A break from the monotony at the City of Rocks

Every summer I hit a point where I just can't take the heat anymore and I start counting down the days until fall.  I start to hibernate inside my house after a certain point in the morning and don't come out until I have to or until it's evening.  I know.  I'm a big wimp.  I would just rather have it be winter than the heat of summer.  Fortunately mother nature and my husband gave me a reprise that I needed last week.  It rained.  And my husband planned a day trip to the City of Rocks.  We looked online for some trails I could run while we were there and before you knew it I had somewhere new to run as well.  Though I've been doing about 1/2 my miles on trails and they're practically right at my front door, I'm getting sick of them.  I needed somewhere new to run and this was so perfect.  

While the kids and husband were busy climbing on the rock formations, I went for a run.  

I was so caught up in the beauty of the scenery that after about 10 minutes on the trails, I was lost.  I had the map folded up in my pocket, but only the main trails were marked and there were what seemed like a million little trails that were there as well.  I couldn't find half of the landmarks that were on the trail and signs on the map.  I tried to backtrack but couldn't figure out where I'd come from.  I spent over an hour trying to find my way out.  Some trails would just end and I'd backtrack to a different trail.  Some would end on the top of a rock cliff. But everywhere I turned I was met with spectacular views.  Even being lost, I was so happy with somewhere new to run. Eventually I found my way out and asked some campers how to get to a big rock formation where I had planned to meet my family.  It was down the road about a mile.  I'd completely come out pretty far away from where I'd planned to.  It was so much fun, a little scary, and the perfect break from the monotony.  The temperatures were in the 60's.  It was rainy and I was soaking wet from the trees and bushes as well as the rain.

After I'd gotten back with the family, I realized I'd been missing out on the best part of the City of Rocks:  climbing the rocks!  Even that was a little frightening with my kids so close to sheer drop offs.  We picked out a camp site that we thought was perfect and we'll be returning sometime soon for a longer stay. The City of Rocks was well worth the drive out there.  It's like a small Granite Moab.  If you get the chance, you should take a trip out there!