An easier Grand Canyon Hike through Diet and Exercise

Austinetc
Austinetc Posts: 74 Member
edited October 2024 in Motivation and Support
I'm not sure why but I'm hooked on the Grand Canyon. But a year and a half ago I did a four day hike there and embarrassed myself. Slow and out of breath. I did little preparation and weighted 224. I failed in my goal to complete a Rim 2 Rim 2 Rim journey.

Well, this past week I successfully crossed that hike off my bucket list, after 10 months of diet (192) and exercise (bike/gym). I was like a new person! I passed people going up the last mile. It was a vastly tougher hike than before too, with afternoon temps always in the triple digits. (The Grand Canyon is the only place I know that makes a big deal about the temperature in the sun, likely because there is so little shade. One day the Ranger said it hit 140!)

I'm charged up to lose more fat and put on more muscle, though I haven't thought up a new goal yet. I guess the motivational point here is to find something you enjoy, then set goals that will allow you to do that thing more often or better. Do the things you don't enjoy with an eye towards the things you do enjoy. Really, who among us enjoys eating less? Diet alone cannot be the goal. It's the means to an end. Focus on the end.

Replies

  • cardbucfan
    cardbucfan Posts: 10,571 Member
    Congrats!
  • egrusy
    egrusy Posts: 196 Member
    Congratulations!! That's one tough hike!! I've done South Rim to river and back and always wanted to do rim to rim, maybe some day :smile:
  • Harlequinndancer
    Harlequinndancer Posts: 86 Member
    Wow! That's impressive, you must be understandably proud of yourself and it's well deserved!
  • RunsOnEspresso
    RunsOnEspresso Posts: 3,218 Member
    That is awesome!

    One of my goals is to hike down to the falls. I have heard they are absolutely amazing.
  • RobynLB83
    RobynLB83 Posts: 626 Member
    Awesome! Backpacker here. Only one question: where are the grand canyon pics?
  • Austinetc
    Austinetc Posts: 74 Member
    There are many falls within the Canyon, but along the popular "corridor" Trail is the Ribbon Falls, on the North Rim side. About 8.5 miles and 4,300 feet down, then (of course) back up. It's one of the most unique falls I've ever seen. You can Google its images, but the real thing is much more beautiful. The Falls has formed a very large Stalagmite which is covered in dark green moss. You can 1) stand behind the falls, 2) stand on the stalagmite, in the falls (cold), and 3) enter the stalagmite itself! Like a pirate's lair. It's not large but it's most definitely one of the most isolated. In the two hours I was there, only 10 other people total visited it. Most of the time there were three of us.
  • queenbea77
    queenbea77 Posts: 404 Member
    Well hello fellow MFP hikers! I am currently planning for our upcoming Grand Canyon hike. We literally "just" got back from buying our backpacks, tent & sleeping bag...unfortunately we didn't plan this a year ago and didn't get a cabin or bunk. We did manage to get a two night stay at Bright Angel campgrounds for the first week in October. I got my permit a few weeks ago and didn't realize it until this past week that we need reservations for the mules to carry our stuff down/up and we can get them to carry down but not back up - so we are going to train carrying them just in case. We managed to get breakfast for one morning (we are hiking out before the canteen opens) and we have sack lunches for the first day we are there and 2 sack lunches each for the 2nd day (on for actual lunch & one to eat on the hike out). No luck with dinners yet so I'll keep trying. We've got our hiking boots and are doing as much as we can to get ready for this adventure.

    Any comments, advice etc will be greatly appreciated - everyone we talk to tells us we are crazy to be doing this at our age (57 & 53) - but the way I look at it is "I can do this, I will do this and I might not get this chance again".
  • egrusy
    egrusy Posts: 196 Member
    Most of my advice would be about your feet. Be sure to break in those hiking shoes! Make sure your toes don't touch the front of the shoes when you walk downhill. Wear some really good hiking socks that were meant for those kinds of conditions. Bring a blister kit with you and if at any point you feel a bit chafed in a spot, stop and slap on a piece of moleskin or the like immediately. In other words, you really need to take care of your feet.

    Obviously carry water. I would check with a ranger before you start out to make sure the water stations are in service (I can only assume you are taking the Bright Angel Trail; last time I was there the Kaibab Trail had no water stations but that may have changed). Bring some healthy salty snacks to replenish the salt you will sweat out. Due to the dry conditions that are usually found there, you may not even realize you're sweating because it evaporates so quickly, so keep drinking water and toss down some of those snacks now and then.

    Good luck and enjoy!
  • queenbea77
    queenbea77 Posts: 404 Member
    egrusy - thanks. I have read about wearing 2 pairs of socks (thin & wool) and even though I thought it was excessive I did buy some. The first time I wore my new hiking boots I only had one pair on (actually, I wore them on the TM at the gym) and I could feel blisters starting. The next time I wore them for an actual hike I wore the thin white socks and the wool socks and my feet felt great. We hiked about 5 miles RT that day. I've worn them several times since then and no problem. I am doing a strength training class on M, W & F @ the gym and afterwards I put on my boots (with my regular socks) and do 3 flights of stairs 10 times so I'm getting in the up/down workout and this is the 2nd week I've done that and my feet feel good. When we go out for hikes I'll were the two pair of socks. "Austinetc" suggested that I change my socks during the hike as well as carry the first aid supplies so I've got to pick up some more. I've got 2 changes for us but I'm going to have extras just in case.

    Water - yes, I've been following a couple threads on the Trip Advisor website and there are several people who give updates on current conditions. I've got to call 4 days ahead to confirm my meals so I'll check at that time. We are still trying to decide if we are going to hike down the Bright Angel or try the Kaibab trail. Of course concerns there are water & restroom facilities. He told me there are bathrooms so we might try it.

    Thanks for all of the advice and words of encouragement - anyone I talk to around here tells us we are "crazy". So it's great to get some positive words.
  • queenbea77
    queenbea77 Posts: 404 Member
    Wow, it's been a month since I last posted on this thread. Just an update on what's been happening. I'm still doing stairs at the gym, I'm up to 20 trips (60 flights total) 3 times a week after Body Pump and I'm up to 21 lbs. in the pack. This takes me about 1 1/2 hours so I've decided I'm going to increase the weight and not the trips (at least not yet). I've got 7 weeks to do that if I change my mind. Yesterday my husband and I did an 8 mile course (dirt, hilly roads) near our house and I carried 24 lbs. in the pack. This route took me 3 hours so if I plan out my dinners on Tuesday's & Thursday's I can get out and do long hikes in the evenings before it gets dark.. My knees are holding up good, I get stiff in the hips at the beginning but after a bit that works itself out but the soles of my feet hurt when I'm done. Today they felt pretty good while I was doing the stairs.

    I think we are going to hike down Kaibab trail and my husband seems to think if we start out right after we eat breakfast we'll be there before lunch and I have sack lunches reserved for that day and I was able to get steak dinners for that night. The next morning I was able to get breakfasts so I just have to take food for lunch and dinner the 2nd day and of course food for the day we hike back up. I told my husband while he's packing up the campsite I'll fix one of the freeze-dried breakfasts and coffee and have something to eat during the day while we are hiking. Maybe when we get to the Indian gardens fix something else to eat. Other than buying freeze dried meals at the local sporting goods stores to find out what I like so I can get those figured out we are pretty well set. I've got my airline tickets and hotels all set, we are flying into Vegas on Sunday and are staying there that night and getting a rental car and heading to the Grand Canyon on Monday. I've got a room at the top for Monday and another room at the top on Thursday then it's back to Vegas on Friday and we are staying there for two nights and back home on Sunday.
  • queenbea77
    queenbea77 Posts: 404 Member
    Another update on my trip. I was able to get 2 more meals so now I have my breakfasts & dinners all reserved. I just need to take snacks & something for lunches. I'm still trying for either bunks or a cabin **dreams**.
  • queenbea77
    queenbea77 Posts: 404 Member
    Holy cow - just over 2 1/2 weeks to go!!!! I hope I'm ready.

    I did 11 miles on the dirt hilly roads by my house with 25# in my pack on Saturday and was feeling pretty good until I hit the last 2 miles. I have issues with tendonitis in my right foot so I have to wear custom made orthotics in my shoes. The soles of my feet have been a bit sore after my hikes so I put a pair of those Dr. Scholl's gel inserts on top of my orthotics and I think it was too much cushion because my feet were absolutely screaming when I got home. Needless to say those immediately went into the trash and I put a pair of the foam inserts in my boots before I did the stairs at the gym yesterday. My feet felt much better - but of course I have to do a long hike to see how it goes.

    I've got all of our meals covered at Phantom Ranch except lunches so we'll just have to either buy snacks at the canteen or take something with us. I managed to get my husband a night in the male dorm the first night we are down there but he say's he doesn't want it. I'm still trying to get one for myself. If he is still insistent on not using it I can cancel up to 2 days prior and get a refund for it. When I called duffel service was available for both down & up but I decided rather than spend $140 for the mule to carry about 15# (that we've already been training with) I'd rather save the money for a possible bed and my husband agreed.

    Keep sending those good wishes for us to get a bed while we are down there (so we can have a "pillow and shower" - LOL) and that we make it back up without too much difficulty!
  • queenbea77
    queenbea77 Posts: 404 Member
    One week to go!! I packed everything (except water) in our backpacks yesterday and today I'll pack our suitcase. Now to weigh it & see where I stand. It doesn't seem very heavy - but bulky. Training will be interesting this week. I also have to hunt down a few odds & ends that I need & can't find.

    Still no luck adding any beds in the cabins or bunkhouse but I'll keep trying.
  • queenbea77
    queenbea77 Posts: 404 Member
    WELL, this vacation has appeared to be flushed down the toilet - all National Parks closed. So much for all of my planning, training and the insanity of trying to pull it all together only to have it blown out of the water by the government. Seriously!!! I even made it through jury duty last week and an emergency root canal yesterday...........for what? I don't have any nice words for our government right now - I'm just embarrassed to even be a US citizen with all of their childish selfish behavior.
  • HikerRR50
    HikerRR50 Posts: 144 Member
    WELL, this vacation has appeared to be flushed down the toilet - all National Parks closed. So much for all of my planning, training and the insanity of trying to pull it all together only to have it blown out of the water by the government. Seriously!!! I even made it through jury duty last week and an emergency root canal yesterday...........for what? I don't have any nice words for our government right now - I'm just embarrassed to even be a US citizen with all of their childish selfish behavior.

    You can go hike humphreys peak in Flagstaff - it's not the canyon but it is still open and is the highest peak in AZ
  • queenbea77
    queenbea77 Posts: 404 Member
    Thanks, I'll look that up and see how far it is from Vegas. I told my husband maybe we should go to Sedona....although it might be like salt in an open wound. So close to the Canyon and not able to go there. :sad:
  • queenbea77
    queenbea77 Posts: 404 Member
    Back home. They opened the Canyon on Saturday but by then we had already taken our rental car back & wouldn't have had time to drive there from Vegas as our flight was leaving @ 7am on Sunday. We went to Humphrey's Peak in Flagstaff on Monday, Sedona on Tuesday, Valley of Fire & Mt. Charleston (NV) on Wednesday & on the strip Thurs - Sat. We probably put in about 65 miles total between our hikes & walking the strip. We did see that it snowed in Flagstaff (& Grand Canyon) on Thursday. While we were driving up Mt. Charleston on Wednesday it started to snow & by time we got to the top it was snow covered.
  • Austinetc
    Austinetc Posts: 74 Member
    I am so sad that your trip was ruined! As a government employee I feel your pain, though from a different perspective. I was thinking how fortunate I was not to have had reservations for those weeks, though since my job involves finance a vacation would have been out of the question.

    I hope you are making new plans. I've got it in my December calendar to reserve some nights in April. Don't quite know if I want to do the main corridors or strike out for the real backcountry.
  • queenbea77
    queenbea77 Posts: 404 Member
    Wow, it's been 4 months since our "non-hiking" trip, LOL. I can laugh about it now but back then I was sssoooo angry!

    We are planning it again for September. I'm trying to convince my husband into doing a R2R. I really want to see the Ribbon Falls which I believe is about 5 miles back up the North trail from Phantom Ranch and I'm afraid if we hike down the SR I will be too tired to hike that additional distance but if we hike down the NR we will pass by it and will be able to stop and rest before finishing the hike. Or hike down the SR and back up the NR but hubby will be too impatient about reaching the top and won't want to take a break.

    I will have to dig out my hiking boots and start all over with the training. I'm not looking forward to putting on the backpack and increasing the weight like I did last year but I knew with my mindset after the failed trip there was no way I was going to stay motivated to continue doing the stairs at the gym all winter. Better to jump back into it with a fresh mind and better attitude. Hopefully we can get out and do more of the trails around here in addition to my stair workout.
  • Austinetc
    Austinetc Posts: 74 Member
    The Ribbon Falls is very much worth it, but I'd regret doing it in a rush. There is natural seating behind the falls which lets you sit and contemplate its beauty.

    I think starting at the NR is the best idea. But not on 01 October! : )
  • queenbea77
    queenbea77 Posts: 404 Member
    Well - down to the countdown to fax our reservation request in! I spoke with a ranger last fall and he said to put in as many date combinations I could on the form (instead of 1st, 2nd 3rd choice) and make sure I write on it that we got bumped out last year because of the shutdown and I would be at the top of the list. So we'll see how it turns out.

    We are going to Aruba at the end of the month so my DIL is going to fax my request over (hope she doesn't forget!!) - if I'm lucky soon after we get home I'll have a reply in the mail.

    Wish me luck! Getting a camp site and being able to score meals again. Oh, and I am doing my best to convince my DH that we should hike down the NR and back up the SR. I told him we can park at the SR and take the shuttle to the NR to start our hike.
  • queenbea77
    queenbea77 Posts: 404 Member
    We actually did go to Humphrey's Peak in Flagstaff that Monday, we hiked around Sedona on Tuesday and back at Valley of Fire in Las Vegas on Wednesday. We ended up staying on the Strip a couple extra day's....that Thursday (the day we were supposed to be hiking back up) was the day that Flagstaff got about 6 inches of snow.
  • Austinetc
    Austinetc Posts: 74 Member
    I think your plan is excellent. The NR trail is surreal. My brother and I did it on a Sunday afternoon and for about three hours saw no one. We owned a National Park!
  • queenbea77
    queenbea77 Posts: 404 Member
    Just a quick update - We are leaving for the Grand Canyon in 3 1/2 weeks! I'm still trying to get dinners for one night. I've managed to get hubby 2 nights in the bunk house but I'm still stuck in the tent. Needless to say, repeat phone calls trying to secure everything.
  • Austinetc
    Austinetc Posts: 74 Member
    Keep trying! The closer you get to the dates, the greater chance you'll have. People cancel all the time.

    I've done the bunk room bit and cannot recommend it. A friend thought it was a good idea and I went along. But really, spending time in the great outdoors but sleeping in a very crowded room is a contradiction in the thought process. The shower was nice, but the creek is avaliable and lots more fun.

    Enjoy!!
  • queenbea77
    queenbea77 Posts: 404 Member
    Got it!!! I called this morning & managed to get a night in the female bunk. So night one hubby & I each have beds in the bunkhouses & steak dinners. Late breakfasts, sack lunches, late dinners (1-stew & 1-chili) & a cabin the 2nd night. Early breakfasts & we hike out. I have cabins @ Bright Angel Lodge on the top the night before & the night after. We are going to hike to ribbon falls after breakfast on our full day @ the bottom.
  • queenbea77
    queenbea77 Posts: 404 Member
    Yea, I weighed the crowd in the bunkhouse with a shower or sleeping in a tent & not having a shower. I hurt my back in May & am still doing the chiropractor thing so I think the bed will be better for my back especially having a long hike out. I am taking our swimsuits though
  • queenbea77
    queenbea77 Posts: 404 Member
    Just an update - we survived our Grand Canyon hike! My poor feet took a beating...all of that downhill pounding really made my big toes hurt. My toenail beds are black and blue but the podiatrist decided not to take the nails off. He said to wait and see how they do. Anyways, I was the slow person the OP was talking about, lol. It took us 5 1/2 hours to hike down South Kaibab trail and 8 1/2 hours to hike up Bright Angel. We are glad we did it and I'm hoping to go to the North Rim next September but we'll only be walking around the top. Hubby doesn't care to hike to the bottom again. But we did it!!!
  • cardbucfan
    cardbucfan Posts: 10,571 Member
    Congrats on doing that hike!! It's on my bucket list for sure-onto get hubby fit enough he can do it with me. I often get hikers toe so know the lovely blue black toenails you talk about. They will probably fall off but grow back fine. I personally didn't like the north rim-I found it boring in terms of hikes and the views are weird. You're kinda set back (especially at the lodge) so it's not what you're used to seeing in pictures and now in person. Plus, the food and lodging options are very limited there unless you rv it. But I know lots of people who like the solitude there. Congrats!!
  • Austinetc
    Austinetc Posts: 74 Member
    I belated well done!! I need to do it again, but I'm torn between challenging the main corridor with a fast fitness hike or doing one of the lessor traveled routes. There isn't much logic to a fast hike, other than to say I've done it.
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