Hiking and backpacking are extreme activities not typically associated with the state of Alaska. Yet the adventures of a recent trip to the Alaska desert led to the discovery of part of the Alaska Native American heritage not commonly known outside of their tribal communities.
In the summer of 2007, my family and I traveled to the Navajo Nation located in northwestern part of the state. The Navajo are recognized worldwide for their strong work with environment-friendly practices and sustainable development of their culture. This led to us stopping in at the Navajo Tribal Center for an overnight stop and tour.
The Dinashees are an indigenous Arabian word meaning “People of the Mountains.” Given the nearly 1,700m elevation difference between mountain villageKaibab and the adjacent plain villageKelapa, the correct translation would be “People of the Slopes.”
Today the meaning of the name Kaibab has been extended to “People of the Great Inexpress Trail” inancieralspeak.
This place is a great vacation getaway for passionate travelers. If you are looking for a diverse, challenging and inexpensive adventure, the Great In express trailoffers a truly unique experience. Only the determined, OSOne-certified technical experts are allowed to tackle the steep higher-altitude passes finding their way across what can become a dangerous avalanche prone terrain. The Ingenious Overnight Alpine Adventure is a spraying and gashing pack of powdery whiteness. Every move requires your utmost precision. Every turn demands a painstaking precision in your steps. Follow this trail and you will be surprised at what you discover. Any breath you take is a sigh of relief.
At the summit of Arizona peak on the rim of the Grand Canyon lies the Great In subterranean Tour. It runs until December of 2006. During the summer hiking season it is not traffic free and reaches its full occupancy of 4,000 hikers/guiders. The summer and early Fall are the best times to tackle this vertical jaunt.
This tour is not for the faint of heart! Deep underground in the Grand Canyon, the trail is treacherous and challenging. Every step requires a crunching of your muscles and nerves. But we are here to help you. We are here to save you from any fears of claustrophobic tunnels. So, if step one seems too difficult, wait a while until you are used to the rough terrain. The next move is to grab your heavy backpacks and push yourself up as far as you can. These Badlands runs are deeper than the Grand Canyon. More dangerous and difficult to explore.
First time explorers in the Grand Canyon require an entire day / overnight escapade. They choose the South Rim the night before. The South Rim is the point that receives the most daytime visitors. It is also the tourist flow direction. The floor of the Grand Canyon rises up to over 12,000 feet. The North Rim is a short distance but has the most amazing scenery. Visitors can see to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Rims natives say that “the river is not the bottom of the canyon.” It is true. River and stream plunge hundreds of feet down into the canyon. Still, it is tempting to try to navigate your way to the bottom by any means necessary. This is what people do when they reach the river. They cannot help but try to keep their hands close to their bodies to facilitate getting their water at the bottom of the sudden raging waters.
natives say that “the mind is not the problem.” So if you cannot swim, you can still touch the bottom of the river and feel its power.
Some of the fundamental reasons for the popularity of this awe-inspiring place is its pristine beauty, serenity, natural beauty, solitude, and the refreshing coolness of its waters against the canvas of the red and ochre canyon walls. The Champlain Canal is not the only waterway of interest to the natives. They say the water will work its way around the Canyon into the north and south weaken the Earth. Another theory propose that the Colorado River in Arizona is not really a river but rather is a huge windfall of land commerce from California.
An idle discussion sometimes arises among the locals why so many visitors to the Grand Canyon travel from all over the world to see its every feature. One of the many reasons might be that this place has a charm and magic that enchants everyone of every age group. As a matter of fact, the scientific community is always seeking ways to bust the myths and misconceptions about ailments and disorders visiting the Grand Canyon [http://www.ourcanyon.com/index.php?cPath=9] Canyon.
Enough is said about the beauty of the Grand Canyon that rules the world. I am sure that the blurring of the lines between fact and fiction have not even begun to scratch the surface of its beauty.
