- It takes nothing less than 5000 calories to hike R3 - pack your food accordingly and have a variety. Make yourself eat the calories on regular intervals. Having a watch to help you keep track of the time lapse is imparative.
- Do NOT eat something you would normally not eat the day prior to the hike.
- Good socks are a must.
- Hiking boots must be broken in and cinched tightly for the downward treck.
- Dress in layers and shed the layers BEFORE you feel heated.
- A light jog may not improve your overall time. Howver, it does allow different muscles to be used for short spurts. This will help save your upper and downer muscles when you need them the most.
- Use hiking poles.
- When training, core muscle workouts are just as important as cardio. It will take your upper body strength to pull yourself the last couple miles out of the Canyon.
- After hiking rim to rim or R3 - your legs are like teenage girls listening to their parents - they completely ignore what you are trying to get them do.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Sometimes you conquer the Canyon and times the Canyon conquers you...
Things learned this R3
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Achievment
There were five of us that started at the south rim of the Grand Canyon on October 2nd, 2010. Each one of us achieved.
Tommy completed his New Year's Resolution of hiking rim to rim to rim under 24 hours. In fact, Tommy hiked R3 safely and successfully in 18 hours with no blisters.
Staci hiked rim to rim in 10 hours and 40 minutes which is about 4 hours less than her last rim to rim hike. She completed it safely and successfully in spite of combating neausea and light headedness.
Don achieved rim to rim in 10 hours and Neil achieved rim to rim in 10 hours and 40 minutes. This was the first time either of them had ever hiked in the Canyon. Not knowing what to expect, they completed it safely and successfully.
Tom Sr was able to personally see his daughter and son achieve a goal and be a part of it from the beginning to the end. He was there to see us off at the south rim, motivate us in the days prior, and be there on the north rim to watch us take the final 3 steps up to the trailhead - camera in hand, snapping pictures of their accomplishments.
Will there be another R3? For Staci, YES!!!! I swallowed my pride back at Roaring Falls, but there is just enough stubborness in me to make another attempt to conquer the Canyon.
Tommy completed his New Year's Resolution of hiking rim to rim to rim under 24 hours. In fact, Tommy hiked R3 safely and successfully in 18 hours with no blisters.
Staci hiked rim to rim in 10 hours and 40 minutes which is about 4 hours less than her last rim to rim hike. She completed it safely and successfully in spite of combating neausea and light headedness.
Don achieved rim to rim in 10 hours and Neil achieved rim to rim in 10 hours and 40 minutes. This was the first time either of them had ever hiked in the Canyon. Not knowing what to expect, they completed it safely and successfully.
Tom Sr was able to personally see his daughter and son achieve a goal and be a part of it from the beginning to the end. He was there to see us off at the south rim, motivate us in the days prior, and be there on the north rim to watch us take the final 3 steps up to the trailhead - camera in hand, snapping pictures of their accomplishments.
Will there be another R3? For Staci, YES!!!! I swallowed my pride back at Roaring Falls, but there is just enough stubborness in me to make another attempt to conquer the Canyon.
The final 5 miles
Tommy hit the north rim in 9 hours. Don was out in 10 hours. Neil and I were out in 10 hours and 40 minutes.
At some point during those last 5 miles, I caught up to Neil on the trail. I know it was before Supai tunnel because when we passed through the tunnel, I breifly thought about stopping and taking a picture. It really is a great picture opportunity. However, I was too fatigued to actually stop, get out my phone and snap a picture. Sorry Neil, no cool picture of you passing through the tunnel - maybe next time.
We stopped and refilled our water. It had been 5.2 miles since the last water stop and I had consumed 3 liters.
There was a rain cloud that had moved in and a nice soft rain that helped cool our abused bodies and recover just a little. After the hike was complete, Tommy made the statement that the rain was one of the uncontrolled factors that helped make his R3 achievable.
The last few miles out of the Canyon are the longest. Everytime you ascend and get a little closer to the top you think that around the next corner you will be at the trailhead. Instead, it is one more piece of uphill. It is like the movie "Groundhog Day" - it continues to happen over and over and over and over again.
The advantage of hiking the Canyon previously is that you know you are no where close to the top until you get out of the the layers of red rock. Only at that point, can you start to imagine the trailhead being around the next switchback.
At some point during those last 5 miles, I caught up to Neil on the trail. I know it was before Supai tunnel because when we passed through the tunnel, I breifly thought about stopping and taking a picture. It really is a great picture opportunity. However, I was too fatigued to actually stop, get out my phone and snap a picture. Sorry Neil, no cool picture of you passing through the tunnel - maybe next time.
We stopped and refilled our water. It had been 5.2 miles since the last water stop and I had consumed 3 liters.
There was a rain cloud that had moved in and a nice soft rain that helped cool our abused bodies and recover just a little. After the hike was complete, Tommy made the statement that the rain was one of the uncontrolled factors that helped make his R3 achievable.
The last few miles out of the Canyon are the longest. Everytime you ascend and get a little closer to the top you think that around the next corner you will be at the trailhead. Instead, it is one more piece of uphill. It is like the movie "Groundhog Day" - it continues to happen over and over and over and over again.
The advantage of hiking the Canyon previously is that you know you are no where close to the top until you get out of the the layers of red rock. Only at that point, can you start to imagine the trailhead being around the next switchback.
The Wall
As a hiker of the Grand Canyon when you say "I hit a wall" - there is a little bit of an oxymoron since you are surrounded by Canyon walls wherever you look. So, when I realized I had hit a wall, I giggled in my head just a little.
Cottonwood Campground is 7.1 miles from the top - we stopped there to refill our water, eat and put our feet up. By the way, sitting with your feet in a slightly raised position is optimal Canyon recovery!!! At Cottonwood, a young buck approached (without fear) to stare at the group of crazy hikers. I wonder how much GU that young buck had consumed during his life in the canyon??!!
We made it to Cottonwood Campground in 5 hours and 50 minutes. We have now hiked a total of 14.1 miles.
Another 1.9 miles and we are at Roaring Springs. This is the point where I swallowed my pride. I pulled my brother aside and explained that I was still nauseous and getting light headed anytime I exerted myself. I knew I would be able to get out of the Canyon on the north rim but in order to do so I was going to have to take more breaks and hike at a slower pace. I told him to continue hiking without me and that I would not be completing the R3 this trip. I did not want to slow his progress and there were plenty of hikers on the trail if I found myself failing. Tommy, Neil and Don agreed to continue on without me.
I want to say the next few miles I was beating myself up over my decision but, I really wasn't..... Part of attempting a feat as difficult as R3 is knowing your limitations, listening to your body, and finishing safely as to not put your life or anyone else's in danger. Hiking rim to rim is one hell of an accomplishment and I knew I was going to complete that.
Cottonwood Campground is 7.1 miles from the top - we stopped there to refill our water, eat and put our feet up. By the way, sitting with your feet in a slightly raised position is optimal Canyon recovery!!! At Cottonwood, a young buck approached (without fear) to stare at the group of crazy hikers. I wonder how much GU that young buck had consumed during his life in the canyon??!!
We made it to Cottonwood Campground in 5 hours and 50 minutes. We have now hiked a total of 14.1 miles.
Another 1.9 miles and we are at Roaring Springs. This is the point where I swallowed my pride. I pulled my brother aside and explained that I was still nauseous and getting light headed anytime I exerted myself. I knew I would be able to get out of the Canyon on the north rim but in order to do so I was going to have to take more breaks and hike at a slower pace. I told him to continue hiking without me and that I would not be completing the R3 this trip. I did not want to slow his progress and there were plenty of hikers on the trail if I found myself failing. Tommy, Neil and Don agreed to continue on without me.
I want to say the next few miles I was beating myself up over my decision but, I really wasn't..... Part of attempting a feat as difficult as R3 is knowing your limitations, listening to your body, and finishing safely as to not put your life or anyone else's in danger. Hiking rim to rim is one hell of an accomplishment and I knew I was going to complete that.
Up and Out
We started ascending the North Kaibab trail at approximately 8:30am in 101 degree heat. Each of us still feeling strong. The beginning part of the North Kaibab trail is quite flat so the thought was to continue at a light jog whenever the trail allowed it to be done safely. We continued to consciencely take sips of water and electrolites every 15 minutes with eating 250 calories at the top of the hour and a GU energy pack or snack on the half hour and a salt pill approx every 1-2 hours. At this point, I was falling behind in my calorie intake and I knew I was not drinking enough to stay fully hydrated. Tommy had already gone to the bathroom twice and I had yet to go once.
5.5 miles down the trail, I hit a wall. At this time we are at Ribbon Falls, the trail is flat, and there is NO light jog left in me. I am feeling sick to my stomach and I am light headed. I have officially fallen behind on my hydration; though I had been making an effort to consume more water and electorlites. I take another salt pill, snack on jerky as I am hiking, and take a GU energy gel. The chocolate GU, which I normally love, was so close to coming back up that I'm not sure I will appreciate the chocolate GU ever again. I'm feeling slightly like a sissy girl but. However, I also realize this is the point of the hike that it is imperrative to listen to what your body is telling you and swallow some pride.
I continue hiking...
5.5 miles down the trail, I hit a wall. At this time we are at Ribbon Falls, the trail is flat, and there is NO light jog left in me. I am feeling sick to my stomach and I am light headed. I have officially fallen behind on my hydration; though I had been making an effort to consume more water and electorlites. I take another salt pill, snack on jerky as I am hiking, and take a GU energy gel. The chocolate GU, which I normally love, was so close to coming back up that I'm not sure I will appreciate the chocolate GU ever again. I'm feeling slightly like a sissy girl but. However, I also realize this is the point of the hike that it is imperrative to listen to what your body is telling you and swallow some pride.
I continue hiking...
The hike
This picture was taken by Dad on the south rim approximately the time we had hit our first rest stop. You can see the Colorado river at the bottom of the canyon. Once Dad had dropped us off at the trailhead of the South Kaibab, he started the 215 mile drive around the canyon - taking his time to stop for picture opportunities and do some short hikes at the top of the Canyon.
In the beginning...
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