -
Could there have been seashells embedded in the sandstone at one time?

The further we walked, the more obscure the already non-existent trail was becoming.  Tommy would leave us to rest, take a drink of water, nibble on a snack and enjoy the surroundings while he scouted out the way.  Poor guy, he was having to walk three times as far as we did - to look for the trail, then come back to get us, and then lead us onward for as far as he had scouted.  He did this over and over and over.  And the amazing thing, he never let on that he had no idea where we were going or how to find our way out. .. and we never let on that we suspected as much.  We all were acting very confident and brave and enthusiastic for the benefit of each other . . . inside I think we were all just a tad concerned that we were hopelessly lost!

We just kept on going . . . climbing over rocks, spider crawling between walls, and . . . . well,



This is our next challenge - how would you get through this?

How about this?

We chose the butt-scootin' boogie again!

We got pretty good at it after awhile!

And the scenery continued to astound and amaze us

Another balanced rock

A helping hand

By this time we had been in the Fiery Furnace for at least three hours.  The original plan was to spend about one hour in the Furnace and then proceed on to a different area of Arches.  But, obviously, we were lost!  Thank goodness Tommy had lots of water and snacks in his backpack, because the sun was hot and we were getting tired and hungry.  But we were doing really good!  And we were feeling very proud of ourselves, doing all this stuff that we never even dreamed we ever would . . . or could!  Tommy is an excellent teacher, patiently and encouragingly showing us how to maneuver, where to step, offering his hand for support, and cheering us on, high-fiving us every time we successfully navigated over, under or through one of these hairy spaces.  And all was going really well . . . . until . . . .   

We came to this!
How are we going to get over this?

We managed to get onto the outcropping of rock in the lower right of the photo, but then we had to get over to the left side.  And those rocks that are stuck between the two rock faces are WAY down, much further than it looks.  So we had the option of jumping across . . . . hmmmmm, I don't think so!  Or somehow getting down onto those wedged in rocks and then climbing back up.  Uh uh! . . . Ain't gonna happen!

Tommy was gathering up rocks and trying to fill in the gap, but that didn't work.  Finally, he climbed down on those wedged-in rocks, anchored himself in, and then made a bridge with his thigh so that we could get across. 

That had to hurt!!!!!
 I'm sure he had a big bruise the next day!

 But that wasn't the worst of it!  Once we were safely across that obstacle, we walked across the top of that big rock surface only to find an even worse one waiting for us on the other side.  And this is where I totally lost it! 

Say what???

Carol was ahead of me and got to this first.  We had to get down the steep incline on the right in the upper photo to those rocks in the center of the lower photo, and then across that open gulch and up the rocks on the other side.  And that gulch looked huge!  At this point we were tired, hungry, and we were ready to be OUT.  I was up on top on the right hand side, Tommy was across and on the left, and Carol was attempting to cross.  And from my vantage point it looked like she was falling and I was sure she was going to fall into that gulch.  It scared the you-know-what outta me!!!  And I'm pretty sure out of Carol too!  But Tommy was right there, and he totally lifted her across and pulled her safely up on the other side.  I couldn't move - totally immobilized with fear!  Once she was across, and I knew she was safe, I slowly started breathing again .. . But then I realized that I had to get across it as well.   

So I took the easiest route I could . . .

And slid down on my backside

And Tommy helped me climb up the other side

And then we all just sat there and practiced breathing . . . . for quite some  time until finally our heart-rates were back to normal.  Did I mention this day was an "E Ticket"?  Seriously, this definitely had our adrenaline flowing big time!  But looking back . . . . it was SO! MUCH! FUN!!!

And finally, we were OUT!!!

Tommy - Our Hero

Yup, definitely "E Ticket" all the way!!!  Would we do it again?  Absolutely!!!!  Without a doubt!!!!

Safely back outside the Fiery Furnace

We made our way back to the van and headed out of the park and back to Moab for lunch. 

One last look at the Fiery Furnace from the road

This was definitely a day to remember! Later over lunch, or actually by the time we sat down to eat we decided to call it "linner", Tommy fessed up that he had never been inside the Fiery Furnace before.  We asked if had he had a full tour instead of just the two of us, would he have attempted it?  He said most likely not on his own, but he was planning to take his next group through with the aid of a park ranger, so that he could learn the proper route.  I'm sure we took a lot of wrong turns and climbed over many obstacles that we didn't have to.  And probably took a few years off young Tommy's life because we were his responsibility.  But would I change it?  No way (except maybe the part where I thought Carol was going to die - that part I could do without!)  The rest . . . . like I said . .  ."E Ticket" all the way!   Best!  Hike!  Ever!!!!

Tomorrow we to go Canyonlands . . . . Stay tuned . . . .

P.S.  Almost forgot . . . . for the benefit of our SBQ friends (Sew Blessed Quilters) . . . . On our way to "linner", we found a quilt shop in Moab.  Unfortunately, it was closed for the day, so we didn't get to check it out.  But if you're ever in this area . . . . . .