Hi, !
Harmonica! The worlds most portable instrument!
Over the summer I managed to get some great hiking in and the above expression was re affirmed. I fell in love again with just how portable the harmonica really is, and the cool moments of music you can share with people in remote places, or simply with yourself.
In these videos I'd hiked down into the Grand Canyon on a hot day and water was the number one priority. There's simply no way anyone would be carrying any other instrument down there, and then more importantly back out (which is all up).
But... my trusty Hohner Special 20 made the journey, and ended up making my day! 😎
Condor Canyon
I named the melody in the above videos "Condor Canyon" as an awesome thing happened just after these videos were taken.
I'd only stopped playing for 20 seconds, when a huge California Condor buzzed me and my partner, flying within about 4 feet of our heads. It sounded like a car was racing overhead and was very unsettling until we saw the bird fly in front of our faces. I have a feeling that the Condor had never heard harmonica before and was coming in for a closer look!
The actual trail we were on is called The South Kaibab Trail, and it's on the south rim of the Grand Canyon. We stopped for lunch at Skeleton Point, which is about 3-4 miles from the trail head.
There was no one around, and the beauty of the view combined with the quiet was so calming that I decided the play some harmonica. At first I improvised some blues (see below) but the softer melodic sound seemed to call the Condor down.
The entire hike was so much fun and I'm really happy to be able to share a little of the hikes magic with you here, through music, and the most portable instrument in the world...
The Harmonica! ⚡️🎶 😎
Hiking Harmonicas
Thanks for reading this post. If you like to hike too, why not take your harmonica next time!?
I found myself alone on more than one hike over the US summer, and even when I played with people around they seemed to approve!
If you happen to have a similar story (or video) of you hiking with your harmonica, please share it with us! 🙏
You can comment below, and I'll start a forum post with that idea in mind too!
Thanks again, and keep on harpin'
Mitch
awesome
Wow!
Hi Mitch,
Cool story and what a cool sound of the harmonica in those canyons.
Thanks for sharing.
Yes it’s so cool that we are able to carry around this instrument in I guess the most places thinkable.
Trying to get a video on here to.
Greetings,
Henk.
Just getting started,thanks so much for the inspiration;dirk!
What a story! And Ohhh such soulful 3 hole bending, especially that slowed-down dip at the end. And the scenery works perfectly for that melody and the hand tremolo, almost one implies the other. Love it, Mitch!