Musselman Arch is one of the many rock arch formations found in Canyonlands and Arches National Parks. These unbelievable rock formations often look like they are ready to collapse, but in reality many are literally millions of years old. So while the odds of a collapse occurring at the precise moment I happened to be standing on the Musselman Arch was remote beyond comprehension, I still couldn't keep from considering the possibility and hoping I did not win this lottery!

How do these incredible rock arches form? Over time water seeps into the cracks, joints, and folds in the rock layers. Ice forms in the fissures, expands and puts pressure on the surrounding rock and breaks off bits and pieces. Winds later clean out the loose particles leaving a series of freestanding fins. Wind and water erode these fins until the cementing material gives way and chunks of rock tumbled out. Many damaged fins collapse; others with just the right degree of hardness and balance survived despite their missing sections and became arches. Arches eventually collapse leaving only buttresses that in time will erode. This is probably the geologic story of Utah's rock arches. I say probably because the evidence is largely circumstantial. Nature's clock in Utah runs exceedingly slow!