It is a misnomer as I stare at the three pine trees directly in front of the arch. The dead log I climbed over to take up my position beneath the arch was probably one of the original trees. In the solid sandstone monoliths surrounding me, it is challenging to picture trees being able to grow, let alone the large Ponderosa pine trees that dot the area.
I had driven 45 minutes from my home in Cedar City, UT, to Zion National Park after realizing that the ski pants I had purchased a couple of years ago no longer fit. When looking for consolidation prizes, a person could do worse than Utah's First National Park. [^1]
Zion is such a common destination for me that I rarely check for alerts on the main website, [^2] if I had, I would have noted the warning regarding construction at the south entrance near Springdale. The park remodeled the toll gates just a couple of years ago, and I realized when I came to a traffic standstill that the construction was to improve the drains under the road before reaching the entrance booths.
Five lanes [^3] were now two: an exit lane and a single entrance lane. I was car number 20 approximately. The line moved quickly, and I found myself driving through the tunnel without stopping behind a motorhome or tour bus. [^4] Not a single car was parked in the turnout near Pine Creek, and I quickly made a U-turn and came to a stop.
“Bridge Mountain” copyright BrickBarnBlog2022
The weather is beautiful; the initial part of the hike is wet through the sandy river bottom; however, the path moves quickly up a series of dry falls. [^5] I'm winded when I reach the upper section of sand and trees. [^6] I almost forgot I am intermittent fasting today. [^7] I rest for a few moments on one of the large lava rocks surrounding me before continuing my climb toward Twin Pines Arch.
Twin Pines Arch is a sliver of rock extending from one of the cliff bands. [^8] It is visible from Hwy-9 if you know where to look; however, it also blends perfectly with the surrounding rock and, therefore, can be pretty tricky to see without light or shadow marking the spot. I drop my pack and climb up under the arch.
“Trail view Twin Pines Arch” copyright BrickBarnBlog2022
When climbing Progeny Peak, Twin Pines Arch is about halfway and a good resting point before continuing. Frankly, after my first ascent of Progeny Peak, I haven't given much thought to the arch, and today with my energy stores waning, I decided to make Twin Pines my destination and look at it as if I was seeing it for the first time.
“Twin Pines Arch” copyright BrickBarnBlog2022
I'm glad I did. The arch is slight, and a short but tricky climb allows me to move around directly underneath the outcropping. I spend a lot of time just enjoying the various views of the remainder of Zion through the lens of the arch and surrounding pine trees. On close inspection, I'm grateful not to find any graffiti in this remote location. [^9] I take more than a few pictures before starting my hike back down the mountain.
The park is busier now, and my jeep is surrounded by other parked vehicles as people make their way to the Zion Overlook Trail. I again pass through the long tunnel uninhibited, which is a first for me in more than a few years. Leaving the park, the construction and the single entry booth are taking their toll as the line of cars has extended considerably into Springdale. I didn't count; however, I would estimate 70-100 waiting vehicles. I dodged that bullet by arriving just a little early this Thanksgiving week.
Footnotes:
[^1]: [Zion National Park (U.S. National Park Service) (NPS.gov)](https://www.nps.gov/zion/index.htm)
[^2]: Opting instead to drive to one of the more remote locations in the park if necessary.
[^3]: Exit lane, three entrance booths, and an employee lane.
[^4]: Tunnel stops are a common occurrence due to the small size of the tunnel. Buses and motorhomes need to drive down the center of the road to avoid hitting the inside walls of the curved overhead beams.
[^5]: Dry fall is a common name for hiking in the desert to describe where the water runs during a rainstorm.
[^6]: Often referred to as "Hanging Gardens," these small areas have captured soil from erosion and allow trees and other plants to grow, sometimes high in these rugged mountains. The black streak down the cliff side is a tell-tell sign of a hanging garden. Water leaches color from the soil before cascading over the side, staining the red sandstone.
[^7]: Intermittent fasting is a blog for another time.
[^8]: Cliff bands is another hiking term to describe the side of a mountain that appears to be a series of steps where a flat part butts up against a cliff face before moving to another flat spot.
[^9]: COVID seemed to bring a new set of travelers looking to escape the confines of their lockdowns. The number of reported instances of vandalism and graffiti skyrocketed for the park during the past couple of years.