Grand Canyon roadtrip mini - Liam rebounds

When I planned our desert South West summer vacation, I knew it would be hot. But June's desert heat was something I was familiar with. June has low humidity, the dry heat. And outside of asphalt and dark rock, it will cool down at night to let one get some sleep. What I had not planned on was the high pressure system stuck over the area bringing temperatures 10 to 15 degrees higher than normal.

We coped, we adapted. We wore hats, wet bandannas around our necks or head, drank lots of water, and had salty snacks. We rested in shade and didn't push ourselves much in the heat of the day. Still, it was hot.

I have already written of the impact that altitude and heat had on Liam. After a night's sleep at Great Sand Dunes, he woke up feeling much better - yet still low energy. We were careful for the next week, not pushing him too hard. That was easy, it was hot. Many of the days we were subjected to heat above 105, but most nights it eventual dropped down to about 65.

Liam wasn't much of a hiker at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. At Zion, he had to be coaxed up the mile long asphalt trail to the Virgin River Narrows hike. But once we could walk in the water, he was zoom-boy all over again. The cool refreshing water and shade from the canyon walls made for a wonderful hike on a hot summer day.

And then we got to Bryce Canyon National Park. Our Grand Canyon visit was a top of canyon experience, we didn't hike down much, staying mostly along the rim. Zion was a bottom of canyon place, wandering around and looking up. With the Bryce Canyon rim being over 8,000 feet above sea level, Bryce is another top of canyon viewpoint. Liam still wasn't the gangbusters of a little man that I knew, but he was getting to where we needed him to be. Sometimes a bit slow, but he made it.

Galen and I wanted to walk the Bryce Canyon Rim Trail from Sunset, to Sunrise Point. It was supposed to be about a mile with little elevation change. That Liam resisted was expected, but then he surprised me by declaring he wanted to hike the Navajo Trail loop. This baffled me, the rim was to be easy, but he chose the hard. The park lists the trail as a moderate 1.3 miles, but it was 550 feet down, and of course, 550 back up. The elevation changes occur quickly, the trail has step sections with multiple switchbacks. Looking down, we could not see the bottom, just a dirt path into the maze of hoodoos. Maybe it was seeing hoodoos with Douglass Fir's peeking up. No matter, it was his idea, one that Galen and I were eager to experience.

It was hot. It was dusty. And it was beautiful. It was a bit strenuous for a couple of guys from the Minnesota flatlands. Yet here was the dude, walking through the canyon, slowly, but not complaining. He had the energy to terrify me at steep, slippy edges, teased about throwing items into the abyss, and finding ways to irritate his brother. And once again I had felt proud about one of my young'ens. Liam had a rough few days coping with heat and elevation. Yet here he was, seeing an awesome trail and challenging himself, and us, to hike it. He was better, he was back.

Grand Canyon road trip mini - Galen steps up

The boys and I went on a summer road trip, the primary destination being the North Rim of the Grand Canyon with multiple stops before, and after. Night one was at the Camp A Way RV park in Nebraska, night two was at Jackson Lake State Park in Colorado. On the third day we had stopped in Colorado Springs to meet up with Randy and his son Alex, they were going to join us camping at the Great Sand Dunes National Park.

Chanhassen is about 1,000 feet above sea level. Our day two arrival at Jackson Lake State Park brought us up to about 4,500 feet above sea level. Day three took us from Jackson Lake, up through Denver and Colorado Springs, and then La Veta Pass at 9,413 feet above sea level before dropping back down and up again as we arrived at the park. Near as I can determine, the visitor center, base of the dunes, and the campground are over 8,200 feet above sea level.

And it was hot. The day before, at Jackson Lake, was in the 90s. The temperatures at the Dunes exceeded 95. Bone dry, yes, sweat just disappeared, but a hot day to be playing on a huge pile of sand.

So, why the geography and weather overview? We spent a couple of hours playing on the dunes and playing in Medano Creek. Our return to the campground was late, we were all tired and hungry. I was busy getting the campsite ready when Randy pointed out that Liam wasn't feeling well. There was work, play, and eating to be had and he was curled up in a camping chair. He complaining about aches and pains he would normally ignore. Near as I could figure, his body was still trying to adjust to the heat and altitude. He was out of wack and not acting like his playful self.

However, there was work to be done. It was getting dark and we had not eaten, nor was the campsite ready for bedtime. Randy and Alex were not campers and had no idea what needed to be done, or any idea how to help. This is how the story gets to Galen. I talked with him about Liam's condition and let him know we both needed his help. At that point he went from a typical devious brother to a helpful young man. While I focused on getting dinner prep'd and cooked, he went about completing the campsite setup with Alex as his helper. He was patient in his direction, coaxing new skills into Alex's mind. He also occasionally helped getting something for Liam such as a snack, water, and blanket.

Prior to that evening Galen and Liam had had their bickering moments, it can't be escaped when driving such distances, campsites to be erected and packed away. But not on this evening. He set aside the normal brotherly, pestering behavior and let his better side shine through. He stepped up to the needs of the moment and was a terrific young man.

I was impressed with his behavior. Yep, there were going to be moments over the next week that had me wishing I had a frying pan or jail cell. But not that evening. I had seen a glimpse of the man he will become, and I was proud.

I know, the pic isn't from Dunes...