Many of you may or may not know that the Grand Canyon is my single most favorite place in the world. I have had the pleasure of visiting three times now and each time it catches me off guard the first time I stare down into its vast chasm. I almost feel as if my face is not big enough to take it all in, let alone that I can even attempt to take a photograph to do it justice.
On the way, Aunt Marian and Uncle Gary and I played a game reminiscent of the book of questions but with more of a spiritual bend:
- If you could be any animal, what would it be? Duh, a seal of course
- If you could play any instrument, what would it be and why? Piano, cause I want to be the first "piano woman"
- If you could have dinner with anyone, who would it be and why? Jesus. I want to know what he REALLY thinks about all of this. I have a hunch he has a wicked sense of humor.
After lunch it would be my turn to test my physical prowess with a hike down into one of the 7 natural wonders of the world. As 4 million people visit the canyon every year, you can imagine how crowded June would be despite the temperature (actually about 20-30 degrees cooler than Phoenix just 2 1/2 hours away due to its elevation of 7,000 feet). Aunt Marian stayed on the rim, choosing a more horizontal trail and to find a quiet meditation spot, while Uncle Gary and I proved (or competed, I'm not sure) how physically fit we actually are.
It took us 30 minutes to go down about a mile and a half to the first rest stop in the canyon. At this point, you have lost 80% of the visitors and of the 20% that make it this far, 90% stop here. Being that it can take at least twice as long to get back up, I decided not to push my luck and turn around. Gary however, pushed down another 2 miles - you go! I leisurely sauntered my way back up the trail, stopping for pictures, shade, water and the occasional mule train. I was astonished to realized how much more difficult it is to climb back up the canyon, having a lot to do with the altitude (its at 7,000 feet at the rim and I live at sea level) and heat (it was almost 90 degrees at the rim and hotter as you descended - some parts of the canyon floor can get up to 130 on the hottest days). About half way up, Gary passed me up commenting how he thought I would be in line for ice cream already - watch it old man, no one would question a "fall" in the canyon...
A note to my female (and some male) readers, the canyon is a great place to meet men. People are quite friendly, especially if you are going up as you have the right of way and people are often encouraging of your return ascent. I played leap frog with these three guys who had made it out to Pioneer Trail, the half-way mark to the bottom of the canyon and were working their way back up. No one is trying to prove anything, as we all just want to make it up to the top alive, without heat stroke or dehydration and beer becomes a common bond.
Making it up to the top has the same feeling as finishing a marathon, you feel as if you have accomplished more than the average person, even if you walked most of it. Its a moment of celebration and relief that you were indeed NOT going to DIE THERE or worse, have to pay $5,000 for a helicopter rescue.
On the way back to Sedona, after a stop for an amazing Mexican dinner, I began to think about my first day here when I pulled my Relaxation Angel Card. One of the questions mentioned what I can learn from experiencing nature. Looking out at the Grand Canyon today, strangely enough I learned patience. The Grand Canyon took over 500,000 million years to form the most naturally beautiful thing on this planet, so who am I to think that I can quickly become the person I always wanted to be. I takes time, effort, and a willingness surrendering to the elements to become so grand. If it worked for some rocks and water....
No comments:
Post a Comment