A Colorado State of Mind: Between a Rock and a Steep Place

Black Canyon of the Gunnison is like a smaller Grand Canyon without the crowds. Sheer walls of black granite rise up 2250 feet from the Gunnison River, and similar to the Grand Canyon, a very long drive separates the north and south rims. Unlike the Grand Canyon, you can literarily walk up to the ranger station and obtain a permit on the same day as you wish to hike down into the canyon. This is exactly what my dad and I decided to do- hike 2000 feet down to the Gunnison River within a miles distance- an extremely steep and precarious feat. Prior to being handed your free permits, the rangers take out a large binder for you to review- a collection of pictures depicting all the dangers and possible ways to die or be seriously hurt on the voyage to the bottom of the canyon- from rockslides, drop-offs, mountain lions, hypothermia, and dehydration to less severe but still annoying poison ivy, stinging nettle, sunburn, scrapes, bruises and twisted ankles. They seem to do their best at trying to talk you out of this foolish hike, but I think that is just to scare off the weak and timid. Dad and I started our trek around 8 am, the trail starting with a slight grade and then quickly changing into a steep and treacherous scramble. At times the "hike" down is so steep you must use a 100+ foot chain to lower your body down the canyon walls, virtually repelling. We would hear rock slides above us and wonder what sort of creature was capable of loosening the large rocks. Every step had to be calculated, with all possible dangerous outcomes considered, and decisions would have to made, as should I veer to the left and risk a misstep and one hundred foot tumble, or should I stray towards the slightly less steep right, while trying to avoid that large dangling stinging nettle branch (a plant that is covered in hollow stinging hairs which act like hypodermic needles, injecting stinging histamine into your skin if touched). I quickly noticed my sweat was not just a result of the physical exertion, but from a constant nervousness and fear, similar to what I've experienced while rock climbing on steep portions of those man-made rock climbing walls. It was not what I'd consider a relaxing walk in the woods. But, we did make it to the bottom, rinsed our dusty feet in the cold rushing river, had lunch, rehydrated, and started our trek back out. Climbing out was much easier for me. It was steep and exhausting, but at least I felt fairly certain my body was only going to follow as far as my next foot placement. About five hours later, dirty, bruised, and stinking, we checked back into the ranger station to let them know we had made it out. We gazed out from the visitor center, down into the canyon, looking at the only view the majority of visitors would see- from the top. That day, we were warriors.