Exploring the Great Canyon

I hiked the Grand Canyon in May of 2013, which I think in the minds of people from around the world is one of the most unique, massive and powerful scenes in nature. For those who like to  hike, the Grand Canyon would receive a “gold star” on the achievement map for top 10 hiking spots. Following is an overview of my experience.

Upon arriving in Phoenix, AZ, I took a beautiful ride to the top of the Grand Canyon to get an idea of what I was in for. At the time, I’d been hiking a decent amount but never made a profession or serious hobby of it. I went to bed very early to be ready for the following day, and woke up around 3 – 4 am to get a head start. Soon, my backpack was ready with water bottles and snacks. Although there’s water pumps along the hike, I wanted backup in case they were not working. 

Our goal was to make it down the canyon and back up in one day; even though there are plenty of signs and billboards warning you not to make such an attempt, especially if it’s your first time.
With each step down the canyon there was less and less people and the sounds got quieter and quieter, which made the nature feel that much more powerful. It brought a truly amazing sense of Zen, peace and calmness. At one point, it felt like I was on a different planet, surrounded by big red powerful rocks!

When we reached the bottom it was amazing to see the beautiful river flowing with its ice-cold water, which I stepped in to mark our achievement. We rested, ate the lunch and snacks we had packed, and started our hike back up. In 9 hours and 45 minutes we exited the trail in the exact same place we started. It was an unforgettable experience that we celebrated with a wonderful dinner. I would certainly do it again, and if I do, I would love to spend a couple days at the canyon’s bottom!

For all the hikers and nature lovers, I highly recommend the Grand Canyon. You will enjoy every single step of being there.

Happy National Parks Day, everyone!