The following is a blog written following a trip into the backcountry. Regardless of your outdoor recreational activity, your attitude for the day will dictate your enjoyment of the experience.

True grit is what gets you up each step of a staggering high mountain or through the day to day hurdles of “real life.”

Though John Wayne made the original movie popular, these two words have valuable day to day meaning and symbolism.

For four days three women exhibited and lived true grit. Each dug deeper into herself revealing an attitude and aptitude to go a bit further, to accept the previously unacceptable and to bask in the glory of true self accomplishment.

True grit presented itself after the onslaught of rushing flash flood waters (to which we could not have known was coming) following an enduring night of thunderous rampage and lighted sky. Sediment carried for a mysterious number of miles flavored otherwise unflavored water and settled as a thick, dissectible mud at the bottom of Nalgene bottles, cook pots and, my personal favorite, hot chocolate mugs.

True grit came from steep descending walls constructed with larger than life boulder stepping, butt sliding and shimmy down stones. These were preceded by a sandstone, flatstone, wall walk that took one’s breath but in a totally beautiful way.

True grit came with walking through the slurry of river crossings, each growing less cumbersome as the hours and days passed and the concern for wet boots simply ceased to be a worry. Conversation turned to appreciation of the rainfall that caused the red river and gave greater value to the overall experience. Practice and time gave confidence to each rock hop, scramble, negotiation, slide, jump and visualization of how to reach the other side. In the start it was one lead and the other follow exact. By day two, four bodies would span the creek bank and make their own way to unite on the opposite side.

True grit came from going minutes to miles with an endurance you didn’t know you had. And, mile after canyon mile being mesmerized by the true grit that formed and shaped by time, erosion, wind and water the arches, walls and pillars – the Chinaman, the finger, the kissing pair, grandma with a bun – and eventual arches that bestow the red, burnt orange, ebony and bronze into the sandscape that eventually slowly and methodically filters to the canyon floor and lined the way for four days.

True grit finally came from a freehand climb up and mind game of the height of an ever growing crack in a wall (its height grew daily and sometimes by the hour). The final trial to the mesa top at the end of an ascent that could be exhilarating or tense, joyful or tearful, easy or difficult, unwary or mindful, appreciated or not.

Exposed … from beginning to end. Twinkling stars, muddy boot prints, sandy granules that unite with a bondful union pressed by time. Long lasting … from shy greeting to heartfelt hugs goodbye. Chatter, dirty stinky socks, sharing of sentiments and suggestions of change that will be impacted in time. Pride … by this guide of her girls. Strength, perseverance and acknowledgement of limitations. Growth … endless and bountiful … no limit of time.

About Step Outdoors, LLC

Step Outdoors wants you to go outside and we lead individually inspired one foot in front of the other adventure pursuits to get you there. We tailor a first time overnight backpack or a more challenging multi-day hiking adventure just for you. All adventures take into consideration your goals, fitness and experience level. Perfect for mothers and daughters, couples, families, co-workers or a group of friends, we provide a 100% guarantee of fun.

Check out our blog at http://stepoutdoorscolorado.com/blog/. Or send us an email at info@stepoutdoorscolorado.com.