The Grand Canyon Hiker Dude Show

Taking on the Canyon is an impressive feat at any age. But at 70? That takes even more grit and determination. Today, Phil Neely shares his experience as a first-timer, which includes plenty of valuable information that can help us all in our Grand Canyon adventures. ***** The Rim2Rim Pack from Bright Angel Outfitters is now available! Check out our Canyon-inspired day pack by clicking here . ****...

It was supposed to be the trail run of a lifetime—which is saying something, considering Margaret Bradley had conquered the iconic Boston Marathon just months earlier. But Margaret's story is a study in what can go wrong even for the most fit amongst us—and how a lack of preparation and planning can have deadly consequences in the Grand Canyon. ***** This telling of Margaret's story was inspired b...

Mary Banik—at age 73—just completed her 181st Grand Canyon hike...and I got to go along with her! Afterwards, we sat in the lobby at Bright Angel Lodge for a wide-ranging conversation on everything from which route is best for Rim2Rim, what to pack, what to wear, hiking in heat, and mistakes she commonly sees. We even had a spirited disagreement (gulp)—on the need for trekking poles! It's a day wi...

Dr. Tom Myers—The Canyon Doc—is the medical director for Grand Canyon National Park, and has been practicing at Grand Canyon Clinic for 34 years. Dr. Myers is also an accomplished author, with his most famous work being Over The Edge: Death In Grand Canyon , which he co-authored with Michael Ghiglieri. Today, Dr. Myers shares life-saving tips from his latest work,  How Not To Die In Grand Canyon ,...

Training for your Canyon adventure doesn't have to be complicated, and Brad Gill will prove it. Today, the veteran marathoner and triathlete shares his smart and simple training regiment, along with the compelling story of the long Grand Canyon adventure it was built for.  ***** Want to check out Brad's training program and packing list?  Click here to download the spreadsheet.  (Thanks to Brad fo...

The heat in the Grand Canyon can kill—it happens every year. Unfortunately, prime hiking season falls during the hottest time of the year in Arizona, and countless hikers underestimate the toll the high temperatures can take. In today's show, we sit down with Amy Hedtke, a seasoned Canyon hiker who has taken on multi-day itineraries below the rim each of the last three years—during August. Amy sha...

Bendict Dughoff returns for a Q&A on topics ranging from trail conditions to trekking poles.  ***** Benedict offers a service to help you take all the guesswork out of planning the often-complicated logistics of a Rim-to-Rim adventure. To find out more, you can reach out to him directly at canyoncoachingaz@gmail.com .  ***** Got an idea for an episode? Know someone who would be a great guest?...

There's nothing like learning about Grand Canyon hiking from those in the midst of actually doing the Grand Canyon hiking. That's the premise for Trail Talk, a theme we'll tackle from time to time that will take you onto the trail for conversations and tips & tricks from those right in the middle of their adventures. Today, we head down a crowded South Kaibab during Spring Break, and meet a wo...

Lauren Hargrove is a firefighter in Chandler, AZ, so she knows a thing or two about defying the odds. But little did Lauren know that on her Rim-to-Rim with three friends in September of 2023, she'd come face to face with death on the trail—and also wonder if she was next. This is a harrowing tale of a Rim-to-Rim gone wrong, and proof that the Grand Canyon can be dangerous even to those who are pr...

Coach Arnie—Arnie Fonseca Jr.—is back for a conversation on training for the unique nature of a Grand Canyon adventure. Our resident exercise physiologist and R5 (quadruple crossing) survivor will give us a pair of simple and valuable tips that he says will lay the foundation for a successful Canyon hike. ***** Coach Arnie encourages phone calls. Seriously. You can reach him at (602) 390-9144. Oth...

What would it be like to hike Rim-to-Rim without training, much less doing it in the middle of summer? Amy Hedtke shares the whys of her unusual approach in a story full of twists and turns, including broken teeth, close calls, and even nights spent on resthouse bathroom floors. ***** Click here for the link to Amy's Google doc on hiking in the heat at the Grand Canyon. ***** The all-new Grand Can...

Jerome Chavez is a wastewater operator for the National Park Service, but it's where he works and how he gets there that sets him apart. Almost every Tuesday for the last 26 years, Jerome has either descended or ascended the majestic South Kaibab Trail, on his way to or from work—at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Today, he has stories to tell and advice to share, all of which can help any GC hike...

Sandrelle Aguirre lost her marriage and her best friend in a span of months. But instead of retreating into the darkness, she used her personal tragedies as a turning point toward the life she'd always wanted—one of taking action and conquering physical challenges that once seemed impossible. Today, Sandrelle shares how the Grand Canyon played such a crucial role in her transformation, and gives a...

Mary Banik is 73 years old, and has hiked the Grand Canyon 175 hard-earned times...and counting. Today, Ms. Mary shares her triumphs, her near-tragedy, and the trail lessons she's learned that can help us all have our best hikes. ***** The all-new Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is LIVE!! This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll have precious shade on your Grand Canyon hike—e...

The Grand Canyon offers one of the most unique hiking settings in the world, and being prepared physically is key. As the prime Canyon hiking season fast approaches, get some training tips and tricks from the experts that you'll be able to apply to your own training regiment. ***** The all-new Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is LIVE!! This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll...

It's a very personal episode today, as I share my story of a summer R2R that I honestly wasn't sure I was going to survive. Listen along and learn how you can avoid making the same mistakes I did on your own Grand Canyon hikes, no matter what those hikes might be. ***** The all-new Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is LIVE!! This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll have preciou...

James Tenelshof is a longtime Grand Canyon hiker and a valued contributor to the Canyon Facebook pages. But his expertise is hard-earned. Today, James tells the story of an ill-advised Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim, and how his mistakes led him to rethink everything about how to hike the Canyon. ***** The all-new Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is LIVE!! This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where...

Whether you're a first-timer or a long-timer, knowing which hike to take on at the Grand Canyon can be challenging. Today, Benedict Dughoff rejoins the show to offer his perspective on the five best hikes that start on the South Rim. No matter if you want to stay on the rim or go all the way to the river, this is what you need to know. ***** The all-new Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is LIVE!! This in...

Arnie Fonseca Jr. is training to become the oldest person to ever complete a quadruple crossing of the Grand Canyon—R2R2R2R2R—which he soon plans on doing at the age of 65. A big part of his training regiment is completing multiple Rim-to-Rim-to-Rims, the first of which he took on this past week. But the thing is, it's currently winter, and completing an R3 is VERY difficult in such conditions, be...

Benedict Dughoff is the Canyon-obsessed man behind a Facebook community of more than 300,000 members. In this episode, Benedict shares his story of falling in love with hiking the Grand Canyon, and how he'll stop at nothing to make sure everyone has the best possible experience below the rim. ***** The all-new Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is LIVE!! This incredible interactive tool lets you see when...

Julian Coiner is a realtor and triathlete, and also a veteran of 51 Rim-to-Rims, including a recent crossing where he helped a 92-year-old set a Guinness World Record for being the oldest known person to complete the Grand Canyon's most iconic hike. Today, Julian is more concerned with helping others have memorable Rim-to-Rims than he is any personal ambitions, and he does so with an infectious jo...

The Tonto Trail is one of Grand Canyon's longest, but most sparsely traveled routes. Stretching for 95 miles below the South Rim, Tonto zigs and zags its way across the relatively level Tonto Platform, 3,000 feet below the rim and roughly 1,500 feet above the river.  In this episode, we'll explore the most accessible part of Tonto—the 4.5-mile leg between the South Kaibab and Bright Angel trails....

Arnie Fonseca Jr. is a true "Canyon Crazy." How else can you describe a man who, at 62, decided to do a QUADRUPLE crossing of the Grand Canyon? Turns out, there are plenty of lessons for all of us in Coach Arnie's story. We'll go in-depth into what he learned about himself, and how it can help all of us have our best possible hikes in the Grand Canyon. ***** The all-new Grand Canyon Shade Tracker...

The South Kaibab Trail is the most scenic of the Grand Canyon's main trails, with spectacular vistas for just about its entire 6.5 miles. You don't have to go all the way to the Colorado River to get the full Kaibab Experience; in fact, just a two-mile roundtrip can give you views and memories that will last you a lifetime. In this episode, we'll talk about all of the day hike options available on...

In Part 1 of the Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim hike, we made it from the South Kaibab trailhead to the North Kaibab trailhead in just over nine hours—a hike done completely in the darkness. With the sun finally coming up, I have nothing but questions as I wonder how my body will react having already hiked 21.5 miles with 11,000 feet of elevation change. Now, we do it all over again—21.5 more miles to the fini...