Living Life on the Grand Canyon Edge

What's on your bucket list? Many of us have a long list and too seldom get to scratch off anything! We're hounded by our daily lives and our list ends up pushed into a corner, forgotten. 

Last week was different! A group of five individuals from Milwaukee and Pittsburgh got to cross one life-changing trip off their list: Hiking the Grand Canyon. They spent eight days with me intrepidly tromping through deep side canyons and kicking up 10-million-year-old dust. It was nothing less than ruthlessly demanding, incredibly beautiful, and pricelessly rewarding.

So what's it take to commit to this type of adventure? Or more to the point: What would it take to commit to something on each of our own personal bucket lists? 

Here's a few pointers!

1. We can start by removing "if..." from our vocabulary and replacing it with "when..." We can avoid the trap of "If we have time" and start saying "When we have time." 

2. Next, we can turn "when" into a specific time slot or a few slots from which to choose. It might be next April or the week after our daughter graduates from high school. It might be for our husband's birthday next year or at the end of the soccer season. Looking and talking about concrete dates, even if they are loose, can really get the ball rolling.

3. Just as importantly, we need to believe that we have the capacity for the adventure. If we need a certain amount of money, we believe that we can find a creative way to secure it. If we need to get in shape, we believe that we can grab our gym bag from the bottom of the closet and start up those spinning classes again. Rather than dance around the things that are standing in the way of embarking on the adventure, we embrace the challenge and find solutions. We take charge.

4. Finally, we realize that our adventure means walking into unknown territory and we decide we're okay with that. My group had no idea what might come their way inside the Grand Canyon and they were game to play along. 

So what's the best story from the trip? I'm glad you asked!

Four miles into a hike along a waterfall-lined river, we came to a point where the path seemed to dead-end at the top of a three-tiered set of cascading falls. Other folks we had met on the trail said that it was possible to scramble down to the bottom of the falls, but there was simply no path. 

Then one of us saw a rope strung horizontally from a boulder near us to another boulder 50 feet way. Below was a solid, vertical cliff face, plunging 30-40 feet down to the water. We all scratched our heads. Then I saw a hiker wading across the shallow river to the bottom of the cliff face and I realized there must be a way up and down this wall. I worked my way out on the rope, saw a route down, and descended. The rest of the group waited at the top, happy to let me risk my life while they enjoyed the view from the top.

Then a ranger arrived. He didn’t hesitate to instill confidence. He’s seen countless people climb down the vertical face, using irregular, narrow steps in the rock wall to carefully and safely lower themselves. Rather than cater to the group’s doubts, he casually proclaimed, “Everybody does it.” And with that, he led the group down the wall. Only moments ago the group was convinced that the route was unsafe. Now they were seizing the moment and trusting the ranger, shortly celebrating at the bottom while I snapped photos of the entire experience. 

My group of hikers signed up for their Grand Canyon trip with faith that great things lay ahead. That set the stage. Rather than hold back cautiously throughout the trip, they leaned into the challenges. They wanted to taste and savor every moment. 

Now, are you ready? No more standing on the edge, afraid to move forward. Look for the little steps in the ledge. Can’t see them? Look harder. Get closer. They are there.

Our trip was absolutely amazing. We had the best time. Each person contributed in their own way, offering support to others, pitching in, watching that no one caught on fire while cooking over a isobutane flame (That would be me!), and hauling gear without being asked. We commiserated over eachother’s blisters, shared snacks, marched through endless miles of dusty trail while talking about our kids, and ended each day washing dishes together as the full moon settled in over the canyon walls.

We all need uncertainty and adventure in our lives. What’s on your bucket list? Get something on your calendar. Don’t let life pass you by!