The Grand Canyon Hiker Dude Show

May 14 2024 8

The Grand Canyon Hiker Dude Show Podcast artwork

The mission is simple: To help YOU have your safest and most memorable experience hiking the majestic Grand Canyon. Join Emmy-winning, Canyon-crazy host Brian Speciale and learn what it takes to complete iconic hikes like Rim2Rim through emotional stories of tragedy and triumph from everyday hikers like you, and also with information-packed interviews with the experts. This is THE podcast for the Grand Canyon hiker and trail runner.

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Packing Smart For Rim2Rim & More With The Marvelous Ms. Mary

May 14 2024 46 mins

Mary Banik—at age 73—just completed her 181st Grand Canyon hike...and I got to go along with her! Afterwards, we sat in the lobby at Bright Angel Lodge for a wide-ranging conversation on everything from which route is best for Rim2Rim, what to pack, what to wear, hiking in heat, and mistakes she commonly sees. We even had a spirited disagreement (gulp)—on the need for trekkin

How Not To Die At Grand Canyon With Dr. Tom Myers

May 07 2024 45 mins

Dr. Tom Myers—The Canyon Doc—is the medical director for Grand Canyon National Park, and has been practicing at Grand Canyon Clinic for 34 years. Dr. Myers is also an accomplished author, with his most famous work being Over The Edge: Death In Grand Canyon, which he co-authored with Michael Ghiglieri. Today, Dr. Myers shares life-saving tips from his latest work, How Not To Die

Training 101: Keeping It Simple For Rim2Rim & Beyond With Brad Gill

May 01 2024 50 mins

Training for your Canyon adventure doesn't have to be complicated, and Brad Gill will prove it. Today, the veteran marathoner and triathlete shares his smart and simple training regiment, along with the compelling story of the long Grand Canyon adventure it was built for. ***** Want to check out Brad's training program and packing list? Click here to download the spreadsheet. (Tha

Hiking Hot: Surviving The Canyon's Killer Heat With Amy Hedtke

Apr 24 2024 31 mins

The heat in the Grand Canyon can kill—it happens every year. Unfortunately, prime hiking season falls during the hottest time of the year in Arizona, and countless hikers underestimate the toll the high temperatures can take. In today's show, we sit down with Amy Hedtke, a seasoned Canyon hiker who has taken on multi-day itineraries below the rim each of the last three years—du

Canyon Q&A: Best Time For Rim2Rim & More With Benedict Dughoff

Apr 17 2024 43 mins

Bendict Dughoff, the Grand Canyon Facebook mastermind, returns for a Q&A on topics ranging from trail conditions to trekking poles. ***** Benedict offers a service to help you take all the guesswork out of planning the often-complicated logistics of a Rim-to-Rim adventure. To find out more, you can reach out to him directly at [email protected]. ***** Got an idea for an

Trail Talk: Conversations From South Kaibab

Apr 10 2024 26 mins

There's nothing like learning about Grand Canyon hiking from those in the midst of actually doing the Grand Canyon hiking. That's the premise for Trail Talk, a theme we'll tackle from time to time that will take you onto the trail for conversations and tips & tricks from those right in the middle of their adventures. Today, we head down a crowded South Kaibab during Spring Break, a

Rim2Rim Stories: Death & Despair On North Kaibab With Lauren Hargrove

Apr 03 2024 57 mins

Lauren Hargrove is a firefighter in Chandler, AZ, so she knows a thing or two about defying the odds. But little did Lauren know that on her Rim-to-Rim with three friends in September of 2023, she'd come face to face with death on the trail—and also wonder if she was next. This is a harrowing tale of a Rim-to-Rim gone wrong, and proof that the Grand Canyon can be dangerous even t

Training 101: Two Keys To A Happy Hike With Coach Arnie

Mar 27 2024 42 mins

Coach Arnie—Arnie Fonseca Jr.—is back for a conversation on training for the unique nature of a Grand Canyon adventure. Our resident exercise physiologist and R5 (quadruple crossing) survivor will give us a pair of simple and valuable tips that he says will lay the foundation for a successful Canyon hike. ***** Coach Arnie encourages phone calls. Seriously. You can reach him at

Rim2Rim Stories: A No-Training Approach With Amy Hedtke

Mar 20 2024 36 mins

What would it be like to hike Rim-to-Rim without training, much less doing it in the middle of summer? Amy Hedtke shares the whys of her unusual approach in a story full of twists and turns, including broken teeth, close calls, and even nights spent on resthouse bathroom floors. ***** Click here for the link to Amy's Google doc on hiking in the heat at the Grand Canyon. ***** The

The Man With 7,000 Miles On South Kaibab With Jerome Chavez

Mar 13 2024 30 mins

Jerome Chavez is a wastewater operator for the National Park Service, but it's where he works and how he gets there that sets him apart. Almost every Tuesday for the last 26 years, Jerome has either descended or ascended the majestic South Kaibab Trail, on his way to or from work—at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Today, he has stories to tell and advice to share, all of which ca