I’m happily whipping about, my arms full of sheets, when I turn the tight corner into the laundry room. Crash! 

My mood plummets. I grumble as I dump the sheets in the washer, grab the waste basket, and drop down to my knees to pick up glass shards. 

The framed photo of Moab, Utah’s sunlit landscape lay on the tile floor. As I sweep up glittering glass shards, I let the photo take me back to that remarkable October sunset at Red River Cliff Lodge. My husband and I had a lovely two nights there as part of a tour of Utah’s Parks. 

My attitude instantly improves as, once again, I’m strolling past Red River Lodge’s split rail fences and soaking in the view of horses grazing in a valley near a gently flowing stream. In the distance, the setting sun is highlighting the red cliffs.

Many movies have been filmed in the area. I’m reminded of the climactic ending of “Thelma and Louise,” where, with the law on their tails, the women choose to drive full speed off a nearby cliff.

I set the photo on a nearby table. On that Utah trip, we visited Arches National Park, Canyonlands, Bryce, and Capitol Reef. But it was Dead Horse Point State Park that was especially memorable because of an unexpected event.

I was standing on a mesa overlook, the Colorado River 2,000 feet below me, and feeling incredibly small when a distant spot of white on a nearby outcropping drew my eye. I blinked. The layers of sedimentary rock were orange, tan, brown, and red. What could possibly be white? A horse? A ghost of a horse?

My breathing quickened as I thought of the point that gave the park its name. According to legend, wranglers often drove herds of feral horses across a narrow peninsula, leaving them corralled by the sheer cliffs. One time, for reasons unknown, the cowboys chose the best horses and left the others corralled on the point. With the gate across the neck of the peninsula closed and the cliff’s steep sides penning them in, the unwanted horses were trapped with no way out, no water, and no hope for survival.  Those who found the remains of the unfortunate horses gave the place the name Dead Horse Point. 

Could the spot of white be a memorial of some kind?

Dead Horse Point is a gruesome name and might be the reason it’s not as busy as other nearby parks. It’s certainly impressive with its jaw-dropping views. 

I saw the blob of white moving on the narrow outcropping. So it wasn’t a sign. Maybe a bighorn sheep?

If so, the animal found a cozy place to hang out. I kept watching as I hiked closer. When I spotted another figure, this one in black, I gasped. It was a couple getting married! They had chosen to have their ceremony on an outcropping hugged by canyon walls. It seemed wonderfully intimate.

I head back to the laundry room, thanking the sheets as I toss them in the machine. They allowed me to relive a remarkable trip and hike.

November 17th is National Take a Hike Day. Planning a hiking trip is sure to improve your mood. If you’re interested in a picturesque walk in our area, here are some choices. Drop me a line if you spot any unusual sights. I’d love to hear the story.

• The Wisconsin Dells Riverwalk which hugs the river
• Ableman’s Gorge State Natural Area near Rock Springs
• Quincy Bluff and Wetlands State Natural Area in Adams 
• Chapel Gorge Trail in the Dells
• Rocky Arbor State Park 
• Mirror Lake State Park or Devil’s Lake
• Pulpit Rock Trail, which has parking available between the Mirror Lake Park entrance and the Seth Peterson cottage. 
• Any of the awesome Ice Age Trail segments