Here I sit in a Starbucks in Bishop, California, a familiar place in an unknown state. Tomorrow I’ll arrive at my destination in Yosemite and it will begin a new journey, one that resonates that butterfly feeling we all feel at least once in our lifetime. I’m outside my comfort zone but that is exactly where I like to reside for it continuously perpetuates growth.
The past four days have been spent in five different states and the terrain I’ve traveled through are polar opposites. The amount of diversity is beautiful. In Texas, I spent the night in Palo Duro Canyon State Park where I acquainted myself with what I believe to have been the black widow spider. There was not one but two hidden in the picnic table at my campsite, my prior experience with spiders has increased my awareness to their presence. This however was not the case for a stick bug. This stick bug was taking a stroll under the picnic table and its front, left leg got caught in the black widow’s web. I watched, crouched next to the picnic table, as the stick bug battled for its life. This was no, “Let me sit here and die,” it was spider vs stick bug, action movie. Spider dives down and starts strategically building webbing to pull the stick bug into its trap of no return. Stick bug counters by frantically pulling away from the webbing. Spider looks like it is going to win yet stick bug has a trick up its sleeve. Limb removal and run! That’s right, the stick bug got away minus one limb and the spider retrieved the said leg and prepared it for dinner. Nature’s version of compromise. Following this event, I had a few thoughts: Where was my humanity? I could have saved the stick bug from the spider but chose to be a bystander instead. How did that bug not have any inner fluid leaking out of its newly formed stub? This thing ran like it was born with only five legs, however it struggled with the vertical climbing thing.
Fast forward two days and I found myself in the Grand Canyon, this was my spontaneous stop. I had no previous knowledge of the process to get into this national park however I took it one step at a time and ended up parking in Tusayan where I knew I needed to find a shuttle bus. I found the shuttle stop but by the time I got out of my van the bus arrived and was about to take off. I decided I’d wait for the next one. Next thing I know, two women come sprinting from behind me and I realize they are running for the shuttle AND they have family members holding the door for them. You bet I took advantage of this opportunity! I took off sprinting right behind them and didn’t look back. I jumped on the bus and found myself a seat. I sat their wondering where I’d need to buy my entrance ticket to the park so at the next stop I asked the bus driver. He explained to me that the ticket to get on the bus was the entrance ticket and that he forgot to ask me for it in all the commotion. I made an “oops” face and hoped he wouldn’t make me get off. Thankfully, he told me to sit back down. Thank you kind sir! Step one: make it into the park, complete! I got off the bus excited to have made it this far but anxiety was building within me. My jaw was subconsciously clenching and I could feel my throat tightening up. Now what? I wondered around the visitor center, realized I forgot my hat, bought a hat, and finally chose the adventure of the day: Bright Angel Trail. It was approximately nine miles round trip and descended into the canyon into an area called Indian Garden. I asked for directions on how to get there and what bus to take and was off!
I arrived at the Bright Angel Trailhead as three hikers ascended from the canyon with exhaustion and relief on their faces. They had just completed their rim to rim journey and with that I took a mental note that next time it would be me completing my rim to rim trip. I began my descent and felt the environment through my senses. I felt the down hill slope on my knees. I listened to the people around me and became aware of how few people were speaking english. I tasted the sweat/sunscreen mix that dripped down my face onto my lips. About halfway into my descent a park ranger approached me and asked if I had food and water. She cautioned me to rest once I reached Indian Garden and wait to begin ascending until the hottest part of the day was over. I listened to her but I didn’t hear her. I was wondering why I was singled out among the vast group of people around me. Was it my gender? Was it because I was alone? It is very possible neither is true but I have become painfully aware how individuals tend to notice such a thing and it is a constant thought that plagues my mind. I continued my way down the canyon until the trail opened up to pavilions, benches, corrals, water stations, and a small wading area. I made it to the Indian Garden! I looked around, sat on a bench and ate almonds. The signs were telling me to sit and rest until it got cooler. Talk to the other visitors, it demonstrated in one of the pictures. However, I wasn’t feeling sociable. I contemplated traveling down the trail further but the overhanging thought of having to ascend the trail won out and I decided it could wait until another time. I went to the wading area where children were laughing joyously as they ran through the water and a deer stood about 30 feet away on the hill. It was a bit crowded for my taste. I decided to wet my shirt in the water in preparation of the ascent. My action plan was to hike up the mile and a half to the nearest shade shelter and rest in the higher elevation where it was cooler.
I hiked through the sun exposed trail, retracing my steps. I’d been drinking plenty of water and my damp shirt should have been cooling me down but I didn’t notice the difference. Less than a mile up, I found a hole in the wall of rock and tucked myself into this little niche. I dumped water on me but the cool relief I was searching for was met by body temperature water. My vision started to become blurred. I told myself I could fight it out as a man walked past me. A faint voice in my head said, “Do not be alarmed, but I think I’m about to pass out.” Those words never left my mouth. Instead, pride was going to destroy me. As my vision further deteriorated, I began to think of the best position to let myself pass out in so that it could be the least traumatic for the person who found me. I began to lie my head down to wait for the loss of consciousness when another faint voice appeared in the crowd of thoughts. This time it was demanding. It would be heard! It told me that I could still prevent this and to not give in. I listened. I grabbed the reserved, slightly cooler water in my pack and dumped it on my head and wrists. I grabbed a granola bar and ate it slowly. It worked but I felt weak. I sat there regaining my strength and took the rest I needed. Finally, I saw the person that would have found me. I made eye contact and gave him an acknowledging head nod. The worry on his face disappeared with this action and he continued on his way without the exchange of words. Next, a family I recognized from the wading pool stopped in the shade near me. I offered to share my shade but after a small break they continued on. I decided it was time to continue. I felt better but took it very slow and rested often. I inevitably passed and was passed, yo-yoing, by the family mentioned before and then others as well. The journey up the canyon had become much more meaningful than the descent. I asked the people who were resting along the way if they were okay, I became sociable at the resting stations, and I helped encourage others that were struggling with me. I’m not sure if this change in mindset was for my own survival purposes or my own empathetic threshold being wide open but I learned about the lives of others. A beautiful example of human connection. In the time of trial people came together to help each other through. Thank you to all the people I met along the way and know that my life was enriched because of your company and conversation. Stay hydrated, consume electrolytes, listen to park rangers, find plentiful shade, and adventure safely out there!