I
Ms Piggy
To my mind there are two kinds of canyon explorations, those that are painstakingly developed over time and those that are a gift. Ms Piggy was a gift. Had I the experience to see it, I would have had more appreciation and respect for what we were undertaking. As it was, I stumbled along with the highly qualified group, bewildered by the whirlwind. Star struck and hesitant, I followed the rest of the crew into a wondrous journey of discovery.
The canyon had been scouted and plans for its exploration had been hatched without my knowledge. While a willing participant, I had little understanding of the implications of our intentions nor the preparations involved in what I was privileged to join. It was not until well after the experience that I became tuned in to the consequence of what we had done, and I began to get a glimpse of the effect it would have on my future.
The canyon itself was moderate with a few interesting downclimbs, interspersed with the occasional rappel. My lasting impression of the day is one of carefree enjoyment. The vicissitudes of canyon exploration would not always allow it to be so. I came out with a feeling of accomplishment but it was the infective accomplishment of the group, the feeling of a job well done, and the joy of helping, rather than the culmination of a project in which I was deeply invested.
