[__mharrison__]

Just a note. Arches is a good 4 hour drive from Salt Lake City.

(Not to try and discourage your visit. I'm from Utah and I've often thought of trying to arrange some sort of Python/Data desert or ski outing.)

[scsilver]

It's worth renting an SUV in SLC and some camping gear from REI on the way to arches, and driving through to Denver, dropping off the gear at REI and going home on the plane. You could probably even get some skiing in at Arapahoe Basin.