Shelby Smith's Day Off (NR)

That would be "North Rim" as opposed to "Not Rated."

Sometimes it does seem like a Ferris Bueller remake here. The school would be the employee dorms and dining area where the inhabitants congregate and lead their pedestrian lives, though we have already had a sex scandal, several nervous breakdowns, firings and general employee behavior issues. Trust me, detention here, however, is a one-way ride to St. George and then you are on your own.

And then there is yours truly, Ferris of the Grand Canyon. Like the Ferrari in the movie, the mode of escape is the Jeep. So, after a quick lunch Saturday, it was off to Point Imperial and Cape Royal. Jackson Browne was the soundtrack and the backdrops were two of the most spectacular viewpoints the park has to offer. Along the way you pass through a forested woodscape of Ponderosa pine and aspen trees on a 15-mile winding two-lane road. In spots you can see the evidence of a forest fire of year's past, but remarkably you also see the rejuvenation Mother Nature begins almost as soon as the flames are extinguished. The highlight of the drive, of course, is Cape Royal. It is hard to describe, but imagine a trail that ends on the top of some massive spire of rock complete with an arch-like window beneath you. Although you trust the fence the NPS has erected at the viewpoint, you still know that you are standing atop something akin to the remains of a huge Roman acqueduct many stories tall.

The fun part of being employed here is there is no rush to see everything. Sunday, I chose one 5-mile trail to hike my manager told me was a favorite of hers. It is the Widforss Trail and it winds through an almost surreal, but peaceful, forest of old trees until almost without warning you top a ridge and "WHAM!" there it is, yet another panorama of the North Rim. The funny thing was at the end of the trail I met a server from our dining room with a friend of hers from the kitchen just sitting on a rock enjoying a cigarette. A five-mile hike for a smoke!

On the way back, I also met another inhabitant of the region -- a 5-foot gopher snake. We literally crossed paths. Its was right behind mine by about a foot or so, but neither of us really startled the other. As I was walking along, the first thing I heard was the slight rustling and then, glancing down, I saw the orange and brown markings and long, slender body crossing the trail where I had just stepped. Normally, I would have let out a curse word or two, but for some reason I didn't. Just two solo hikers out for a stroll or a slither and a quick greeting on a North Rim Sunday afternoon.