My Grand Canyon Adventure, March 2011

Thursday, March 24th, 2011 began my big Grand Canyon adventure! I flew out to Utah to road trip with my Couch Surfing friend Buckley down to the GC and then to Phoenix where I was to attend a conference until Wednesday morning.

I packed a suitcase full of all my professional clothes and a medium hiking pack with my hiking/camping gear. I also decided it was high time I bought a decent pair of hiking boots so I picked up a pair of Keen boots 2 days before which I wore nonstop hoping to break them in enough.

After having a mini panic attack on the plane, I remembered the time change in Chicago and felt at ease that I would make my second flight with plenty of time to SLC. I arrived 3 hours later to Buckley’s little blue car to take me away. I threw my bags in the back and jumped into the front seat. “How’s life?” Buckley always starts with the easy questions…

The last time I had visited Buckley and his wife Jewell they had just purchased a house and were in the beginning stages of renovating it. I remember the house being completely torn up and disheveled with wood planks, loose light fixtures and paint samples lining a long table in the living room. As we pulled up to the house, I could see the little lanterns with lit tea lights in them lining the wide, sturdy porch. I couldn’t believe my eyes coming into the home I had once seen as a wreck. It had turned into a magazine cover! Jewell is a QUITE the decorator!

A his and her bathroom...jealous.

The next morning Buckley and I headed out on our grand adventure. The car ride was close to 8 hours, but the conversation and music kept the trip lively so the time passed quickly. I was even able to score a pair of silver bear claw earrings with a turquoise center from an old Navajo woman in the middle of nowhere. I’m convinced they have underground villages!

My first look upon the Grand Canyon was hard to take in. There’s so much of it and it’s so vast, it’s hard to see the depth and magnitude. Of course, I closed my eyes…perhaps I could feel its omnipresence.

That night we spent in the campground with the temperature slowly dropping. We made dinner packets with all kinds of veggies and sausage. We didn't bring anything to season the stuff with, so we improvised by dousing it in wine…fancy. As they cooked in the coals we took in the night air and smoked some Amsterdam shag, some fine tobacco I must add, very smooth.

After dinner we decided to take a walk to find a better clearing to view the stars. The stars had never looked so beautiful anywhere else I’ve been. We lay down in the road, corpse pose style, and just took in the whole night. This evening was very, very special to me and awoke something in me that I think had been missing: courage to change my life to live the way I want to live it. Buckley is a very inspiring guy to be around and I thank him endlessly for the encouragement he’s given me to take heed and get my arse in gear! No wonder he’s a teacher!

The next morning we got up in time to await the sunrise over the canyon. I’ve never been more scared of falling off the edge of something in my whole life. There are no barriers between you and the endless abyss. The scene was breathtaking though so I scooted down on my behind to make sure I had more control.

On our drive back to camp to pack up and get ready for the big hike we came across some Elk crossing the road in the park! They were very good about watching the traffic and waiting for their turn to cross.

Thus began our hike. I took this picture to show where we started and have placed an arrow where we ended. 6.5 Hours, 12 Miles, 3,000 feet in elevation this would be accomplished. I honestly didn’t think I was going to make it.

But, I did! I made it all the way and I was alive at the end to tell about it and as frightening as I look, I’ve decided to post my post grand canyon video which shows me absolutely delirious and happy/sad?. You see, we remembered to bring the water, but only had small rations of food which made us go a little crazy in the end. Lesson: if you plan to do a day hike in the Grand Canyon, BRING LUNCH!