THURSDAY, 8/16

THURSDAY, 8/16:

     Decided to spend our last day here back up at Black Canyon of the Gunnison.  Got there in time for a Ranger-led hike at the very end of the rim drive.   As always, was so interesting and learned so much.  Was more a nature walk/talk than a geology one, with a theme being the inter-connectedness of all living things in this semi-arid environment.  A young kid led this one – he’s really an astronomer, and gives nighttime talks on the stars, etc., but fills other roles too.  A very nice kid, who really knew his stuff.  He said that more and more of the National Parks are initiating astronomy programs at night, even using telescopes.  A couple who had been to his program last night said it was fantastic.  Maybe we’ll be able to do that at the Grand Canyon!

     After being in this mountainous area for 3 weeks now, and being able to see & experience so much, the words of that old hymn kept coming to mind: “Oh Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder, Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made . . .”   every created thing from the huge majestic mountains, to the teensy leaves on the Juniper tree which are designed to conserve scarce water . . . all those worlds made perfectly.  This particular canyon is uniquely awe-some. As one geologist said, “Some are longer, some are deeper, some are narrower, and a few have walls as steep, but no other canyon in North America combines the depth, narrowness, sheerness and somber countenance of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison.”

    The hike lasted for a couple of hours.  Enjoyed eating a snack in the shade of a picnic area, as it was getting pretty warm – in the 90’s.  Oh, we found out what’s causing most of the hazy skies lately.  Northern Calif is having some big fires, and Zach, our hike Ranger, explained that the jet stream carries the smoke directly here.  Another thing we can blame on California!  

     Took our time stopping at a couple of overlook places, and then met another Ranger at Chasm Point for a short talk on the geology of the area.  Fun to observe the different Rangers and their styles . . . some are serious, others, like this one, have a fun sense of humor; some have been doing this for literally decades, others are novices.  But they all seem to care deeply about what they do, and are very prepared for interacting with the Park visitors.  

     Were driving home thru Montrose and preparing to turn into the Safeway grocery store when who drives up beside us and yells some incoherent words out his van window but Keith, our jeep driver!!  We couldn’t believe it!  We pulled into the Safeway parking lot, and here he drives up & parks next to us.  I accused him of stalking his favorite customers.  J  What he had yelled out his van window to us was the title of some old movie . . . he and Bill had apparently been talking about it before or after the last ride, but neither could remember the title . . . so it came to him later, and that was his greeting to us on the road!  What a character!!  He just makes us laugh even to think about him.  We chatted for a few minutes .  . . this was one of his days off;  he lives up in Montrose.  Quite a commute for his summer job in Ouray, but his winters are a lot milder!  We asked him what he did in the winter; he’s been involved in the ski industry in Telluride, but wasn’t sure he wanted to do that any more.  A true free spirit.  God bless ya, Keith!  Hope we see you again soon.

     As we ate our dinner on the picnic table, we both expressed sadness at leaving here tomorrow.  It’s true that we’ve felt a pang at leaving every place we’ve been so far, but this feels different.  We have a real affinity for this town, and somehow feel a real attachment to it.  We both said to each other that it feels like “our place.”  The warm memories of the 2 times we’ve been here are very powerful!  The combination of the wonderful old Victorian downtown (the entire downtown is on the National Registry of Historic Places), the rich history (in more ways than one!), the overwhelming beauty of its surroundings make this place so unique & compelling.  No wonder it’s called “The Gem of the Rockies.”  Or “Little Switzerland”.  Keith wondered on our first ride, “Does Switzerland have a town called “Little Ouray”?  (Even seeing Keith again, which I think was somehow a divine appointment, felt like saying good-bye to a friend whom you’re really going to miss.  Pretty strange.)

     We even jokingly (mostly!) asked each other if we wanted to cancel the rest of the trip and just stay here.  And mentioned the possibility of just spending next summer out here, and forgoing our planned Northwest to Alaska trip.  That would be a radical change in plans, and I  can’t imagine that we’d really do that, but who knows how we’ll feel in a few months . . .  Anyway, the thing that makes it bearable to leave is that we know we’re doing it freely, and that we realize we can return any time (well, within reason).  

     Took one last evening walk around town before coming back & starting to get organized to leave tomorrow.  Had the windows open so we could listen to the river one more time.