Thank you Jan! I know the room intriguing piece About the American South West. I know when my next visit there nice day will be much more in Riched by your writings! I can’t wait to read the next one.
Wow, what a trip into the memory hole. The first time I came across the Grand Canyon must have been in the 70's. I lost my job in New Orleans and traveling west and north just to see what's what.
When I first got there the view was so vast, like nothing in my lifetime; I couldn't make it out. I couldn't locate the black canyon from the rim, stared at it all day. Where was the river down there in all that mosaic? I had no backpack or nothing, just some sturdy shoes. I wrapped up some stuff in a poncho, roped it over my shoulder and headed down. I was so hot when I reached the bottom I jumped right into the river, and it was so completely cold, I shot out of it like a spring. That was Phantom Ranch for me.
After a day or so I made my way up. I still didn't have a backpack, but I bought as much stuff as I could carry and put it into an army laundry bag, again roped up some arm straps and headed down for a week or more. It was as heavy as I could carry and much more difficult making it down.
I could tell you some encounters down there that are just unbelievable, but I don't want to spin too many yarns.
Later in life I made it back to the canyon several times, including a long trip in the Hermit trail basin.
Thank you Jan! I know the room intriguing piece About the American South West. I know when my next visit there nice day will be much more in Riched by your writings! I can’t wait to read the next one.
Wow, what a trip into the memory hole. The first time I came across the Grand Canyon must have been in the 70's. I lost my job in New Orleans and traveling west and north just to see what's what.
When I first got there the view was so vast, like nothing in my lifetime; I couldn't make it out. I couldn't locate the black canyon from the rim, stared at it all day. Where was the river down there in all that mosaic? I had no backpack or nothing, just some sturdy shoes. I wrapped up some stuff in a poncho, roped it over my shoulder and headed down. I was so hot when I reached the bottom I jumped right into the river, and it was so completely cold, I shot out of it like a spring. That was Phantom Ranch for me.
After a day or so I made my way up. I still didn't have a backpack, but I bought as much stuff as I could carry and put it into an army laundry bag, again roped up some arm straps and headed down for a week or more. It was as heavy as I could carry and much more difficult making it down.
I could tell you some encounters down there that are just unbelievable, but I don't want to spin too many yarns.
Later in life I made it back to the canyon several times, including a long trip in the Hermit trail basin.
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Really enjoying this series about the Grand Canyon! Impressed yet again by Colter’s sensitivity to location and ambience.
Interesting! Another great article
That's what I was thinking!!
Wow! Why Deborah have me blocked? I tried to respond and she blocked me. Do I know her? 🤔
Hmmm. Weird.
🤷♀️