Greetings from Grand Canyon National Park

I have been solo backpacking in the Canyon several times over the past 40 years. Around 20 years ago, I decided I wanted to do a loop around Horseshoe Mesa from Grandview to Bright Angel over several days. It was November and it was cold and icy at the higher elevations. I had planned to spend the first night at Horseshoe Mesa and then continue. If I remember, I had a back-country permit for 3 nights. On the way down I met a backpacker who was on the way up. He was years younger than me and he was struggling. He told me (and the others who had gathered with us) that he was carrying more than 70 pounds of gear. Along with several others, I decided to help walk him out. By the time we had delivered him safely, it was late in the day and starting to snow. I had the gear for snow, and I sat at the trailhead with myself, and hemmed and hawed for a time. Then I decided not to go on my backcountry loop, and to wait and see what the next day brought. I went and got myself a room, likely at Bright Angel Lodge, but I don’t remember exactly.

Here is my Ranger story: That night, I went to a Ranger Program. I don’t remember what the subject matter was, but the group was sharing stories and I shared my choice of helping the other backpacker, rather than continuing my own trip, and expressing that I was going to have to restructure my plans, because I still had to get back to work on the original day. After the program as I was collecting my stuff, the Ranger came up to me. He said something to the effect of: “When you come back, come and see me. Remind me about today and your story. I will issue you a Backcountry Permit to any part of the Canyon you want to travel.” He told me that my behavior should be an example to others, helping out someone in distress, and then not risking my life to meet an unrealistic goal of my own joy. His words and offer lifted a big sadness off of me, as, since the first time I dropped below the Rim, I have been drawn back for the experience of being there, and being so small in the Universe. I was sad I had given up my trip. I hadn’t thought I had done anything big by choosing to help the backpacker and sacrificing my own trip, but that Ranger taught me great lesson about responsibility, both for others and myself. I have been forever grateful.

p.s. I backpacked the loop from Bright Angel to Horseshoe Mesa a few years later, with a few side hikes on the Tonto.

Sincerely,
Sarah