National Park Mystery Spot 28: A Natural Shape

Submitted by Bob Janiskee on September 7, 2011 - 2:59am

The mystery spot is located in a unit of the National Park System. Can you identify the mystery spot and tell which national park it's in?

No keystone you'll find, nor any mortar.
This shape is part of the natural order.

Fine and fragile? Soft and faint?
These are things it certainly ain't!

You must climb up high to see it up close.

You can watch a raven change sides here, quick as a flash.

Bonus clue, no extra charge: One of about 2,000 in this park.

Be sure to check back with Traveler tomorrow for the answer and an explanation of the clues.

Comments

Submitted by GeorgeS (not verified) on September 7, 2011 - 4:43am.

That sounds like Arches National Park

Submitted by Lawrence J. Caldwell (not verified) on September 7, 2011 - 4:52am.

One of the arches in Utah?

Submitted by Bob Janiskee on September 7, 2011 - 5:01am.

GeorgeS and Lawrence J. Caldwell have solved part of the puzzle. Remember that you must identify the specific mystery spot and name the National Park System unit in which it is located.

Submitted by Aron (not verified) on September 7, 2011 - 6:18am.

Skull Arch in Raven Canyon in the Fiery Furnace area of Arches National Park?

Submitted by steve2 (not verified) on September 7, 2011 - 6:21am.

delicate arch in arches national park

Submitted by Bob Janiskee on September 7, 2011 - 6:21am.

Not Skull Arch.

Submitted by TsugaLover (not verified) on September 7, 2011 - 6:24am.

Longs Peak
Rocky Mountain National Park

Submitted by Bob Janiskee on September 7, 2011 - 6:24am.

Congrats to steve2, who was the first to ID the mystery spot (8:21 a.m.).

Submitted by Bob Janiskee on September 7, 2011 - 6:25am.

Sorry; it's not Longs Peak.

Submitted by Gary (not verified) on September 7, 2011 - 7:06am.

Hoo-doos in Bryce Canyon

Submitted by Anonymous in MN (not verified) on September 7, 2011 - 7:44am.

My guess is Joshua Tree?

Submitted by Smoky Zeidel (not verified) on September 7, 2011 - 7:44am.

How fun! But, I haven't a clue.

Submitted by Kurt Repanshek on September 7, 2011 - 7:50am.

Afraid it's not at Bryce Canyon nor at Joshua Tree, though both are good guesses!

Submitted by Eric Nelson (not verified) on September 7, 2011 - 8:26am.

It sounds like Delicate Arch in Arches NP.

Submitted by Bob Janiskee on September 7, 2011 - 8:30am.

Congrats to Eric Nelson, who has honored steve2's point. Anybody else out there who's got this one figured out?

Submitted by dave (not verified) on September 7, 2011 - 9:06am.

Delicate Arch , Arches National Park

Submitted by Bob Janiskee on September 7, 2011 - 9:13am.

Well done, dave. That makes three who've nailed this one.

Submitted by tomp2 on September 7, 2011 - 9:25am.

Clearly in Arches; I'd go with delicate arch because you use irony and delicate arch isn't as delicate as landscape arch is now, for instance. And, you are old enough (like me) to think that trail's a climb. My alternative guess would be the unpublicized arch NW of Fiery Furnace.

Submitted by Richard Smith (not verified) on September 7, 2011 - 11:01am.

Delicate Arch, Arches National Park

Submitted by Bob Janiskee on September 7, 2011 - 11:09am.

Tomp2 and Richard Smith have figured it out. That makes five.
Aside to tomp2: Your point is well taken. Maybe "climb" is a tad too strong for that trail. It did make me huff and puff, though, and I'm in pretty good shape for an Olde Pharte.

Submitted by Ilex_Opaca on September 7, 2011 - 12:25pm.

Delicate Arch in Arches National Park. Sorry I'm late....darn boss makes me work

Submitted by Bob Janiskee on September 7, 2011 - 12:43pm.

Good work, RangerLady. Right on the money.

Submitted by Blackfeet Dreamer on September 7, 2011 - 1:49pm.

Delicate Arch in Arches seems to make sense, no?

Submitted by Bob Janiskee on September 7, 2011 - 1:53pm.

Yes, Blackfeet Dreamer, your answer does make sense. And it's correct, too.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on September 7, 2011 - 2:05pm.

Delicate Arch in Arches National Park

Submitted by Bob Janiskee on September 7, 2011 - 2:12pm.

Anon 4:05 pm has nailed it too. Good work.

Submitted by ed-123 (not verified) on September 7, 2011 - 3:57pm.

Delicate Arch?

Submitted by Bob Janiskee on September 7, 2011 - 4:06pm.

Correct, ed-123.

Submitted by Yellowstone Ed (not verified) on September 7, 2011 - 5:04pm.

Delicate Arch.

Submitted by Rick Smith on September 7, 2011 - 5:38pm.

Delicate Arch in Arches?

Submitted by Bob Janiskee on September 7, 2011 - 5:55pm.

Rick Smith and Yellowstone Ed have nailed it too. Nice going.

Submitted by y_p_w on September 7, 2011 - 6:28pm.

I won't pretend to have known the answer from scratch since I saw one answer before it was wiped.

I've been there too. One of the most inspiring experiences in my life was seeing the sun set on this mystery spot. I don't know about high though. There is a bit of exposure on the way in, but it wasn't too bad. Most people could reasonably be expected to make the hike in.

I don't know about the second clue though. One of its "siblings" came crashing down a few years ago.

Submitted by Leanne Edwards (not verified) on September 7, 2011 - 6:33pm.

Delicate Arch at Arches National Park

Submitted by Kurt Repanshek on September 7, 2011 - 6:36pm.

High is relative, y_p_w. Depends where you live. And your age and health can play roles, as well. As for the sibling, well, you'll just have to wait until tomorrow;-)

Submitted by Kurt Repanshek on September 7, 2011 - 6:36pm.

Oh, and Leanne just nailed it, too;-)

Submitted by RoadRanger (not verified) on September 7, 2011 - 10:58pm.

Has to be Delicate Arch at Arches National Park. Am I bringing up the rear again?

Submitted by y_p_w on September 7, 2011 - 11:05pm.

OK - what they heck. I could tell from the clues anyways. Delicate Arch at Arches National Park.

Natural order probably refers to it being formed by the forces of nature.

"Fine", "fragile", "soft", and "faint" are all synonyms for delicate.

Seeing it close requires a 1.5 mile hike which can be challenging in the summer heat.ot sie

I'm not sure of the raven reference.

The bonus clue refers to the number of known arches in the park.