What happens when two experienced Grand Canyon hikers—including Dr. Tom Myers, aka Mr. Grand Canyon—leave their headlamps behind on a January rim-to-river hike?
Episode 97 opens Year Three of The Grand Canyon Hiker Dude Show with a powerful reminder: experience doesn’t make you immune to mistakes.
Brian and Dr. Tom recount a full sunrise-to-sunset Tanner Trail rim-to-river—16.5 miles, over 5,800 feet of elevation change, total solitude, winter snowpack, and one oversight that instantly changed the day’s calculus. What follows is a wide-ranging, deeply human conversation recorded on the drive back to Flagstaff, covering:
- Why Tanner Trail may be the best first off-corridor rim-to-river route
- The Grand Canyon’s “grand deception” and why Tanner feels shallower—but isn’t
- A jaw-dropping Redwall reveal that stops even veteran hikers cold
- Why Tanner Rapid is where Death in Grand Canyon was literally born
- Harvey Butchart, the Redwall, and what true canyon exploration really looks like
- The overlooked danger of winter day hikes without contingency planning
- A checklist failure that sparked a new safety ritual for future hikes
You’ll also hear Dr. Myers reflect on the life of his mother—the woman who first brought him to the Canyon—and how perseverance, resolve, and service shaped everything that followed, from medicine to conservation to saving lives below the rim.
The episode closes with Coach Arnie’s first tip of the year—a deceptively simple training practice that has helped hikers into their 60s and beyond keep moving strong in the canyon.
This isn’t just a trail report.
It’s a reminder of why preparation matters, why humility matters, and why the Canyon always deserves your full respect—no matter how many miles you’ve logged.
And yes… don’t forget your headlamp.
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Our new hiking packs are here! Our signature Rim2Rim Pack is back, along with the new Canyon Elite 25, which takes the same features that made the Rim2Rim Pack famous — namely its front pockets and insulated hydration pocket — and adds a much-requested hip belt to make it even easier to dial in your fit. Find out more and order yours at hiKin.club. Supplies are limited, so be sure to check it out today.
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Please join Hike Club Grand Canyon on Facebook by clicking here. This is the official group of the Grand Canyon Hiker Dude Show, and it's a judgment-free zone full of interaction, information, and inspiration—it's simply THE place to get the best information in advance of your Canyon adventure. Join Brian, Coach Arnie, and most of the guests you've heard on the show in an environment created to answer your questions and help you have the best possible experience below the rim. It's completely free.
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Bright Angel Outfitters is now hiKin, where hiking meets kinship to form a community of like-minded hikers dedicated to helping each other hike our best hike. It's about all of us.
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To reach Coach Arnie, you can call or text him (yes, really!) at (602) 390-9144 or send him a message on Instagram @painfreearnie.
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Have an idea for the show, or someone you think would be a great guest? Reach out to Brian anytime at brian@hikin.club.
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The Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is our gift to the Grand Canyon hiking community. This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll have precious shade on your Grand Canyon hike—every route on every hour of every day of the year. Check it out at gcshadetracker.com. Another free resource from hiKin aimed at making your Grand Canyon adventure the best and safest it can be.
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For more great Grand Canyon content, please check us out on the following platforms:
YouTube (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for informative and inspirational videos
Instagram (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for photos from the trail
TikTok (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for fun and informative short-form videos
Facebook (@GrandCanyonHikerDude)
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