Introduction
On the afternoon of November 20th, 2015, after 57 days on the “trail,” Rich Rudow and Chris Atwood floated just below the Pearce Ferry Rapid completing the 700-mile traverse below the Grand Canyon Rim. This is a difficult task. More people have climbed Mt. Everest and completed the Triple Crown (AT, PCT, & CDT) than have completed this route.
But, I wondered, “Could I do it?” Would my 50-year-old body hold up to the rigors of a thru hike on some of the most difficult terrain on the planet for 57 continuous days? – Rich Rudow
The Grand Canyon Rim traverse route. Map made by Rich Rudow.
This route has been a lifelong goal for Rudow, who has been passionate about exploring and preserving the Grand Canyon’s allure for decades. When compared to other commonly accepted outdoor challenges, a traverse below the Grand Canyon Rim seems to trump them all including K2 (technically more difficult than Everest with worse weather) which has only 300+ successful climbs. Even the moon (which has been visited by 24 astronauts) can’t hold a candle (maybe a little hyperbole here) to the Grand Canyon Rim traverse which has only been completed by 12 people.
Why is the traverse of the Grand Canyon Rim so difficult?
So all this begs the question, why haven’t more people completed or even attempted this route? We talked to Rich on the phone a few weeks after his trip, and he emphasized that this traverse took one year of planning preceded by several years (maybe even decades) of preliminary planning, research, and exploration of the area. We mean it when we say that this route is no joke.
Low class 5 scrambles are standard when doing attempting this route. Photo by Rich Rudow.
- Access to safe drinking water is limited
- Flash floods are common
- Route requires low class 5 scrambling
- Route-finding is extremely challenging
- Terrain is hostile as it chews through clothing, gear, and shoes
- Weather is unpredictable
- The temperature is hot but can quickly change
- No towns or resupply for much of the 700 miles
- Mostly off-trail
- No guidebooks or beta
I did it—57 days and 20 pounds lighter. I thru hiked the Grandest cathedral on the planet. How? I wondered that myself. But, I’ve spent half my life preparing for this trip. – Rich Rudow
Climbing Vishnu Temple. Photo by Rich Rudow.
How did the trip go for the group?
After spending months crafting a day-by-day, detailed route, the crew started with six hikers at Lee’s Ferry. Only three were slated to finish the whole trip (Rudow, Atwood, and Dave Nally), but even some of those that were going part of the way found the heat too much to handle and left earlier than expected. Both Nally and Rudow suffered from Giardia during the trip, and Nally left on day 23 due to a respiratory illness.
Throughout the traverse friends brought them fresh food to lift their spirits, satellite notifications informed them of inclement weather, and eight caches filled with food, new approach shoes, trekking poles, maps, and sleeping bags propelled them forward.
In the end, Rudow and Atwood emerged victoriously, a lifelong obsession with this wild place momentary abated and a renewed sense of commitment to make sure this place lives on.
Rattlesnake Canyon in the early morning light. Photo by Rich Rudow.
More on this adventure:
- Rich Rudow did a write-up for Hyperlite Mountain Gear which provided some of the gear for this trip
- Rich also wrote down his initial thoughts about the trip and posted some photos from the adventure on his Facebook page 9 days after he and Atwood completed the trip