I leaned on my heavy walking stick as the river’s current tugged at my legs, clad in rented waterproof boots and dry bib. At fifty-something years old, with psoriatic arthritis and a body more built for bookstore browsing than river trekking, I had to wonder how I ended up in this unusual situation.
When I began planning our trip to Zion National Park, I spent an absurd amount of time online learning everything I could. All the young Instagrammers and YouTubers gushed about a trail called “The Narrows”, insisting that no visit to Zion would be complete without it. I showed my husband, Steve, the epic photos of the canyon, and we added it to our list.
Only, this trail doesn’t follow a simple dirt path. It leads straight into the Virgin River, where towering Navajo sandstone cliffs soar hundreds of feet overhead, narrowing to just a few dozen feet in places. Unlike many of the other hikers on the watery route, I’d come for more than just the thrill and the inevitable splashes of cold water. I came as an author, wanting to feel the drag of the current, hear the hush of the canyon, and stumble across the same rocks my characters might face in the novel I was working on.
I soon discovered that each step over the rounded stones—like so many wet bowling balls—tested my balance and patience. I kept obsessively checking that Steve was still in view ahead, and I found comfort in the echoing conversations and laughter from other nearby hikers. When two silvery-haired septuagenarians passed me by and disappeared up the trail, I knew it was time to pull up my big girl waterproof pants and face my fears. I whispered a prayer for courage as I studied the glorious sandstone walls, streaked with shadows. Gentle sunlight filtered through the canyon, painting patterns across the cliff faces. “Every difficult step is worth it for this view,” I reminded myself.
At one point my foot slipped on a slick rock and I flailed like a clumsy heron, narrowly saved by my trusty stick. Steve glanced back and chuckled. I laughed too, part embarrassed, part exhilarated, and felt the river tugging at my sense of control in the best possible way.
The farther we went, the more the river washed away my aches and worries. Fewer hikers appeared around us, and my mind wandered back to my story. There was a strange comfort in imagining my characters here—stumbling and laughing—shaped by the canyon in the same way it was shaping me. Would this be a romantic spot for my fictional couple to share a kiss?
When the river narrowed and sunlight struck the water in golden ribbons, I paused to let the scene wash over me. My husband stopped and waited, giving me space, and even the water swirling around my feet seemed to grow quiet. For a fleeting moment, it felt like the world had been pared down to this: stone, water, light, and a sacred presence moving through it all.
As I wobbled on, I felt a surge of gratitude—for the challenge, for the beauty, and for the reminder that even a fifty-something with arthritic joints can stand in awe. The Narrows humbled me, but it also reminded me of what can happen when I’m brave enough to step out in faith. I took a moment to thank God for the water under my boots, and for the stories waiting to rise from it.
If you’re interested in reading how my characters experience The Narrows, check out my new book, THROUGH WATER AND STONE.
THROUGH WATER AND STONE by Karen Barnett
A Zion National Park Novel
In 1948, Zion National Park ranger Henry Eriksson and his wife, Alma, are less than one year removed from their infant son’s sudden death in a flash flood, and the weight of the loss hasn’t diminished with time. When Henry discovers an abandoned baby in a hatbox on his morning rounds, he’s unsure how to react, but Alma is delighted, and she reignites with purpose at what seems to be a miracle from God. Nearly eighty years later, Talia Eriksson leaves her job at an athleisure company in Palo Alto, California, in disgrace and returns to Zion National Park to reconnect with her grandfather and review her life goals. But when an at-home DNA test exposes family secrets, Talia and her newfound friend, law enforcement ranger Blake Mitchell, work together to search for answers. Talia navigates the rocky path into her past with Blake by her side, what she discovers may alter everything she knew to be true about herself. With the uncertain future looming, Talia must learn that family is deeper than genetics and that trusting God can mean being still and clinging to the Rock. “Karen Barnett expertly weaves a tale that is gentle and tender yet as powerful as floodwaters in reaching into the heart of love and family.” —Amanda Cox, award-winning and best-selling author of Between the Sound and Sea
Christian | Romance Historical [Kregel Publications, On Sale: September 23, 2025, Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9780825448539 / eISBN: 9780825448539]
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About Karen Barnett
Inspired by God’s devotion to His people and her own passion for research and learning, author Karen Barnett creates historical romances that explore her characters’ faith and how their experiences impact the way they view God. A graduate of Valparaiso University and Oregon State University, Barnett’s debut novel, Mistaken, was released in 2013 and earned her the Oregon Christian Writers “Writer of Promise” award. A former park ranger, she loves getting out into God’s creation. She spends her free time taking photographs, dragging her kids through dusty history museums, decorating crazy birthday cakes and watching movies. Karen, her husband and their two children live in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.
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