We Backpacked Rim-River-Rim Of The Grand Canyon In 2 Days: Here’s A Few Things We Learned
Hey friends! If you’ve been following along for a while, you’ll know that more and more travel tips will be coming your way as we move forward on this blog. Although there are many trips I’d like to share with you, I think starting with one of the hardest feels like the best way to begin. In this post you’ll hear about what permits we needed to acquire, what our level of preparation was, and a few things we plan to do differently in the future at the iconic Grand Canyon. So, let’s get started, shall we?! (P.S., I’ll be adding our very own shots from the trips in these kinds of posts. So, if you have any questions about the places in the photos drop a comment!) Prepping for Rim to River to Rim Adding more travel into our lives has been huge lately. The hubs and I kept saying we would do this, but you know how that goes. Work pressures you to do more, family obligations arise at inconvenient times, and well, travel can be quite expensive, so there’s that whole monster on its own. Fortunately, we remembered to apply for permits last year and were lucky enough to snag some for May to hike the Grand Canyon in Arizona. We had a few months to plan, shop for essentials, and train for the heavy hike we were about to embark upon. If you’re looking to grab a permit yourself, check out this site to apply. We started out thinking that we would be okay with most of our gear, only to realize that a lot of shopping would still need to be done. As the trip got closer and closer, we recognized the need for more packable, ultra lightweight items to ensure we’d be able to carry everything we needed on our backs. As this was going to be a quick in-and-out, we wanted to make sure we packed light as well to make the whole travel process more manageable. We reserved a little hotel room on the South Rim for the night before, and then scheduled a nice hotel in Phoenix for the day after. We ended up with 1 large suitcase for camping and hiking supplies, 2 small carry-ons for each of our things, and 2 Osprey backpacks. (This is our favorite brand of backpacks. We’re even thinking about upgrading to their luggage for our upcoming trip this December!) It was an interesting first backpacking experience. We were not sure what to expect with the trail, with the Bright Angel Campground being shut down for construction, we anticipated it to be less busy. There were loads of people however, with smaller daypacks and a few with larger ones, but most of our fellow hikers carried nothing but a bottle of water. *Before you go into a hike like this, be sure to know your (and your companions) limits! Hiking to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and back can be deadly if you are not properly prepared to handle its conditions. Like, seriously. How Traveling and Adventure Changed My Attitude Toward Life Research Your Hike Ahead of Time Which is exactly why it is pertinent to research your specific hike and plan for a time of year that you won’t get too baked by the hot Arizona sun. Make sure you have layers as the temperature can vary GREATLY depending on where you are at in the canyon. Here is what we recommend bringing (at the bare minimum) for a short 2 day backpacking trip to the bottom and back up. An ultralight tent (we have 2 people in our party but opted for the 3 person so we could allow room for our essentials along the inside. A sleeping bag that is also ultralight, making sure to find one that suits your need for whatever time of year you go. (We chose ones that would keep us warm down to 30 degrees fahrenheit.) Electrolytes. This is no joke. We brought 1 tube of NUUN tablets thinking it would be more than enough, we used them all and ran out just before the top. (Remember, we were only in the canyon for TWO days!) I would bring 1 tube, per day, per person moving forward to be on the safe side. They help recovery and soreness immensely. I was actually never a fan of them until that day. I’ve been using them everyday ever since. Water bladders and filters. This was really helpful to have as a backup for when water was just okay looking or potable water was nonexistent. We prefer the Sawyer brand but it’s truly up to your preference. Dehydrated food or homemade meals to heat up. I really like to opt for the ones that are high in calories, carbs and protein. These kept us fully fed and satisfied for several days without having anything else to eat or snack on. (Check out your local outdoor store or hit up REI online for seasonal deals! Not to mention if you become a member, you’ll rack up some points that you can use the year to come!) Here is a list of items that we brought for personal comfort or luxury items that are not deemed 100% necessary: Ultralight camping chairs (these were a small fortune but kept us super comfy when we got to the campsite.) The campground actually provided picnic tables but these were a much more enjoyable option. Books to read when we stopped for breaks or before bed for winding down. A few extra plastic REI water bottles for mixing electrolytes or filtering water easier. Hot chocolate, because of course. Flip Flops, our feet were totally thankful. Guys, this is the Grand Canyon. The one and only massive hole in the ground that will *and I repeat,* WILL kick your butt if you don’t set yourself up for success. Make sure to make ample lists ahead of time of what you need to bring, and definitely
How Traveling and Adventure Changed My Attitude Toward Life
Today marks the 33rd year of my life. It’s definitely had its ups and downs over those decades but you know what? Every single one of them was worth it. I have grown into what I truly feel is the best version of myself so far, and I feel more and more confident every day in the choices I’ve made to get myself here. Where are you at on this journey of life? Have you felt the subtle shift in your levels of consistency, confidence or balance? Let’s talk about those. Growing Through Travel Not only do we need to represent more of our truest selves, but we need to focus more heavily on the balance part. That’s where this blog came from, anyway. The need to balance more of well, everything. The need to do less, not more. The want to have it all, while working less. It’s a common want, isn’t it? Something that I chalk a ton of credit up to in the past year alone is travel. Travel has become such a larger part of my life than I ever thought it would. It’s changed me in so many ways. You really start to realize how small you are in this large world when you begin embracing the beautiful nature and animals and landscapes around you. Even learning how to connect with others in similar mindsets on these travels can show you how much you’re not alone and how many needs you have that can be validated by others seeking the same thing. Finding myself has been something else. It’s not an easy task and it takes a LOT of constant work. Taking care of your body and mind is basically a full time job if you’re working towards doing it “properly.” And, while there really is no “proper” way of doing so, we can get on the right track now and then. As we make small changes each and every day, as we listen more to our inner voices and less to the noise of the busy world, we begin to notice how much of a difference those small changes can make over time. For me, those small changes led to getting off my couch and getting into nature. It started with a few walks around a local park, then trail running, then hiking, then camping, then backpacking, then soaring across ridgelines with the love of my life taking in full 360 degree landscapes of mountains and oceans and pine trees and condors flying beside me instead of above me. I try to be as honest as I am able to when I write these posts. And honestly, I’m basically crying right now. Related: Dealing With Change: An Uncomfortable Shift In Mindset And A Lesson Learned Connecting as a Fellow Human I’ve found myself doing that a lot lately. Finally finding myself in tears of joy, gratitude, happiness, pure blissful enjoyment of the world and life I’ve created around me. I used to laugh at people that would feel this way. Invalidating their joy because I was unhappy with my own circumstance. Now, I look at others and try to listen more, try to understand their involvement with this world and how they’re enjoying themselves differently. I no longer resort to judgement, but relaxing and simply absorbing their stories. How else are we to learn as humans but to completely melt into others words? This is connection on another level. It’s connecting as a fellow human being, not just an ear to bend. I want more of this, and I highly encourage you to start making moves to do the same. It is a beautiful feeling. Related: What Are Your Pillars? Mental, Physical, Emotional Health Foundations As we move forward on this blog, Habitual Balance will begin to include more posts regarding travel, backpacking, cooking, and how we manage all of those on the go. I want to introduce you to these ahead of time so that you know where HB’s future lies. It will continue to be all about this journey we’re all on, and how we can do better along the way, but travel is something near and dear to me and I encourage everyone to do so much more of it. Why do we limit ourselves on this short-term life? We only have so much time to go out there and see the world, so why not work on adding it into our lives more often? The hubs and I have come a long way in our travel goals over the past 12 years. We’ve experienced a multitude of different kinds of destinations, but at this time, we’re looking to more adventure and less sitting around. (Don’t get me wrong, we still sit for 2 days after hard hiking trips before heading home!) However, I want to share with you that we’ve just booked our very first beach campground….in Kauai. I can’t wait to discuss this new experience with you. It will be one that I’m certain will be unforgettable. Until then, please stay tuned to hear more about some tips and tricks I would like to share with you about past adventures into the Grand Canyon, Angel’s Landing in Zion, Seneca Rocks, Sedona, and more. Thank you as always for sticking around and supporting Habitual Balance. As I continue to grow, I’m grateful to grow with you all that are within the same realm and want others to feel comfortable in diving in as well. Let’s make that happen, one human being at a time.