I was skeptical when I got the call from Blanche. She was just like many of our clients, between the ages of 40 and 60 wanted to hike across the canyon before she was too old, but she told me that her father, Paul, wanted to hike with her and that he was in better shape. The odd part about this is that Paul is 82 years old!

Maybe I shouldn’t be telling this story for fear of my liability insurance carrier raising my rates but I went ahead with having him as a guest. I went through the usual screening and found out that he walks as much as five miles a day and that he’s been active all his life. I also keep in the back of my head that Maverick Gaudreau crossed the canyon 106 times when he was 80; granted he was a seasoned veteran of the canyon and not crossing for the first time.  The main thing is that his doctor cleared him for the trek so we were ready to go.

Somewhere in this process I get a call that Blanche’s son, Chris, wants to go as well.  With Chris on board, it officially made this trip the first time I had ever led three generations of the same family on one hike.  It is certainly an honor to be a part of this event but it had me worried anyway. There are men much younger than 82 that have had their first heart attack while hiking out of the canyon. It would have haunted me all my days to think that I set up an event where two family members could watch it’s patriarch go it cardiac arrest and get a helicopter ride out of the canyon.  My nerves were calmed when I first met Paul.  He nearly crushed my hand with is vise-like grip when we met on the first day of our trek.

Our trip was outstanding. We were spared the hot temperatures that usually accompany a Grand Canyon tour in June. It was actually chilly our last morning at Indian Garden which is where the picture was taken. Paul (on the left) wasn’t trying to look gangsta, he was just cold. Everyone was ready for the trip and it showed. Paul may have thought he was slow but we kept a good pace the entire time. The family, as well as the brother -sister team that made up the last two spots on the tour, kept me in stitches the entire time.  Losing your sense of humor is one of the signs that a guest is struggling so it was nice to see everyone was still laughing even on the way out of the canyon.

Maybe I’m commenting too much about Paul but it is just because I’m amazed at how well he handled this task even though I know he had his doubts. (everyone does the first time they realize they have to hike out of the big ditch). I just hope that I am in the same shape when I’m 82. It would be nice to share a cross canyon trip with my son and a grandchild or two when I’m that age.

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