From the moment I set my eyes on the saturated colors and vivid patterns of the Narrows trail in Zion National Park, I knew that this hike was worth it.

Covering both sides of the canyon were enormous waves, each washed into the Navajo sandstone by the forces of the Virgin River. I pulled my hand along the side of the wall, feeling the incredible power of nature.

This is a trail directly inside a slot canyon, a thin gorge into an otherwise flat plain. The trail winds through the narrow canyon and sometimes requires you to cross through the river itself.

In some places the canyon is only 20 feet and in some cases, the height of the sides? Two thousand feet. It’s a favorite place for photographers, but this time I wasn’t just looking at the pretty pictures other people took.

This time, I was standing inside of the canyon itself, in sheer awe of the immense slot canyon. I was eying the walls, the nooks, and the water with admiration.

At eight in the morning, we rented special gear from an outfitter in-town: special shoes that would stand up to the rocky bottom, socks that would give warmth, and a stick.

At nine thirty in the morning, we were standing in the river. To arrive at the river, we had to first take the shuttle to the Temple of Sinawava, then walk one mile on the Riverside trail before finally arriving at the riverside.

A couple sitting on a bench watched as we, as well as others, got into the water, and then chuckled (to my annoyance) when I gave a spasm as I stepped into the chilly water.

The first thing I noticed when I got in the water was that it was exceedingly cold. The water felt like icicles wrapping around my legs, and I gave several spasms as I stepped into deeper parts of the river.

Trees grew on both sides, and sometimes a waterfall would appear, cascading from places higher up into the Virgin River. The past few days, I had been hiking to the tops of mountains, but now, I was in a canyon. Looking up was a whole new experience.

The walls were filled with ripples and crevices, the work of millions of years of geological change.

The walls were filled with ripples and sometimes an occasional crevice would be formed. I would run my hand along these. Zion sits on the edge of the Colorado Plateau, an area covering several states. It has been slowly pushed up from sea level to almost ten thousand feet, all in one piece.

During this uplift, the Narrows were carved, as the Virgin River running through the park carved a several thousand feet canyon, forming what is now Zion National Park: a refuge that has fostered human growth for almost eight thousand years.

As I walked the trail, it would sometimes descend into the river, sometimes climb over rocks at the side of the canyon. I found raspberries on the side, which my dad explained were not only safe but extremely organic.

Opening my mouth, I chewed carefully, savoring the taste. When I had swallowed almost the entire handful, I sucked on the remains stuck in my braces until every succulent morsel was in my stomach.

Sometimes the water would get deeper than my chest, and I would feel like I was freezing over. I started doubting global warming. But then I’d look up, see the majestic walls without end and smile, taking a step right into a deep spot. Repeat.

In places, the wall curved over us, hanging above us. It seemed like we were in a cavern, listening to the sounds of the river rushing by. Birds chirped. The water rushed around us, trying to pull us backwards as we hiked upstream.

In some places the water would be incredibly rapid. I would hold my stick in front of me, my legs spread apart so I formed a triangle. The triangle, my dad explained, is the most stable position to be in when the water is rapid. Slowly lifting my feet, the water threatening to throw me backwards, I crossed the river.

Moving upstream, I realized that the forces of the river really were strong, and although the river appeared to be the size of the creek outside my house, it was much stronger. My feet shook when I stood in the rapids, and my whole body trembled.

With forces like this, I learned to appreciate nature. When I finally arrived back at our hotel, I sat down on the bed shaking my head. It truly was an amazing world, and one that deserved a very large amount of protection, of enjoyment, and of love.