Why hike the Grand Canyon?
The planning of this trip began shortly after my (Sean) 1997 rim-to-river trip with Johnny Turpin and Shawn Fulgham. Once you experience the canyon below the rim you get hooked (that or you never go back). After completing the rim-to-river trip, I knew that I would be back and hopefully have the opportunity to hike rim-to-rim. Actually, I began the specific plans for this trip about 18 months ago in preparation for turning 40 years old. I told June, my wife, that this was my mid-life crisis. No sports cars or younger women for me – only a hike across the Grand Canyon. I wanted to truly experience the canyon and not race across it so I decided on a four day backpacking trip. Two days hiking down and two days hiking up with a few side trips along the way (Plateau Point and Ribbon Falls). The idea of hiking the Grand Canyon from rim-to-rim started out as a challenge. One of those “turning 40” things. However, for me, it ended up as a celebration – of life at forty. Planning The Trip. The
