Despite being from the generally frigid state of Michigan, I was fairly certain I knew what overheating felt like before my trip. Having been a dedicated cross country and track runner in high school, I had practiced and raced in triple digit temperatures. Furthermore, having gone to school in …show more content…
As the halfway point and the Colorado disappeared behind us, each step brought us closer to civilization and farther away from the red silt that comprises the majority of the Grand Canyon. Yet, each step also brought us uphill. Stride after stride, step after step, the incline continued increasing. And as the incline increased, the conversations and smiles among our isolated group in the depths of the Grand Canyon decreased rapidly. The world was slowly fading into burning hamstring muscles, ragged breathing, and futile attempts to avoid the heat. There was no shade, no water to cool off with except the precious packs we carried on our backs. As someone tripped over the countless piles of loose stone, we stopped for a second as he collected himself. It was the first time I had actually looked around in a couple