Podcasts · Sports · Society & Culture

The Grand Canyon Hiker Dude Show

hiKin

137 episodes

Welcome to the home of Grand Canyon hiking. The Grand Canyon Hiker Dude Show helps hikers plan, train for, and better understand hikes below the rim, from short day hikes to Rim-to-Rim, Rim-to-River, Phantom Ranch, Bright Angel Trail, South Kaibab Trail, North Kaibab Trail, backpacking trips, heat safety, water planning, shuttle logistics, and more.

More about the show

Host Brian Speciale shares Grand Canyon stories, trail-tested advice, safety lessons, interviews, and community wisdom from first-timers, seasoned hikers, rangers, Canyon insiders, and everyday people who have learned powerful lessons below the rim.

Whether you are planning Rim-to-Rim, dreaming of Phantom Ranch, preparing for your first Grand Canyon hike, or looking for honest stories of triumph, tragedy, mistakes, and trail-won wisdom, this podcast will help you hike your best hike.

Listeners call the show “an invaluable resource,” “the perfect mix of inspiration, realistic caution, and tips for success,” and “a welcoming place and wealth of information.”

New episodes weekly. Join the conversation in the Hike Club Grand Canyon private Facebook group.

Episodes page 1 of 3

  1. BREAKING NEWS: Flash Flood DEVASTATES Parts Of North Kaibab Trail, Phantom Ranch Area, Multiple Bridges

    · 17 min · Bonus

    In this breaking update, Brian shares what is known so far after a devastating flash flood tore through the North Kaibab Trail and Phantom Ranch area of Grand Canyon National Park. From destroyed bridges and trail…

  2. Canyon Confessions 3: Why Your Food Plan Will FAIL On A Grand Canyon Hike

    · 21 min · Bonus

    From Skittles and pizza to lemonade and squirrel raids, this Canyon Confessions episode proves that food below the rim gets personal fast. Brian reads community-submitted mistakes and breaks down the real lesson behind…

  3. Ep115: The Complete Grand Canyon Rim-to-River Guide: South Kaibab-Phantom Ranch-Bright Angel

    · 1 h 09 min · S3 E115

    Rim-to-River is one of the Grand Canyon's classic hikes—and the descent is only the setup. This complete, step-by-step guide follows the standard route down South Kaibab, through Phantom Ranch and the River Trail, and…

  4. Canyon Confessions 2: What Fit Hikers STILL Get Wrong

    · 17 min · Bonus

    You can be fit, experienced, and still not be ready for the Grand Canyon hike you planned. In this Canyon Confessions episode, Brian breaks down community-submitted mistakes about training, stairs, downhill damage,…

  5. Ep114: A Grand Canyon Near-Death Experience: Heat Stroke, The ICU, And Learning To Walk Again With Maddie Mineer

    · 39 min · S3 E114

    Maddie Mineer is just 20 years old. She had trained for months and believed she was ready for six days below the rim. Then, in the Grand Canyon heat, her legs stopped working and she called out for her mom and dad:…

  6. Ep113: The Dangerous Gap Between FIT and READY For Grand Canyon Hikes With Steve Martin

    · 51 min · S3 E113

    What happens when “training for life” turns into a first Grand Canyon hike, a wrong turn below the rim, and a month of massive endurance efforts most hikers would never attempt? Steve Martin joins the show to talk…

  7. Why Grand Canyon's BEST Training Exercise Looks Completely BACKWARD | A Coach Arnie Q&A

    · 57 min · S3 E113 · Bonus

    Most hikers train for the climb. Coach Arnie says that's exactly why so many get beaten up on the way down. In this Coach Arnie Q&A, you'll learn why one of the most effective Grand Canyon training exercises looks…

  8. Canyon Confessions 1: The Canyon DOESN’T CARE How Ready You THINK You Are

    · 19 min · Bonus

    Real hikers. Real mistakes. Hard lessons from a place that does not care how ready you think you are. In the first Canyon Confessions bonus episode, Brian reads listener-submitted Grand Canyon mistakes from the Hike…

  9. Ep112: Avoiding Mistakes That Can Kill Grand Canyon Hikers With Park PSAR Leader Meghan Smith

    · 1 h 00 min · S3 E112

    Meghan Smith, Grand Canyon National Park’s Preventive Search and Rescue Coordinator, joins the show for a rare look inside what really happens when hikers get in trouble below the rim. After a brutal stretch of…

  10. Ep111: HELICOPTER FOR TWO! How One Bad Step Changed A Grand Canyon Hike

    · 47 min · S3 E111

    A dream Grand Canyon hike. One bad step. One unforgettable outcome. When Gary Teal suffered a serious ankle injury deep below the rim, he and his wife Amy faced the kind of decisions every hiker hopes they'll never…

  11. Ep110: You're NOT Too Old Or Too ANYTHING To Hike Grand Canyon

    · 44 min · S3 E110

    After breaking her kneecap at 77, Brian's mom, Sharon Speciale, wasn't sure she'd ever hike below the rim again. But at 78, she returned to the Grand Canyon with a message every hiker needs to hear: you're not too…

  12. Ep109 — Rim to River on the South Rim’s Toughest Trail (Plus a River Rescue!)

    · 33 min · S3 E109

    A winter rim-to-river on New Hance — steep, snow-covered, lightly cairned, and widely considered one of the South Rim’s toughest trails. What starts as a 13-mile descent through Red Canyon and boulder fields turns…

  13. Ep108 — Called by the Canyon: An Aussie's Rim-to-River Story

    · 45 min · S3 E108

    When Shannon Stirling from Sydney, Australia got a last-minute invitation to join friends in Las Vegas, he started asking a different question: how far is the Grand Canyon? Just weeks later, inspired by The Grand…

  14. Ep107 — Surprise! North Kaibab is Reopening May 15 — But Should You Count On Rim-to-Rim In 2026??

    · 24 min · S3 E107

    One week after the National Park Service announced a May 15 reopening for the North Kaibab Trail, hikers are scrambling to rethink plans once thought impossible this year. But beneath the excitement lies a different…

  15. Ep106 — Grand Canyon Rim-to-River Breakdown (Part 2): Bright Angel, South Kaibab & More

    · 43 min · S3 E106

    In Part 2 of our Rim-to-River Breakdown, we turn to the Grand Canyon’s corridor trails and the classic rim-to-river routes most hikers take. Brian and Eric Nelson break down the Tanner Trail as well as the traditional…

  16. Ep105 — Grand Canyon Rim-to-River Breakdown (Part 1): Choosing Your Route

    · 44 min · S3 E105

    Most Grand Canyon hikers stick to the corridor trails—but there’s an entire world of rim-to-river routes beyond Bright Angel and South Kaibab. In Part 1 of our Rim-to-River Breakdown, Brian and Eric Nelson explore the…

  17. Ep104 — Life on the Grand Canyon Trail Crew: The Toughest Job You'll Never See

    · 48 min · S3 E104

    What’s it really like to work on a Grand Canyon trail crew? In Part 2 of our conversation with Grand Canyon Trails Supervisor Adam Gibson, we go inside the day-to-day life of the crews who build and maintain the…

  18. Ep103: BREAKING: Grand Canyon Trail Supervisor Shares First Assessment of North Kaibab

    · 56 min · S3 E103

    For the first time since last summer’s Dragon Bravo Fire, the National Park Service has spoken in depth about the true condition of the North Kaibab Trail. In this exclusive interview, Grand Canyon Trail Supervisor…

  19. Ep102: The South Rim Six Pack Challenge: Are You In?

    · 34 min · S3 E102

    Come along as Brian attempts the South Rim Six Pack Challenge — hiking the first mile down and back up six different Grand Canyon trails in one day. From Tanner and New Hance to the corridor trails, the episode covers…

  20. Ep101: Role Reversal: Dr. Myers Turns the Mic on Me — And Asks the Question That Broke Me

    · 44 min · S3 E101

    This episode is a role reversal. After a Grand Canyon hike, on the drive back to Flagstaff, Dr. Tom Myers (Mr. Grand Canyon) takes over the mic and interviews Brian. There is no trail breakdown, no route discussion,…

  21. Ep100: A First Big Grand Canyon Hike At 77

    · 50 min · S3 E100

    Be ready to be inspired. Recorded on a South Kaibab Rim-to-River hike, this episode follows Jerry Crank as he completes his first big Grand Canyon hike at 77 years old, alongside his son Jeff. Jerry talks about…

  22. Ep99: Is Grandview An Off-Corridor Hike You're Ready For?

    · 41 min · S3 E99

    With rim-to-rim still off the table, Brian heads off the corridor once again—this time down the historic Grandview Trail to Horseshoe Mesa, joined by lifelong canyon hiker Joe Adlhoch, better known in the community as…

  23. Ep98: Jackie and the Crazies — My Last Conversation at the North Rim Lodge

    · 52 min · S3 E98

    Recorded at the North Rim's Grand Canyon Lodge on opening day 2025, this conversation follows a South Kaibab to North Kaibab Rim-to-Rim with Jackie Kunkel and her group, “the Crazies.” The discussion covers…

  24. Ep97: We Messed Up! A Rim-to-River Wake-Up Call with Mr. Grand Canyon

    · 1 h 01 min · S3 E97

    What happens when two experienced Grand Canyon hikers—including Dr. Tom Myers, aka Mr. Grand Canyon—leave their headlamps behind on a January rim-to-river hike? Episode 97 opens Year Three of The Grand Canyon Hiker…

  25. Ep96: Off-Corridor GC Hikes You Can Do — Tanner Trail

    · 35 min · S2 E96

    When the Canyon’s main arteries close, adventure doesn’t stop — it just shifts. In this episode, Brian teams up with Canyon veteran James Tenelshof for a day on the rugged Tanner Trail, one of the most rewarding and…

  26. Ep95: Trapped By A BIBLICAL Grand Canyon Flood With Weston Myers (Plus: Our New Hiking Packs Are Here!)

    · 58 min · S2 E95

    In this special Thanksgiving episode, Brian and Zeena celebrate the long-awaited arrival of the Rim2Rim Pack and the brand-new Canyon Elite — and share the heart behind why hiKin exists. Then Brian sits down with…

  27. Ep94: Surviving And Thriving On The Journey From Cancer To Canyon

    · 45 min · S2 E94

    When Tiffany Yager walked into the hospital during the pandemic, she thought she had COVID. Instead, doctors told her she had acute myeloid leukemia—and perhaps just 24 hours to live if she didn't go into intensive…

  28. Ep93: Facebook Joe on Fire, Family, and a Life Below the Rim

    · 1 h 01 min · S2 E93

    In this episode, Brian sits down with Joe Adlhoch—known in our community as “Facebook Joe”—to talk about a lifetime of Grand Canyon adventures. From his first trip as a 10-year-old with his dad, to a recent multi-day…

  29. Ep92: Bruce Aiken: The Artist Who Lived At The Bottom Of The Grand Canyon

    · 1 h 16 min · S2 E92

    For 33 years, Bruce Aiken and his family called Roaring Springs home—5 miles and 3,500 feet below the North Rim. From maintaining the park’s lifeline water system to creating world-renowned paintings of the Canyon,…

  30. Ep91: A 10-Year-Old’s Final Hike: The Tragedy of Philip Grimm

    · 26 min · S2 E91

    It was supposed to be the adventure of a lifetime: a 10-year-old boy’s first airplane ride, first Canyon hike, and a grandmother’s dream of sharing her love for the Grand Canyon with her family. But on a scorching July…

  31. Ep90: YouTube's Famous "Hiking Guy" On Rim-to-Rim And Beyond

    · 1 h 01 min · S2 E90

    Cris Hazzard—better known as Hiking Guy—has built one of the most trusted platforms in the outdoor world, helping millions of hikers with his honest trail guides and practical wisdom. In this conversation, Cris sits…

  32. Ep89: Practical Advice From 50+ Rim2Rims

    · 57 min · S2 E89

    What do you get when you combine flip-flops, a Harley, and a heart for helping others cross the Canyon? You get Julian Coiner, one of the Grand Canyon’s most joyful characters. In this episode, Julian shares how…

  33. Ep88: How To Hike Rim-To-River Without Getting Wrecked

    · 39 min · S2 E88

    As the North Rim continues to burn and Rim-to-Rim becomes impossible for the foreseeable future, Brian returns to the trail to share what is still possible. This episode documents a full Rim-to-River hike from South…

  34. Sacred Steps Hiking Meditation: You Are The Phoenix

    · 21 min · Bonus

    What if your greatest heartbreak was not your end—but your beginning? In this powerful walking meditation, Zeena guides you through a journey of release, remembrance, and rebirth. Inspired by the myth of the phoenix…

  35. Sacred Steps | The Fire That Transforms

    · 16 min · Bonus

    I simply MUST share this. It's too powerful not to, and just what many of us need to hear. Please subscribe to Sacred Steps: Meditation In Motion to get magic like this every single week. These are hiking/walking…

  36. North Rim Fire Update | As Fire Spreads North, How Safe Is Kaibab Lodge?

    · 12 min · Bonus

    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…

  37. Don't Give Up On Your Canyon Adventure! | North Rim Fire Update | Thursday, July 17

    · 27 min

    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%,…

  38. The Day That Changed Everything: Krocky Meshkin's North Rim Fire Story | Plus Updates On Fire's Progress

    · 43 min · Bonus

    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…

  39. North Rim Fire Update | BREAKING: Manzanita, Roaring Springs Threatened | Tuesday, July 15

    · 31 min · Bonus

    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…

  40. North Rim Fire Update | Loss...And Hope | Monday, July 14

    · 31 min · Bonus

    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…

  41. Sacred Steps (Hiking/Movement Meditation): Kaibab—The Wisdom Of The Upside Down Mountain

    · 13 min · Bonus

    To subscribe on Apple Podcasts, click here. To subscribe on Spotify, click here. -- In this powerful walking meditation, Zeena Speciale explores the meaning of the word Kaibab—a Paiute word that translates to…

  42. Tales From Below (Ep7): Humbled By The Canyon

    · 5:20 · Bonus

    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…

  43. Ep87: The Boston Marathoner Who Died in the Grand Canyon: The Margaret Bradley Story

    · 26 min · S2 E87

    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…

  44. Sacred Steps (Hiking/Movement Meditation): Mending The Cracks: A Meditation On Wholeness

    · 15 min · Bonus

    To subscribe on Apple Podcasts, click here. To subscribe on Spotify, click here. -- In Japan, there is an art called kintsugi, where broken pottery is repaired with shimmering gold, turning cracks into beauty rather…

  45. Tales From Below (Ep6): Heat, Humility, And The Perfect Rim2Rim

    · 7:12 · Bonus

    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…

  46. Ep86: Hiking The Length Of The Grand Canyon With Dr. Tom Myers

    · 1 h 02 min · S2 E86

    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…

  47. Introducing Sacred Steps: Hiking/Walking Meditations By Zeena Speciale

    · 14 min · Bonus

    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…

  48. Tales From Below (Ep5): Live To Hike Another Day

    · 6:52 · Bonus

    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…

  49. Ep85: The Hardest, Coolest Thing We've Ever Done With Laurie Bertani

    · 51 min · S2 E85

    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…

  50. Tales From Below (Ep4): Distress On South Kaibab

    · 6:33

    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…

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