What I learned on a hike into the canyon

This morning I hiked into Bryce Canyon just before sunrise.  My Dad was going to join me but took one look at the path and realized it was beyond his comfort level with his abilities at his age so it turned into a solo journey into the canyon.  Although I didn't hesitate for even a second at the chance to do this hike, I would be lying if I said I had no fear doing it alone.

The sun had not yet risen but its colors had already painted the sky and the path was plenty well lit so I started my journey down.  Over the space of about 0.9 miles, I descended 450 feet (and then returned by that same path).  The trail had evidence it had been well traveled with many footprints and it switched back many times to help with the descent.  When I started, the trail was empty. I looked back to see my Dad up at Sunrise Point watching me begin my descent along with a few other early risers admiring the view from above.  But I appeared to be the only one descending.

I paused constantly to take in the views, snap a few photos and videos, and repeat over and over "Wow!"  At one of those pauses, the sun peaked over the mountains and took my breath away.

At some point after the sun rose, a couple came up behind me and passed me by.  They would be the first two of eight people I would see on this trail over the hour and fifteen minutes it would take me to travel the 1.8 miles roundtrip.  The remaining six I wouldn't see until I started my climb back up.  So the majority of my journey was in silence with just the sounds of the breeze, my footsteps, the Common Ravens following me, and at one point the song of a Stellar's Jay (a new bird species for me!).

Three times I came across these cutouts in the hoodoos as the trail continued directly through the rock formations.  Besides the footprints filling the path, it was really the only reminder of human influence on the work of art Mother Nature had created.

Until this hike, all of my views in Bryce Canyon National Park had been from the rim of the canyon looking down on the hoodoos.  To be able to stand at the base of them and look up gave me a whole new perspective.  It allowed me to feel connected and a participant vs an observer from above.

By this point, the sun was at an angle in the sky that it was reflecting off even the areas in the shadows.  Everything glowed vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows.

When I reached the bottom, I paused for a moment.  The trail ended at a hoodoo that had been named Queen Victoria.  It was very anticlimactic and a bit unimpressive after the experience I had on the journey going down.  But to be honest, I wasn't really focused on a destination.  The destination was just to give structure to this journey.  What an important reminder that is.  Sometimes in life it can be so easy to be focused on the end goal that the experience of the journey gets lost.  The journey is the best part.

Then I started my climb back up.  The neat thing about an in and back out trail is that you get to see everything from a different angle on the way back.  With my gaze primarily focused forward, there was so much I had missed on the way down.  At one point, I noticed a tree stood tall right in the middle of the path.  How I could have missed something that obvious on the way down, I don't know.  I guess we can't take it all in and process it all.  So our brain picks and chooses what it thinks is important at any given moment.  

It's interesting how when it is a tree in the middle of the path that I missed, I just shake my head and go on.  I don't waste time regretting not seeing it or wishing I had paid more attention.  I just take in the information for the trip forward.  Yet, I struggle to just shake my head and go on when it comes to all the things I missed in my marriage.  Sure, the consequences might be greater in the different scenarios but in each case, I can't go back in time.  The best I can do is just take note of the new information to guide my present and future.

When the sun is low in the sky, my shadow often gets in the photo.  I've really embraced that this trip.  It's the sun's way of adding me to the scenery I'm enjoying so much.  So when I came around the last few corners and could see the look out point where I started, I snapped a photo which also captured part of my shadow.

And then I turned around to reflect on where I had been.  By this point, the sun was in my eyes so I didn't linger too long.  But I did spend just a moment amazed at what I had just accomplished and contemplated the new perspectives gained.  From the top of the trail, I once again had the reminder of what it was like to look down on it all as an observer but fresh in my mind was the perspective of walking among it all as a participant.

This hike gave me confidence as I learn to navigate this world on my own.  It taught me perspective.  It brought me so much joy.  And it left me in complete awe.