GRAND CANYON | Feel Good Friday 052915

I wasn’t nervous to hike 23 miles, 10,000+ feet of vert, and for 10.5 hours, although it was something I’d never done before. No, as we set off into the Grand Canyon, I was most nervous that I’d miss out on spectacular views because we’d be too busy hiking.

Thankfully, this didn’t turn out to be true.

I was easily the least prepared hiker, with all of my gear in storage. I bought the bare minimum to get me by: trail runners (minimalist hiking boots), poles, and a 3L water bag.

I snagged these great Salomon Women’s Speedcross 3 Trail Running Shoes and they required no breaking in, were amazingly grippy, and super comfy. No blisters, nothing! I also got Vermont-made Darn Tough Light Cushion Hiking Socks, and they were great too—warm without being too warm, wicking, perfect. I carried my ski backpack, had no raincoat or poncho, wore yoga pants for the cold parts of the hike, and nearly lost my un-gloved fingers to the 32-degree starting temps … but was totally fine after that.

Necessity for hiking the Grand: hiking poles. These $25 steals are legit (and apparently now $35): Hikker HP-5 Anti-Shock Hiking Pole with Compass & Thermometer. Really, you could get away with anything in the GC so long as you have poles. Game. Changers.

I am so grateful I got to experience the magnifigence, beauty, and, yes, grandeur, of the Grand Canyon. There are so many great places I still need to see in states (I even have a pinterest board about it … who’s up for road trips?!)
General Grand Canyon trip itinerary:

Friday: drive 8 hours; stay in Tusayan
Saturday: South Rim. Start hike at 5:40am, end hike on North Rim at 4:10pm—some magical angels at the end of the trail were waiting for us with beers and a ride so we didn’t have to walk 2 more miles to our cabin (seriously, strangers. god bless them.) Stay at the Grand Canyon Lodge, which is awesome.
8pm: Eat dinner in the lodge, but be so stuffed from the pizza snack at 6pm you can’t fully enjoy the last existing slice of elk meatloaf you managed to secure from the kitchen
9pm: Be passed out. You intended to hike back, but a series of ailments from everyone in the group, loads of impending rain, and general malaise lead you to take a shuttle back to the other rim.
Sunday: Drive 4 hours to Laughlin, Nevada. Stop and eat at Lulu Belle’s in Ash Fork, AZ, drink a delicious beer and enjoy the company of Lulu Belle herself.
Shop at the outlet mall (they have a Pendleton!!), poach a hot tub from a nearby casino hotel, and pass out to Naked & Afraid with wine and cheese in the hotel room.
Monday: Drive “four” hours home that takes a million years because of an ill-advised two-hour breakfast stop and holiday weekend traffic.