Yes, I’m procrastinating when I should be working on Chapter 5 of my WIP … but with good reason.
I’m doing some research on the Grand Canyon.
Meanie that I am, I’m sending my hero and heroine down into the canyon, and although I’ve been to the Grand Canyon, it’s been several years since that trip and we never had the opportunity to hike down to the canyon floor. Which was fine with me, since I had enough excitement when my idiot husband decided to waltz out to the tip of a rock jutting over the rim of the canyon and ask me to take his picture. I’m surprised I even managed it, my heart was pounding so loudly and I felt physically sick. I’d post the picture for you all, but it was pre-digital, so I’ll I have to see if I can scrounge it up
from our boxes of photos.
So, here are some interesting facts for you. It takes between 4-6 hours to hike the South Kaibab trail to the canyon floor/Colorado river. And that hike down has an elevation loss of about 4360 ft. There’s a cool suspension bridge that stretches 440 feet across the Coloardo and looks a mite bit scary from the pictures I’ve managed to dig up.
Oh, and they don’t recommend you hike all the way down and back up in one day. Which poses a slight problem for my characters, since I assumed they would hike down and back up in the same day. So, now I’m faced with the possibility of having them spend the night down in the Grand Canyon, or press the boundaries of believability by having them hike down and back in one ‘loop’.
Would a frantic mother want to waste another day/night by waiting until morning to hike out of the Canyon? And what the heck would uncommunicative Keith and distraught Grace do during that time?
I’m sure you all would have some good ideas for me, ;), but I can assure you, they’re not ready for that just yet.
I guess one big question would be why they’re hiking down there in the first place. And I’m sure Keith is a pretty experienced hiker, so the fact that he wouldn’t let them make the return trip to the top could make for some wonderful tension and conflict between your characters.
Since they’re not ready for that it’s the perfect opportunity to up the sexual tension between them. Just because they’re not ready to do it doesn’t mean they can’t be thinking about it. Just think of the fun you could have with that setting! The great outdoors, pitch dark except for the light of the moon and stars (and maybe a fire – which makes everything look more romantic!), lots of wild critters and unfamiliar sounds (for Grace). They could be much more aware of everything about each other. He could impress her with his wilderness skills. She could impress him with her courage. But if there’s still a little bit of a grind between them, neither will reveal their feelings. They could be saying one thing, but thinkin something else. She could be furious with him for making them put things off another day — and we all know anger is a strong emotion…
The possibilities are endless! Feel free to e-mail me if you want to do some brainstorming!
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You’ll find out soon enough why they need to go to the GC!
And, I may take you up on that brainstorming offer!
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I hope you do. The offer’s always open!
BTW — I’m planning to work on your chapter tonight.
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