Fiery Furnace

We spent last Tuesday and Thursday at Arches National Park. This very busy, small preserve lies close to Interstate 70 and Moab, which probably explains the bulk of the visitors. But the sandstone arches and other striking rock formations found in the park surely draw people, too. We drove around the main attractions—Double Arch, north and south Window Arches, Balanced Rock, Delicate Arch, and so on—but you can see stunning photos of these features all over the web. We also took a very nice walk through Devil’s Garden, a 7-mile loop on the park’s north end. It was a great hike, and I’ve posted some photos from that walk here.

But our highlight from Arches was Fiery Furnace. It wasn’t necessarily the amazing scenery that put this hike at the top of our list. It is beautiful, but it’s not that much different than what you can see elsewhere in the park and Red Rock country. The same geologic forces created this place and the Needles in the southern unit of Canyonlands National Park. Nor did we experience any great physical challenge or go to great lengths to find this place: We walked only 2 miles over 3 hours, and, as the park ranger told us, we were never more than ½ mile from the parking lot.

Ranger Jon Classen, an educator wise beyond his years, second from right.

Only those with a ranger or a special permit are allowed into the Furnace for fear that people will get lost, and that’s not far-fetched from what we experienced. Being at the bottom of these joints completely disorients. Most visitors make reservations months in advance because of the unique experience, and rightful so. One must squeeze through tight cervices, shinny down steep ledges, and otherwise contort one’s body in some awkward ways to navigate the Fiery Furnace. Most any able-bodied person can do it, and it was a lot of fun. 

But for me it was the tour that made the experience well worth it. Never have three hours passed faster in my life. I thought plodding along at a snail’s pace with 20 strangers would be torture, but of course everyone was pleasant and interesting. Apparently the park service weeds out the jerks when they take reservations. Or maybe we were all well-behaved because the twenty-something ranger commanded our attention in the most fun-hearted yet serious manner. He proved to be an model educator.

And that's what I thought about most as we moved along: My own impending gig as an educator. Ranger Jon admitted that he had led more than 300 groups through the Furnace. Even so, I was amazed at his clear and simple explanations, his use of a consistent theme and repetition, his ability to capture his listeners' attention, and, most importantly, the way he met his audience where they were--rather than where he was or where he wished his audience to be. I found it inspiring.

But then again, he did have great material to work with.
 

The "waddling" maneuver.

Surprise Arch