Day 9

This is the day.  The Fellowship headed out on its journey, Frodo and Sam Wise taking on Mordor.  Well it felt like that anyways.  And just so you know, Matt is Frodo, I am Sam.

The hike to The Wave was the most physically challenging thing I have ever done.  8 miles, no markers, sand, steep cliffs, rocks, cold and the constant threat of being stranded due to the rain and snow that was in the forecast.

It took a couple hours to get to the Wave, and it was absolutely worth it.  If you could imagine an artist dipping their brush in brown, yellow, orange and red, then splashing wave after wave on a canvas.  That, coupled with a clear blue sky, some of the most amazing sights I have ever seen.  I cannot imagine the thoughts that the first person to see this thought.  It sits up high in a canyon, hidden away except for those who make the trek.  Just spectacular.  I will post picture later, too many to pick from.

The journey back was, lets say, beyond challenging.  I did not mention before but we got kinda lost on our way to the wave.  Took a bit of a detour through some very steep canyon walls.  We were smarter on the way back, but still, this was hiking to the extreme.

By the time we got back to the car, my clothes were completely soaked, dripping wet, and I was spent.  But at the same time, I am now one of the few humans who have done this, or ever will, and for that I am proud and humbled.  And this exhilaration drowned out most of the pain.

Headed to Flagstaff for the night, then on to Meteor Crater and the Petrified forest tomorrow...