Over the Edge. Death in the Grand Canyon

[Riverkilt]

Is a wonderful book about all the people who have died in the Grand Canyon. Should be read by anyone planning a jaunt into the abyss.

So today I almost qualified for a mention in the next edition.



Was out at Roosevelt Point on the North Rim enjoying the scenery and taking some kilt pictures.

Unfortunately, my "dismount" from the rock above went bad and I found myself sort of running and falling from rock to rock until I tumbled kilt over tea kettle into a small stand of scrub oak.



That sort of empty space by my right arm, just on the other side of these wee oaks, would be oblivion...

Course while bystanders are rushing over and asking if I'm all right I'm telling the photographer, "Take my picture, take my picture!" Figured it'd be nice to have one last one in case I slipped clambering out of the oaks and back to safety on the high side of the barrier rocks...

Kilt survived just fine. My left thigh looks like it lost an argument with a bear...but superficial. No blood on the kilt. One more use for underkilts....keep the blood off your kilt when you get stupid...

[Jock Scot]

Strewth Ron, you don't want to be doing that again! Glad you are OK.

[Chas]

All the possible moralising to one side - that is a very fine looking picture!

Regards

Chas

[Cecil]

Well I love the north rim but it scares me to death. Glad you are OK, thats no place to take a tumble.

[GMan]

Even the most ardent hiker has their moments. Glad that you can look at it as a joy and be able to tell us about it.

[1oldsarge]

You should have flapped your arms really really hard.....................

[Pipersson]

OMG! But you seem to smile quite comfortably on the second picture....

[Riverkilt]

Thanks guys. Rocky the Flying Squirrel came to mind...but would have been more like Roadrunner's Coyote thumping after a long fall. Just scratches, no bruises. Guessing them baby scrub oaks got the worst of it. As Glen says, not the first time I've had my fall broken by brush...
And Glen, the lady with me blamed the Z Coils. She said every step I took along the row of rocks trying to get my balance the springs bounced me a bit higher until they finally launched me towards the abyss. What flying I did was steering into a "soft" landing...

I was most grateful my kilt wound up not answering "the question" for the bystanders...

[Tartan Tess]

Wow, glad your alright Riverkilt. I know the air in the area can have some magic juju affecting body vs. brain power. I get all giddy when I am in the area. Makes me feel like I have walked into the threshold of Heaven.

[grizzbass]

Death in Yellowstone is another great book. I have read the over the edge and found it very interesting. I recently made my first visit to the grand canyon but it wasn't a real visit as it was from 5 PM to basically 5 PM the next day. Sure wet my appetite though.