The Great Outdoors

After spending four more days down a trail in August heat, I can finally take no more. I have a sunburn so horrendous, clothing has become an issue. I've never experienced pain like this before. I can't sleep at night because my entire back is in pain.

This is what you get for wearing a tank top out to Bright Angel Trail.

So there I sat for two days, 1.5 miles down, doing interview work. And then another two without shade, without ample sunscreen, without any clue that my skin was burning off. I blame my Texan childhood that allows me to adapt to heat to the point I don't realize I'm literally baking in the sun. I don't even sweat here!

People kept coming up and asking me if I was doing homework. Why, yes. I'm sitting on a rock over a cliff face with 500 feet of falling below, in a Penn State hat (we're in Arizona, people, look at a map), in direct sunlight doing homework. Because all kids from East Coast schools love to pick out rocky perches at the Grand Canyon at which to do some good old-fashioned homework.

It got to the point of misery that I considered pushing the next jackass to come along and make a snide remark at me over the tinier ledge--just a fall of 15 feet or so. People all think they're so clever. If you're doing tedious work, sunburn searing your skin (even though you've covered up this time), exhausted beyond belief, and in general uncomfortable (you try perching out of the way of hikers and mules for six hours!), the last thing you want is a one-liner and a smirk.

The second day out there I was both up and down wind of some very fresh mule shit baking in the sunlight.

My job is extremely glamourous.

The best news is that now I've collected the majority of data I needed for my project, and thinking about that just lifts a huge weight off my shoulders. The tedious part is almost done (I have to enter and analyze two more days) and then all that remains is some field work I can move around for, and cleaning/writing up what I've found.

In other news, I've officially been inducted as Wilderness Woman. Why, you ask? Because, as all backcountry people can tell you, I've hit my final landmark that I'm in the know of the outdoorsy.

Ladies and gentlemen, I have officially done my business in the woods. Not in a portapotty. In nature. I have finally crossed that threshold of "I'm not afraid to be in the wilderness, 'cause I can handle myself!" Elevation change? Check. Hiking etiquette? Check. Proper equipment? Check. Trail savvy? Check. Going a while sans civilization? Check. Forgoing a shower for rolling in a river? Double check.

Doing my business out-of-doors and not caring? Check.