Narrows in July

I'm realizing I may not get another chance to hike the Narrows. We're in the "Monsoon Season". Thunderstorms anywhere in the region can result in slot canyons having a flash flood.

In this short clip, I climbed a steep hill within the Narrows to avoid a deep section which would have been above my head. Because I had my camcorder, I decided not to swim and risk its destruction. At the top of this hill there was a sweet little natural spring.

I've enjoyed my hikes here, so different from anything previous experiences. Walking a river bed for miles, knowing a flash flood could suddenly sweep a person away along with trees and boulders is quite an adventure. I'm very glad I hiked it early, and alone, for the full effects.

There are some that say risking life and health are just not worth doing. But, I like Thoreau's saying : We sit more risks than we run.

My drive home in two weeks will be way more risky than anything I've done here.

Flash Floods Ain't No Joke

On Saturday Evening we were treated to a nice soaking in Zion National Park. We needed the rain. Of course, we're in southern Utah.
The roof leaked a little. We wondered aloud if anyone would be up on Angel's Landing or in the Narrows.

But as the thunder and lighting flashed, the National Weather Service announced the warning:
Flash Flood Warning for Zion National Park.

Sometimes the warning comes too late, like for those already on the trail, no radio, no way of knowing. Just look at the skies.
They were blue an hour ago.

Today I heard about the hikers who fortunately survived the flood. Swept off trail, these men fell 40 feet, then an additional 60 feet.

Flash Flood in Zion Injures 3

Last week they warned us about the heat. Stay inside, stay hydrated. Heat stroke and exhaustion were very real. Its still hot. My suggestion: if you want to hike, do it before 10 a.m or after a late supper.

Like my Mom used to say: If it isn't one thing, its another.

I rented three movies for my days off.

The House Mouse

Last night I had a mouse encounter of the close kind.

Our bathrooms are down the hall. The women's is on the first floor, the men's is on the second.
I left my room, toothbrush in mouth, heading to the bathroom. There, at the landing was a mouse. Unafraid, he waited for me to pass. This seemed contrary to my instincts. I jumped, and tried to scare him off. He ran down the stairs to the door, turned around, and came back up the stairs. He looked at me. He didn't want to go out THAT door!

I stomped my feet. I took off my shoe and threatened him. It's illegal to kill anything in the park. Guess he knew that.
I faked a bluff charge. Back down the steps, then up again. Waiting me out. I get it.
My door was shut, so, figuring it was the same mouse I saw last week, I gave him some space.
Sure enough, he hung a left, headed down the corridor towards the kitchen supervisors room. Being midnight, all doors were firmly closed.

He wandered a moment, then headed out the exit door at the end of the hall. There's a space plenty big enough for him to exit there. Guess he's been doing this quite awhile.

Today I read about a bear being caught in a car at 2 a.m. The police arrived, tied a rope to the door handle, and pulled it open. Reasoning the best outcome was for no one to get hurt, they kept people at a distance while the bear, having thoroughly trashed the car, escaped. Perhaps pissed, but avenged at being trapped in his adventure, (having to be let "out") this black bear made news.

All is well that ends well.
Next time I see the house mouse, I'll just watch him run past. No encounters. Just a nice, hey, how ya doin' tonight?

Risk Factors

I've started reading "Over the Edge: Death in Grand Canyon", by Michael P. Ghiglieri and Thoma M. Myers.

Its very well written factual, documented accounts of how and why people have died in the most popular of the seven wonders of the world.

I've been there a couple times. Once on the North Rim, twice on the south.
I've spent two nights at Phantom Ranch, back in the 80's. Don't think its changed much. We hiked in on the North Kaibab Trail, then back out on the Bright Angle Trail. Having that experience helps me relate to the stories I'm reading.

Recently a young woman died in the Grand Canyon from a local town near Zion. She had worked at the library, and people here had met her. They say everyone loved her.
Apparently the details are sketchy, but it involves too little water in too much heat.
Seems this is a reoccurring factor in many hiking and in-canyon fatalities. People run out of water. Sometimes they try to bushwhack to the closest source visible, end up stranded on a ledge where they can not retrace their steps. They may perish there on the ledge, or fall while attempting to climb down.

Its very sad. Two of the greatest risks the authors of this book state are being male and being solo, with no one to offer a stabilizing second opinion.

The harrowing search and rescues over the course of days and even weeks are described in the book as well. Reading about them is excellent therapy for those who venture because it reminds us to leave itineraries with friends, and if injured or lost to leave notes or signs for those who may look for us. It also reminds us that others will be in jeopardy if we fail to make good decisions.

Seems we tend to overestimate our abilities and underestimate nature.
This tendency can be fatal.
Its humbling to recognize our mortality.

Under Duress

A young friend of mine is having some interesting developments in life. I looked up "duress" in the online http://wikipedia.com
I like this free source of information. Like all media, one must be open minded with information received and given.

I think this information has bearing in our pitiful economy where jobs are hard to come by and we have more at stake than just a nine to five paycheck.
Of course, I am not a lawyer, and have no idea how well this would be received by an employer.

A friend of mine working in the parks system in seasonal capacity said this was his plan for signing documents he'd rather not sign. By writing "signed under duress" he could adequately object to the procedure and get on with his job.


The elements of economic duress

1.Wrongful or improper threat: No precise definition of what is wrongful or improper. Examples include: morally wrong, criminal, or tortuous conduct; one that is a threat to breach a contract "in bad faith" or threaten to withhold an admitted debt "in bad faith".

2.Lack of reasonable alternative (but to accept the other party's terms). If there is an available legal remedy, an available market substitute (in the form of funds, goods, or services), or any other sources of funds this element is not met.

3.The threat actually induces the making of the contract. This is a subjective standard, and takes into account the victim's age, their background (especially their education), relationship of the parties, and the ability to receive advice.

4.The other party caused the financial distress. The majority opinion is that the other party must have caused the distress, while the minority opinion allows them to merely take advantage of the distress.

This post is just some research on my part. Whatever a person does in their own circumstances must be approached on an indivigual basis, with proper counsil.

Harm's Way

I bought and started reading Over the Edge, Death in Grand Canyon.

I'm only on page 11 and the flavor seems to be a positive approach to avoiding fatalities by reviewing what went wrong. I'm enjoying it.

But, like we often hear now days, we are learning about not "getting in harm's way".
I don't get it.
Why don't we say, "not getting in danger"?

When the term "putting oneself in Harm's way" is used, it sounds like an entity. Harm becomes a noun, something we as victims have gotten too close to, hence have gotten in its way. We must avoid "Harm". It is out to get us.

What happened to the word Danger?

Be careful, or you'll be in danger? That's more direct. It places self-responsibility on our doorstep.

The troops overseas are not in harm's way. They are in danger.
That is the gist of it. Not wimpy, politically correct, victimizing, self absolving.

Who made up that terminology, and why?
Is this a media thing, and we don't stop to analyze how that affects our outlook ? Was it coined to help us tolerate the wars we are mired in, without hope of exiting in our life times?

I'm for saying it straight out. Don't go hiking without enough water. You're in danger. That's dangerous.
Forget " If you go hiking without water you place yourself in harm's way".

Bucket List

Today marks the half way point of my seasonal agreement here in Zion. I have 66 days to go. Its been good but its getting hot!

The movie, "Bucket List" is one of my favorite. Besides having great actors, Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson, the theme is intriguing. What are the things you really want to do or accomplish before you kick the bucket...die?


http://movies.about.com/od/thebucketlist/a/bucket121707.htm
You can read their discussion at the above link.


One thing I would love to do is drive, bike and walk down Hwy 101 in California and see the Redwoods.

I started googling it this morning. It makes me want to get started today.
But, hold on. Like Rainmaker always tells me, One adventure at a time.

I took this video of a giant cottonwood tree here in Zion. I know its no way as big as a Redwood, but it must be a couple hundred years old. It a matriarch of the canyon, no doubt birthing many cottonwoods. There must have been dramas unfolded beneath her gnarled branches.

The shade and beauty are magnificent. May her life be long.

Ownership and Appreciation

While hiking along the Virgin River yesterday morning, I saw this object. I thought it was a large clam shell partly because of the coloring, but mostly because of the perfect halves.

I picked it up, wondering how a shell that big got to southern Utah. It was a rock!

I am not immune to souvenirs: the endless accumulations of stuff found in gift shops to remind us of a beloved vacation. For me, it's usually earrings, or a book. But even that I watch carefully, for possessions can clutter a life and dwelling so fast there's no room for living.

This perfectly split rock was laid back in its original spot along the shore. My souvenir is this short video.

Of Tarps and Rivers

Yesterday I hiked back into the Court of the Patriarchs and played with my new tarp. I found five different ways to pitch it.

Slowly but surely I plan to share all of the information with my readers.

On my days off I love to get off to myself, where the wind and sun are all that matter.

A cool river walk is wonderful, too. Today I explored the un- pathed west side of the Virgin River.

This river is truly the life blood of Zion. Everything needs it, and it appears as if humans will tame, harness and continue to trap it in every way possible.

Even amongst remote bulrushes, a lost tennis shoe was discovered. If I had my pack, I would have picked it up.

I took photos. Tomorrow I will share them with you.

The days are split amongst the morning loveliness, cool and breezy where hiking is best.

By early afternoon when its over 100, a retreat to the river's water, or a swamp cooled dorm room is in order.

Early evening, as the sun dips behind the cliffs, once again people appear to enjoy the atmosphere and impossibly blue blue skies.

Composting for the Community Garden

I'm quite impressed with the recycling efforts in Zion.
Place around the buildings and near the parking lot are trash cans marked clearly: trash, plastics, glass, aluminum.

True, a person will still find plastic in the trash, but its a program that is saving the planet one soda bottle at a time. There are many visitors here that perhaps don't read english, which could account for some misplaced recylables.

The garbage, trimmings and plant waste produced in the kitchen and EDR are being saved into special bins and composted. Now that is great. A coworker was telling me about the fine soil it produced in the community garden in the nearby town of Springdale.
I find that especially wonderful.
Not only does it save the landfills from unnecessary waste, it becomes a benefit to the community who are growing fresh produce. This also saves transportation of food from around the state, thereby also saving the planet from petroleum pollution.
I would love to see more gardens springing up, in back yards, front yards, near the sidewalk.

In Missoula, Montana, I saw people growing vegetables instead of grass in their yards. It makes so much sense.

Providing ones family with organic produce, getting sunshine and vitamin D naturally, relieving stress, participating in an ancient skill of working the land, saving money, there are so many reasons to promote the art of gardening.