The Worst Hike Ever

Just when you thought you were going to gag on all our effusivity (?), I thought you needed to know that things are not always rosey on a dream road trip.

After departing Zion with one pair of aching, unwalkable feet (RLT), we thoroughly enjoyed sitting in a car for 4 hours travelling to the Grand Canyon. Mark was then "led tenderly by the nose as asses are" (Willem Wikkelspies, 1594) with his eyes shut to the edge of the abyss. It was a treat to see his countenance on opening his eyes to behold what is one of the most awesome views on earth.

I can hear you're about to gag again, so let me hurry on to misery...

We spent the night camped by the side of the road as the National Parks campsite was full. Fresh and bright in the morning we presented ourselves to the backcountry desk to apply for a permit to hike a modest 5 miles to a remote place on the canyon rim to spend the night away from the crowds. All gung-ho and intrepid we set out at 3pm from where we'd parked our car in the spot that we guessed was the trailhead. This is a little-used path recommended because no-one else would be there. Oh we do love getting away from it all! Little did we know that no-one else had been there for about 5 years. The path was overgrown, a cold front was blowing in and picking up all sorts of millenia-old dust and throwing it in our faces, my feet were still killing me despite trying to be brave and all we saw for 3 hours was ponderosa pine trees as far as the eye could see.

When it was nearly dark, with one member of the party threatening mutiny and marital disharmony (ahem), we stumbled upon the canyon rim. We knew we weren't in the right spot as the view was not breathtaking as promised, that prerogative was left to the dust. Mark manfully set up the tent andI applied my mind to pasta and sauce to keep mutinous thoughts at bay.

The wind howled all night. I got a good chunk of my book read. Mark slept peacefully and awoke to remark on how much sand there was in the tent and then bounded out to look at the sunrise. He also, manfully again, offered to fetch the car. We hiked down and up a gulch to the road where I waited while Mark walked the 13 kms back to the car.

We have sinced been recovering in Flagstaff which has been thoroughly pleasant. We have eaten sushi, drunk micro-brewery beer, watched a movie (R), shopped, showered twice a day and slept in a bed. Ah, modern conveniences.

Vague itinerary from here is back up to Utah and then into New Mexico where we are volunteering on an organic farm for a week from 15-22 October.

R