Grand Canyon, here I come. After thinking I was sick yesterday, I discovered today, it was probably allergies. I am feeling much better and strong enough to go.

It's been about twelve years since the one and only time I hiked the twenty-one miles from the South to North Rim. Neil has gone a few times in recent years, but we have never done it together. The weather in Arizona has finally changed and instead of being concerned about blistering heat, we are packing down jackets and rain gear.

Hiking the canyon pops you right into the present moment. Stay on the trail, watch your footing, plant your poles, drink plenty of fluids, enjoy the breathtaking scenary and terrain. I'm really looking forward to it in a long, intense hiking kind of way.

My friend, Carrie introduced me to rim to rim hiking twelve years ago. However, she goes every year and I have not been back since. Carrie just completed the hike a few days ago. I have been calling her for canyon hiking tips.  We are hiking one way across and taking a shuttle back the next day.  She took a day of rest and then hiked back the other direction.

Last year she lamented her inability to make the hike. Dang cancer got in the way but she vowed to do the hike this year. Carrie has inspired me with her attitude throughout her year long journey from cancer diagnosis to treatments. Forty-two miles of hiking in a long weekend. She is one strong lady.   Here's what she said about her canyon hike in her blog post today:

"Since cancer, chemo and radiation, I struggle a bit on super-steep terrain under a hot sun. On Saturday, I got the super-steep, but not the super-hot. My team reached the North Rim in high spirits 10 1/2 hours after departing the South Rim. It is hard to describe the joy of that moment. Less than six months after radiation, it felt like a huge victory--over cancer, fears that I might never be the same, and the physical and psychological hurdles that must be overcome following a life-threatening illness."

Here's to physical and psychological victories and the power of attitude. Yes, I Can.

Quotacious:

"Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple."

~~Dr. Seuss