Within our failures, we must find ways to succeed.
Cim, upon reading my last post, commented that she assumed I would be hobbling around for a bit. All too true. I have been hobbled like a whipped horse. I have found that as the pain in my foot subsides, all the rest of my body is showing the signs of going climbing after having not for quite some time. My shoulders are aching. I can’t scratch my own back and my forearms feel like they are going to pop every time I try to grab anything. And as an added bonus I have found that my ankle and knee took a pretty good beating as part of my trying to play superman on Sunday.
In attempting to find a purple lining to my cloud (I don’t really like silver, so I look for purple), I have noticed that I have some time to sit down and write about things that have occurred. Alliance Happenings, if you will.
Some of you may recall, as I sent out a mass invite, that the Mooseknuckler back Country Alliance was going to venture to the never before visited (at least by some of you) Havasupai Indian Reservation. Hoping to mingle with the indigenous people, learn their ways and become one with the falls. My invitation fell on a few indifferent ears, on a few Man I wish I could go ears, and then the Meinkey’s ears.
The Mooseknuckler-mobile was locked and loaded and we headed around the giant hole to find our way down to this unexplored village.
After driving for what seemed like seven hours (of course, it seemed like seven hours because it was), we arrived at Hualapai Hill Top where the trail down the canyon begins. We arrived at about 10:30. We had hoped to arrive just in time to go to sleep. With the heat the canyon often experiences it is best to hike in the early morn as to avoid dying a dehydrated death.
We pitched tents in the parking lot, next to one of the smelliest damn motor homes ever. And then tried to sleep as lightning tiptoed across the small section of sky I could see out the front of my tent. When the alarm finally sounded at 5 am no stars could be seen and I was sure the moment we took the tents down we would be gifted with a thunder shower. After a couple of moanings and groanings, some granola bars and water, we headed down the steep trail into the unknown (by many of you).
Once again the old fat guy’s memory, that for some reason has been trusted more than once this summer, was wrong. I recalled the canyon being desolate and utterly displeasing to the eye. Granted, I hiked it last about a decade ago and it was at night. The hike in is a pleasurable jaunt through a red rock canyon. A pleasurable 10 mile jaunt.
We were in no hurry, as the unknown (to many of you) was just beginning and we were enjoying the scenery and the evidence of recent flash floods. This video was taken a couple of days before we hiked in.
And then we made it the utterly off-the-grid village. And by off-the-grid I mean that they have electricity, AC and cell service. As we walked into the village, Shelby thought he heard a drum circle/ceremony going down. Unfortunately, it was just some kids listening to rap music really loud inside their hut (any time you are in a village, houses are called huts). We stopped at the first store and bought some soda and chips. Only Cami had the foresight to bring non-backpacking treats.
Then we hiked through the dusty, urine smelling village to check in at the Tourist Department. From the Village it is another two miles to the campground. Along the way, we were treated to some never before seen by white guys falls.
We then spent the next two days swimming, walking, sleeping or eating. We ate like hobbits for sure. There was no end to what we felt like we could eat. I don’t know about the rest of you Mooseknucklers, but when I swim, I can eat cuz swimming is hard. Oh and I broke my camera the first time we went swimming so some of the photos are less then crisp. Sorry.
Anyway, the trip was a success with no failures. KB was able to check another trip off her bucket list and we all agreed it should become an annual trip. So save some vacation time for next summer.
That is if my foot heals by then…
P. L. and R.