To the west, a city of 319,000. To the east, a mighty river, a muddy artery. I stayed at the top for almost an hour. I love heights and wanted to experience the angle from every window along the slightly curved viewing corridor. Riding down in the pod, I was thinking how unusual it felt not to hike into the heart of a park. As I listened to the distinct clicks, felt the shudder as we moved along the enclosed Ferris wheel, I sadly realized that I had just visited the heart of Gateway Arch National Park.