Why do I hear the footsteps of Aron Ralston? This site promotes common sense and planning. A fully staffed crew has done such an endurance or timed hike, with the inevitable injuries and illness. The Canyon is a place of beauty and wonder. It also doesn't cut any slack to anyone; indian,desert rat,park ranger or tourist. Why don't you read Edward Abbey's Desert Solitaire, The Deadman at Grandview point. Then buy a flora and fauna guide to the Grand Canyon, beer, bologna and bread and really enjoy it <img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Whoa, Chris. Don't make assumptions about people's abilities. You have no clue as to the extent of our experience, preparation, or fitness levels. If you had done your Canyon research properly, you would know that going rim-to-rim on a non-summer day is quite common and uneventful for experienced, prepared, and fit people. That you would think only "fully staffed crews" can do the hike shows that you are a bit out of the loop on this issue.

Try this link, for example http://www.toddshikingguide.com/Hikes/Arizona/GrandCanyon/Canyon2.htm BTW, I have been in contact with the author of this report and have become familiar with his background & abilities in relation to the hike he did.

The "Aron Ralston" comment was uncalled for, especially in this community.

"We're preparing to do it in a day,but don't tell the nannies at the National Park Service." Comments like this automatically illicit red flags. If you get in trouble,and people do, who is coming to help? It wont be the Coast Guard. We have people from many backgrounds, age groups and abilities read the forums. A very real legal and moral minefield are the " I'm 15 years old and want to live on a desert island" posts. Announcing your adventure with a potshot at the local authorities, no review of established safety measures( trip itinerary left with friends, gear list, known dangers) is dangerous. You may be well prepared. But what of the kid in AZ who reads your posts and thinks " wow, I 'm going to do that" goes on a hot summer weekend and drops dead of sunstroke? My remarks are no more personal than the indifference of the Canyon. I've been down it by foot, a season on mule and well remember the lumpy black bags carried by "nannies."

We all don’t share the same SEAL gene pool, and admittedly couch potatoes have equal opportunity to get into trouble, as follows:
While canoeing N. Georgian Bay following the “Voyageur “ routes, I had made overnight camp at a small island. That night, a fierce rainstorm came and filled my canoe with water. The weight of that water filled canoe pulled out my anchored ropes and sent it drifting beyond my visual sight.
The next morning, I awoke to find my canoe gone and me stranded on this rock farm. It was mid summer and the waters of Georgian Bay are c o l d.
Now, if I was of physical shape, could I be able to swim for self rescue ? What were my options ?

I'm wondering if anyone who gets in trouble in The Canyon would have the audacity to call an NPS ranger "nanny" as their sorry butt was getting helicoptered to safety? I suspect not ...

I considered it "thread hijacking" to give a full description (safety steps, itineraries, hazard list, etc) of our trip when replying to the topic of fitness. I didn't realize I needed to post a legal disclaimer to stay on-topic on this board. I still maintain that your "Aron Ralston" jab was very inappropriate, especially in light of this community's interests.

I used the term "nannies" because the NPS, like many other segments of our government, has decided to cater to the least common denominator of visitors in the NPS' attitude & communications. Stupid people get themselves killed all the time, and the NPS acts like all park visitors are the same. The vast, vast majority of "Canyon casualties" are flagrantly unprepared, unfit tourons (tourist + moron) who have been known to hike in flipflops & jeans, carrying a 0.5L soda bottle, trying to get to the Colorado river. I don't appreciate being lumped in with that crowd by the NPS.

We are hiking the heavily-patrolled corridor trails and we have friends who know our plans and are expecting a check-in call at the end of our day. Believe me, we have those bases covered.

I have hiked into the Canyon from both rims in the past, in summer, solo. The first time was a short 10 mile jaunt, the next one a more involved 20 mile day. I can hump a load all day like you wouldn't freaking believe. My wife is in even better aerobic shape than me. I am well acquainted with the indifference of the Canyon. Frankly, climbing El Capitan back in '99 was a lot scarier... and it would have been a lot harder to get rescued.

If a kid in AZ reads my post and tries to hike the Canyon unprepared... oh jeez, what a can of worms! We'd better lock up the entire Internet and save the children.

So after eating up all this bandwidth dealing with Chris' concerns, I'll reiterate my original point to our group then I'll leave the thread alone: "I think being in reasonable physical shape would be a real asset in a survival situation".

Hey Glock,

Try not to be too defensive. I think the problem is that Chris and others in the SAR biz have seen countless ninnies touting their skills and then later either getting themselves killed foolishly or needing to be bailed out, thereby risking the lives of the SAR team. Personally, I have no reason to doubt that you have the skills, experience and physical abilities that you claim you do. I think it is great that we have that much more experience on the forum.

Just understand that because of the impersonal nature of the forum, it is sometimes difficult to separate the bogus from the genuine. It is also easy to make the wrong first impression as Chris pointed out. As a libertarian I appreciate your disgust with government agencies, but realize that some of the folks here either are or work with people in that business, who have little to no say in the overall policies of the departments. They are just doing their jobs trying to save the morons who get themselves in trouble.

In short, your post would probably have been better received had you not made the nannies remark (however correct it may or may not be) and Chris probably knee-jerked a bit with the Aron Ralston remark. No biggie. Things like that happen on a forum.

As to your original point about being in good physical condition, I absolutely agree with you. Although some fat reserve can come in pretty handy in a prolonged lack of food situation, good fitness will allow your body to convert what resources you have more efficiently into energy that can be vital to survival. Being able to climb a rock face or hike many miles can come in really handy as well.

Just as sitting in front of the computer reading about method of starting a fire isn't as effective as actually going out and practicing it, many other survival skills will suffer if you don't have the fitness to practice them.

I wonder how many of the heat exhaustion victims treated by our list members during the recent blackouts were what could be classified as unfit? I imagine that folks that were in shape made out alot better than the couch potatos when it came to walking out of the city in the heat. Of course, the really smart ones had bikes (sorry, had to get that in there <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />).

Best of luck on your canyon hike. Wish I had the chance to go...

Greg

OK, I'll be the first here to admit I'm in HORRID shape. Yep. I'm trying to do something about it, and I'm slowly getting there, but it's going to take time

During the blackout, I walked. Averaged 2.5+ MPH with my BOB for the first 4.6 miles, and then managed to promote a lift. I would have walked all 15 miles home, but it would have been more of a bear than I wanted. Getting in shape was item one in my personal After Action Report. I got a BUNCH more serious on my diet (yes, diet - exercise won't do it alone in my condidtion), and I've walked a mile or 2 every day since then

I'm certainly not in the best shape but am always trying to improve. But don't completely dis gear <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />. The situation last week was a good example. No matter how fit you are you can't produce light in a dark subway without some soft of gear:)