Can I hike the Grand Canyon rim to rim too? The short answer is…yes, this is a hike that even modestly experienced hikers can do, if they are well prepared. But do NOT underestimate the risks and challenges. This is a SERIOUS undertaking! For as long as there have been human beings around to stand upon the edge and see […]
Up Is Mandatory!
The Grand Canyon North South Traverse: Part Two, Final Day **Completed in 2003, the North-South Traverse of Grand Canyon is the first true Bucketlist hike that Brian ever did. He would recommend this hike to virtually any able-bodied hiker as a once in lifetime experience, if that hiker is well prepared for the canyon’s unique conditions.** ***Note that the editors […]
Beauty Measured Out In Sandstone: The Grand Canyon Traverse
The Grand Canyon North-South Traverse **Completed in 2003, the North-South Traverse of Grand Canyon is the first true Bucketlist hike that Brian ever did. He would recommend this hike to virtually any able-bodied hiker as a once in lifetime experience, if that hiker is well prepared for the canyon’s unique conditions.** ***Note that the editors apologize in advance for the […]
The Grand Canyon’s Grand Front Door
Glen Canyon, AZ While the far-reaching views from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon may be the most enigmatic and spectacular, there is a particularly intimate magic to being inside the canyon itself. One cannot really know the place without being underneath its shadowy depths. But there’s a rub…there’s still no easy way into the canyon. The advent of […]
Grandscape: The South Rim of the Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon National Park, AZ Excepting perhaps Yosemeti’s famed valley, no landscape has captured the national imagination like the Grand Canyon. Vast, rugged, strange, fantastic, profound…the grandest of canyons carved by the Colorado River through countless layers of sandstone rock is like no other on earth. There are bigger canyons, but none eclipse the Grand Canyon in scale, beauty […]
The Most Celebrated Hole on Earth
The Grand Canyon The Grand Canyon has long been recognized as one of America’s most magical places. Even the name affirms its grandeur…there is no need to explain WHAT canyon you are talking about (it’s the canyon of the Colorado River, technically speaking.) All you need to do is say that it’s the Grand one. Everyone knows which canyon you […]
Fitz Roy Turns One Year Old!
The Domestic (Dog) Adventure: Fitz Roy Two months ago we introduced the fabulous Fitz Roy, the first four-legged member of the BecauseItzThere team. It has been a seriously new experience having Fitz aboard. Site Editor and Minister of Expedition Brian has managed a hiking expedition or two, most often with positive results, and he has had some past experience with […]
Can I Hike the Rae Lakes Loop?
The Rae Lakes Loop *Completed by Brian in 2014, the Rae Lakes Loop is one of BecauseItzThere’s BucketList Hikes. It is recommended to fit, self-sufficient hikers as a reasonable alternative to the John Muir Trail, which should only be attempted by VERY fit and experienced hikers. Location: Sierra Nevada Mountains, CA (nearest city Fresno) Distance: Approx. 42 miles Elevation Gain: […]
Alto Sierra
The Rae Lakes Loop: Day Four (The Big One) Dawn could not come soon enough. Part of the reason we had pushed so far along on the third day was so we could get as close to Glen Pass as possible, so that we could tackle it as early in the day as possible. Our concern had been the unseasonable […]
The Rae Lakes and the Soggy Night From Hell
The Rae Lakes Loop, Day 3 The weather forecast we got from the bulletin board outside the backcountry center at Road’s End on the first day proved to be entirely accurate. It had predicted rain on the morning of the third day of the trip lasting all day. In fact, even before the sun set on the evening of the […]