As the powerful Colorado River churned beneath me, as it has for centuries, and the relentless sun peaked over the top of the North Rim, I could not help but feel astounded. I was in a timeless place: a place disconnected from the society I had left behind miles ago. Down here, in the lowest section of the Grand Canyon, it was just me, my friends, and the heat. Always the heat. We had started our journey, a run from the Grand Canyon’s North Rim to the South Rim, at 4 AM in a futile attempt to avoid the skyrocketing temperature and finish before the sun became the determining factor in the success of our venture. Fifteen miles in, watching the sun make its first appearance, I could almost feel the high 90 degree temperature begin to shift into triple digits. I couldn't help but smile. The stakes had just been raised.
Despite being from the generally frigid state of Michigan, I was fairly certain I knew what overheating felt like before my trip. Having been a dedicated cross country and track runner in high school, I had practiced and raced in triple digit temperatures. Furthermore, having gone to school in …show more content…
As the halfway point and the Colorado disappeared behind us, each step brought us closer to civilization and farther away from the red silt that comprises the majority of the Grand Canyon. Yet, each step also brought us uphill. Stride after stride, step after step, the incline continued increasing. And as the incline increased, the conversations and smiles among our isolated group in the depths of the Grand Canyon decreased rapidly. The world was slowly fading into burning hamstring muscles, ragged breathing, and futile attempts to avoid the heat. There was no shade, no water to cool off with except the precious packs we carried on our backs. As someone tripped over the countless piles of loose stone, we stopped for a second as he collected himself. It was the first time I had actually looked around in a couple
Despite being from the generally frigid state of Michigan, I was fairly certain I knew what overheating felt like before my trip. Having been a dedicated cross country and track runner in high school, I had practiced and raced in triple digit temperatures. Furthermore, having gone to school in …show more content…
As the halfway point and the Colorado disappeared behind us, each step brought us closer to civilization and farther away from the red silt that comprises the majority of the Grand Canyon. Yet, each step also brought us uphill. Stride after stride, step after step, the incline continued increasing. And as the incline increased, the conversations and smiles among our isolated group in the depths of the Grand Canyon decreased rapidly. The world was slowly fading into burning hamstring muscles, ragged breathing, and futile attempts to avoid the heat. There was no shade, no water to cool off with except the precious packs we carried on our backs. As someone tripped over the countless piles of loose stone, we stopped for a second as he collected himself. It was the first time I had actually looked around in a couple