RSS Blog FeedHiking the Grand Canyon
Posted at 1:02 PM, Oct. 16, 2009
I just recently hiked the Grand Canyon from the North Rim to the South Rim and here is a story about my experience:
Fear gripped every living cell in my body as the nine of us grabbed our shiny new trekking poles and headed for the trailhead at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon that cool fall morning. With brand new back packs slung over our shoulders filled with provisions, change of socks and underwear, and as much water as we could comfortably carry, we were about to experience the adventure of a lifetime.
There was no turning back; I couldn’t chicken out now. I had trained diligently for months to get into shape for this hike, both physically and mentally. And yet, here I stood at this long awaited moment, trembling; not from the chill in the air, but from fear that totally overtakes you as you venture into the unknown. None of my hiking partners seemed to be afraid as we stood at the top of this huge precipice looking out into this vast wilderness, known as the Grand Canyon. No, they appeared jubilant at the prospect of conquering this commanding and wondrous place that has fascinated and seduced mankind for centuries.
I swallowed hard and got in line with my fellow hikers and started down the trail determined not to let them see that I was practically paralyzed with fear. I kept telling myself that I could do this; that I was strong and in good shape, and that everything would be fine.
As we progressed down the trail, my fears began to fall away. My preconceived idea that the trail would be just a few inches wide and that I may drop off thousands of feet to my death soon vanished. The trail was actually quite wide and well groomed. There were very few places along the trail that had any sheer cliffs and there was always plenty of room for both hikers and mule trains. Our guides had counseled us at the beginning of the hike that mules and uphill hikers had the “right of way” and that we must yield to them.
The beauty and grandeur of this place soon consumed me. I was completely in awe and wanted to drink in, and savor every moment. Around each new corner someone in our party would shriek with joy as a new vista, waterfall, animal, or rock formation lay ahead. I wondered about the first group of humans who forged this trail thousands of years ago. What did they think? Why did they push on in this formidable wilderness? Was there something sacred or spiritual here that summoned them? I certainly felt a sense of spirituality and calm here and I wasn’t afraid anymore.
When we finally reached the campground where we would rest for the night, I was ready to be done for the day. I had developed blisters on both of my heels and on the bottom of my left foot, and the muscles in my legs were spent. All I could think about was sleep.
We ate our supper of chicken fajitas prepared by our guides, got ourselves ready for bed, and got in our tents to sleep and allow our bodies to recover for the beginning of the ascent up the South Rim the next morning. I was so tired and yet so excited from all of the events of the day that I couldn’t fall asleep. I laid awake for hours just looking up at the big black sky that was full of more stars than I had ever seen, and kept thinking about the words from my friend and coach, Hal. He told me over and over the past several months as he was helping me train for this endeavor that I wouldn’t realize the magnitude of this experience for several days after the hike was over. I wondered what else I would realize beyond the grandeur and beauty of this awesome place.
Seeing the Lodge at the end of the trail was exhilarating. We had done it! We were there! All of the members of our party were ecstatic. We had just hiked the Grand Canyon! I thought to myself, OK, now I know what Hal was talking about. I had just conquered the Grand Canyon! And it was the most difficult, yet fulfilling, thing I have ever done in my life.
View more entries tagged with: Grand Canyon, Hiking, North Rim, South Rim, Hiking The Grand Canyon