2014 Grand Canyon hiking

Joe met up with Jim and his son-in-law at the Grand Canyon in mid-May of 2014 – 38 years after Jim and Joe’s first backpacking trip together into the canyon in 1976. In between some easy hiking on the South Rim and a short overnighter on the North Rim, Joe wanted to see if he was still up to the task he performed in 1972 at age 18 – hiking to the river and back in one day. (It is universally discouraged by park staff but not an uncommon feat.) He pulled it off without incident but vowed he’d never try it again at that time of year. (The high at Phantom Ranch that day: 100 degrees). The video above recaps the visit, including a brief stop at Utah’s Goosenecks State Park.