Different Trails

KODACHROME BASIN STATE PARK (Day 21 - part 4)

I walked to the end of the first box canyon. A box canyon is a small ravine or canyon with steep walls on three sides, with usually only one way in and one way out through the mouth of the canyon. They were frequently used in the Wild West as natural horse or cattle corrals.

Heading into the canyon

Getting deeper

Just as on Angel's Palace Trail, odd 'mud like' rocks were everywhere.

The back end of the canyon

This spire looks like a little old lady to me!

Heading back out

I continued along the main trail to the next box canyon.

The mouth of the box canyon

Little pawprints crisscorss the dry stream beds.

Getting deeper into the box canyon

Ending in steep ravines

Upon reaching the back of the box canyon, I saw there were other branches to explore... so off I went. I came to another end, turned around and continued to wander about. Suddenly I realized I was a bit disoriented and didn't remember which was the trail out. It felt like there were suddenly too many trails, washes, dry streams and directions to follow!

This actually happens to me a lot. I get lost constantly and live my life in a perpetual state of mild disorientation. It wasn't until a few years ago, however, that I realized not all people are like this but that I have a type of visual memory amnesia. I can see something, then a moment later see it again and not recognize it. Actually, I can see something dozens and dozens of times and still not recognize it. This is not the same as not knowing I've been somewhere before. I have the ability to remember that I've been to a friend's house many times, for example, and I also know where said house is located. But when I pull up in front of the address, it is often as if I have never seen the house before... even though the address tells me that it is correct. I have the ability to 'see' things, just problems retrieving that visual information. Perhaps that is why I enjoy taking so many pictures!

This applies to places as well as people (in which case it is called prosopamnesia). I need to see a person many, many times in order to have any chance of recognizing them on sight. And even then it's not a guarantee. Mostly I have to rely on other clues such as smell, voice, the way someone walks, facial hair etc. If I watch a movie, for example, that has too many actors, or a pair of actors that look similar, I immediately get confused as to what is going on. This is not to say that all people look alike to me. Quite the contrary in fact, since I lack the ability to see that twins look the same.

Anyway, suffice to say I have adapted over the years, as people do to handicaps, and generally can muddle through life with a moderate level of success... just with many wrong turns! People ask isn't it hard to travel then? Actually no, since when I travel, every place is new so that I don't have to stress about not being able to recognize it! However, I thought a box canyon would be easy... as there's only one way in and one way out. But no, apparently my brain will find a way to make even that challenging!

Eventually I was able to wander my way back to the mouth of the canyon.

More side canyons...