As the coffee was percolating, I find a hand written guide book about local hikes in the area. I settle on hiking Cathedral Wash in the Glen Canyon area. I need to get an early start as the Labor Day Holiday weekend is seeing an excessive heat wave hit the Western United States. It’s not even 7 a.m. and it’s already 90 ninety degrees outside.
The trail quickly descends into a slot canyon, one that has residual rain water filling up holes in the rock, as well as narrow ledge traverses that one must inch along in order to continue.
I push my limits and pull my arm muscles as I slowly navigate downward. Luckily the high canyon walls are preventing the sun from heating up the canyon too quickly. The payoff at the end of this canyon is the Colorado river. Eventually I hear the water roar as I exit the slot canyon.
I’ve crossed into the beginning of the Grand Canyon, a place many only see if they are floating down the Colorado river itself. The crystal clear water shows beautiful rainbow trout, their skin glistening against the morning rays of sunshine.
Heading back out, the canyon looks completely different. I seem to need to find new routes, climb previously untouched rock ledges, pull and twist myself along as I try to get out of Cathedral Wash.
No worse for wear, I successfully make it back out.
