Bryce Canyon: Altitude, Attitude & A Whole Lotta Lov

WanderWest Day 11 – Bryce Canyon: Altitude, Attitude & A Whole Lotta Love

I’m not one to sugarcoat things—today was not an easy day.

The morning started off rough. Maddie wasn’t feeling like herself—pale, lightheaded, and nauseous before we even left the Airbnb. She's not one to hydrate well or eat enough protein, so when she perked up after a snack, we figured she was okay and pressed on with our plan.

We arrived at Bryce Canyon excited to rent bikes and hike into the canyon. After about a mile, we made it to Inspiration Point, perched at 8,100 feet. The views were breathtaking… and apparently, so was the altitude. Maddie’s nausea and fatigue hit hard again at the top. We sat for a bit, soaking in the scenery while she tried to regroup.

She managed to walk back down to the bikes, but there was no way she could ride back to the rental place. So Liv and I pedaled ahead to grab the car while Dan and Maddie rested. Once we returned, Dan and Liv took over and rode the remaining bikes back to return them.

Meanwhile, I took Maddie to the Visitor Center to ask if there was medical help onsite. There wasn’t—but a kind ranger listened and said, “This sounds a lot like altitude sickness,” explaining she had experienced the same symptoms when she first moved to the area two years ago.

Once we reunited with Dan and Liv, it became clear Maddie needed to be seen by a doctor. But let’s just say… the stress of it all caught up with everyone. Maddie could barely stay awake, Liv’s anxiety about the unknown hit max level (and she couldn’t stop talking), and Dan and I were trying to stay calm while focusing on Maddie—until everyone’s tempers finally boiled over.

Let’s just call it a moment.

Later that afternoon…

After two hours in the hospital, it was determined that Maddie had mild dehydration and what the doctor called “resolving altitude sickness.” Basically, her body had a rough reaction to the elevation, but with rest and fluids, she’d be just fine.

It was a huge relief.

 

 

 

With Maddie resting back at the Airbnb and Dan staying with her, Olivia and I decided to make the most of the late afternoon and head back into Bryce Canyon. We laced up our hiking shoes and hit the Navajo Loop Trail, ready to explore the park a little deeper—just the two of us.

What. A. Hike.

Heading down into the canyon was magical. Towering red-orange hoodoos surrounded us like ancient stone guardians—twisting spires shaped by millions of years of wind, water, and time. The deeper we went, the quieter it got. The crowds faded, and it felt like we had stepped into another world. We missed the other half of the family and even FaceTimed them so they could experience it with us.

The hike back up? That was another story. Olivia kept pace like a champ, encouraging me the whole way! Every time we stopped and looked back at how far we’d come, it felt like a little victory.

After conquering the trail, we treated ourselves to a stop at the Visitor Center (of course). Liv picked out Bryce Canyon stickers and postcards for her scrapbook—and even chose a few for Maddie, too.

It ended up being a special little pocket of the day—just the two of us, talking about everything and nothing, hiking through a canyon filled with color, quiet, and connection.

Back at home base, Maddie was on the mend and the evening was calm. Homemade chicken fried rice, movies, and rest were exactly what we all needed. And a gentle reminder: even when days go sideways, there’s beauty waiting to be found in the cracks.

 

 

 

 

 

Bryce Canyon—you surprised us. In more ways than one.

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