No, this post is not about Alex’s new love affair with the Castlevania-esque music group Goblin. This past weekend I went camping with some friends. It was the third time I had made the journey to central Utah and spent a day running amid the rocks of Goblin Valley.

For those of you unaware of the wackiness of this place, here is a panoramic picture. Keep in mind that this is compiled photos from nearly a 180 degree turn.

All of these giant rocks sit atop eroding columns of sandstone. This is the front valley and there are more, smaller valleys behind it that you need to climb to. The first two times I traversed these lands I went to these valleys, but not this time. This weekend was more exploring of the north (left) side of the formations.

While exploring, James uncovered this little friend:

Don’t worry. We talked to a park ranger and she told us these types of scorpions are fairly harmless. If you were ever stung by one of these, it would be similar to a bee sting. Just a little painful, unless you’re allergic. Then it’s no fun at all.

If you’ve never been to Goblin Valley, you need to go. I plan on returning later this year in autumn, probably late September if you want to come with. The beating of the ht sun will be less intense then and the nights are not unbearably cold. In fact, the first two times I went were in September and I slept out under the stars both times. Comfortably, I might add.

The best part of this trip was not the goblins, though. Friday afternoon was spent amid the rocks. But Saturday we went to the nearby Bell and Wild Horse canyons. These are two canyons a few miles away from Goblin Valley. There is a trail that runs through them and connects for a total hike of 9 miles. Ross had heard that Wild Horse was the better canyon, so naturally we started our hike through Bell (to end the day in the best area possible).

This is a general idea of what Bell canyon is like:

The canyons are formed by flash floods eroding at the edges. For the most part, the canyons were 6 to 8 feet across and anywhere from 10 to 50 feet tall. There are a few places which require climbing up some rocks to move on, but never any spots that are impassable without a push from below or a pull from above by someone else.

Unfortunately, the battery in my camera died in the part of the hike between Bell and Wild Horse. I say “unfortunately” because Wild Horse really was the better of the two canyons. By a long shot. In fact, there were places in the canyon that were truly amazing. Points of the canyon were no more than 3 feet across and at least 100 feet tall. The closed in feeling was much more intense, but the different erosion was really what struck me.

I also want to go back to this canyon later this year, if only to get pictures. Let me state my amazement of this canyon by saying this: parts of Wild Horse canyon were easily some of the most remarkable things I have ever seen with my own two eyes. I’ve seen some truly amazing things on TV or in pictures, but not in person, so they do not count.

So, come this September, anyone that wants to join me for a day in Goblin Valley and Wild Horse canyon, feel free to come along. It’ll be a grand time!