Dropping something into the Grand Canyon is bad enough, but jumping over the wall to retrieve it is just crazy. Apparently, kind Austrian tourists don't know that.

       We were on a AAA travel familiarization tour, and, wanting to capture everything possible on film, my colleague Lisa accidentally dropped her infrared filter over a wall onto a small, rocky outcropping below. Obviously, it had to be retrieved. But how? Climbing down into the canyon is obviously dangerous. So Lisa, in vintage “MacGyver” fashion, attached chewing gum to the end of her extended camera tripod leg, hoping to snare the lens. In the process, we learned one very important lesson:  sugar-free gum is not very sticky. The plan didn’t work.

Enter a kind Austrian man and his daughter, who noticed two people leaning over the edge of the Grand Canyon, apparently looking at something. When he saw what happened, he volunteered to climb down to the ledge, about eight feet away, and retrieve the lens. Our protests to the contrary were not heeded and before we knew it, over the wall he bounced, snagging the lens before vaulting himself back up. We could not believe what had just happened. But before we could react too much, he said, “Oh, don’t worry. I’m Austrian!” Well, apparently that makes it all better. He said that he was a hunter and often had to climb into much more dangerous conditions to collect his quarry, so this was no problem. We thanked him profusely, and in addition to the lens, we came home with this story.

No one can prepare you for the Grand Canyon experience. Photos, video, anecdotes – no medium or message can adequately describe it. And, no two visits are ever the same. Lisa and I marveled at the sheer size and beauty of one of the natural wonders of the world, thanks to the Grand Canyon Railway. Offering two- and three-night packages from Williams, Arizona, the Grand Canyon Railway is the absolute best way to experience the park. We enjoyed staying at both the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel and the Mazwik at the Grand Canyon, both offering comfortable, clean, moderate accommodations. The package includes two dinners, two breakfasts, and a lunch at the canyon rim. Meals are buffet style, and perfectly adequate for your time there.

The Grand Canyon Railway is one of our best preferred travel partners, and the value members receive in the package is extraordinary. Our information-gathering trip could not have succeeded without the incredible staff at the Grand Canyon Railway and their adept skill in creating a truly memorable experience for our AAA members.

Oh, and for that Austrian guy. We never did catch his name….