Explore every episode of the podcast The Grand Canyon Hiker Dude Show

What happens when “training for life” turns into a first Grand Canyon hike, a wrong turn below the rim, and a month of massive endurance efforts most hikers would never attempt? Steve Martin joins the show to talk about Black Mountain, R3, Cactus to Clouds, Coach Arnie, blisters, doubt, and the quiet decision to become the kind of person who keeps showing up. This is a story about fitness, humility, and what can happen when the people around you expand your idea of possible.
*****
The best way to support the show is by considering our top-of-the-line hiking packs for your next adventure, which Brian designed (and now uses) for all of his hikes. Our signature Rim2Rim Pack offeres 25L of storage in a running vest design (with front pockets and insulated hydration) that's built for serious miles. The new Canyon Elite 25 takes those same features and adds a hip belt for more support. Find out more and order yours at hiKin.club. 
*****

Please join Hike Club Grand Canyon on Facebook by clicking here. This is the official group of the Grand Canyon Hiker Dude Show, and it's a judgment-free zone full of interaction, information, and inspiration—it's simply THE place to get the best information in advance of your Canyon adventure. Join Brian, Coach Arnie, and most of the guests you've heard on the show in an environment created to answer your questions and help you have the best possible experience below the rim. It's completely free.

*****

To reach Coach Arnie, you can call or text him (yes, really!) at (602) 390-9144 or send him a message on Instagram @painfreearnie.

*****

Have an idea for the show, or someone you think would be a great guest? Reach out to Brian anytime at brian@hikin.club.

*****

The Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is our gift to the Grand Canyon hiking community. This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll have precious shade on your Grand Canyon hike—every route on every hour of every day of the year. Check it out at gcshadetracker.com. Another free resource from hiKin aimed at making your Grand Canyon adventure the best and safest it can be.

*****

For more great Grand Canyon content, please check us out on the following platforms:

YouTube (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for informative and inspirational videos

Instagram (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for photos from the trail

TikTok (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for fun and informative short-form videos

Facebook (@GrandCanyonHikerDude)

Most hikers train for the climb. Coach Arnie says that's exactly why so many get beaten up on the way down. In this Coach Arnie Q&A, you'll learn why one of the most effective Grand Canyon training exercises looks completely backward, along with practical advice on preparing your feet, fueling properly, handling the heat, and arriving at the trailhead ready to finish your hike with a smile—not a limp.

*****
The best way to support the show is by considering our top-of-the-line hiking packs for your next adventure, which Brian designed (and now uses) for all of his hikes. Our signature Rim2Rim Pack offeres 25L of storage in a running vest design (with front pockets and insulated hydration) that's built for serious miles. The new Canyon Elite 25 takes those same features and adds a hip belt for more support. Find out more and order yours at hiKin.club. 
*****

Please join Hike Club Grand Canyon on Facebook by clicking here. This is the official group of the Grand Canyon Hiker Dude Show, and it's a judgment-free zone full of interaction, information, and inspiration—it's simply THE place to get the best information in advance of your Canyon adventure. Join Brian, Coach Arnie, and most of the guests you've heard on the show in an environment created to answer your questions and help you have the best possible experience below the rim. It's completely free.

*****

To reach Coach Arnie, you can call or text him (yes, really!) at (602) 390-9144 or send him a message on Instagram @painfreearnie.

*****

Have an idea for the show, or someone you think would be a great guest? Reach out to Brian anytime at brian@hikin.club.

*****

The Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is our gift to the Grand Canyon hiking community. This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll have precious shade on your Grand Canyon hike—every route on every hour of every day of the year. Check it out at gcshadetracker.com. Another free resource from hiKin aimed at making your Grand Canyon adventure the best and safest it can be.

*****

For more great Grand Canyon content, please check us out on the following platforms:

YouTube (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for informative and inspirational videos

Instagram (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for photos from the trail

TikTok (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for fun and informative short-form videos

Facebook (@GrandCanyonHikerDude)

Most Grand Canyon hikers stick to the corridor trails—but there’s an entire world of rim-to-river routes beyond Bright Angel and South Kaibab. In Part 1 of our Rim-to-River Breakdown, Brian and Eric Nelson explore the off-corridor routes from the South Rim, including Hermit and New Hance. From trailfinding challenges to the isolation of seeing no one all day, this episode dives into what makes these routes some of the most adventurous hikes in the canyon.
*****
Our new hiking packs are here! Our signature Rim2Rim Pack is back, along with the new Canyon Elite 25, which takes the same features that made the Rim2Rim Pack famous — namely its front pockets and insulated hydration pocket — and adds a much-requested hip belt to make it even easier to dial in your fit. Find out more and order yours at hiKin.club. Supplies are limited, so be sure to check it out today.
*****

Please join Hike Club Grand Canyon on Facebook by clicking here. This is the official group of the Grand Canyon Hiker Dude Show, and it's a judgment-free zone full of interaction, information, and inspiration—it's simply THE place to get the best information in advance of your Canyon adventure. Join Brian, Coach Arnie, and most of the guests you've heard on the show in an environment created to answer your questions and help you have the best possible experience below the rim. It's completely free.

*****

Bright Angel Outfitters is now hiKin, where hiking meets kinship to form a community of like-minded hikers dedicated to helping each other hike our best hike. It's about all of us. 

*****

To reach Coach Arnie, you can call or text him (yes, really!) at (602) 390-9144 or send him a message on Instagram @painfreearnie.

*****

Have an idea for the show, or someone you think would be a great guest? Reach out to Brian anytime at brian@hikin.club.

*****

The Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is our gift to the Grand Canyon hiking community. This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll have precious shade on your Grand Canyon hike—every route on every hour of every day of the year. Check it out at gcshadetracker.com. Another free resource from hiKin aimed at making your Grand Canyon adventure the best and safest it can be.

*****

For more great Grand Canyon content, please check us out on the following platforms:

YouTube (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for informative and inspirational videos

Instagram (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for photos from the trail

TikTok (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for fun and informative short-form videos

Facebook (@GrandCanyonHikerDude)

Al Pickering and his wife had a dream: the iconic Rim-to-Rim hike in the Grand Canyon. But when Al invited his younger brother along—and feared his brother hadn't put in the proper preparation—things quickly turned in a dangerous direction.

*****

Please join the Grand Canyon Hiker Dude Show's private Facebook group by clicking here.

*****

The Rim2Rim Pack from Bright Angel Outfitters is now available! Check out our Canyon-inspired day pack by clicking here.

*****

To reach Coach Arnie, you can call or text him (yes, really!) at (602) 390-9144 or send him a message on Instagram @painfreearnie.

*****

Have an idea for the show, or someone you think would be a great guest? Reach out to Brian anytime at gchikerdude@brightangeloutfitters.com.

*****

The all-new Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is LIVE!! This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll have precious shade on your Grand Canyon hike—every hour of every day of the year. Check it out at gcshadetracker.com. Another free resource from Bright Angel Outfitters aimed at making your Grand Canyon adventure the best and safest it can be.

*****

For Canyon-centric hoodies, sweatshirts & tees—including the Victor Vomit tee and our new Rim-to-Rim collection— please visit BrightAngelOutfitters.com

*****

For more great Grand Canyon content, please check us out on the following platforms:

YouTube (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for informative and inspirational videos

Instagram (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for photos from the trail

TikTok (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for fun and informative short-form videos

Facebook (@GrandCanyonHikerDude)

Jamie Zwilling is the best kind of "loser"—the kind who has battled obesity and managed to cut his weight almost exactly in half. Today, Jamie shares the inspirational story of his Rim-to-Rim adventure, including the details of his training regiment, the logistical challenges he faced, and a step-by-step account of what he calls the hardest physical accomplishment of his life.

*****

Please join the Grand Canyon Hiker Dude Show's private Facebook group by clicking here.

*****

The Rim2Rim Pack from Bright Angel Outfitters is now available! Check out our Canyon-inspired day pack by clicking here.

*****

To reach Coach Arnie, you can call or text him (yes, really!) at (602) 390-9144 or send him a message on Instagram @painfreearnie.

*****

Have an idea for the show, or someone you think would be a great guest? Reach out to Brian anytime at gchikerdude@brightangeloutfitters.com.

*****

The all-new Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is LIVE!! This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll have precious shade on your Grand Canyon hike—every hour of every day of the year. Check it out at gcshadetracker.com. Another free resource from Bright Angel Outfitters aimed at making your Grand Canyon adventure the best and safest it can be.

*****

For Canyon-centric hoodies, sweatshirts & tees—including the Victor Vomit tee and our new Rim-to-Rim collection— please visit BrightAngelOutfitters.com

*****

For more great Grand Canyon content, please check us out on the following platforms:

YouTube (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for informative and inspirational videos

Instagram (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for photos from the trail

TikTok (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for fun and informative short-form videos

Facebook (@GrandCanyonHikerDude)

It's everything I don't advise: a Rim-to-Rim during the hottest time of the year. So if someone has to do it, it might as well be me. Come along as I tackle the Canyon's most iconic hike on a scorching afternoon, and hear everything I learned about hiking in extreme heat.

*****

Please join the Grand Canyon Hiker Dude Show's private Facebook group by clicking here.

*****

The Rim2Rim Pack from Bright Angel Outfitters is now available! Check out our Canyon-inspired day pack by clicking here.

*****

To reach Coach Arnie, you can call or text him (yes, really!) at (602) 390-9144 or send him a message on Instagram @painfreearnie.

*****

Have an idea for the show, or someone you think would be a great guest? Reach out to Brian anytime at gchikerdude@brightangeloutfitters.com.

*****

The all-new Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is LIVE!! This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll have precious shade on your Grand Canyon hike—every hour of every day of the year. Check it out at gcshadetracker.com. Another free resource from Bright Angel Outfitters aimed at making your Grand Canyon adventure the best and safest it can be.

*****

For Canyon-centric hoodies, sweatshirts & tees—including the Victor Vomit tee and our new Rim-to-Rim collection— please visit BrightAngelOutfitters.com

*****

For more great Grand Canyon content, please check us out on the following platforms:

YouTube (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for informative and inspirational videos

Instagram (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for photos from the trail

TikTok (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for fun and informative short-form videos

Facebook (@GrandCanyonHikerDude)

Hiking in direct sun in the Canyon's warmer months isn't just uncomfortable—it can actually help kill you. Today, we talk to the creator of the Grand Canyon Shade Tracker—a powerful new tool designed to show Canyon hikers exactly when and where they can find shade, anywhere on their route, any day of the year.

*****

The Rim2Rim Pack from Bright Angel Outfitters is now available! Check out our Canyon-inspired day pack by clicking here.

*****

Click here for a tutorial on building your own slant board (heard on Coach Arnie's training tip). Thanks to Bryan Stoudt for the submission.

*****

To reach Coach Arnie, you can call or text him (yes, really!) at (602) 390-9144 or send him a message on Instagram @painfreearnie.

*****

Have an idea for the show, or someone you think would be a great guest? Reach out to Brian anytime at gchikerdude@brightangeloutfitters.com.

*****

The all-new Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is LIVE!! This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll have precious shade on your Grand Canyon hike—every hour of every day of the year. Check it out at gcshadetracker.com. Another free resource from Bright Angel Outfitters aimed at making your Grand Canyon adventure the best and safest it can be.

*****

For Canyon-centric hoodies, sweatshirts & tees—including the Victor Vomit tee and our new Rim-to-Rim collection— please visit BrightAngelOutfitters.com

*****

For more great Grand Canyon content, please check us out on the following platforms:

YouTube (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for informative and inspirational videos

Instagram (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for photos from the trail

TikTok (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for fun and informative short-form videos

Facebook (@GrandCanyonHikerDude)

Taking on the Canyon is an impressive feat at any age. But at 70? That takes even more grit and determination. Today, Phil Neely shares his experience as a first-timer, which includes plenty of valuable information that can help us all in our Grand Canyon adventures.

*****

The Rim2Rim Pack from Bright Angel Outfitters is now available! Check out our Canyon-inspired day pack by clicking here.

*****

To reach Coach Arnie, you can call or text him (yes, really!) at (602) 390-9144 or send him a message on Instagram @painfreearnie.

*****

Have an idea for the show, or someone you think would be a great guest? Reach out to Brian anytime at gchikerdude@brightangeloutfitters.com.

*****

The all-new Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is LIVE!! This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll have precious shade on your Grand Canyon hike—every hour of every day of the year. Check it out at gcshadetracker.com. Another free resource from Bright Angel Outfitters aimed at making your Grand Canyon adventure the best and safest it can be.

*****

For Canyon-centric hoodies, sweatshirts & tees—including the Victor Vomit tee and our new Rim-to-Rim collection— please visit BrightAngelOutfitters.com

*****

For more great Grand Canyon content, please check us out on the following platforms:

YouTube (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for informative and inspirational videos

Instagram (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for photos from the trail

TikTok (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for fun and informative short-form videos

Facebook (@GrandCanyonHikerDude)

It was supposed to be the trail run of a lifetime—which is saying something, considering Margaret Bradley had conquered the iconic Boston Marathon just months earlier. But Margaret's story is a study in what can go wrong even for the most fit amongst us—and how a lack of preparation and planning can have deadly consequences in the Grand Canyon.

*****

This telling of Margaret's story was inspired by the work of Christopher Reynolds in the LA Times (read his 2004 story Running Dry here) and Michael Ghiglieri and Dr. Tom Myers in the book Over The Edge: Death In Grand Canyon (purchase here).

*****

The Rim2Rim Pack from Bright Angel Outfitters is now available! Check out our Canyon-inspired day pack by clicking here.

*****

To reach Coach Arnie, you can call or text him (yes, really!) at (602) 390-9144 or send him a message on Instagram @painfreearnie.

*****

Have an idea for the show, or someone you think would be a great guest? Reach out to Brian anytime at gchikerdude@brightangeloutfitters.com.

*****

The all-new Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is LIVE!! This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll have precious shade on your Grand Canyon hike—every hour of every day of the year. Check it out at gcshadetracker.com. Another free resource from Bright Angel Outfitters aimed at making your Grand Canyon adventure the best and safest it can be.

*****

For Canyon-centric hoodies, sweatshirts & tees—including the Victor Vomit tee and our new Rim-to-Rim collection— please visit BrightAngelOutfitters.com

*****

For more great Grand Canyon content, please check us out on the following platforms:

YouTube (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for informative and inspirational videos

Instagram (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for photos from the trail

TikTok (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for fun and informative short-form videos

Facebook (@GrandCanyonHikerDude)

Mary Banik—at age 73—just completed her 181st Grand Canyon hike...and I got to go along with her! Afterwards, we sat in the lobby at Bright Angel Lodge for a wide-ranging conversation on everything from which route is best for Rim2Rim, what to pack, what to wear, hiking in heat, and mistakes she commonly sees. We even had a spirited disagreement (gulp)—on the need for trekking poles! It's a day with the Marvelous Ms. Mary that's full of valuable takeaways for anyone planning a Canyon adventure.

Plus a training tip from Coach Arnie that will make you appreciate your big toe.

*****

The Rim2Rim Pack from Bright Angel Outfitters is now available! Check out our Canyon-inspired day pack by clicking here.

*****

To reach Coach Arnie, you can call or text him (yes, really!) at (602) 390-9144 or send him a message on Instagram @painfreearnie.

*****

Have an idea for the show, or someone you think would be a great guest? Reach out to Brian anytime at gchikerdude@brightangeloutfitters.com.

*****

The all-new Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is LIVE!! This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll have precious shade on your Grand Canyon hike—every hour of every day of the year. Check it out at gcshadetracker.com. Another free resource from Bright Angel Outfitters aimed at making your Grand Canyon adventure the best and safest it can be.

*****

For Canyon-centric hoodies, sweatshirts & tees—including the Victor Vomit tee and our new Rim-to-Rim collection— please visit BrightAngelOutfitters.com

*****

For more great Grand Canyon content, please check us out on the following platforms:

YouTube (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for informative and inspirational videos

Instagram (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for photos from the trail

TikTok (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for fun and informative short-form videos

Facebook (@GrandCanyonHikerDude)

Dr. Tom Myers—The Canyon Doc—is the medical director for Grand Canyon National Park, and has been practicing at Grand Canyon Clinic for 34 years. Dr. Myers is also an accomplished author, with his most famous work being Over The Edge: Death In Grand Canyon, which he co-authored with Michael Ghiglieri. Today, Dr. Myers shares life-saving tips from his latest work, How Not To Die In Grand Canyon, which is meant to be a survival guide for anyone venturing below the rim. 

*****

To purchase How Not To Die In Grand Canyon, click here. Proceeds benefit Grand Canyon Conservancy and the Grand Canyon's Preventative Search & Rescue program.

*****

The Rim2Rim Pack from Bright Angel Outfitters is now available! Check out our Canyon-inspired day pack by clicking here.

*****

Have an idea for the show, or someone you think would be a great guest? Reach out to Brian anytime at gchikerdude@brightangeloutfitters.com.

*****

The all-new Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is LIVE!! This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll have precious shade on your Grand Canyon hike—every hour of every day of the year. Check it out at gcshadetracker.com. Another free resource from Bright Angel Outfitters aimed at making your Grand Canyon adventure the best and safest it can be.

*****

For Canyon-centric hoodies, sweatshirts & tees—including the Victor Vomit tee and our new Rim-to-Rim collection— please visit BrightAngelOutfitters.com

*****

For more great Grand Canyon content, please check us out on the following platforms:

YouTube (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for informative and inspirational videos

Instagram (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for photos from the trail

TikTok (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for fun and informative short-form videos

Facebook (@GrandCanyonHikerDude)

Training for your Canyon adventure doesn't have to be complicated, and Brad Gill will prove it. Today, the veteran marathoner and triathlete shares his smart and simple training regiment, along with the compelling story of the long Grand Canyon adventure it was built for. 

*****

Want to check out Brad's training program and packing list? Click here to download the spreadsheet. (Thanks to Brad for so generously making it available to us!)

*****

Have an idea or someone you think would be a great guest for the show? Reach out anytime to Brian at gchikerdude@brightangeloutfitters.com.

*****

The Rim2Rim Pack from Bright Angel Outfitters is now available for preorder! Check out our Canyon-inspired day pack by clicking here.

*****

The all-new Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is LIVE!! This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll have precious shade on your Grand Canyon hike—every hour of every day of the year. Check it out at gcshadetracker.com. Another free resource from Bright Angel Outfitters aimed at making your Grand Canyon adventure the best and safest it can be.

*****

For Canyon-centric hoodies, sweatshirts & tees—including the Victor Vomit tee and our new Rim-to-Rim collection— please visit BrightAngelOutfitters.com

*****

For more great Grand Canyon content, please check us out on the following platforms:

YouTube (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for informative and inspirational videos

Instagram (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for photos from the trail

TikTok (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for fun and informative short-form videos

Facebook (@GrandCanyonHikerDude)

The heat in the Grand Canyon can kill—it happens every year. Unfortunately, prime hiking season falls during the hottest time of the year in Arizona, and countless hikers underestimate the toll the high temperatures can take. In today's show, we sit down with Amy Hedtke, a seasoned Canyon hiker who has taken on multi-day itineraries below the rim each of the last three years—during August. Amy shares what she's learned about dealing with the heat, and has valuable insight into the things we can do do make sure we don't become an unfortunate statistic.

*****

Click here for the link to Amy's Google doc on hiking in the heat at the Grand Canyon.

*****

The Rim2Rim Pack is now available for preorder! Check out our Canyon-inspired day pack by clicking here.

*****

The all-new Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is LIVE!! This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll have precious shade on your Grand Canyon hike—every hour of every day of the year. Check it out at gcshadetracker.com. Another free resource from Bright Angel Outfitters aimed at making your Grand Canyon adventure the best and safest it can be.

*****

For Canyon-centric hoodies, sweatshirts & tees—including the Victor Vomit tee and our new Rim-to-Rim collection— please visit BrightAngelOutfitters.com

*******

For more great Grand Canyon content, please check us out on the following platforms:

YouTube (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for informative and inspirational videos

Instagram (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for photos from the trail

TikTok (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for fun and informative short-form videos

Facebook (@GrandCanyonHikerDude)

*******

For the best and most helpful Facebook groups dedicated to hiking the Grand Canyon, search for:

• Grand Canyon Hikers
• Grand Canyon Rim to Rim
• Grand Canyon R2R2R Run!
• Grand Canyon R2R+ Training
• Grand Canyon Ridesharing and Transportation - Rim to Rim & More

What’s it really like to work on a Grand Canyon trail crew? In Part 2 of our conversation with Grand Canyon Trails Supervisor Adam Gibson, we go inside the day-to-day life of the crews who build and maintain the canyon’s trails. From moving 400-pound stones by hand to living weeks at a time deep in the canyon, Adam explains why trail work is both a craft and a lifestyle—and why you truly have to “like to suffer” to do it.
*****
Our new hiking packs are here! Our signature Rim2Rim Pack is back, along with the new Canyon Elite 25, which takes the same features that made the Rim2Rim Pack famous — namely its front pockets and insulated hydration pocket — and adds a much-requested hip belt to make it even easier to dial in your fit. Find out more and order yours at hiKin.club. Supplies are limited, so be sure to check it out today.
*****

Please join Hike Club Grand Canyon on Facebook by clicking here. This is the official group of the Grand Canyon Hiker Dude Show, and it's a judgment-free zone full of interaction, information, and inspiration—it's simply THE place to get the best information in advance of your Canyon adventure. Join Brian, Coach Arnie, and most of the guests you've heard on the show in an environment created to answer your questions and help you have the best possible experience below the rim. It's completely free.

*****

Bright Angel Outfitters is now hiKin, where hiking meets kinship to form a community of like-minded hikers dedicated to helping each other hike our best hike. It's about all of us. 

*****

To reach Coach Arnie, you can call or text him (yes, really!) at (602) 390-9144 or send him a message on Instagram @painfreearnie.

*****

Have an idea for the show, or someone you think would be a great guest? Reach out to Brian anytime at brian@hikin.club.

*****

The Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is our gift to the Grand Canyon hiking community. This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll have precious shade on your Grand Canyon hike—every route on every hour of every day of the year. Check it out at gcshadetracker.com. Another free resource from hiKin aimed at making your Grand Canyon adventure the best and safest it can be.

*****

For more great Grand Canyon content, please check us out on the following platforms:

YouTube (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for informative and inspirational videos

Instagram (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for photos from the trail

TikTok (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for fun and informative short-form videos

Facebook (@GrandCanyonHikerDude)

Bendict Dughoff returns for a Q&A on topics ranging from trail conditions to trekking poles. 

*****

Benedict offers a service to help you take all the guesswork out of planning the often-complicated logistics of a Rim-to-Rim adventure. To find out more, you can reach out to him directly at canyoncoachingaz@gmail.com. 

*****

Got an idea for an episode? Know someone who would be a great guest? Need some advice or info relating to hiking the Grand Canyon? Hit us up 24/7/365 at gchikerdude@brightangeloutfitters.com.

*****

The all-new Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is LIVE!! This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll have precious shade on your Grand Canyon hike—every hour of every day of the year. Check it out at gcshadetracker.com. Another free resource from Bright Angel Outfitters aimed at making your Grand Canyon adventure the best and safest it can be.

*****

For Canyon-centric hoodies, sweatshirts & tees—including the Victor Vomit tee and our new Rim-to-Rim collection— please visit BrightAngelOutfitters.com

*****

For more great Grand Canyon content, please check us out on the following platforms:

YouTube (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for informative and inspirational videos

Instagram (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for photos from the trail

TikTok (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for fun and informative short-form videos

Facebook (@GrandCanyonHikerDude)

There's nothing like learning about Grand Canyon hiking from those in the midst of actually doing the Grand Canyon hiking. That's the premise for Trail Talk, a theme we'll tackle from time to time that will take you onto the trail for conversations and tips & tricks from those right in the middle of their adventures. Today, we head down a crowded South Kaibab during Spring Break, and meet a woman who thinks the Canyon might have saved her life, a mom who suddenly found herself trying to wrangle a loose mule, and a young couple celebrating their engagement with an unforgettable journey to Ribbon Falls.

*****

The all-new Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is LIVE!! This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll have precious shade on your Grand Canyon hike—every hour of every day of the year. Check it out at gcshadetracker.com. Another free resource from Bright Angel Outfitters aimed at making your Grand Canyon adventure the best and safest it can be.

*****

For Canyon-centric hoodies, sweatshirts & tees—including the Victor Vomit tee and our new Rim-to-Rim collection— please visit BrightAngelOutfitters.com

*******

For more great Grand Canyon content, please check us out on the following platforms:

YouTube (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for informative and inspirational videos

Instagram (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for photos from the trail

TikTok (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for fun and informative short-form videos

Facebook (@GrandCanyonHikerDude)

*******

For the best and most helpful Facebook groups dedicated to hiking the Grand Canyon, search for:

• Grand Canyon Hikers
• Grand Canyon Rim to Rim
• Grand Canyon R2R2R Run!
• Grand Canyon R2R+ Training
• Grand Canyon Ridesharing and Transportation - Rim to Rim & More

Lauren Hargrove is a firefighter in Chandler, AZ, so she knows a thing or two about defying the odds. But little did Lauren know that on her Rim-to-Rim with three friends in September of 2023, she'd come face to face with death on the trail—and also wonder if she was next. This is a harrowing tale of a Rim-to-Rim gone wrong, and proof that the Grand Canyon can be dangerous even to those who are prepared and in excellent physical condition.

*****

Got an idea for an episode? Know someone who would be a great guest? Need some advice or info relating to hiking the Grand Canyon? Hit us up 24/7/365 at gchikerdude@brightangeloutfitters.com.

*****

The all-new Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is LIVE!! This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll have precious shade on your Grand Canyon hike—every hour of every day of the year. Check it out at gcshadetracker.com. Another free resource from Bright Angel Outfitters aimed at making your Grand Canyon adventure the best and safest it can be.

*****

For Canyon-centric hoodies, sweatshirts & tees—including the Victor Vomit tee and our new Rim-to-Rim collection— please visit BrightAngelOutfitters.com

*****

For more great Grand Canyon content, please check us out on the following platforms:

YouTube (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for informative and inspirational videos

Instagram (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for photos from the trail

TikTok (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for fun and informative short-form videos

Facebook (@GrandCanyonHikerDude)

Coach Arnie—Arnie Fonseca Jr.—is back for a conversation on training for the unique nature of a Grand Canyon adventure. Our resident exercise physiologist and R5 (quadruple crossing) survivor will give us a pair of simple and valuable tips that he says will lay the foundation for a successful Canyon hike.

*****

Coach Arnie encourages phone calls. Seriously. You can reach him at (602) 390-9144.

Other ways to follow Coach Arnie:

Instagram: PainFreeArnie

Facebook: ArnieFonsecaJr

LinkedIn: ArnieFonsecaJr

*****

The all-new Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is LIVE!! This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll have precious shade on your Grand Canyon hike—every hour of every day of the year. Check it out at gcshadetracker.com. Another free resource from Bright Angel Outfitters aimed at making your Grand Canyon adventure the best and safest it can be.

*****

For Canyon-centric hoodies, sweatshirts & tees—including the Victor Vomit tee and our new Rim-to-Rim collection— please visit BrightAngelOutfitters.com

*******

For more great Grand Canyon content, please check us out on the following platforms:

YouTube (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for informative and inspirational videos

Instagram (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for photos from the trail

TikTok (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for fun and informative short-form videos

Facebook (@GrandCanyonHikerDude)

What would it be like to hike Rim-to-Rim without training, much less doing it in the middle of summer? Amy Hedtke shares the whys of her unusual approach in a story full of twists and turns, including broken teeth, close calls, and even nights spent on resthouse bathroom floors.

*****

Click here for the link to Amy's Google doc on hiking in the heat at the Grand Canyon.

*****

The all-new Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is LIVE!! This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll have precious shade on your Grand Canyon hike—every hour of every day of the year. Check it out at gcshadetracker.com. Another free resource from Bright Angel Outfitters aimed at making your Grand Canyon adventure the best and safest it can be.

*****

For Canyon-centric hoodies, sweatshirts & tees—including the Victor Vomit tee and our new Rim-to-Rim collection— please visit BrightAngelOutfitters.com

*******

For more great Grand Canyon content, please check us out on the following platforms:

YouTube (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for informative and inspirational videos

Instagram (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for photos from the trail

TikTok (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for fun and informative short-form videos

Facebook (@GrandCanyonHikerDude)

Jerome Chavez is a wastewater operator for the National Park Service, but it's where he works and how he gets there that sets him apart. Almost every Tuesday for the last 26 years, Jerome has either descended or ascended the majestic South Kaibab Trail, on his way to or from work—at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Today, he has stories to tell and advice to share, all of which can help any GC hiker have a better experience below the rim.

*******

The all-new Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is LIVE!! This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll have precious shade on your Grand Canyon hike—every hour of every day of the year. Check it out at gcshadetracker.com. Another free resource from Bright Angel Outfitters aimed at making your Grand Canyon adventure the best and safest it can be.

*****

For Canyon-centric hoodies, sweatshirts & tees—including the Victor Vomit tee and our new Rim-to-Rim collection— please visit BrightAngelOutfitters.com

*******

For more great Grand Canyon content, please check us out on the following platforms:

YouTube (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for informative and inspirational videos

Instagram (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for photos from the trail

TikTok (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for fun and informative short-form videos

Facebook (@GrandCanyonHikerDude)

Sandrelle Aguirre lost her marriage and her best friend in a span of months. But instead of retreating into the darkness, she used her personal tragedies as a turning point toward the life she'd always wanted—one of taking action and conquering physical challenges that once seemed impossible. Today, Sandrelle shares how the Grand Canyon played such a crucial role in her transformation, and gives a detailed account of her life-changing, two-day Rim-to-Rim.

*****

Follow Sandrelle through her YouTube channel here: Adventures With Sandrelle.

*******

The all-new Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is LIVE!! This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll have precious shade on your Grand Canyon hike—every hour of every day of the year. Check it out at gcshadetracker.com. Another free resource from Bright Angel Outfitters aimed at making your Grand Canyon adventure the best and safest it can be.

*****

For Canyon-centric hoodies, sweatshirts & tees—including the Victor Vomit tee and our new Rim-to-Rim collection— please visit BrightAngelOutfitters.com

*******

For more great Grand Canyon content, please check us out on the following platforms:

YouTube (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for informative and inspirational videos

Instagram (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for photos from the trail

TikTok (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for fun and informative short-form videos

Facebook (@GrandCanyonHikerDude)

Mary Banik is 73 years old, and has hiked the Grand Canyon 175 hard-earned times...and counting. Today, Ms. Mary shares her triumphs, her near-tragedy, and the trail lessons she's learned that can help us all have our best hikes.

*****

The all-new Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is LIVE!! This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll have precious shade on your Grand Canyon hike—every hour of every day of the year. Check it out at gcshadetracker.com. Another free resource from Bright Angel Outfitters aimed at making your Grand Canyon adventure the best and safest it can be.

*****

For Canyon-centric hoodies, sweatshirts & tees—including the Victor Vomit tee and our new Rim-to-Rim collection— please visit BrightAngelOutfitters.com

*******

For more great Grand Canyon content, please check us out on the following platforms:

YouTube (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for informative and inspirational videos

Instagram (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for photos from the trail

TikTok (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for fun and informative short-form videos

Facebook (@GrandCanyonHikerDude)

*******

For the best and most helpful Facebook groups dedicated to hiking the Grand Canyon, search for:

• Grand Canyon Hikers
• Grand Canyon Rim to Rim
• Grand Canyon R2R2R Run!
• Grand Canyon R2R+ Training
• Grand Canyon Ridesharing and Transportation - Rim to Rim & More

The Grand Canyon offers one of the most unique hiking settings in the world, and being prepared physically is key. As the prime Canyon hiking season fast approaches, get some training tips and tricks from the experts that you'll be able to apply to your own training regiment.

*****

The all-new Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is LIVE!! This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll have precious shade on your Grand Canyon hike—every hour of every day of the year. Check it out at gcshadetracker.com. Another free resource from Bright Angel Outfitters aimed at making your Grand Canyon adventure the best and safest it can be.

*****

For Canyon-centric hoodies, sweatshirts & tees—including the Victor Vomit tee and our new Rim-to-Rim collection— please visit BrightAngelOutfitters.com

*******

For more great Grand Canyon content, please check us out on the following platforms:

YouTube (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for informative and inspirational videos

Instagram (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for photos from the trail

TikTok (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for fun and informative short-form videos

Facebook (@GrandCanyonHikerDude)

*******

For the best and most helpful Facebook groups dedicated to hiking the Grand Canyon, search for:

• Grand Canyon Hikers
• Grand Canyon Rim to Rim
• Grand Canyon R2R2R Run!
• Grand Canyon R2R+ Training
• Grand Canyon Ridesharing and Transportation - Rim to Rim & More

It's a very personal episode today, as I share my story of a summer R2R that I honestly wasn't sure I was going to survive. Listen along and learn how you can avoid making the same mistakes I did on your own Grand Canyon hikes, no matter what those hikes might be.

*****

The all-new Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is LIVE!! This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll have precious shade on your Grand Canyon hike—every hour of every day of the year. Check it out at gcshadetracker.com. Another free resource from Bright Angel Outfitters aimed at making your Grand Canyon adventure the best and safest it can be.

*****

For Canyon-centric hoodies, sweatshirts & tees—including the Victor Vomit tee and our new Rim-to-Rim collection— please visit BrightAngelOutfitters.com

*******

For more great Grand Canyon content, please check us out on the following platforms:

YouTube (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for informative and inspirational videos

Instagram (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for photos from the trail

TikTok (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for fun and informative short-form videos

Facebook (@GrandCanyonHikerDude)

For the first time since last summer’s Dragon Bravo Fire, the National Park Service has spoken in depth about the true condition of the North Kaibab Trail. In this exclusive interview, Grand Canyon Trail Supervisor Adam Gibson shares what he saw firsthand on Upper North Kaibab — debris flows powerful enough to erase stone structures, hydrophobic soils accelerating runoff, and elevated risk that could reshape Rim-to-Rim hiking for years. This is the clearest picture yet of what’s happening behind the scenes, what reopening realistically looks like, and why uncertainty may define the 2025 season. If you care about North Kaibab, this is essential listening.

*****
Our new hiking packs are here! Our signature Rim2Rim Pack is back, along with the new Canyon Elite 25, which takes the same features that made the Rim2Rim Pack famous — namely its front pockets and insulated hydration pocket — and adds a much-requested hip belt to make it even easier to dial in your fit. Find out more and order yours at hiKin.club. Supplies are limited, so be sure to check it out today.
*****

Please join Hike Club Grand Canyon on Facebook by clicking here. This is the official group of the Grand Canyon Hiker Dude Show, and it's a judgment-free zone full of interaction, information, and inspiration—it's simply THE place to get the best information in advance of your Canyon adventure. Join Brian, Coach Arnie, and most of the guests you've heard on the show in an environment created to answer your questions and help you have the best possible experience below the rim. It's completely free.

*****

Bright Angel Outfitters is now hiKin, where hiking meets kinship to form a community of like-minded hikers dedicated to helping each other hike our best hike. It's about all of us. 

*****

To reach Coach Arnie, you can call or text him (yes, really!) at (602) 390-9144 or send him a message on Instagram @painfreearnie.

*****

Have an idea for the show, or someone you think would be a great guest? Reach out to Brian anytime at brian@hikin.club.

*****

The Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is our gift to the Grand Canyon hiking community. This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll have precious shade on your Grand Canyon hike—every route on every hour of every day of the year. Check it out at gcshadetracker.com. Another free resource from hiKin aimed at making your Grand Canyon adventure the best and safest it can be.

*****

For more great Grand Canyon content, please check us out on the following platforms:

YouTube (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for informative and inspirational videos

Instagram (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for photos from the trail

TikTok (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for fun and informative short-form videos

Facebook (@GrandCanyonHikerDude)

James Tenelshof is a longtime Grand Canyon hiker and a valued contributor to the Canyon Facebook pages. But his expertise is hard-earned. Today, James tells the story of an ill-advised Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim, and how his mistakes led him to rethink everything about how to hike the Canyon.

*****

The all-new Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is LIVE!! This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll have precious shade on your Grand Canyon hike—every hour of every day of the year. Check it out at gcshadetracker.com. Another free resource from Bright Angel Outfitters aimed at making your Grand Canyon adventure the best and safest it can be.

*****

The books James mentions in this show are "Grand Obsession" and "Over the Edge."

*******

For Canyon-centric hoodies, sweatshirts & tees—including the Victor Vomit tee and our new Rim-to-Rim collection— please visit BrightAngelOutfitters.com

*******

For more great Grand Canyon content, please check us out on the following platforms:

YouTube (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for informative and inspirational videos

Instagram (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for photos from the trail

TikTok (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for fun and informative short-form videos

Facebook (@GrandCanyonHikerDude)

*******

For the best and most helpful Facebook groups dedicated to hiking the Grand Canyon, search for:

• Grand Canyon Hikers
• Grand Canyon Rim to Rim
• Grand Canyon R2R2R Run!
• Grand Canyon R2R+ Training
• Grand Canyon Ridesharing and Transportation - Rim to Rim & More

Whether you're a first-timer or a long-timer, knowing which hike to take on at the Grand Canyon can be challenging. Today, Benedict Dughoff rejoins the show to offer his perspective on the five best hikes that start on the South Rim. No matter if you want to stay on the rim or go all the way to the river, this is what you need to know.

*****

The all-new Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is LIVE!! This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll have precious shade on your Grand Canyon hike—every hour of every day of the year. Check it out at gcshadetracker.com. Another free resource from Bright Angel Outfitters aimed at making your Grand Canyon adventure the best and safest it can be.

*****

For Canyon-centric hoodies, sweatshirts & tees—including the Victor Vomit tee and our new Rim-to-Rim collection— please visit BrightAngelOutfitters.com

*******

For more great Grand Canyon content, please check us out on the following platforms:

YouTube (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for informative and inspirational videos

Instagram (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for photos from the trail

TikTok (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for fun and informative short-form videos

Facebook (@GrandCanyonHikerDude)

Arnie Fonseca Jr. is training to become the oldest person to ever complete a quadruple crossing of the Grand Canyon—R2R2R2R2R—which he soon plans on doing at the age of 65. A big part of his training regiment is completing multiple Rim-to-Rim-to-Rims, the first of which he took on this past week. But the thing is, it's currently winter, and completing an R3 is VERY difficult in such conditions, because of snow and ice and the closure of the North Rim for the season. In spite of all his Canyon experience, Arnie faced some unexpected challenges, and hearing about how he dealt with them is something that will help all of us on our Canyon adventures.

*****

To reach Coach Arnie, he insists you can call or text him at (602) 390-9144, or find him (@ArnieFonsecaJr) on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

*****

The all-new Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is LIVE!! This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll have precious shade on your Grand Canyon hike—every hour of every day of the year. Check it out at gcshadetracker.com. Another free resource from Bright Angel Outfitters aimed at making your Grand Canyon adventure the best and safest it can be.

*****

For Canyon-centric hoodies, sweatshirts & tees—including the Victor Vomit tee and our new Rim-to-Rim collection— please visit BrightAngelOutfitters.com

*******

For more great Grand Canyon content, please check us out on the following platforms:

YouTube (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for informative and inspirational videos

Instagram (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for photos from the trail

TikTok (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for fun and informative short-form videos

Facebook (@GrandCanyonHikerDude)

*******

For the best and most helpful Facebook groups dedicated to hiking the Grand Canyon, search for:

• Grand Canyon Hikers
• Grand Canyon Rim to Rim
• Grand Canyon R2R2R Run!
• Grand Canyon R2R+ Training
• Grand Canyon Ridesharing and Transportation - Rim to Rim & More

Benedict Dughoff is the Canyon-obsessed man behind a Facebook community of more than 300,000 members. In this episode, Benedict shares his story of falling in love with hiking the Grand Canyon, and how he'll stop at nothing to make sure everyone has the best possible experience below the rim.

*****

The all-new Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is LIVE!! This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll have precious shade on your Grand Canyon hike—every hour of every day of the year. Check it out at gcshadetracker.com. Another free resource from Bright Angel Outfitters aimed at making your Grand Canyon adventure the best and safest it can be.

*****

To reach Benedict for private Grand Canyon coaching and consulting, send a DM through Facebook or email him at canyoncoachingaz@gmail.com.

*****

For Canyon-centric hoodies, sweatshirts & tees—including the Victor Vomit tee and our new Rim-to-Rim collection— please visit BrightAngelOutfitters.com

*******

For more great Grand Canyon content, please check us out on the following platforms:

YouTube (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for informative and inspirational videos

Instagram (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for photos from the trail

TikTok (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for fun and informative short-form videos

Facebook (@GrandCanyonHikerDude)

*******

For the best and most helpful Facebook groups dedicated to hiking the Grand Canyon, search for:

• Grand Canyon Hikers
• Grand Canyon Rim to Rim
• Grand Canyon R2R2R Run!
• Grand Canyon R2R+ Training
• Grand Canyon Ridesharing and Transportation - Rim to Rim & More

Julian Coiner is a realtor and triathlete, and also a veteran of 51 Rim-to-Rims, including a recent crossing where he helped a 92-year-old set a Guinness World Record for being the oldest known person to complete the Grand Canyon's most iconic hike. Today, Julian is more concerned with helping others have memorable Rim-to-Rims than he is any personal ambitions, and he does so with an infectious joy aimed at having his hiking partners finish with smiles on their faces. In this conversation, Julian shares the valuable secrets he's learned by hiking alongside so many first-timers, and the tips that can help any hiker have a successful adventure below the rim. 

*****

The all-new Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is LIVE!! This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll have precious shade on your Grand Canyon hike—every hour of every day of the year. Check it out at gcshadetracker.com. Another free resource from Bright Angel Outfitters aimed at making your Grand Canyon adventure the best and safest it can be.

*******

For Canyon-centric hoodies, sweatshirts & tees—including our new Rim-to-Rim collection— please visit BrightAngelOutfitters.com

*******

For more great Grand Canyon content, please check us out on the following platforms:

YouTube (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for informative and inspirational videos

Instagram (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for photos from the trail

TikTok (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for fun and informative short-form videos

Facebook (@GrandCanyonHikerDude)

*******

For the best and most helpful Facebook groups dedicated to hiking the Grand Canyon, search for:

• Grand Canyon Hikers
• Grand Canyon Rim to Rim
• Grand Canyon R2R2R Run!
• Grand Canyon R2R+ Training
• Grand Canyon Ridesharing and Transportation - Rim to Rim & More

The Tonto Trail is one of Grand Canyon's longest, but most sparsely traveled routes. Stretching for 95 miles below the South Rim, Tonto zigs and zags its way across the relatively level Tonto Platform, 3,000 feet below the rim and roughly 1,500 feet above the river. 

In this episode, we'll explore the most accessible part of Tonto—the 4.5-mile leg between the South Kaibab and Bright Angel trails. If you're looking for a stunning, quiet day hike away from the crowds but still right in the middle of it all, this Grand Canyon adventure could be for you.

*****

The all-new Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is LIVE!! This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll have precious shade on your Grand Canyon hike—every hour of every day of the year. Check it out at gcshadetracker.com. Another free resource from Bright Angel Outfitters aimed at making your Grand Canyon adventure the best and safest it can be.

*******

For more great Grand Canyon content, please check us out on the following platforms:

YouTube (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for informative and inspirational videos

Instagram (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for photos from the trail

TikTok (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for fun and informative short-form videos

Facebook (@GrandCanyonHikerDude)

*******

For the latest on the Rim2Rim Pack from Bright Angel Outfitters, please go to BrightAngelOutfitters.com

*******

For the best and most helpful Facebook groups dedicated to hiking the Grand Canyon, search for:

• Grand Canyon Hikers
• Grand Canyon Rim to Rim
• Grand Canyon R2R2R Run!
• Grand Canyon R2R+ Training
• Grand Canyon Ridesharing and Transportation - Rim to Rim & More

Arnie Fonseca Jr. is a true "Canyon Crazy." How else can you describe a man who, at 62, decided to do a QUADRUPLE crossing of the Grand Canyon?

Turns out, there are plenty of lessons for all of us in Coach Arnie's story. We'll go in-depth into what he learned about himself, and how it can help all of us have our best possible hikes in the Grand Canyon.

*****

The all-new Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is LIVE!! This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll have precious shade on your Grand Canyon hike—every hour of every day of the year. Check it out at gcshadetracker.com. Another free resource from Bright Angel Outfitters aimed at making your Grand Canyon adventure the best and safest it can be.

*******

For more great Grand Canyon content, please check us out on the following platforms:

YouTube (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for informative and inspirational videos

Instagram (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for photos from the trail

TikTok (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for fun and informative short-form videos

Facebook (@GrandCanyonHikerDude)

*******

For the latest on the Rim2Rim Pack from Bright Angel Outfitters, please go to BrightAngelOutfitters.com

*******

For the best and most helpful Facebook groups dedicated to hiking the Grand Canyon, search for:

• Grand Canyon Hikers
• Grand Canyon Rim to Rim
• Grand Canyon R2R2R Run!
• Grand Canyon R2R+ Training
• Grand Canyon Ridesharing and Transportation - Rim to Rim & More

The South Kaibab Trail is the most scenic of the Grand Canyon's main trails, with spectacular vistas for just about its entire 6.5 miles. You don't have to go all the way to the Colorado River to get the full Kaibab Experience; in fact, just a two-mile roundtrip can give you views and memories that will last you a lifetime.

In this episode, we'll talk about all of the day hike options available on South Kaibab, whether it be out-and-backs to Ooh Aah Point, Cedar Ridge, Skeleton Point, The Tipoff, or even the Phantom Ranch area if you're attempting a Rim-to-Rim or Rim-to-River. Do it once and you'll see for yourself why South Kaibab is the true "can't-miss" trail at the Grand Canyon.

*****

The all-new Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is LIVE!! This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll have precious shade on your Grand Canyon hike—every hour of every day of the year. Check it out at gcshadetracker.com. Another free resource from Bright Angel Outfitters aimed at making your Grand Canyon adventure the best and safest it can be.

*******

For more great Grand Canyon content, please check us out on the following platforms:

YouTube (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for informative and inspirational videos

Instagram (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for photos from the trail

TikTok (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for fun and informative short-form videos

Facebook (@GrandCanyonHikerDude)

For the best and most helpful Facebook groups dedicated to hiking the Grand Canyon, search for:

• Grand Canyon Hikers
• Grand Canyon Rim to Rim
• Grand Canyon R2R2R Run!
• Grand Canyon R2R+ Training
• Grand Canyon Hikers and Backpackers

Rim-to-River-to-Rim—better known to Canyon regulars as Rim-to-River—is the most popular of the Canyon hikes that begin and end on the South Rim.

Following the breathtaking South Kaibab Trail to the bottom and the famed Bright Angel Trail back up to the rim, Rim-to-River is a difficult, 16+ mile journey with more than 9,000 feet of elevation change. This is not a hike to be taken lightly or without proper preparation and research. In fact, the National Park Service strongly advises against attempting this hike in a single day.

In this episode—primarily recorded during the hike, as it happened—you'll learn all the do's and don'ts, all the places to stop, and what to expect before and during one of the most iconic hikes in the world.

*****

The all-new Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is LIVE!! This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll have precious shade on your Grand Canyon hike—every hour of every day of the year. Check it out at gcshadetracker.com. Another free resource from Bright Angel Outfitters aimed at making your Grand Canyon adventure the best and safest it can be.

*******

For more great Grand Canyon content, please check us out on the following platforms:

YouTube (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for informative and inspirational videos

Instagram (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for photos from the trail

TikTok (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for fun and informative short-form videos

Facebook (@GrandCanyonHikerDude)

For the best and most helpful Facebook groups dedicated to hiking the Grand Canyon, search for:

• Grand Canyon Hikers
• Grand Canyon Rim to Rim
• Grand Canyon R2R2R Run!
• Grand Canyon R2R+ Training
• Grand Canyon Hikers and Backpackers

In Part 1 of the Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim hike, we made it from the South Kaibab trailhead to the North Kaibab trailhead in just over nine hours—a hike done completely in the darkness.

With the sun finally coming up, I have nothing but questions as I wonder how my body will react having already hiked 21.5 miles with 11,000 feet of elevation change. Now, we do it all over again—21.5 more miles to the finish at South Kaibab. Only then will the double crossing—the one-day Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim hike—be complete.

Whether your goal is Rim-to-Rim, Rim-to-River, or any of the Canyon's iconic hikes, you'll no doubt find some useful information in this first-hand, from-the-trail account of my attempt at my first Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim. Primarily the domain of trail and ultra runners—which I am not—I knew I wanted to do R3 as a hike. 

In the second part of this adventure, my struggles will be evident as I try to complete the #1 hike on my bucket list.

This is part two of what the one-day Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim hike—43.9 miles with more than 22,000 feet of elevation change—is really like.

*****

The all-new Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is LIVE!! This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll have precious shade on your Grand Canyon hike—every hour of every day of the year. Check it out at gcshadetracker.com. Another free resource from Bright Angel Outfitters aimed at making your Grand Canyon adventure the best and safest it can be.

*******

For more great Grand Canyon content, please check us out on the following platforms:

YouTube (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for informative and inspirational videos

Instagram (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for photos from the trail

TikTok (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for fun and informative short-form videos

Facebook (@GrandCanyonHikerDude)

For the best and most helpful Facebook groups dedicated to hiking the Grand Canyon, search for:

• Grand Canyon Hikers
• Grand Canyon Rim to Rim
• Grand Canyon R2R2R Run!
• Grand Canyon R2R+ Training
• Grand Canyon Hikers and Backpackers

Come along as Brian attempts the South Rim Six Pack Challenge — hiking the first mile down and back up six different Grand Canyon trails in one day. From Tanner and New Hance to the corridor trails, the episode covers route finding, winter conditions, logistics, and what it really takes to make this kind of challenge work.
*****
Our new hiking packs are here! Our signature Rim2Rim Pack is back, along with the new Canyon Elite 25, which takes the same features that made the Rim2Rim Pack famous — namely its front pockets and insulated hydration pocket — and adds a much-requested hip belt to make it even easier to dial in your fit. Find out more and order yours at hiKin.club. Supplies are limited, so be sure to check it out today.
*****

Please join Hike Club Grand Canyon on Facebook by clicking here. This is the official group of the Grand Canyon Hiker Dude Show, and it's a judgment-free zone full of interaction, information, and inspiration—it's simply THE place to get the best information in advance of your Canyon adventure. Join Brian, Coach Arnie, and most of the guests you've heard on the show in an environment created to answer your questions and help you have the best possible experience below the rim. It's completely free.

*****

Bright Angel Outfitters is now hiKin, where hiking meets kinship to form a community of like-minded hikers dedicated to helping each other hike our best hike. It's about all of us. 

*****

To reach Coach Arnie, you can call or text him (yes, really!) at (602) 390-9144 or send him a message on Instagram @painfreearnie.

*****

Have an idea for the show, or someone you think would be a great guest? Reach out to Brian anytime at brian@hikin.club.

*****

The Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is our gift to the Grand Canyon hiking community. This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll have precious shade on your Grand Canyon hike—every route on every hour of every day of the year. Check it out at gcshadetracker.com. Another free resource from hiKin aimed at making your Grand Canyon adventure the best and safest it can be.

*****

For more great Grand Canyon content, please check us out on the following platforms:

YouTube (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for informative and inspirational videos

Instagram (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for photos from the trail

TikTok (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for fun and informative short-form videos

Facebook (@GrandCanyonHikerDude)

Whether your goal is Rim-to-Rim, Rim-to-River, or any of the Canyon's iconic hikes, you'll no doubt find some useful information in this first-hand, from-the-trail account of my attempt at my first Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim—a double crossing of the Grand Canyon. Primarily the domain of trail and ultra runners—which I am not—I knew I wanted to do R3 as a hike. That made it somewhat difficult to plan, as I figured it would take me around 20 hours to complete, meaning I'd have to hike all the way through the night if I hoped to finish in daylight. 

In this episode, you'll hear my struggles every step of the way, as they happened, and also my recollections for those times I was just too tired or hurting too badly to speak into a microphone.

This is part one of what the Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim hike—43.9 miles with more than 22,000 feet of elevation change—is really like.

P.S. If I can do it, you can, too!

*****

The all-new Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is LIVE!! This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll have precious shade on your Grand Canyon hike—every hour of every day of the year. Check it out at gcshadetracker.com. Another free resource from Bright Angel Outfitters aimed at making your Grand Canyon adventure the best and safest it can be.

*******

For more great Grand Canyon content, please check us out on the following platforms:

YouTube (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for informative and inspirational videos

Instagram (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for photos from the trail

TikTok (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for fun and informative short-form videos

Facebook (@GrandCanyonHikerDude)

For the best and most helpful Facebook groups dedicated to hiking the Grand Canyon, search for:

• Grand Canyon Hikers
• Grand Canyon Rim to Rim
• Grand Canyon R2R2R Run!
• Grand Canyon R2R+ Training
• Grand Canyon Hikers and Backpackers

On our premiere episode, I'll share my Grand Canyon experience and reasons for launching this show, as well as offer up some important tips that anyone can benefit from when they decide to hike below the rim. Welcome to The Grand Canyon Hiker Dude Show, Presented by Bright Angel Outfitters.

*****

The all-new Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is LIVE!! This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll have precious shade on your Grand Canyon hike—every hour of every day of the year. Check it out at gcshadetracker.com. Another free resource from Bright Angel Outfitters aimed at making your Grand Canyon adventure the best and safest it can be.

*******

For more great Grand Canyon content, please check us out on the following platforms:

YouTube (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for informative and inspirational videos

Instagram (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for photos from the trail

TikTok (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for fun and informative short-form videos

Facebook (@GrandCanyonHikerDude)

For the best and most helpful Facebook groups dedicated to hiking the Grand Canyon, search for:

• Grand Canyon Hikers
• Grand Canyon Rim to Rim
• Grand Canyon R2R2R Run!
• Grand Canyon R2R+ Training
• Grand Canyon Hikers and Backpackers

This episode is a role reversal.

After a Grand Canyon hike, on the drive back to Flagstaff, Dr. Tom Myers (Mr. Grand Canyon) takes over the mic and interviews Brian.

There is no trail breakdown, no route discussion, and no gear talk. Instead, Tom asks Brian direct questions and lets the conversation unfold naturally.

Topics covered include:

• How the Grand Canyon Hiker Dude Show started
• Brian’s background before the podcast
• An anecdote involving Charles Barkley
• A discussion of Brian's Shark Tank appearance
• Brian responding emotionally during part of the conversation

The episode is conversational and unscripted, with Brian answering questions he usually asks others.

Sometimes, the best conversations come...are on the drive home.

*****
Our new hiking packs are here! Our signature Rim2Rim Pack is back, along with the new Canyon Elite 25, which takes the same features that made the Rim2Rim Pack famous — namely its front pockets and insulated hydration pocket — and adds a much-requested hip belt to make it even easier to dial in your fit. Find out more and order yours at hiKin.club. Supplies are limited, so be sure to check it out today.
*****

Please join Hike Club Grand Canyon on Facebook by clicking here. This is the official group of the Grand Canyon Hiker Dude Show, and it's a judgment-free zone full of interaction, information, and inspiration—it's simply THE place to get the best information in advance of your Canyon adventure. Join Brian, Coach Arnie, and most of the guests you've heard on the show in an environment created to answer your questions and help you have the best possible experience below the rim. It's completely free.

*****

Bright Angel Outfitters is now hiKin, where hiking meets kinship to form a community of like-minded hikers dedicated to helping each other hike our best hike. It's about all of us. 

*****

To reach Coach Arnie, you can call or text him (yes, really!) at (602) 390-9144 or send him a message on Instagram @painfreearnie.

*****

Have an idea for the show, or someone you think would be a great guest? Reach out to Brian anytime at brian@hikin.club.

*****

The Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is our gift to the Grand Canyon hiking community. This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll have precious shade on your Grand Canyon hike—every route on every hour of every day of the year. Check it out at gcshadetracker.com. Another free resource from hiKin aimed at making your Grand Canyon adventure the best and safest it can be.

*****

For more great Grand Canyon content, please check us out on the following platforms:

YouTube (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for informative and inspirational videos

Instagram (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for photos from the trail

TikTok (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for fun and informative short-form videos

Facebook (@GrandCanyonHikerDude)

Be ready to be inspired. Recorded on a South Kaibab Rim-to-River hike, this episode follows Jerry Crank as he completes his first big Grand Canyon hike at 77 years old, alongside his son Jeff. Jerry talks about training, pacing, heart-rate management, weight loss, and what it took to climb back out the same day.
*****
Our new hiking packs are here! Our signature Rim2Rim Pack is back, along with the new Canyon Elite 25, which takes the same features that made the Rim2Rim Pack famous — namely its front pockets and insulated hydration pocket — and adds a much-requested hip belt to make it even easier to dial in your fit. Find out more and order yours at hiKin.club. Supplies are limited, so be sure to check it out today.
*****

Please join Hike Club Grand Canyon on Facebook by clicking here. This is the official group of the Grand Canyon Hiker Dude Show, and it's a judgment-free zone full of interaction, information, and inspiration—it's simply THE place to get the best information in advance of your Canyon adventure. Join Brian, Coach Arnie, and most of the guests you've heard on the show in an environment created to answer your questions and help you have the best possible experience below the rim. It's completely free.

*****

Bright Angel Outfitters is now hiKin, where hiking meets kinship to form a community of like-minded hikers dedicated to helping each other hike our best hike. It's about all of us. 

*****

To reach Coach Arnie, you can call or text him (yes, really!) at (602) 390-9144 or send him a message on Instagram @painfreearnie.

*****

Have an idea for the show, or someone you think would be a great guest? Reach out to Brian anytime at brian@hikin.club.

*****

The Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is our gift to the Grand Canyon hiking community. This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll have precious shade on your Grand Canyon hike—every route on every hour of every day of the year. Check it out at gcshadetracker.com. Another free resource from hiKin aimed at making your Grand Canyon adventure the best and safest it can be.

*****

For more great Grand Canyon content, please check us out on the following platforms:

YouTube (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for informative and inspirational videos

Instagram (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for photos from the trail

TikTok (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for fun and informative short-form videos

Facebook (@GrandCanyonHikerDude)

With rim-to-rim still off the table, Brian heads off the corridor once again—this time down the historic Grandview Trail to Horseshoe Mesa, joined by lifelong canyon hiker Joe Adlhoch, better known in the community as Facebook Joe.

What starts as a “simple” day hike quickly proves otherwise.

Grandview wastes no time, dropping more than 1,000 vertical feet in the first mile and never really letting up. Built in the late 1800s to access Pete Berry’s mining claims, this trail is steep, narrow, rugged—and surprisingly easy to follow for those ready to respect it.

Along the way, Brian and Joe explore:

• The dramatic cribbing and cliff-hugging construction of Grandview
• Abandoned mining relics and the story behind Horseshoe Mesa
• Radiation warning signs, historic mine shafts, and canyon ghosts of the past
• Why Grandview feels familiar to South Kaibab hikers—but hits very differently on the way back up
• A quiet, sobering reflection on Margaret Bradley and why the canyon must never be underestimated

Out on the edge of Horseshoe Mesa, standing atop the Redwall and looking down at the Colorado River far below, the canyon delivers one of those moments no camera can capture—it's one it forces you to earn.

The episode closes with Coach Arnie’s training tip, this time focused on the often-ignored hero of canyon hiking: the big toe—and why foot strength, gait, and intention matter more than most hikers realize.

Steep. Historic. Quietly humbling.

This is the Grandview Trail.

*****
Our new hiking packs are here! Our signature Rim2Rim Pack is back, along with the new Canyon Elite 25, which takes the same features that made the Rim2Rim Pack famous — namely its front pockets and insulated hydration pocket — and adds a much-requested hip belt to make it even easier to dial in your fit. Find out more and order yours at hiKin.club. Supplies are limited, so be sure to check it out today.
*****

Please join Hike Club Grand Canyon on Facebook by clicking here. This is the official group of the Grand Canyon Hiker Dude Show, and it's a judgment-free zone full of interaction, information, and inspiration—it's simply THE place to get the best information in advance of your Canyon adventure. Join Brian, Coach Arnie, and most of the guests you've heard on the show in an environment created to answer your questions and help you have the best possible experience below the rim. It's completely free.

*****

Bright Angel Outfitters is now hiKin, where hiking meets kinship to form a community of like-minded hikers dedicated to helping each other hike our best hike. It's about all of us. 

*****

To reach Coach Arnie, you can call or text him (yes, really!) at (602) 390-9144 or send him a message on Instagram @painfreearnie.

*****

Have an idea for the show, or someone you think would be a great guest? Reach out to Brian anytime at brian@hikin.club.

*****

The Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is our gift to the Grand Canyon hiking community. This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll have precious shade on your Grand Canyon hike—every route on every hour of every day of the year. Check it out at gcshadetracker.com. Another free resource from hiKin aimed at making your Grand Canyon adventure the best and safest it can be.

*****

For more great Grand Canyon content, please check us out on the following platforms:

YouTube (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for informative and inspirational videos

Instagram (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for photos from the trail

TikTok (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for fun and informative short-form videos

Facebook (@GrandCanyonHikerDude)

Recorded at the North Rim's Grand Canyon Lodge on opening day 2025, this conversation follows a South Kaibab to North Kaibab Rim-to-Rim with Jackie Kunkel and her group, “the Crazies.” The discussion covers preparation, pacing, group decision-making, and the impact of witnessing a serious medical emergency on the trail. The lodge burned down less than two months later, and Brian also speaks to the gravity of it being his final time inside it.
*****
Our new hiking packs are here! Our signature Rim2Rim Pack is back, along with the new Canyon Elite 25, which takes the same features that made the Rim2Rim Pack famous — namely its front pockets and insulated hydration pocket — and adds a much-requested hip belt to make it even easier to dial in your fit. Find out more and order yours at hiKin.club. Supplies are limited, so be sure to check it out today.
*****

Please join Hike Club Grand Canyon on Facebook by clicking here. This is the official group of the Grand Canyon Hiker Dude Show, and it's a judgment-free zone full of interaction, information, and inspiration—it's simply THE place to get the best information in advance of your Canyon adventure. Join Brian, Coach Arnie, and most of the guests you've heard on the show in an environment created to answer your questions and help you have the best possible experience below the rim. It's completely free.

*****

Bright Angel Outfitters is now hiKin, where hiking meets kinship to form a community of like-minded hikers dedicated to helping each other hike our best hike. It's about all of us. 

*****

To reach Coach Arnie, you can call or text him (yes, really!) at (602) 390-9144 or send him a message on Instagram @painfreearnie.

*****

Have an idea for the show, or someone you think would be a great guest? Reach out to Brian anytime at brian@hikin.club.

*****

The Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is our gift to the Grand Canyon hiking community. This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll have precious shade on your Grand Canyon hike—every route on every hour of every day of the year. Check it out at gcshadetracker.com. Another free resource from hiKin aimed at making your Grand Canyon adventure the best and safest it can be.

*****

For more great Grand Canyon content, please check us out on the following platforms:

YouTube (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for informative and inspirational videos

Instagram (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for photos from the trail

TikTok (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for fun and informative short-form videos

Facebook (@GrandCanyonHikerDude)

What happens when two experienced Grand Canyon hikers—including Dr. Tom Myers, aka Mr. Grand Canyon—leave their headlamps behind on a January rim-to-river hike?

Episode 97 opens Year Three of The Grand Canyon Hiker Dude Show with a powerful reminder: experience doesn’t make you immune to mistakes.

Brian and Dr. Tom recount a full sunrise-to-sunset Tanner Trail rim-to-river—16.5 miles, over 5,800 feet of elevation change, total solitude, winter snowpack, and one oversight that instantly changed the day’s calculus. What follows is a wide-ranging, deeply human conversation recorded on the drive back to Flagstaff, covering:

• Why Tanner Trail may be the best first off-corridor rim-to-river route
• The Grand Canyon’s “grand deception” and why Tanner feels shallower—but isn’t
• A jaw-dropping Redwall reveal that stops even veteran hikers cold
• Why Tanner Rapid is where Death in Grand Canyon was literally born
• Harvey Butchart, the Redwall, and what true canyon exploration really looks like
• The overlooked danger of winter day hikes without contingency planning
• A checklist failure that sparked a new safety ritual for future hikes

You’ll also hear Dr. Myers reflect on the life of his mother—the woman who first brought him to the Canyon—and how perseverance, resolve, and service shaped everything that followed, from medicine to conservation to saving lives below the rim.

The episode closes with Coach Arnie’s first tip of the year—a deceptively simple training practice that has helped hikers into their 60s and beyond keep moving strong in the canyon.

This isn’t just a trail report.

 It’s a reminder of why preparation matters, why humility matters, and why the Canyon always deserves your full respect—no matter how many miles you’ve logged.

And yes… don’t forget your headlamp.

*****
Our new hiking packs are here! Our signature Rim2Rim Pack is back, along with the new Canyon Elite 25, which takes the same features that made the Rim2Rim Pack famous — namely its front pockets and insulated hydration pocket — and adds a much-requested hip belt to make it even easier to dial in your fit. Find out more and order yours at hiKin.club. Supplies are limited, so be sure to check it out today.
*****

Please join Hike Club Grand Canyon on Facebook by clicking here. This is the official group of the Grand Canyon Hiker Dude Show, and it's a judgment-free zone full of interaction, information, and inspiration—it's simply THE place to get the best information in advance of your Canyon adventure. Join Brian, Coach Arnie, and most of the guests you've heard on the show in an environment created to answer your questions and help you have the best possible experience below the rim. It's completely free.

*****

Bright Angel Outfitters is now hiKin, where hiking meets kinship to form a community of like-minded hikers dedicated to helping each other hike our best hike. It's about all of us. 

*****

To reach Coach Arnie, you can call or text him (yes, really!) at (602) 390-9144 or send him a message on Instagram @painfreearnie.

*****

Have an idea for the show, or someone you think would be a great guest? Reach out to Brian anytime at brian@hikin.club.

*****

The Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is our gift to the Grand Canyon hiking community. This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll have precious shade on your Grand Canyon hike—every route on every hour of every day of the year. Check it out at gcshadetracker.com. Another free resource from hiKin aimed at making your Grand Canyon adventure the best and safest it can be.

*****

For more great Grand Canyon content, please check us out on the following platforms:

YouTube (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for informative and inspirational videos

Instagram (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for photos from the trail

TikTok (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for fun and informative short-form videos

Facebook (@GrandCanyonHikerDude)

When the Canyon’s main arteries close, adventure doesn’t stop — it just shifts. In this episode, Brian teams up with Canyon veteran James Tenelshof for a day on the rugged Tanner Trail, one of the most rewarding and least-traveled routes on the South Rim. Together, they chase Escalante Peak, get cliffed out, dodge rain, and learn firsthand why off-corridor hiking demands equal parts respect, patience, and humility. Along the way, they discuss the growing push to reopen North Kaibab, the future of corridor maintenance, and what the Dragon Bravo Fire might mean for hikers in 2025.

It’s a raw, honest look at what happens when you step beyond the crowds — and discover that sometimes the best adventures are the ones that don’t go to plan.
*****
Our new hiking packs are here! Our signature Rim2Rim Pack is back, along with the new Canyon Elite 25, which takes the same features that made the Rim2Rim Pack famous — namely its front pockets and insulated hydration pocket — and adds a much-requested hip belt to make it even easier to dial in your fit. Find out more and order yours at hiKin.club. Supplies are limited, so be sure to check it out today.
*****

Please join the hiKin Grand Canyon Facebook group—the official group of The Grand Canyon Hiker Dude Show—by clicking here. Our group is a judgment-free zone full of interaction, information, and inspiration—it's simply THE place to get the best information in advance of your Canyon adventure. Join Brian, Coach Arnie, and most of the guests you've heard on the show in an environment created to answer your questions and help you have the best possible experience below the rim. It's completely free.

*****

Bright Angel Outfitters is now hiKin, where hiking meets kinship to form a community of like-minded hikers dedicated to helping each other hike our best hike. It's about all of us. 

*****

To reach Coach Arnie, you can call or text him (yes, really!) at (602) 390-9144 or send him a message on Instagram @painfreearnie.

*****

Have an idea for the show, or someone you think would be a great guest? Reach out to Brian anytime at brian@hikin.club.

*****

The Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is our gift to the Grand Canyon hiking community. This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll have precious shade on your Grand Canyon hike—every route on every hour of every day of the year. Check it out at gcshadetracker.com. Another free resource from hiKin aimed at making your Grand Canyon adventure the best and safest it can be.

*****

For more great Grand Canyon content, please check us out on the following platforms:

YouTube (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for informative and inspirational videos

Instagram (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for photos from the trail

TikTok (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for fun and informative short-form videos

Facebook (@GrandCanyonHikerDude)

Real hikers. Real mistakes. Hard lessons from a place that does not care how ready you think you are. In the first Canyon Confessions bonus episode, Brian reads listener-submitted Grand Canyon mistakes from the Hike Club Grand Canyon community and adds his own trail-earned perspective on planning, rim-to-rim logistics, food, water, shuttle timing, mule ruts, overdoing it before the big hike, and the little decisions that can change everything below the rim.
*****
The best way to support the show is by considering our top-of-the-line hiking packs for your next adventure, which Brian designed (and now uses) for all of his hikes. Our signature Rim2Rim Pack offeres 25L of storage in a running vest design (with front pockets and insulated hydration) that's built for serious miles. The new Canyon Elite 25 takes those same features and adds a hip belt for more support. Find out more and order yours at hiKin.club. 
*****

Please join Hike Club Grand Canyon on Facebook by clicking here. This is the official group of the Grand Canyon Hiker Dude Show, and it's a judgment-free zone full of interaction, information, and inspiration—it's simply THE place to get the best information in advance of your Canyon adventure. Join Brian, Coach Arnie, and most of the guests you've heard on the show in an environment created to answer your questions and help you have the best possible experience below the rim. It's completely free.

*****

To reach Coach Arnie, you can call or text him (yes, really!) at (602) 390-9144 or send him a message on Instagram @painfreearnie.

*****

Have an idea for the show, or someone you think would be a great guest? Reach out to Brian anytime at brian@hikin.club.

*****

The Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is our gift to the Grand Canyon hiking community. This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll have precious shade on your Grand Canyon hike—every route on every hour of every day of the year. Check it out at gcshadetracker.com. Another free resource from hiKin aimed at making your Grand Canyon adventure the best and safest it can be.

*****

For more great Grand Canyon content, please check us out on the following platforms:

YouTube (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for informative and inspirational videos

Instagram (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for photos from the trail

TikTok (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for fun and informative short-form videos

Facebook (@GrandCanyonHikerDude)

In this special Thanksgiving episode, Brian and Zeena celebrate the long-awaited arrival of the Rim2Rim Pack and the brand-new Canyon Elite — and share the heart behind why hiKin exists. Then Brian sits down with Weston Myers, who takes us inside the moment a calm morning turned into a violent, soul-shaking flash flood in a remote part of Grand Canyon. Alone, soaked, and pinned in place for 16+ hours, Weston faced  unthinkable fear that even had him record a farewell message to his friends and family. His story is a powerful reminder of just how fast the Canyon can turn — and why respect and preparation are everything.
*****
Our new hiking packs are here! Our signature Rim2Rim Pack is back, along with the new Canyon Elite 25, which takes the same features that made the Rim2Rim Pack famous — namely its front pockets and insulated hydration pocket — and adds a much-requested hip belt to make it even easier to dial in your fit. Find out more and order yours at hiKin.club. Supplies are limited, so be sure to check it out today.
*****

Please join the hiKin Grand Canyon Facebook group—the official group of The Grand Canyon Hiker Dude Show—by clicking here. Our group is a judgment-free zone full of interaction, information, and inspiration—it's simply THE place to get the best information in advance of your Canyon adventure. Join Brian, Coach Arnie, and most of the guests you've heard on the show in an environment created to answer your questions and help you have the best possible experience below the rim. It's completely free.

*****

Bright Angel Outfitters is now hiKin, where hiking meets kinship to form a community of like-minded hikers dedicated to helping each other hike our best hike. It's about all of us. 

*****

To reach Coach Arnie, you can call or text him (yes, really!) at (602) 390-9144 or send him a message on Instagram @painfreearnie.

*****

Have an idea for the show, or someone you think would be a great guest? Reach out to Brian anytime at brian@hikin.club.

*****

The Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is our gift to the Grand Canyon hiking community. This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll have precious shade on your Grand Canyon hike—every route on every hour of every day of the year. Check it out at gcshadetracker.com. Another free resource from hiKin aimed at making your Grand Canyon adventure the best and safest it can be.

*****

For more great Grand Canyon content, please check us out on the following platforms:

YouTube (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for informative and inspirational videos

Instagram (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for photos from the trail

TikTok (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for fun and informative short-form videos

Facebook (@GrandCanyonHikerDude)

When Tiffany Yager walked into the hospital during the pandemic, she thought she had COVID. Instead, doctors told her she had acute myeloid leukemia—and perhaps just 24 hours to live if she didn't go into intensive care immediately.

Three and a half years later, this Michigan mother of three hiked more than 20 miles through the Grand Canyon, from South Kaibab to Tonto, then down to the Colorado River and back up Bright Angel Trail.

In this powerful episode, Tiffany shares how she rebuilt her strength (and learned to walk again), found purpose through adversity, and turned survival into a way of life. 

It’s a reminder that sometimes the hardest climbs lead us back to who we truly are.
*****

Please join the hiKin Grand Canyon Facebook group—the official group of The Grand Canyon Hiker Dude Show—by clicking here. Our group is a judgment-free zone full of interaction, information, and inspiration—it's simply THE place to get the best information in advance of your Canyon adventure. Join Brian, Coach Arnie, and most of the guests you've heard on the show in an environment created to answer your questions and help you have the best possible experience below the rim. It's completely free.

*****

Bright Angel Outfitters is now hiKin, where hiking meets kinship to form a community of like-minded hikers dedicated to helping each other hike our best hike. It's about all of us. 

*****

To reach Coach Arnie, you can call or text him (yes, really!) at (602) 390-9144 or send him a message on Instagram @painfreearnie.

*****

Have an idea for the show, or someone you think would be a great guest? Reach out to Brian anytime at brian@hikin.club.

*****

The Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is our gift to the Grand Canyon hiking community. This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll have precious shade on your Grand Canyon hike—every route on every hour of every day of the year. Check it out at gcshadetracker.com. Another free resource from hiKin aimed at making your Grand Canyon adventure the best and safest it can be.

*****

For more great Grand Canyon content, please check us out on the following platforms:

YouTube (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for informative and inspirational videos

Instagram (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for photos from the trail

TikTok (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for fun and informative short-form videos

Facebook (@GrandCanyonHikerDude)

In this episode, Brian sits down with Joe Adlhoch—known in our community as “Facebook Joe”—to talk about a lifetime of Grand Canyon adventures. From his first trip as a 10-year-old with his dad, to a recent multi-day rim-to-rim-to-rim backpacking trip Joe shares how the Canyon has shaped his life and his passion for exploring both corridor and off-corridor trails. They also dig into the aftermath of the North Rim fire, the challenges ahead for North Kaibab, and why preparation and experience are non-negotiable when venturing beyond the beaten path.
*****

Please join the hiKin Grand Canyon Facebook group—the official group of The Grand Canyon Hiker Dude Show—by clicking here. Our group is a judgment-free zone full of interaction, information, and inspiration—it's simply THE place to get the best information in advance of your Canyon adventure. Join Brian, Coach Arnie, and most of the guests you've heard on the show in an environment created to answer your questions and help you have the best possible experience below the rim. It's completely free.

*****

Bright Angel Outfitters is now hiKin, where hiking meets kinship to form a community of like-minded hikers dedicated to helping each other hike our best hike. It's about all of us. 

*****

To reach Coach Arnie, you can call or text him (yes, really!) at (602) 390-9144 or send him a message on Instagram @painfreearnie.

*****

Have an idea for the show, or someone you think would be a great guest? Reach out to Brian anytime at brian@hikin.club.

*****

The Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is our gift to the Grand Canyon hiking community. This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll have precious shade on your Grand Canyon hike—every route on every hour of every day of the year. Check it out at gcshadetracker.com. Another free resource from hiKin aimed at making your Grand Canyon adventure the best and safest it can be.

*****

For more great Grand Canyon content, please check us out on the following platforms:

YouTube (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for informative and inspirational videos

Instagram (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for photos from the trail

TikTok (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for fun and informative short-form videos

Facebook (@GrandCanyonHikerDude)

For 33 years, Bruce Aiken and his family called Roaring Springs home—5 miles and 3,500 feet below the North Rim. From maintaining the park’s lifeline water system to creating world-renowned paintings of the Canyon, Bruce’s story is as legendary as the place itself. In this conversation, he reflects on life at the bottom, the devastating Dragon Bravo Fire, and what the future may hold for the North Rim. This is a rare glimpse into the life and perspective of a true Grand Canyon icon.
*****
Find Bruce's art at BruceAiken.com
*****

Please join the hiKin Grand Canyon Facebook group—the official group of The Grand Canyon Hiker Dude Show—by clicking here. Our group is a judgment-free zone full of interaction, information, and inspiration—it's simply THE place to get the best information in advance of your Canyon adventure. Join Brian, Coach Arnie, and most of the guests you've heard on the show in an environment created to answer your questions and help you have the best possible experience below the rim. It's completely free.

*****

Bright Angel Outfitters is now hiKin, where hiking meets kinship to form a community of like-minded hikers dedicated to helping each other hike our best hike. It's about all of us. 

*****

To reach Coach Arnie, you can call or text him (yes, really!) at (602) 390-9144 or send him a message on Instagram @painfreearnie.

*****

Have an idea for the show, or someone you think would be a great guest? Reach out to Brian anytime at brian@hikin.club.

*****

The Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is our gift to the Grand Canyon hiking community. This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll have precious shade on your Grand Canyon hike—every route on every hour of every day of the year. Check it out at gcshadetracker.com. Another free resource from hiKin aimed at making your Grand Canyon adventure the best and safest it can be.

*****

For more great Grand Canyon content, please check us out on the following platforms:

YouTube (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for informative and inspirational videos

Instagram (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for photos from the trail

TikTok (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for fun and informative short-form videos

Facebook (@GrandCanyonHikerDude)

It was supposed to be the adventure of a lifetime: a 10-year-old boy’s first airplane ride, first Canyon hike, and a grandmother’s dream of sharing her love for the Grand Canyon with her family. But on a scorching July day, that dream became a tragedy. In this sobering episode, Dr. Tom Myers returns to share the heartbreaking story of Philip Grimm, the mistakes that led to his death, and how his story became the driving force behind Over the Edge: Death in Grand Canyon. We also discuss what to do if you encounter a hiker in a heat emergency, practical ways to prevent tragedy, and why respecting the Canyon is not optional. This is not just a story about loss—it’s a lesson every Canyon hiker needs to hear.
*****

Please join the hiKin Grand Canyon Facebook group—the official group of The Grand Canyon Hiker Dude Show—by clicking here. Our group is a judgment-free zone full of interaction, information, and inspiration—it's simply THE place to get the best information in advance of your Canyon adventure. Join Brian, Coach Arnie, and most of the guests you've heard on the show in an environment created to answer your questions and help you have the best possible experience below the rim. It's completely free.

*****

Bright Angel Outfitters is now hiKin, where hiking meets kinship to form a community of like-minded hikers dedicated to helping each other hike our best hike. It's about all of us. 

*****

To reach Coach Arnie, you can call or text him (yes, really!) at (602) 390-9144 or send him a message on Instagram @painfreearnie.

*****

Have an idea for the show, or someone you think would be a great guest? Reach out to Brian anytime at brian@hikin.club.

*****

The Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is our gift to the Grand Canyon hiking community. This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll have precious shade on your Grand Canyon hike—every route on every hour of every day of the year. Check it out at gcshadetracker.com. Another free resource from hiKin aimed at making your Grand Canyon adventure the best and safest it can be.

*****

For more great Grand Canyon content, please check us out on the following platforms:

YouTube (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for informative and inspirational videos

Instagram (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for photos from the trail

TikTok (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for fun and informative short-form videos

Facebook (@GrandCanyonHikerDude)