For most of my life, I was an inside person. I cringed at the mention of doing anything outdoors. In 2009, I was 34 years old and hadn’t owned a backpack since high school, had no athletic shoes or activewear in my closet, and my tolerance for sweating? Zero. If my deodorant actually needed to do its job, you could count me out of that activity. So, how did I, of all people, end up on a hike in Grand Canyon National Park in 2013?
My husband and I were married in 2010 just outside of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. (We didn’t even visit the park, by the way.) What should have been a honeymoon was a quick stop at Bass Pro Shop in Pigeon Forge (my husband is a fisherman) and a 3.5-hour drive back to Nashville. For real, that was it.
Fast forward to 2013- we STILL hadn’t gone on a honeymoon, and we needed a vacation- a budget friendly one and fast. My husband found a cheap flight to Phoenix and said he’d like to see the Grand Canyon. I thought to myself, “Yeah, I remember that Brady Bunch episode. Bobby and Cindy getting lost… Grand Canyon sounds amazing.” (Sigh.) Alas, the planning began. I figured Grand Canyon had to be better than home on the couch.
Getting Prepared
What could we do besides see a big, boring canyon? How much time could we possibly spend looking into a hole? A couple of hours, at most? What makes a canyon so “grand” anyway? I couldn’t understand it. Because I’m an avid reader, I went to the library and checked out this book about John Wesley Powell. (If you don’t know who JWP is, you really should before you make a trip to Grand Canyon National Park.)
By the end of the first chapter, I was intrigued. A one-armed man leading a dangerous expedition down an unexplored river? That’s pretty darn intriguing. By the end of the book, I wanted more. So, I checked out another book.
The Butterflies of Grand Canyon painted a picture convincing me that yes, indeed, the Grand Canyon was a place I should see. Suddenly, I was excited about the trip, yet still clueless as to the true impact it would have on my life.
“The elements that unite to make the Grand Canyon the most sublime spectacle in nature are multifarious and exceedingly diverse.” ~ John Wesley Powell
The Sublime Spectacle
We flew into Phoenix on a sunny scorcher in May. After checking into Wigwam Resort in Litchfield Park, we began coming up with a plan for the next couple of days. (I highly recommend Wigwam Resort, but I’ll admit it was a big splurge for us.)
On our second day in Phoenix, we drove 5 hours north through the vast desert to Grand Canyon National Park, me in my chunky beaded necklace and the cowboy hat I purchased just for the occasion. (I didn’t have a clue back then.)
I planned to waste no time once we got to the canyon. Quick look around, a few photos, and then on to some shops and a trendy burger joint in Flagstaff for a blue cheese and mushroom special I’d been thinking about for days.
That was the plan. Until it wasn’t. When I got my first look over the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, all thoughts of craft burgers and shopping ended. As a matter of fact, the world stopped. I wanted to fall to my knees. I didn’t, of course. Who wants to be that person? What I saw was shockingly spiritual.
I saw God everywhere! All at once I felt small, but my heart was full. Strangely, I also felt sad. What else had I missed? How did I not know a place like this existed, that I could feel like this? How crazy was I to think I could see all of it in a couple of hours? My life changed that very moment, and I was aware.
After 3 hours of walking the Rim Trail we were exhausted! We still had the 5-hour drive back to Phoenix, so we had to hit the road, but I knew before we ever left the parking lot that I would be back one day. This was only goodbye for a time, not forever. I promised myself this would not be my last walk in the park!
Back Home
When we returned home to Nashville, I immediately went out and bought this big, luscious coffee table picture book about the National Parks.
My husband couldn’t watch sports in peace after I got this book. Every few minutes I interrupted to say, “Can you believe this is in America? And this? And this?” I read the descriptions and showed him the pictures, and before long we were planning another trip- this time to Badlands National Park, Mount Rushmore, and Devils Tower National Monument. We’ve been tripping in parks every year since.
Lost and Found by the National Parks
The National Park Service uses the slogan, “Find Your Park”. In my case, the parks found me. As of 2024, I have visited over 20 National Parks, many state parks, and countless historic sites.
I hike, bike, kayak, and own far more activewear than regular clothes. Learning as much as I can about geology, wildlife, archaeology, and anthropology is my definition of fun. “Fine dining” is a picnic, and my backpack is my favorite accessory.
I’ve rediscovered a love for writing, and my poetry is a testament to my passion for nature. I am a different person, a better person, and all it took was just a walk in the park. Grand Canyon National Park will always have my heart.
To start planning your adventure to Grand Canyon National Park, visit www.nps.gov/grca.
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