Well into the 100’s. I think I drank more water that day than the rest of the excursion combined. My photos of Antelope Canyon had been captured so it was time to get moving. I stopped by a gas station for fuel and more caffeine. It was 3PM and I had a 4.5 hour scenic drive ahead of me to the next stop.
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As I sped north through southeastern Utah on Highway 191 I realized I‘d be driving right by Four Corners. Blast! There was no way I had time to peruse that area as well but it left a rock in my shoe for a bit. Estimated time of arrival in Moab looked to be around 9:30PM. I stopped for more coffee.
It was 9:40PM MST as I rolled by the Arches visitor center. Dozens of cars of cars were on the main road…leaving the park. But the entrance gate was open so I headed in. Approaching headlights quickly dissipated until all I could see on the horizon was a whole bunch of nothing. It was right about then I asked myself if I had lost my mind.
25 minutes of driving lead me to the end of the road and the Devil’s Garden trail head. I saw no cars, or people…or anything for that matter because it was pitch black out. It was 10:15PM. I had already been awake for 15 hours and was now going to hike through a national park in the dark for 7 more. “Yes, Sam. You’ve lost it.” I thought to myself. But I went there to get night shots of the arches and I’m no quitter. With my photo gear packed and my headlamp on full I hit the trail.
Hiking through Arches alone at night was an awesome experience. Exploring is fun. It’s even more fun when you can’t see more than 10 feet in front of you, not knowing what amazing stone structure stands off in the distance. The only hiccup of the night was accidentally donating my glasses to the park somewhere along the trail. Photographing the massive arches in the dark proved to be challenging. It’s tough to frame up a shot when you can’t see what you never have. I actually don’t know what the park looks like due to me arriving, hiking, and departing between sunset and sunrise. Every time the shutter clicked shut I would get another clue to what my surroundings were.
It was 5AM so with what little energy I had left in me, I hiked back to the car and headed back to Moab to find some food and a bed. I devoured a smorgasbord of breakfast foods at a diner and took the waiter’s advice on where to check in for some shut eye. The Moab Valley Inn provided my first and only shower and bed rest of the trip.
Sunday into Monday was an eventful stretch. I had seen a dizzying amount during the 23 hours I had been awake. But now it was crunch time. I had to make it back to Spokane and be at work in 24 hours! I set my alarm for 2PM. 7 hours of sleep never felt so short.
The plan was to make it back Monday night. That wasn’t going to happen. Kept awake by very loud rock and roll and the most caffeine I have ever ingested in one sitting in my life, I made it to Missoula, MT around 3AM. I had driven 13 hours straight. I knew the last leg of the journey would take 3.5 more so I set the duck to wake me in two hours. So close, yet so far.
It hit me as I hit lock on the key fob and started walking to the office. I had made it back in one piece. I even packed an extra pair of clothes so I wouldn’t have to impress my coworkers with an apparent distaste for hygiene. As I sat down at my computer I breathed a sigh of accomplishment. I hadn’t slept in once all weekend.
Thanks for reading!
© 2026 Sam Roscoe
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