Grand Canyon: Rim to Rim to Rim

Second Hike: Rim to Rim (Camp) to Rim

This weekend Team Armstrong which consists of Mike Armstrong (Blind Hiker/Sensei), Greg DePinto, and myself (Ben Cane) joined the Foundation for Blind Children’s Canyon Crawlers for a hike across the Grand Canyon Rim to Rim. But much like we usually do we decided to step it up a notch and use this to train for the Arizona Trail; Below are the details of our adventure.

On 10/09/10 at 05:50 Team Armstrong left the South Rim via the Bright Angel trail. 14.5 hours and 24 miles later we reached the North Rim via the North Kaibab trail. At that time we joined up with the rest of the Canyon Crawlers team at the North Rim camp site. We were greeted with a garbage bag full of chicken (bones were flying) and a few Grand Canyon lagers, a perfect way to end a day.

However our journey was not over yet, on 10/10/10 Team Armstrong left with over 40 more canyon crawlers 14 of which were blind leaving the North Rim at 5:45 and reaching the South Rim only 13 hours and 24 miles later via the Bright Angel Trail.

On this day I was able to experience a great sight and see some pretty kick ass blind hikers who pushed through the pain and reached the North Rim something many would say is impossible for the blind. But there is one story I wanted to share with everyone, which is Dillan’s (pictured left).

Dillan is a 12 year old boy who is fighting a brain tumor that took his vision. He has been undergoing chemotherapy throughout our 10 months of training, usually receiving his treatment on Thursday and hiking 8 or 10 miles with us early Saturday morning. It’s been very hard on Dillan and his Dad who is on the team, but also for Dillan’s sighted guides. But every time we think he can’t go on, Dillan stands up and hikes on. It is amazing to witness. A 12 year old blind child, who just 36 hours before received chemotherapy, presses on.

Dillan is a tough Kid and despite his chemotherapy he was one of the first groups out of the canyon. I hope to hike with him again in the future.

The Grand Canyon gave me a taste of what the Arizona Trail is going to be like, and even though I’m sore and can’t feel my toe’s; I’m excited! April 2nd will be a journey of epic proportions.

Press On! (Canyon Crawlers Motto)