Settle in, friends, because do I have a story for you! This was an adventure session to trump all other adventure sessions.
In July, I made a roadtrip to Colorado and Utah, partly for work (so many sessions and photos to share!), partly to ring in my 23rd birthday, and partly just because I am obsessed with Colorado and had been dying to see Utah. Utah now ranks high on my favorite places list. The rugged beauty of Moab and Canyonlands National Park was nothing short of magical. But that’s another story for another time. Let me tell you about my adventure with Page + Matt…
Page + Matt drove four hours one way for our photo session in Arches National Park. If that doesn’t tell you something about their adventurous spirit, I don’t know what does. As the time for our scheduled meet-up at the park drew near, a storm started to roll in. I texted them saying that I understood if they wanted to cancel, since it would be a shame to drive all that way and it be pouring rain the whole time. They replied saying they were already invested and excited and would still shoot even in the rain! I was thrilled. Talk about DREAM clients!
We finally met up in Arches just as the rain started to fall, the storm clouds stretching across the sky. Page + Matt jumped into my car with me, and we decided to outrun the storm. We took off in the opposite direction, stopping at various points to jump out and take pictures amidst the drizzle and wind. As soon as the rain would catch up with us, we’d race back to the car and drive to the next stop. It was the most wild and fast-paced photo session I’ve ever done, but we were having the time of our lives. None of us could stop laughing at this whole crazy ordeal. We were soaked and dashing around Arches like manic leprechauns. No rain was gonna stop us!!
Until.
For our last photo opp, we turned off the main road to the Delicate Arch trailhead. It was around 8:30pm by this point and getting dark. By the time we were done at the trailhead, however, we encountered a huge problem: a flash flood had taken over the one way back to the main road and we were trapped! I threw the car in reverse and headed back to the trailhead parking lot. Several other cars full of people were there as well.
The rain was still coming down and the flood continued to rage. The park rangers finally came and shouted at us across the flood to not attempt to drive through, and to prepare to be spending the night in our cars. The three of us couldn’t help but laugh. What an adventure this was turning out to be!
Eventually the rain stopped, but the flood was still gushing. Trapped in Arches at 10pm with no cell service and concerned that our families would be worried about us, Page, Matt, and I decided to make the night even a little more adventurous. We borrowed some headlamps from some of our fellow captives and spent the next hour hiking the Delicate Arch trail in hopes of finding a high spot to get enough service to send some texts through. No such luck, but man, I remember hiking through the dark with Page + Matt, barely able to contain our laughter. We couldn’t believe what our photo session had turned into, but it was so crazy all we could do was laugh. At one point, Page said, “I feel like we’re going to be best friends after this.” I couldn’t have agreed more!
By the time we got back to the car, the flood had died down enough that people were making a break for it. Maybe we wouldn’t have to spend the night in my car after all! Amidst a lot of screaming and victory cries, we tore through that water, made it to the other side, and finally made it out of the park around midnight. And I think it’s safe to say, none of us had ever been happier or more relieved in our LIVES.
These photos hold more memories than I ever could have imagined. I love my adventure pals and still can’t quite believe we went through such a crazy night together. We’re pretty much friends for life now, and this was a photo session we will never forget! But as chaotic as it was, I can’t help but wish that all my photoshoots were a little more like this… 🙂 Huzzah for adventurous people!
And Arches, you were beautiful even in the rain and wind and flood and dark. I’ll come visit you again, but maybe first I’ll make sure it’s going to be a sunny day…
