This fall we spent a long weekend in Moab, like we have practically done since therapods pushed their toes into its scarlet mud. On this occasion, my sister joined us, and the weather was ideal, which made the trip exactly perfect.

Although November is one of our preferred months to visit Moab, conditions can be unpredictable that time of year. Fortunately, temperatures stayed in the sixties and skies remained sunny. Thank you, Gods of Not-Quite Winter!

How did we make use of all that delicious sunshine? First, we hiked the 2.5 miles to Longbow Arch, a trail we had somehow never explored or even heard of. Quite a few sights are packed into this short jaunt including petroglyphs, dinosaur tracks, and the obvious arch.

The next day, we trekked two trails, Cowboy Jacuzzis and Jeep Arch. Reaching the Cowboy Jacuzzis requires under a mile each way. Mill Creek slows as it fills these rock bowls, and sunshine striking the stone heats the water to bath temperatures… well, that’s what supposedly happens during warmer times of the year. It was cooler than any bath I’d like to dip into when we were there.

We visited Jeep Arch just a year ago, but since my sister had never been, we were disposed to enjoy this hike again. It was just as spectacular as the first time.

Our last day, we hiked somewhere between six and seven miles on the Amasa Back Trail with an added spur to an overlook above the Colorado River and Poison Spider Mesa. Amasa Back is a peninsula formed by a U-bend in the Colorado River. Its trail climbs to its crown. Rising 1000 feet has its advantages. At first, we were disappointed that our perspective on countless fins and dramatic cliffs from above the Colorado was marred by State Route 279 and other mementos of humanity. However, in the end, we found the ORVs and other Vs making their way up Poison Spider Mesa to be extremely entertaining, especially the unjustifiably confident ones. Our prospect also revealed the numerous layers of plateaus expanding above State Route 279 invisible from its pavement. An unfamiliar look on such a well-known motorway was fascinating.

What did we like about hiking Amasa Back? The vista from the viewpoint was unique and, surprisingly, made more interesting by its manmade touches. Also, we were able to appreciate this perspective in solitude. While the path had plenty of bikers on it until we passed the HyMasa Trail, a single-track used to access the Captain Ahab Trail, we didn’t see a single person the rest of our journey. What didn’t we like? Amasa Back is a jeep trail, which means a wider and more scuffed route.

It was great to share Moab with my sister and her hubby. Usually, it’s just me and Jason hogging the splendor to ourselves. Sunshine and sisters pair perfectly in the desert like cyanobacteria and lichens.