Cohab Canyon and Cassidy Arch, Capitol Reef NP

I feel that as I get closer to my due date opportunities to escape to Southern Utah to enjoy the springtime weather are dwindling.  This weekend, even though Erik was at Texas Relays and my plans to camp in Moab with the Johnsons fell through; I found a way to get to Capitol Reef.  I went down with Andie and Justine for a girls hiking day. We hiked Cohab Canyon from the Fruita trailhead, linked up with the Frying Pan Trail, that took us to Cassidy Arch and finished through the Grand Wash.  The highlight of the day was we all experienced our first time hitch-hiking.  After hiking 8.5 miles through the Grand Wash we were expecting to walk along the highway the 3 miles back to our car in Friuta, but we were tired so we started throwing the thumb up as cars passed.  Eventually a nice Asian family that didn't speak much English picked us up.  They drove past us at first, but a few minutes later they came back for us.  It was awesome!

 

33 weeks into pregnancy and feeling awesome! I got lots of compliments from fellow hikers, and I am pretty sure that the only reason we got picked up hitch-hiking at the far end of the Grand Wash was because they felt sorry for the prego lady!

Cassidy Arch was so impressive.  I have seen pictures many times, but the real thing was so much better.  You can see how big it was underneath us.  This picture below is my new friend Lola.  She and her hubby Lyle (both 65 years old) were canyoneering through Cassidy Canyon.  We watched her owne this 200 foot rappel.  I can only hope Erik and I are still this cool when we hit our 60's.

The Grand Wash

After our hitch-hiking experience we grabbed the car and headed out to Freemont Falls to cool off swimming.  I have swam/cliff jumped here before, but his time around the water flow was much higher and turbulent.  We were to scared to actually swim this time, but we took naps on the rocks and enjoyed the mist of the falls.  Great day in Capitol Reef, I hope to get down to southern Utah at least one more time before this baby girl comes, but weekends don't look that clear from here on out, so we will see.