Getting ready for the Canyon

Part of "The Quest" is not only to experience all Seven Wonders in an interactive way, but to do so with at least one other person. The chosen victim for the Grand Canyon is my son, who has foolishly agreed to do the rim-to-rim hike with me.

The Pemberton Trail
Two weeks ago he and I went on our first really serious conditioning hike. We’ve done several five-milers and a couple of ten milers (which at the time felt pretty stout, come to think of it), but I was more nervous about this 15 miler than any of those. Probably because 1) it was on a real trail (working new and as yet undiscovered micro muscles) and 2) it was a loop trail that didn’t afford the option to call the wife for a rescue if needed.

We got through it, although the last two miles were a bit of a challenge. We had made the decision not to stop again after our 9 mile rest. In retrospect this was a mistake, but that’s why one takes practice hikes! There was good cloud cover, for which we were grateful—it was 85 degrees or so anyway and would have been pretty brutal if the sun had been out. Those days are coming, for sure, and that’s okay since it will be 90-100 at the canyon bottom on June 30^th.

The Pemberton trail is located in the McDowell Mountain Regional Park. It probably gets the most use by mountain bikers and horses, but it was a fairly easy loop trail with only about 650 feet in elevation change to contend with. I suspect we’ll get back there for at least a couple more training hikes as it offers a lot of trail options. We will also need to get into some steeper elevation changes, and to that end have at least one hike planned in the Superstitions (Weaver’s Needle loop – about 18 miles).

I’m amazed by my son’s capacity to come up with interesting questions. Samples from yesterday include: “If you could retain your current knowledge, what point of time would you travel back to?” (Both of us thought just after the middle ages might be ideal, although I also imagined that going back to 1998 and making some good stock picks could be useful…) “If you could appoint anyone to be President, who would it be.” (My answer, myself—why not? Gray’s answer—Glen Beck!) It provided some pleasant conversation on a long hike.

We also both enjoy listening to our I-Pods for at least an hour or so. I am torn on this—it seems

to my purist way of thinking a bit of a desecration to take electrons into the wilderness. On the other hand, when we’re at mile 20 trying to push up the face of the south rim in 95 degrees I think a little Van Halen might help! I also noticed a significant energy boost from my double shot Starbucks expresso and cream in a can—perfect for hiking!

All in all it was a good start to our serious training. The next hike will be in the Superstitions and will feature more elevation changes--should be challenging!

First Up - The Grand Canyon

So I guess it wouldn't be too hard to imagine that the first wonder on the list is the Grand Canyon, seeing as how it's pretty much right here in my backyard (globally speaking). Of course I've seen the Canyon many times before, but I've never experienced it in the intensive wonder-way planned for this summer.

A rim-to-rim hike.

In one day.

Yes, I know, others have done it. But it still sounds like a huge challenge, and everything you read does little to change that impression. So let the training begin!

The Quest

Wonder.

A word, a concept, that connects to so many others:
curiosity
amazement
gratitude

My quest is to experience the Seven Natural Wonders of the World first hand, hopefully in some interactive way.
Because I'm curious.
Because I'm amazed.
Because I am grateful.

Of course, there is an issue with defining the seven wonders. The earliest list I can find, oddly enough, goes back to a CNN poll taken in 1997. More recently there have been movements to not only preserve and protect the original seven wonders but also to name seven new wonders, ostensibly drawn from a much larger voting pool as made possible by the world wide web. This elaborate voting campaign will reveal its final conclusions on 11/11/11.

All that is to say that a list of the seven natural wonders of the world is a bit subjective! The original list included the Grand Canyon, the Northern Lights, the Great Barrier Reef, Victoria Falls, Mount Everest, the harbor of Rio De Janeiro, and a volcano you've probably never heard of called Paricutin (in Mexico). I guess I'll live with this list for now, and see what the new list has on it. Who knows, my quest may become the Fourteen Natural Wonders of the World!

But then there is the chicken soupish story of the elementary school teacher discussing this very question with her geography class. The teacher asked each student to compile a list of their candidates for the Seven Greatest Wonders of the world. Several obvious places received a lot of votes -- Egypt's Great Pyramids, the Taj Mahal, the Grand Canyon, China's Great Wall, and so on.

While gathering the votes the teacher noticed that one of the students, a quiet girl, hadn't turned in her paper yet. The teacher asked the girl if she was having trouble with her list. The quiet girl replied, "Yes, a little. I couldn't quite make up my mind because there are so many." The teacher said, "Well, tell us what you have and maybe we can help." The girl hesitated, then read, "I think the 7 wonders of the world are:

1. to touch

2. to taste

3. to see

4. to hear

... she hesitated a little, and then she added,

5. to feel

6. to laugh

7. and to love

The silence in the classroom was deafening.

In our quest to find the great wonders of this world let us not fail to see the simple wonders all around us.