We are excited but filled with yearning and melancholy as we leave for another of Maggie’s Bucket List wishes.
We can’t remember the exact date we flew to Vegas with Maggie and our family 7 years ago. But, because of videos she took herself, we now know the date of our actual trek down was August 19th, 2014.
Yesterday, we switched our plans and permits around to be able to stay in the same campground on the very same night, 7 long and very different years ago. We called the back country information center yesterday and spoke to Brian. He was very knowledgable, helpful, and rearranged our permits. He also knew a lot about the Canyon, having grown up there. His sister knew the author(s) of a book we bought called ‘Death in the Grand Canyon’, highlighting the many tragedies that have occurred over the Park’s existence. We all read the macabre book together, fascinated by the stories.
Who knew we’d be facing our own tragedy only 2 years later? If you listen to Maggie’s videos, you can hear her talking about rewatching them in a few years. She’ll never get that chance. Seeing her bucket list dreams come true isn’t an option for our adventurous girl. Because you know. Cancer.
It’s going to be an emotional and strenuous hike for us, but one we look forward to. We can realize her dreams, carrying her ashes down to the Colorado River, releasing some there, and keeping her in our thoughts and always in our hearts.
Maggie was full of such excitement for this trip. I guess touched by it in a larger way than we ever imagined, as it made it onto her bucket list.
Though our itinerary has changed somewhat, we are still hiking Rim to Rim to Rim, with some rests in between so we can cherish the natural beauty, magic, and awe that is the Grand Canyon. Even the scorpions, despite Maggie’s fear of them.
We will update when we can and hope to share a satellite link so you can track us on our journey. Stay tuned…
A photo of a scorpion taken by Maggie while on a walk with a Ranger and her dad looking for them under an ultraviolet light. She was fearful but fascinated.
