The Beauty of God's Creation

The Grand Canyon, from the top of the trail that my father and I hiked down.

Dear Friends and Family,

The beauty of what God has created is truly astounding. This past week I have had the blessing of exploring this beauty by hiking in the midst of it with my father. Each morning we would begin with a 5:30 AM Holy Mass in whatever cabin or hotel room we had, followed by thanksgiving, and then around 6:30 AM we headed out for breakfast and hiking.

On our way to the Grand Canyon we stopped at Hoover Dam to explore the amazing engineering that went into creating this massive structure--almost a hundred years ago. For example, we took an elevator 500 ft. down into the dam and walked through some of the tunnels originally dug out to divert the river so that the dam could be built. As impressive as the Dam was, it is nothing compared to the beauty of God's creation. The above photo gives you a glimpse of the splendor of the Grand Canyon. We hiked 4.5 miles down (descending more than 1/2 mile in elevation)--and this was only half-way to the bottom!--and then stopped in the "Oasis" of trees around a little creek for a sack lunch. As we hiked back up clouds gathered overhead and we watched the rain roll in across the Canyon--a beautiful site. But then the rain became a thunderstorm and we were hiking in the midst of small waterfalls and a stream flowing down the trail! It made the hike a bit more challenging but also a lot of fun.

I don't have adequate words to describe how beautiful things were, or how many thoughts the sights inspired. For example, when looking at the huge cliff faces and immense amount of solid rock, I couldn't help but think of God and His Law: how immovable they are, and how intricately beautiful his Law is. Or again, gazing upon the desert landscape and then seeing it burst into life with waterfalls spilling forth from previously baren rock faces, I couldn't help but think of how God's grace can--in an instant--pour forth an abundance of life into our souls.

I did not take many photos, but here are a few:

Moose were  often present.

View from the Oasis, half-way down the Canyon. The trail in the foreground is what we hiked up, ending at the top of the cliff in the center of the photo.

The trail with water running down. Turned side-ways...

Canyon from another angle.

Our next stop was Zion national park in Utah. Equally gorgeous, though different. Our first hike was "The Narrows"--a gorge of unique rock formations. The trail has you essentially hike through the river upstream. We were in the water about 50% of the time (the other 50% being on small sandy banks between the cliff walls. Sometimes we waded through water up to our waist. Most of the time it came to just above the knees. But it was hard hiking upstream! The water was moving fast and was quite powerful. My father and I each took a spill at some point during the hike. The views of the canyon walls and unique rock formations were at times breathtaking, and it was simply a lot of fun to face the challenge of hiking through the water.

The following day was the 8 mile hike, 2,100 ft. elevation change, of "Observation Point Trail". Here are a few photos:

From the top.

From the top looking down to the canyon floor, where we began our hike.

From part-way up the trail, looking up at the peak where the trail ends (from which the photos above were taken).

This trail was probably my favorite. I really enjoyed praying as we hiked. It was also challenging. Towards the end the switchbacks cut across the rock face of the white cliffs you see in the distance in the photo above. The rail was perhaps 4 wide at points, with a sheer drop off the side and people passing each other or some going down while others came up. Yet people of all ages, from children to grandparents made the hike.

We then headed to Bryce, but I do not have photos of that--though it was also very beautiful. So I will instead show you two photos of my father and I at breakfast.

It was a very blessed time with him. Thank you all for your prayers.

My Dad with a "cowboy cow" at a local breakfast place.

A statue of "Yosemite Same" and I at the breakfast place.

May Jesus and Mary watch over you and guide you.

In Cordibus Iesu et Mariae,
Fr. Pillari