After the day was done...

Travel Date: Saturday, July 3

With our brains thoroughly melted by the sheer awesomeness of Yellowstone & the Rockies and not even having made it over to ye old Grand Canyon just yet, we figured we had the top spots in our National Park detours properly reserved.  That is until we made our way down to Bryce Canyon in Southern Utah.  Before getting there however, we had a massive day of traveling to undertake which took us through 3 states and no less than 10 cities.  Of particular note was Salt Lake City where we stopped off for lunch while Blue was getting an oil change.  We figured the car had earned it after putting up 3,700 miles in less than two weeks.  Quick reflection on SLC: flat, clean, friendly, stunning backdrop and seemingly the only city in America where you can wonder down any random alleyway and find two lanky white dudes playing hacky sac. 

Anyway, back to Bryce Canyon.  We rolled into the park just prior to sunset, secured a camp site as quick as we could and then made our way to the edge of the canyon to watch the sun brilliantly light up thousands of red pillars of rock (or “hoodoos” as they are know) that looked as though they should only exist on the surface of Mars.  In expert fashion, we snapped up a load of pictures as the sun slowly dipped below the horizon.  Peering over the edge, we also noticed a variety of paths descending into the depths of the canyon so with what was adequate remaining sunlight by our humble estimates, decided to take a “quick” hike down into the canyon.  From our recent experience, we found that bits of fleeting daylight seemed to stick around until as late as 10pm in the West so we felt that we had plenty of time to work with. 

As we descended into the canyon on what was to be a 1.5 mile loop, we kept waiting for Jawas to poke their hooded heads through crevices in the canyon walls but sadly to no avail.  At the bottom of the canyon, our path soon split and we decided to extend our hike in order to take in even more of our brilliant surroundings.  But as our new path came to its climax, we found ourselves at a dead end, miles from paved park roads in all directions.  With limited options, we decided our best course was to backtrack which we did at a double time pace, continuing to watch the sun dip lower and lower.  At last we made it back to the junction with our original path, we decided to keep left and finish out the original loop.  The twilight hours were truly upon us at this point and we couldn’t help but feel like the nocturnal inhabitants of the canyon were watching us as their feeding time rapidly approached. 

About a quarter mile into the final segment of our hike, we came upon a barrier which blocked our path, complete with cones, chains and a sign stating that the trail was closed due to impassible conditions.  Without sufficient light left to reverse our course, we decided to go for it and jump the barrier.  Still moving at a frantic pace and a bit winded at this point from our vertical ascent, we pressed on.  Before long, we soon discovered the reason for the blockade as looming 8-foot boulders lay across the trail, cutting off any further progression.  With the little remaining light even more diminished by the canyon walls, we began to wonder if we’d have to bunker down in the darkness with whatever creatures of the night may come our way.  As bits of movement continued to stir around us from the shadows, we decided our best hope lay at the top, regardless of the difficulty and our exhaustion. Summoning whatever remaining strength and inner Sherpa powers we could muster, we made a final surge onward, scaled the boulders, and completed the last leg of hike with what sounded like a pack of ravenous coyotes at our backs.

We slept well that night.

- The Carpenter