Hi all!
Here’s my semi-regular attempt to share interesting things with my friends… If you read some or all, I hope you enjoy!
🏜🚶🏻♂️🏜🚶🏻♂️🏜 Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim
A few years ago, a couple of good friends invited me into their exclusive hiking group for a double-crossing of the Grand Canyon, and it changed me. I never felt so small on this earth as I did standing knee-deep in the ice-cold Colorado River thousands of feet below the rim (Here's a short clip). Of the more than 5 million people who visit the park every year, only about 1 percent make it to the bottom. They're called the "1 Percenters." Becoming one is no minor deal, mainly because the safe hiking window is short, and planning can be daunting. Early April is when I start prepping, so here is my protocol if you're interested in getting started (it took me many tries to get this dialed in). I prefer breaking up R2R2R into two days. Staying a night on the North Rim and relaxing in the historic lodge is incredible. Two days of 10-12 hour hikes make the trip more of an adventure rather than a 24-hour slog (unless that's what you're going for).
Step 1: Make North Rim Reservations
This reservation is the hardest to get, so it will drive the entire trip. You're targeting May 15th to June 1st. The lodge opens on May 15th, and the canyon floor will be over 100-degrees by mid-June. This year I'm hiking across on June 3rd, and I'm expecting it to be brutal. September is beautiful, but afternoon thunderstorms can be very dangerous. I have avoided planning trips in late summer for this reason.
I like the Frontier Cabin, 2-beds, shared bathroom.
www.grandcanyonforever.com or 877-386-4383 for reservations
(It's best to call, the front desk has the big picture on cabin availability)
Step 2: Make South Rim Reservations
I like the Bright Angel Lodge; otherwise, Thunderbird Lodge is fine. If there isn't any availability, keep calling, there are cancelations daily.
www.grandcanyonlodges.com/lodging/ or 888-297-2757 (7a-7p MT)
Step 3: Make North Rim Dinner Reservations
This is an important step that everyone learns the hard way. Little to no walk-in availability, and after 25 miles of hiking and 16K' of altitude change, you'll want a great dinner. There are other food options, but this is special.
7 pm is the ideal reservation time after arrival, showers, a couple of cocktails, then dinner.
Book on Website: https://www.grandcanyonforever.com/dining
Can also call for reservations, call 928-638-8562
Email: gnrfbmgr@gcnr.com
Step 4: Make El Tovar Dinner Reservations (Optional)
But, getting a Prickly Pear Margarita in the El Tovar Lounge is NOT optional… If we had a state drink, that’s it)
www.grandcanyonlodges.com/dine/el-tovar-dining-room-and-lounge/
(I’ll go through my ideal packing list next month)
🍹Interesting Cocktail I’m Drinking in April: The Paper Plane
Lemons are everywhere in Arizona right now, and our friend just left forty-five of them on our doorstep. We're making cocktails with lemon juice this time of year, and the Paper Plane is the best. Amaro Nonino can be hard to find sometimes, but it's essential. This one sneaks up on you; here's a recipe for two drinks.
1-ounce bourbon
1 ounce Aperol
1 ounce Amaro Nonino
1-ounce lemon juice, freshly squeezed
Add the bourbon, Aperol, Amaro Nonino, and lemon juice into a shaker with ice and shake until cold. Enjoy!
🧩 Interesting Gift I’m Buying: Wentworth Wooden Puzzle
These puzzles have the undisputed best "click." Hugh Jackman even said, "when you put the piece in, it's as satisfying as squeezing a pimple." So, there's that 😬. They can make a personalized one, and it's been one of my favorite anniversary gifts.
📖 Interesting Book I’m Consuming: Lifespan by David Sinclair
(Not actually reading it, I'm listening to it, so I now refer to that as "consuming")
I love all things health and human performance, and this book is next-level. Written by a professor of genetics at Harvard, it's all about aging and how to beat it (he considers aging a disease).
After twenty-five years of researching aging and having read thousands of scientific papers, if there is one piece of advice I can offer, one surefire way to stay healthy longer, one thing you can do to maximize your lifespan right now, it's this: eat less often.
Ugh… Ok.
📖 BONUS Interesting Book I Just Finished Reading: A World Without Email by Cal Newport
Although a catchy title, it's not entirely about getting rid of email, it's more about life optimization and getting organized. I'm very much a fan. Cal Newport also wrote Deep Work which I think is better.
✍🏼 Interesting Quote
“The key to life is to be unboreable.” – David Foster Wallace
That’s all for now; I hope you have a nice April! -Pete