The Grand Canyon Hiker Dude Show

As the Dragon Bravo Fire grows past 11,700 acres with 0% containment, frustration is mounting—not just from the blaze itself, but from what many see as a lack of access, transparency, and leadership. On today’s episode, we break down the latest updates from fire crews and federal officials, including new threats to Kaibab Lodge and continued structure protection efforts at the North Rim entrance and administrative loop. Pl...

In this special episode of The Grand Canyon Hiker Dude Show, Brian shares critical updates on the Dragon Bravo Fire that has devastated the North Rim. With the fire now at over 11,000 acres and containment still at 0%, much of the North Rim infrastructure—including the historic Grand Canyon Lodge—has been lost. Trail closures are expanding, including a 1.7-mile stretch of the North Kaibab Trail now burned to Supai Tunnel. ...

In this emotional and unfiltered conversation, longtime Grand Canyon shuttle driver and tour guide Krocky Meshkin opens up about the devastation of the North Rim fire, the shocking loss of the Grand Canyon Lodge, and the ripple effects on his livelihood and identity. Just days before the blaze, Krocky was celebrating a life finally coming together—his business thriving, his future clear. Now, he's forced to start over.

Reco...

In this urgent fire update, Brian and Zeena share troubling new developments from the North Rim: the blaze has now spilled over the rim and threatens Manzanita and the critical pump house at Roaring Springs. With no containment and growing danger deep inside the canyon, we break down what’s really happening—what’s confirmed, what’s not, and what it all means for the future of the North Kaibab Trail. This is the most conseq...

What do you say when one of your favorite places in the world burns down? In this update on the devastating North Rim fire, Brian and Zeena sit down to reflect on the Dragon Bravo Fire that consumed Grand Canyon Lodge and much of the North Rim. But this isn’t just a story of loss—it’s one of love, memory, and the spirit that refuses to die. With firsthand reports, emotional tributes to employees and volunteers, and a power...

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In this powerful walking meditation, Zeena Speciale explores the meaning of the word Kaibab—a Paiute word that translates to “mountain lying down.” As you walk, you’ll be invited to consider what it means to descend instead of climb, to find wisdom not in the striving, but in the surrender. Step by step, breath by breath, this episode guides y...

Ashley Handschke and her fiancé weren’t new to pushing their limits. As endurance athletes and seasoned hikers, they thought they were ready for a two-day Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim of the Grand Canyon. But the Canyon has a way of humbling even the strongest. With temperatures soaring past 100 degrees and the climb up South Kaibab feeling endless, their first crossing tested their resolve, forcing them to question whether they coul...

Margaret Bradley was young, brilliant, and unstoppable—an All-American runner and Boston Marathon finisher who thought she could handle anything, even the Grand Canyon in July. She was wrong. In this powerful and cautionary episode, we revisit the tragic story of Margaret’s final run, exploring what went wrong, how it could have been prevented, and why the Canyon doesn’t care about your resume. With insights from Dr. Tom M...

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In Japan, there is an art called kintsugi, where broken pottery is repaired with shimmering gold, turning cracks into beauty rather than hiding them away. In this meditative walk, Zeena guides you to honor the places within you that feel tender or fractured, filling them with breath and light as you move. Each step becomes a gentle rep...

Not every Grand Canyon tale is about survival. Some are about knowing when not to push. In this episode of Tales From Below, Dave Skierkowski and his seasoned hiking crew swap ambition for wisdom—canceling a planned double-crossing in favor of a single, dialed-in Rim-to-Rim. Through early starts, smart pacing, and well-timed cooling breaks, they conquered the heat of a brutal May day without incident. Their story is a quie...

What does it take to hike the entire length of the Grand Canyon—800 miles of brutal, unforgiving, awe-inspiring terrain? In this episode, Dr. Tom Myers, longtime Grand Canyon physician and author, shares the story behind his new book The Grandest Trek, chronicling his end-to-end Canyon journey with his son, the lessons they learned, and the powerful, raw moments that shaped them along the way. We also dive into Tom’s decad...

Introducing Sacred Steps: Meditations In Motion, a weekly meditation for your hikes or walks by my wife, shamanic Reiki master teacher and certified sound healer Zeena Speciale. Try them on your hikes—I think you'll love them! (These will be released separately on Sundays, so please subscribe to Sacred Steps: Meditations In Motion wherever you get your podcasts so they show up in your feed.)
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In this debut episo...

What do you do when your heart rate won’t come down, the sun is climbing fast, and the Canyon stretches endlessly in both directions? For Alan Fletcher, the answer was clear—listen to your body, not your ego. In this episode of Tales From Below, we follow Alan’s solo Rim-to-Rim hike in May 2025, a journey marked by wisdom, self-awareness, and the courage to pivot. It’s a reminder that strength isn’t always about pushing th...

When 12 women—mothers and daughters, best friends and lifelong training partners—set out to cross the Grand Canyon together, they didn’t just take on the heat, the elevation, or the fear of heights. They took on the challenge of staying united. In this episode, we talk with Laurie Bertani, a former college soccer player who came in doubting whether she could do it—and came out forever changed. From a creative hydration hac...

Distress on South Kaibab isn’t just a story about a well-planned rim-to-river hike—it’s a real-time reminder that in the Grand Canyon, conditions can change in an instant. Sharon Spruill and her group set out with preparation, training, and intention. But halfway through their ascent, they encountered something no one plans for: an emergency unfolding right in front of them. What happened next became a powerful lesson in c...

Anne and Alexis Keyworth didn’t just survive their Rim2Rim—they thrived. Two sisters, a Canyon adventure, and a perfectly executed plan that turned one of America’s toughest hikes into a joyful, pain-free experience. In this episode, they walk us through the smart training, strategic timing, heat mitigation, and mindset that made it all possible. If you want to know what “doing it right” really looks like, this is your blu...

Lori Anne wasn’t out to break any records. In her mid-60s, recovering from health setbacks, she set a goal that felt both “crazy” and deeply necessary: to move, to grow, to see if she belonged below the rim. What followed was a full-day South Kaibab–Tonto–Bright Angel hike taken with intention and joy. This story is a reminder that not every Grand Canyon hike has to be a race—and there’s no such thing as just a Rim2River o...

She’s the boss of everything below the rim—and one of the most respected rangers in the National Park Service. In this raw, revealing conversation, Grand Canyon District Ranger Lisa Hendy takes us inside the mechanics of a rescue, explains how heat and hubris turn hikes into helicopter rides, and shares her thoughts on the controversial River Trail closure. Plus: the growing abuse rangers are facing and why that uniform de...

When Scott DeBergh reunited with three college friends for their first-ever trek below the rim together, they expected a challenge—but nothing could’ve prepared them for what the Canyon had in store. From dehydration and a bonk in The Box to redemption at Ribbon Falls, this five-day journey tested limits, strengthened bonds, and reminded them why the Grand Canyon is a spiritual pilgrimage and an athletic crucible. Whether ...