The historic list

I will label this as Tony and Tom Tricks and Tips for hiking the Grand
Canyon starting from the head to your toes and also some of the
equipment needed.

Head= tie you hair back get it off your neck, lather up with plenty of
sun tan lotion (30 or better) especially around and the top of your
ears, use head protection hat or a cap that is polyester that breaths,
Quote Mitch (cotton kills stay away from use)!!

Eyes= sunglasses that protect your eyes on the side extreme glare safety
glasses will do and there cheap , use a string adjuster that will hold
your glasses tightly to your nose, you will get very sweaty and they
will slide down on your nose if you do not have that string that holds
the glasses tightly into place

Lips=lip gloss with UV protection and use it often, sweat, licking lips
and drinking water carries your protection away (USE REGULAR and OFTEN)

Neck=buy one of those scarves with the crystal in them and presoak with
water to wrap around your neck, they stay cool for 12 hours plus, again
use plenty of lotion on that neck

Shoulders=I cut a tee shirt off under the nipples and than
slashed it with a knife so that it could breath and give me that added
protection from the straps on the back pack, in addition to that I
purchased a hunting jacket that was open nylon mesh and yet quilted on
the shoulders camo in color, the numerous pocket on these kind of
jackets are a blessing for all things that are needed as you hike and
you take those short breaks before you get to the bottom (lip gloss,
lotion, pills Aleve, Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Tylenol, film, pocket knife,
small pin flash light)

Arms=stay cool by using long sleeve shirt that is polyester; prefer
white to reflect UV from the sun. Remember Mexicans in the beet field have
there arms covered to stay cool.

Hands=use sun tan lotion leave rings and jewelry at home, car or in the
back pack trim nails on fingers before leaving. Walking sticks prefer
two it will help maintain balance on the trail suggestion (garage sale
ski poles leave the cup on the bottom on you will be walking thru sand it
will keep them from going to deep, camera tripod and remove legs for
your walking sticks they are adjustable you will than have to add nylon
straps or leather grips or bicycle rubber hand grips) you will have so
much weight on your back that it pushes you forward and it will transfer
some of that weight of your back pack into your arms I’m guessing about
10%. So if you and the pack weight of 175 pounds that means your arms
will be carrying 18 pounds and believe me that is a blessing!!

Breast= for women use sports bra or equivalent

Waist=men and women use a wide nylon belt that will give, stretch and
keep your pants or shorts up. You will have a lot of weight and you
will want something snug but that will give as you walk and won’t cut
into your hips.

Butt= women and men use boxer shorts again you want them not to chafe
your cracks or your inside thighs also Vaseline your privates

Legs=wear long pants that are polyester if you wear polyester shorts
keep those legs front and back lotion up, you will get extremely dirty
with shorts because of the dust on the trail and there is no water going
down on south Kabab to clean up

Feet=buy a bottle of new skin and paint on heels, side, tops of toes or
anyplace that you might think of that will cause blister, remember your
feet are the most important assets you have because this trip will be
the most physical experience you will have because of that 40 to 50
pounds in your back pack, hiking socks that will wick the water out,
hiking boots that are either ¾ or higher well broke in ( use them mowing
grass going to the store or gardening that will help breaking them in
by giving them that toe flex that you will need, buy now if you do not
have a pair. Use only one pair of socks if you use two they will wad up
rub and give you misery or worst yet a blister, and you will be hiking
out in two days. Helicopter out $3,500 to $10,000 dollars so stay on
the inside of the trail there sure as the hell aren’t any guard rails!!

Toes=trim and groom those nails your feet and toes will be flattening
out and pushing forward in your shoes, remember going down every step
forward is a step down in this hike that is about 7 miles down you will
descend on horse shoe trails or pig trails or cork screws trails about
5000 feet to the Colorado River or Phantom Ranch (camping area) GOAL for
the first day!!

So have fun don’t bitch but keep your buddies informed on your physical
condition because believe me it will deteriorate rapidly on this hike.
THINK SAFETY and PRACTICE SAFETY and use your buddy as a sounding
board!! Remember this is not a race going down stop and look at what
God has created with the help of Mother Nature. You will never be the
same after this completed hike believe me. Stop and take pictures
especially of your hiking party you may in the future hike it again but
you will never hike it with the same partners. I feel that Tony and I
were blessed to share this and I’m so excited that some of the other
family members can make it with the next trip to bond with cousins and
friends. I would love and requesting a copy of all digital pictures so
when I’m at the old folk are home or sitting in my hot tub I will have
something to watch instead of reruns of all in the Family or Mash!!
HAHAHAH !!