Our Bryce Trip - Part 2

Saturday morning we all headed out for a road trip that would include a 10 mile journey on a dirt road that would bring us to this.

Grosvenor Arch is basically in the middle of no where. Right now it is considered part of the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument.

The arches tower 150 feet above the ground.

This massive sandstone structure was a little too tempting for the natural climber of the family to resist. On this trip I learned that Tyson has two names. His everyday name, and "Bruce" which his family calls him once he starts into his climbing adventures. Bruce is the name of a favorite billy goat.

Put into perspective he looks a little small against that huge rock. And per the saying "What goes up must come down,"

well that might not be as easy.

Spencer went up to help and then got into trouble himself. Tyson retreated back into his safe zone,

while Mark helped Spencer.

Now with two people with somewhat secure footing,

"Bruce" was helped back on to secure ground.

Just a few miles back on the dirt road was another turn off that would take us to the Round Valley Narrows. I've never been in the narrows or slot canyons before and was looking forward to this part of the trip. This was our warning sign before leaving the trailhead.

I borrowed this picture from americansouthwest.net website

After walking about a mile we were ready to start our descent into the narrows.

There really wasn't an easy way into the narrows. This was the first little climb down to walk over to the opening of the narrows. At the opening we would have to descend another 15 feet broken up through curved narrow openings to reach the river bed. Things were looking okay until I reached the last curve. I can do this, I told myself, after all my nieces and nephews were down there and I had help to get me down. I'm not quite sure how it happened but I lost my grip on the rock and started to slide and came to a sudden stop as I hit the river bed feet first. Up above the narrows my family could hear "sh**!" I broke it. Immediately they thought I had broken my camera, wishful thinking, I had handed that down before my attempt; I actually landed and heard a loud pop in my right ankle.

Megan was already down and helped me over to the wall. Bob came right down after he heard me and was nice enough to take some pictures of my pain.

While Mark & Greg were up top trying to figure out how they were going to get me out of there, Bob was having fun telling me stories of the buzzards flying overhead. I hurt but was more upset that I was still not going to have my chance of seeing the narrows. I did however get to enjoy this view for a little while.

Megan had put a makeshift splint on my ankle and the plan was set, they were ready to start the rescue. Spencer was on the river bed, Tyson was a little bit further up the rocks, then Mark, and then Greg up top.

See that little bit of leg on the center left of the picture below, that's where I was at.

I was out of the narrows, but remember me mentioning that mile hike in.

We still needed to get back to the trailhead. Thank goodness for strong nephews. I only let them carry me like that through the rocky areas, and then I was down and relying on their strong shoulders.

I really want to thank my family for their awesomeness and support. Bob and I often wonder how we would have handled it if it had just been the two of us. Valuable lessoned learned about how important it is to be in a bigger group when hiking in that type of environment. Thanks to Shannon for being my paparazzi during the rescue. Pictures are valuable documentation of life's journey.

 I've gone from Megan's survival splint

to this wonderful boot for 3 weeks. No broken bones, just severely sprained. I feel very fortunate because it could have turned out much worse. Sometimes you need family vacations to reaffirm what is important in our lives. The last day of our vacation might have been full of rescues, but I still think it was a great success.