Each year six million people visit Grand Canyon National Park yet less than 1% of these people ever venture past the top rail. Most look over the edge, take some photos and say; “One day I would love to hike down there”. For our group of 38 JFCS staff, family, friends and guides our “One Day” had arrived. Our challenge was to hike from the top of the South Rim all the way to Plateau Point and back 13 miles round trip (see Red X below).
“Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.”
-Theodore Roosevelt
I was introduced to the Grand Canyon in 2000 and have become addicted to her ever since. She is as beautiful as she is dangerous, a serial killer really. Each year she lore’s her victims in with her beauty then strikes. She is over 1.8 billion years old, 18 miles wide, 277 miles long and 6,000 feet deep. There are more than 600 documented deaths in the canyon, the causes range from falls to heart attacks to heat stroke to murder. On June 30, 1956 a TWA airplane collided with a United Airlines flight over the Canyon the mid-air collision killed 128 people. My deep respect for the Grand Canyon boarders paranoia. I have hiked and guided in this place for years and love sharing her with others but do so with a vigilance of a drill Sergeant as I know that mistakes and misjudgment can be lethal.
“I visit this site each time I come to the Canyon to pay my respects to the Clubbs and tell that I understand.”
- Robert Vera, Iron90 CEO & Grand Canyon Guide
“In fact, our group shed nearly 800 lbs in 180 days with the Iron90 system.”
“I am blown away by the weight loss results and cultural change that Iron90 has created.”-Dr. Michael Zent, CEO & President, JFCS Arizona
“Maggie Fitzgerald Iron90ed herself out of 40.60 unwanted pounds.”
After our day on Mt. Humphreys our group assembled at the Marriott Flagstaff (Outstanding Staff, very quiet, rooms with kitchens and fireplaces, A+) for a team feast. The dinner was followed by stories of amazing changes over the past 6 months. Valerie Neece told how she juggled her full time job, PhD program and still managed to shed 56.60 lbs. Bob Ouimette, a former card carrying Weight Watchers member, traded in his card for Iron90 and dropped over 25 lbs in less than 6 month. Maggie Fitzgerald Iron90ed herself out of 40.60 unwanted pounds. Then Wendy Phelps stood and inspired us all with a story of how 120 days into the program she was in a serious car accident that would have killed her a year ago. Badly injured but determined to keep going Wendy described how she duck taped her injured arm to her side and walk for hours. Each step becoming stronger and more determined, within 6 months she shed nearly 50 lbs and a cabinet of medications. The room eruppted with applause! See Wendy’s before and after below:
“This is where its gets serious, the Grand Canyon is an inverted mountain and hiking down is the easy part we would soon need to return climbing uphill in the punishing heat.”
The next morning we boarded the team bus for the ride from Flagstaff to the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. Our challenge was on! The group made it down Bright Angel Trail to the 1.5 mile rest stop in 50 minutes while stopping every few hundred yards to take in the view. The temperature was a dry 86 F still comfortable enough for a down hill hike shaded by the canyon walls. However, I was concerned as it would get warmer as we dropped into the canyon. Our group continued to travel to the 3 miles rest stop. This is where its gets serious, the Grand Canyon is an inverted mountain and hiking down is the easy part we would soon need to return climbing uphill in the punishing heat. Understanding this about half the group decided to hike back up while the others continued another 2 miles down to Indian Gardens, an oasis located about midway between the South Rim and Phantom Ranch 6,000 feet below the Rim. See photos below:
“Not more than a 400 feet up the trail, Roger heard a roar then saw a 10 foot wall of water, rocks and debris rushing towards them.”
“Time seems to both stand still and speed past in the canyon, a very strange phenomenon.”
Our group arrived at Indian Gardens about noon. The Garden’s was a warm 90 F in the shade. We quickly ate lunch and made a hurried dash across the 1.5 miles stretch of desert to Plateau Point. The “Point” is the only place on the upper canyon where one can see and hear the Colorado River 3,000 feet below. The views are surreal. The last person departed Plateau Point at 12:30 PM. This video link gives you an idea of the point’s isolation and beauty; video.php?v=1416006803092&ref=mf
It would be a slow hot walk to the top with little or no shade. Our group was now strung out over a 6.5 miles stretch. This is where our expert guide crew become life guards. They monitored each person, slowed the pace, kept the group watered and fueled and made sure that everyone exited the canyon exhausted but elated. It would be just after 5:30 PM when the last person exited a full 9 hours after setting out on our challenge. Time seems to both stand still and speed past it the canyon a very strange phenomenon. I always exit with a great sense of satisfaction and disappointment that its over.
“The Iron90 system is the perfect training plan for a Grand Canyon hike, it uses ones own body weight as resistance and works to build peak cardiovascular fitness while at the same time shedding body fat and total pounds.”
I would like to acknowledge those who accepted the challenge and who no doubt have been made stronger by it. I hope that they will one day share this place with others so they too can feel the same excitement, exhaustion and accomplishment as we all did.
2010 JFCS/IRON90 Grand Canyon Adventure Challenge Participants:
Carol Felton, Gerald Peters, Michael Zent, Bob Ouimette, Fran Delgado, Misty Castelo, Angie Mortemore, Valerie Neece, Martha Miller, Cynthia Handy, Elsa Ramanowitz, Heather Thornton, Kim Ballein, Mia Lara, Maureen Parren, Debra Raybon, Yolanda Flores, Linda Scott, Cheryl Ross, MaryLou Galaviz, Jason Galaviz, Karla Sandell, Lorain Moorehead, Becky Hall, Rochelle Ryan, Daniela Bordei, Teresa Celaya-Garner, Amy Quintero, Angelica Castano, Maggie Fitzgerald, Teresa Carlson, Wendy Phelps, John Phelps, Jay Goff (Guide), Tammy Cifra (Guide) Crystal Strimple (Guide), Laura and Victor Encinas (Guides). Hooya!
All the best,
Robert Vera, Grand Canyon Guide
CEO & Founder; www.IRON90.com
