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I am planning a trip to the Grand Canyon in May 2012 where we will hike the twenty-four miles from the North Rim of the Canyon to the South Rim in two days. The trip itself will span from a Wednesday to a Sunday. If you are interested in going let me know. Here’s the itinerary I propose.

Day 1. Wednesday afternoon (need to pick an exact date) we meet in Phoenix and head to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. If you are flying into Phoenix either take an early flight that morning or fly in on Wednesday evening and spend the night at my house. I have a guest room, a very comfortable air mattress, and a couch. First come first served. We’ll be spending Wednesday night at one of the (half dozen) lodges on the South Rim. I’ve stayed in a couple of different lodges and they are nice considering. We’ll have dinner there on campus and rest up for day two.

Day 2. Thursday morning we’ll eat breakfast in the cafeteria, let our food settle, and afterwards take about an hour to hike down the South Rim and back up again. That will get your excited about what’s coming, give you a chance to stretch your legs, and a taste of what to expect on Friday and Saturday. That afternoon we’ll hitch a four-hour ride to the North Rim. There we will eat a nice dinner, and spend the night at the Grand Canyon Lodge North Rim. There are some great views to be had. However, a word of warning. Whatever you bring with you to the North Rim you’ll be hiking with Friday and Saturday so pack wisely. Interpret: Small cameras good. Big cameras heavy.

Day 3. This is what you came for. On Friday morning we’ll get up before dawn, eat a quick breakfast in the room, and take a short van ride to the Trailhead at the North Rim. Then we’re off. From there it is fourteen miles to Phantom Ranch. When we reach Phantom Ranch it’s time to relax as this is where we’ll eat lunch, dinner, and spend the night. Most likely in a cabin. Here are some great Phantom Ranch Tips.

Day 4. On Saturday morning we’ll pack up, eat breakfast, and hike out. It’s ten miles to the top. That night we’ll again spend the night at one of the lodges on the South Rim.

Day 5. On Monday morning we head back to civilization and brag to everyone we know about what we accomplished.

I know May of next year seems like a long time but I am going to be making reservations no later than the end of July. Space fills up quick. The opening weekend in May for example is already booked. Let me know soon!

Owen

If you’ve done a little research you will see that there are a few different options. The route we will be taking is north to south, making our exit via Bright Angel. You can read more about these options here under the section “What Trails Should I Take?”. The total miles we’ll tally will be twenty-four. I’ve read that the total elevation on the climb is about 6,000 feet. No slouch. You will need to be in good shape.

How I Prepared. I prepared for twelve weeks. I started with hiking five miles. Every other week I added one mile. Be realistic. You will not make a hike every single week. However, even if you can’t make it out for a hike, do be in shape. Even weeks I don’t hike I’ll swim, bike and get in as much walking as I can. Having said that, and I am not a doctor, but I would wager that without any other serious medical condition, if you can hike at a steady pace for eight hours, you are in good enough shape to finish this hike without (doing too much) damage. That takes us to gear.

Backpack: I used a Golite daypack. My model was discontinued but it most closely resembles this pack. You can find similar packs from REI. The most critical is that it is light, just big enough to pack all your critical gear, and in my opinion, that it holds a hydration bladder like Camelback makes. Mine carries a three-liter bladder. Yet, I saw folks on the trail with all manner of packs. One guy we were with had pack that looked more like a carry on bag than a backpack. None for me thanks.

Shorts. I hiked in the shorts I hike and run in. I suggest you do the same. Whatever you are most comfortable in. Mine are a cheap pair of lifeguard style swim trunks. Go figure.

Shirt. I did my last hike in a long sleeve Columbia hiking shirt. I may bring a short sleeve along with me this time too.

Shoes. Oh, shoes. I spent a lot of money of fancy hiking boots since my old pair I’d had since college. My dad did the same hike in a very old pair of running shoes. At the end of the day I’d split the difference. Get a pair of good trail running shoes like I use from Mizuno and do all your training in them. I’m on my third pair of these. They are light and sturdy and all I need. Bottom line, hiking boots are expensive, and if you aren’t hiking with a full frame pack, are likely unnecessary.

Socks. Get a good pair of hiking socks. In fact, get two pairs. Do it. Don’t skimp. Go to REI, tell the guys what you need them for, and buy them (but don’t let him talk you into buying fancy hiking boots.)

Sunglasses. Do bring a pair. Preferable a pair that won’t slip and slide off your face when you sweat. You will sweat.

Hat. A ball cap worked just fine for me. Nike makes light weight ball cap style called Nike Dri-Fit. Whatever you do, do not show up without a hat you can wear for lots and lots of hours.

Lube. I like BodyGlide. I’ll not go into details because trust me, after a few training hikes, you’ll figure out all on your own where this is needed most.

Sunscreen. Bring a tube of something you can apply all over, even to your face, that won’t sting your eyes. Figure this out during your training.

Fuel. Bring whatever you like that will fit in your bag. Trail mix. Power bars. Gels. Fig Newtons. Also, make sure to bring plenty of electrolyte mixes for your water. With all that sweating you will need to replace.

Headlamp. Pick up a cheap LCD version. You will hopefully only need this on Friday morning when we start hiking before the sun comes up. I sure wish I’d had one of these during my last trip when my battery died and I was stuck doing the last several hundred yards by the light of my cell phone. Seriously.

I’m sure I’ve forgotten something. Let me know if you think of something.

Owen

As of today, I will no longer be posting on owenwbrown.com. I had a pretty nice web presence going here / there (if I do say so myself) but the spam was killing me. Time to get back to basics. Writing as opposed to deleting unwanted spam comments telling me how to increase my web traffic 800%. The url is a little longer but if you’re reading it you likely have the site in your feed burner anyway. Who needs January one to make a healthy change? “Not I” said the fly.

Also, update your preferred email address for me to owenwalkerbrown@gmail.com. I’m phasing using owenwbrown@gmail.com for exactly the same reasons. Too darn much spam.

I’ve had some odd jobs. As a kid early on most of these jobs came from the Recreation Center in my hometown of Nolensville, Tennessee. I picked up trash at the baseball fields where I played little league. I swept the bleachers in the gymnasium where I played basketball. As I got older I did more down at the Recreation Center. I mowed grass. I raked fields. I chalked lines on the ball fields. Still picked up trash. I also umpired baseball and softball games. Occasionally during the week but mostly on weekends. Picking up trash was hard work. Enduring mouthy coaches and parents was harder work.

I had odd jobs as a teenager. The summer after my junior year in high school I went to work at a retreat named Ridgecrest, located in the Black Mountains outside Asheville, North Carolina. It was my first time away from home for more than a week. I worked there for around two months. I believe my dad’s idea for me working there was about getting me ready for my senior year of high school and college. It worked. I learned a lot, and the experience helped better prepare me for both.

After that summer I took a job at a great big Baptist church in Franklin, Tennessee. The one I grew up going to. I did setups on Saturday and breakdowns on Sunday. I made sure the doors where unlocked on Sunday morning, kept the coffee pots full during the day, and locked the doors Sunday night. That job taught me real responsibility. People were actually counting on me to show up and get the job done. It would have been embarrassing to have let them down.

During college I generally only worked holidays and summer vacation. The summer after my freshman year I was a camp counselor for the Williamson Country Summer Day Camp program. I also started working nights at a dollar movie theatre. There were some characters at both places. The summer after my sophomore year I was a camp counselor at an overnight camp right outside of Chattanooga, Tennessee. I remember it as the greatest. Canoeing. Swimming. It was fun but dealing with that many kids was a challenge. That experience taught me a lot about teamwork.

There was one notable exception to only working weekends and holidays in college. I had spent my working in the warehouse for a publishing company and decided to see if I could add baker to my resume. What was I thinking. I was talked into working a 5:00 AM to 8:00 AM shift by the new sandwich and pizza shop that opened close to my apartment making bread and pizza dough. I really should have known better. I am not a morning person. You’re talking to a guy who avoided 8:00 AM classes his entire college career outside of his first and last semesters. The first was a rookie mistake. The second was unavoidable. Believe me. I was a baker for about two months before the owner decided that he only needed two bakers, not three, and I was the only one who put his classes and exams before the job. Don’t think he meant it as a good thing but that is how I took it.

Soon after I graduated and my jobs began to look and feel more, well, adult. Which is really what all of my jobs since have been like. Grown up. On some level I have enjoyed every job I’ve ever had. They have all taught me at least one or two things I’ve taken with me to my next job. And they were all wonderfully and perfectly odd.

As of today, I will no longer be posting on owenwbrown.com (well, okay technically as of February 3, 2011 but whose paying that close attention). Come see me at the new owenwalkerbrown.com and say hello.

It was good while it lasted. It’s not you. It’s not me. Blame it on the spam. Yes, we can all agree. Spam be damn.