Mother of all hikes

Ribbon Falls

I'd wanted to hike the Grand Canyon from the North Rim to the South Rim for some time.  This spring we had 7 hikers committed to go but one by one they bailed ( for good reasons) until it was down to Dan and me.  That turned out to be a good thing.  I love spending time alone with my one and only.

Crossing the Colorado River after over 14 miles of hiking.  It was 98 degrees.

We loved soaking our feet and cooling off in the mighty Colorado.

Going up was switchback after switchback surrounded by breathtaking beauty.

This view, from many elevations as we climbed, was what we took in for hours.

There were many signs that warned hikers to not do this hike in one day and for good reason.  It was over 24 miles of hot, strenuous hiking.  As my title says, I'd call it the mother of all hikes.  We were prepared, though, and did it in one day.  We had  lots of company.  We saw hundreds doing the same hike on the busy Memorial Day weekend.  I can't wait to get back to take the rest of my family.

Hope

This week there is a little secret that is alive and well in Logan Canyon.  I feel so blessed to be in on the secret.

The Maguire Primrose is a darling little flower that blooms for a short time in the spring and is found no where in the world but Logan Canyon.  It's easy to miss because it grows high on the rock walls and in only a few select places in the canyon.

I've visited it 4 times already in the past week and hope to go again.  It brightens my day.  Here is a dainty, beautiful flower, hanging precariously from the cliff walls.  It blooms after the harsh winter but before the warm temperatures, bringing color to the gray canyon and a hope for the coming warm weather. 

It's symbolic to me of our trials in life.  Life can be harsh like the cold winter.  Sometimes through our trials it feels as though we are just barely hanging (maybe for dear life) to the cliff wall but as we hang on with hope and faith we see the color and the hope of the future.  Sometimes we receive a tender mercy or divine signature but whatever it is we can move forward with faith and hope for all that is in store for us in the future.  There is always, always hope.

Ward Party from H. E. double toothpicks

Friday we had a Cinco de Mayo party with our ward full with pulled pork burritos topped with cilantro sauce.  Entertainment-pinata!  Great turn out.  Lots of fun.

Saturday night I went to bed after vomiting and feeling very sick.  Dan slept in another bed so he wouldn't get sick but he woke up in the middle of the night with the same symptoms.  John also woke in the middle of the night.  Same thing.

Sunday morning we got a call from the Relief Society president. She and her husband had the same problems.  We got another call from one of the Sacrament meeting speakers.  Same thing.  Primary president and her family?  Same.  We were suspicious.  As we called around, a lot of the ward was sick.

Dan decided to cancel the auxiliaries that day so people wouldn't feel pressured to come to church with responsibilities if they were not feeling well.

Sacrament meeting attendance which is usually 180 was 100.

Scary business.  What was it?  The pork? The cilantro sauce?  The rice (yes, the extension office in Logan thinks it's the rice) The beans?  The tomatoes?  The lettuce?  Who knows? 

Symptoms seem to last less than 24 hours but for some, longer.  I hope everyone recovers okay.

I'm 52 and have been to a lot of ward parties in my day.  This is the first problem.  Should I think twice when eating at a ward party from now on?  I don't know.