Grand Canyon

A Lifelong Obsession

Most people visit the Grand Canyon once, stand at the rim, take a photo, and leave. I went to the rim — and then kept going down. What started as a single hike has turned into a decades-long love affair with one of the world's most spectacular and demanding landscapes.

Over 500 miles hiked, more than 15 trips to the canyon floor, and 9 rim-to-rim crossings completed in a single day. Each trip reveals something new — a different season, a different trail, a different view of those ancient layers of rock.

South Kaibab Trail at sunrise — the best time to start a descent

Dawn light on the canyon walls — colors you won't find anywhere else

On the Trail

Halfway down — South Rim 3.5 miles back, Phantom Ranch 3.8 miles ahead

The Silver Bridge crossing — Phantom Ranch just ahead

The inner canyon — cactus, scrub, and massive walls on every side

The Colorado River at Phantom Ranch — golden morning light on the walls

Winter in the canyon — snow on the rim, switchbacks carved into the cliff

At the canyon floor — a long way from the rim

At the South Rim — before it all began

Rim to Rim in a Day

The rim-to-rim crossing — roughly 21–24 miles depending on the route — is the Grand Canyon's ultimate day hike challenge. Starting before dawn on the South Rim, descending the South Kaibab, crossing the canyon floor to Phantom Ranch, and climbing out the North Kaibab to the North Rim. Or the reverse. Nine times.

It's not a hike for the unprepared. The elevation change is brutal in both directions, water management is critical, and the inner canyon temperatures in summer can exceed 110°F. But finishing at the opposite rim as the sun goes down is one of the most satisfying feelings I've ever had on a trail.