A Most interesting Photo!

On September 28th, 2010, I was out at the South Rim between Yavapai Point and Mather Point. I walked out on a point where there was no fencing or handrail. It was a point that jutted out into the canyon 15 to 20 feet. It is very exposed and drops off hundreds of feet on all sides. I got down on my knees for safety as I crawled right out to the edge. As I looked down over the edge I saw a squirrel with its back turned towards me, gazing out over the expanse. I expected it to hear me and turn and scurry off but it seemed entranced by the view. I took several photos of the squirrel and then turned and told the folks that I was guiding to come take a look at this remarkable squirrel. A full 3 minutes went by until this squirrel finally noticed us and off it went.

What was it thinking? It was so funny and amazing. I was 4 or 5 feet above the squirrel but it was so into what ever it was doing that it didn't notice me for the longest time. It seems it was just taking it all in. Off all the acorns it could have been collecting; of all the trash cans the squirrel could have been investigating; it took a moment to enjoy the vastness and the beauty of the Grand Canyon. What a remarkable squirrel!