I’m going to be honest I’m not sure I really like hiking that much with a
really like hiking that much with a
really like hiking that much with a heavy pack no trail and no guarantee of
heavy pack no trail and no guarantee of
heavy pack no trail and no guarantee of water it’s hard stressful and very slow
water it’s hard stressful and very slow
water it’s hard stressful and very slow sure
sure
sure hiking can lead to some zen-like moments
hiking can lead to some zen-like moments
hiking can lead to some zen-like moments but not so much if you’re lost really
but not so much if you’re lost really
but not so much if you’re lost really tired and dehydrated if there’s
tired and dehydrated if there’s
tired and dehydrated if there’s something about the Grand Canyon and
something about the Grand Canyon and
something about the Grand Canyon and it’s rocky secret world it is alluring
it’s rocky secret world it is alluring
it’s rocky secret world it is alluring magical even so in the fall of 2015 my
magical even so in the fall of 2015 my
magical even so in the fall of 2015 my friend and author
friend and author
friend and author Kevin Federico and I set out to walk the
Kevin Federico and I set out to walk the
Kevin Federico and I set out to walk the entirety of the Grand Canyon from east
entirety of the Grand Canyon from east
entirety of the Grand Canyon from east to west
to west
to west in order to understand the insanity of
in order to understand the insanity of
in order to understand the insanity of his venture you first have to know a
his venture you first have to know a
his venture you first have to know a little bit about this place some
little bit about this place some
little bit about this place some stretches it is 18 miles wide and over a
stretches it is 18 miles wide and over a
stretches it is 18 miles wide and over a mile deep so deep in fact you could step
mile deep so deep in fact you could step
mile deep so deep in fact you could step 5 Empire State buildings one atop on the
5 Empire State buildings one atop on the
5 Empire State buildings one atop on the other inside it is 277 miles long if
other inside it is 277 miles long if
other inside it is 277 miles long if you’re floating the Colorado River but
you’re floating the Colorado River but
you’re floating the Colorado River but on foot by the time you’ve gone up and
on foot by the time you’ve gone up and
on foot by the time you’ve gone up and back down the numerous side canyons it’s
back down the numerous side canyons it’s
back down the numerous side canyons it’s more like 700 miles oh yeah and for most
more like 700 miles oh yeah and for most
more like 700 miles oh yeah and for most of it there’s no trail where we’re going
of it there’s no trail where we’re going
of it there’s no trail where we’re going I don’t think we’ve gone five miles
I don’t think we’ve gone five miles
I don’t think we’ve gone five miles this is really hard hiking if they kind
this is really hard hiking if they kind
this is really hard hiking if they kind of demoralizes you a little bit as a
of demoralizes you a little bit as a
of demoralizes you a little bit as a result more people have stood on the
result more people have stood on the
result more people have stood on the surface of the Moon that have completed
surface of the Moon that have completed
surface of the Moon that have completed a continuous through hike of the Grand
a continuous through hike of the Grand
a continuous through hike of the Grand Canyon unlike those intrepid few Kevin
Canyon unlike those intrepid few Kevin
Canyon unlike those intrepid few Kevin and I decided to do a sectional version
and I decided to do a sectional version
and I decided to do a sectional version chipping off a hundred to a hundred and
chipping off a hundred to a hundred and
chipping off a hundred to a hundred and fifty mile chunks at a time just thirty
fifty mile chunks at a time just thirty
fifty mile chunks at a time just thirty hikers have completed sectional lines
hikers have completed sectional lines
hikers have completed sectional lines through the park and for some it took
through the park and for some it took
through the park and for some it took them decades to finish tragically others
them decades to finish tragically others
them decades to finish tragically others have perished attempting it Kevin and I
have perished attempting it Kevin and I
have perished attempting it Kevin and I would be the first journalists ever to
would be the first journalists ever to
would be the first journalists ever to tackle this hiking lunacy we plan to
tackle this hiking lunacy we plan to
tackle this hiking lunacy we plan to complete our mission over a year
complete our mission over a year
complete our mission over a year watching the seasons change and teaming
watching the seasons change and teaming
watching the seasons change and teaming up with Hardin Canyon veterans help us
up with Hardin Canyon veterans help us
up with Hardin Canyon veterans help us find our way and our legs but beyond
find our way and our legs but beyond
find our way and our legs but beyond that challenge something else drew us on
that challenge something else drew us on
that challenge something else drew us on this quest many claim the Grand Canyon
this quest many claim the Grand Canyon
this quest many claim the Grand Canyon is facing an unprecedented array of
is facing an unprecedented array of
is facing an unprecedented array of pressures from all four points from the
pressures from all four points from the
pressures from all four points from the compass development projects are poised
compass development projects are poised
compass development projects are poised to change the integrity of perhaps the
to change the integrity of perhaps the
to change the integrity of perhaps the most monumental landscape in America and
most monumental landscape in America and
most monumental landscape in America and we believe walking the park might give
we believe walking the park might give
we believe walking the park might give us a unique perspective on this secret
us a unique perspective on this secret
us a unique perspective on this secret world and what’s at stake to be lost
world and what’s at stake to be lost
world and what’s at stake to be lost between the river and the rim for our
between the river and the rim for our
between the river and the rim for our first leg we joined rich Trudeau Chris
first leg we joined rich Trudeau Chris
first leg we joined rich Trudeau Chris Atwood and Dave nalli at the beginning
Atwood and Dave nalli at the beginning
Atwood and Dave nalli at the beginning of their thru-hike attempt all right
of their thru-hike attempt all right
of their thru-hike attempt all right thanks
turn around here there’s no easy way out
turn around here there’s no easy way out here everybody’s got to kind of mentally
here everybody’s got to kind of mentally
here everybody’s got to kind of mentally suck it up and you’ll make it I’ve told
suck it up and you’ll make it I’ve told
suck it up and you’ll make it I’ve told that yesterday would be the hardest day
that yesterday would be the hardest day
that yesterday would be the hardest day I don’t see any difference or number
I don’t see any difference or number
I don’t see any difference or number between yesterday the day before
between yesterday the day before
between yesterday the day before yesterday the first day and today it’s
yesterday the first day and today it’s
yesterday the first day and today it’s all one yet uninterrupted
all one yet uninterrupted
all one yet uninterrupted river of pain you can’t make me laugh
river of pain you can’t make me laugh
river of pain you can’t make me laugh I’m trying to do the dishes the endless
I’m trying to do the dishes the endless
I’m trying to do the dishes the endless hours of scrambling with temperatures
hours of scrambling with temperatures
hours of scrambling with temperatures throwing well over a hundred combined
throwing well over a hundred combined
throwing well over a hundred combined with our limited Canyon hiking
with our limited Canyon hiking
with our limited Canyon hiking experience faltered our pace and our
experience faltered our pace and our
experience faltered our pace and our health in just a few days the canyon
health in just a few days the canyon
health in just a few days the canyon beat us down kevin suffered two sprained
beat us down kevin suffered two sprained
beat us down kevin suffered two sprained ankles and i became hyponatremic a
ankles and i became hyponatremic a
ankles and i became hyponatremic a condition involving dangerously low body
condition involving dangerously low body
condition involving dangerously low body salt that can result in seizures or
salt that can result in seizures or
salt that can result in seizures or worse
worse
worse everybody is declaring the dude doing
everybody is declaring the dude doing
everybody is declaring the dude doing growlin we’re going to get through the
growlin we’re going to get through the
growlin we’re going to get through the day I’m worried about the next 15
day I’m worried about the next 15
day I’m worried about the next 15 minutes that’s what I’m concentrating
minutes that’s what I’m concentrating
minutes that’s what I’m concentrating that’s why I’m asked this is wild
that’s why I’m asked this is wild
that’s why I’m asked this is wild whatever what the hell we’ve gotten
whatever what the hell we’ve gotten
whatever what the hell we’ve gotten ourselves into awesome after just seven
ourselves into awesome after just seven
ourselves into awesome after just seven days and just 80 miles of hiking we had
days and just 80 miles of hiking we had
days and just 80 miles of hiking we had to leave our through hiking friends
to leave our through hiking friends
to leave our through hiking friends early they were on a mission to keep
early they were on a mission to keep
early they were on a mission to keep going to the end without stopping Kevin
going to the end without stopping Kevin
going to the end without stopping Kevin and I were not helping we’re walking out
already broken we’re going to need to
already broken we’re going to need to rework our entire plan and step off our
rework our entire plan and step off our
rework our entire plan and step off our entire game if we what I have any hope
entire game if we what I have any hope
entire game if we what I have any hope of completing this three weeks later our
of completing this three weeks later our
of completing this three weeks later our feet still blistered our legs scarred we
feet still blistered our legs scarred we
feet still blistered our legs scarred we returned this time a to Canyon veterans
returned this time a to Canyon veterans
returned this time a to Canyon veterans Matthew Brown and Kelly McGrath
we’re about to go right over the Kaibab
we’re about to go right over the Kaibab limestone and re-enter the world of
limestone and re-enter the world of
limestone and re-enter the world of canyons we explore the silent ghost of
canyons we explore the silent ghost of
canyons we explore the silent ghost of an earlier Grand Canyon development that
an earlier Grand Canyon development that
an earlier Grand Canyon development that never came to fruition the marble canyon
never came to fruition the marble canyon
never came to fruition the marble canyon dam I have the soul to an old work boot
dam I have the soul to an old work boot
dam I have the soul to an old work boot you see all the nails coming through
you see all the nails coming through
you see all the nails coming through held up fairly well I say when you come
held up fairly well I say when you come
held up fairly well I say when you come here and you see the infrastructure
here and you see the infrastructure
here and you see the infrastructure everything from the shoe to the tent
everything from the shoe to the tent
everything from the shoe to the tent platforms to the tram cable it makes one
platforms to the tram cable it makes one
platforms to the tram cable it makes one understand how close the damn woods to
understand how close the damn woods to
understand how close the damn woods to being built spread the grandeur of the
being built spread the grandeur of the
being built spread the grandeur of the landscape surrounding us we’re quickly
landscape surrounding us we’re quickly
landscape surrounding us we’re quickly reminded that development pressures are
reminded that development pressures are
reminded that development pressures are not new here
my legs got a little scratched up this
my legs got a little scratched up this afternoon on the vegetation on Riverwalk
afternoon on the vegetation on Riverwalk
afternoon on the vegetation on Riverwalk I got a few mesquite needles in there we
I got a few mesquite needles in there we
I got a few mesquite needles in there we exit our second leg at the Walter Powell
exit our second leg at the Walter Powell
exit our second leg at the Walter Powell route which shadows a new development
route which shadows a new development
route which shadows a new development project on the east side of the park
project on the east side of the park
project on the east side of the park called the grande Escalade it’s 1.4 mile
called the grande Escalade it’s 1.4 mile
called the grande Escalade it’s 1.4 mile long gondola proposal has rallied
long gondola proposal has rallied
long gondola proposal has rallied communities around the park and divided
communities around the park and divided
communities around the park and divided the Navajo tribe upon whose land it
the Navajo tribe upon whose land it
the Navajo tribe upon whose land it would be constructed we want to
would be constructed we want to
would be constructed we want to understand the project through the eyes
understand the project through the eyes
understand the project through the eyes of those who are backing it and those
of those who are backing it and those
of those who are backing it and those opposed to it gondola would bring people
opposed to it gondola would bring people
opposed to it gondola would bring people all the way down to the confluence and
all the way down to the confluence and
all the way down to the confluence and there at the river level they would have
there at the river level they would have
there at the river level they would have a elevated walkway snack bar restroom
a elevated walkway snack bar restroom
a elevated walkway snack bar restroom facility enough services to take care of
facility enough services to take care of
facility enough services to take care of 10,000 people a day you’re going to
10,000 people a day you’re going to
10,000 people a day you’re going to employ an awful lot of people in an
employ an awful lot of people in an
employ an awful lot of people in an impoverished area and help them save
impoverished area and help them save
impoverished area and help them save their culture what’s better than that
their culture what’s better than that
their culture what’s better than that any idea just trust in this area with
any idea just trust in this area with
any idea just trust in this area with your jackhammers with your machinery or
your jackhammers with your machinery or
your jackhammers with your machinery or whatever dynamite or explosive you want
whatever dynamite or explosive you want
whatever dynamite or explosive you want to bring in here you’re basically
to bring in here you’re basically
to bring in here you’re basically destroyed a shrine the confluent mill
destroyed a shrine the confluent mill
destroyed a shrine the confluent mill Colorado River meets the Colorado River
Colorado River meets the Colorado River
Colorado River meets the Colorado River where they meet this is for life begins
where they meet this is for life begins
where they meet this is for life begins this is what our grandmother Stella
this is what our grandmother Stella
this is what our grandmother Stella it is a sacred thing and we don’t let us
it is a sacred thing and we don’t let us
it is a sacred thing and we don’t let us see the Disneyland on the edge of the
see the Disneyland on the edge of the
see the Disneyland on the edge of the canyon I think the view from the bottom
canyon I think the view from the bottom
canyon I think the view from the bottom gives one a perspective of one’s place
gives one a perspective of one’s place
gives one a perspective of one’s place in the universe if I were to hike down
in the universe if I were to hike down
in the universe if I were to hike down to the bottom of the canyon I’d have to
to the bottom of the canyon I’d have to
to the bottom of the canyon I’d have to be Erev act out because of my knees and
be Erev act out because of my knees and
be Erev act out because of my knees and ankles and so we’re trying to offer the
ankles and so we’re trying to offer the
ankles and so we’re trying to offer the average person that below the rim
average person that below the rim
average person that below the rim experience it’s like a lot of
experience it’s like a lot of
experience it’s like a lot of experiences throughout the world you
experiences throughout the world you
experiences throughout the world you know you’re never going to be on the top
know you’re never going to be on the top
know you’re never going to be on the top of Everest we provide an incredible
of Everest we provide an incredible
of Everest we provide an incredible visitor experience for millions of
visitor experience for millions of
visitor experience for millions of people every year we can’t provide every
people every year we can’t provide every
people every year we can’t provide every experience for every person based on
experience for every person based on
experience for every person based on their own individual abilities
their own individual abilities
their own individual abilities when I come here I wish to commune with
when I come here I wish to commune with
when I come here I wish to commune with the ones that have gone before me like
the ones that have gone before me like
the ones that have gone before me like my great grandmother and my father and
my great grandmother and my father and
my great grandmother and my father and know that they are the special place and
know that they are the special place and
know that they are the special place and if the Escalade development comes in and
if the Escalade development comes in and
if the Escalade development comes in and it was dig into the heart of our mother
it was dig into the heart of our mother
it was dig into the heart of our mother just mother earth and I would never be
just mother earth and I would never be
just mother earth and I would never be able to come here to feel that way again
a late fall we plunge back into the
a late fall we plunge back into the canyon
canyon
canyon leaving the stormy politics of the
leaving the stormy politics of the
leaving the stormy politics of the Escalade behind us it continues to be
Escalade behind us it continues to be
Escalade behind us it continues to be heavily debated on the rim for we have
heavily debated on the rim for we have
heavily debated on the rim for we have to keep hiking
to keep hiking
to keep hiking we have 500 miles to go
[Music]
[Music] you
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