The GC Foodie

That's what they call it when you're asking around online: The GC. They shorten the trail names down too. For example, I hiked down the S.K. & then back up the B.A. ...Those are just their initials, not their actual trail names. 😊 I'd learned "the lingo"; I was ready to go. 😉

I learned of the importance of remaining fueled the entire time. Fortunately, what I knew to be the best "constant" fuel, I already had; I didn't need to buy. I packed an equal amount of these & these. I also got my hands on a few of these. Between each of these, I essentially had one of each (maybe two of the former) for each time I pulled one of these out to refill this.

For the "down time" I'd been informed that I'd have once I'd hiked from the South Rim to the River, & before it was advisable to begin the trek back up to the top of the South Rim via the other trail, I realized it'd be best to munch on these, which I made certain to purchase them salted, as I'd learned how much hiking in these conditions, this sort of fitness - that is - the salt is essential for the body, so munch away, I did.

Despite the fact that this should be refrigerated, I packed several of them for each of the three days I'd be away. (What I'd packed, unlike this link, wasn't on ice, etc. Mom was kind of freaking out, as a mother is likely to do. I don't think that I calmed her much by explaining I'd been fine so far eating them in this same [unrefrigerated] manner for the past week or so.) I packed hard-boiled eggs & apples too. Each would provide protein & other vitamins & minerals I'd be looking for during my "down time". And I packed this too. It's not something I typically eat, yet I knew it would be good sustenance for this event & so I bought a package for each day I'd be away.

Although this contains electrolytes, I already knew I enjoyed this, so, especially as it's a tiny container & sure to fit in any crevasse I'd jam it, I enjoyed its energizing benefits & flavor squirted into a partial liter while I sat in the air-conditioning high on adrenaline in anticipation of the rest of the day...Cause my plan all along had been Rim to River & back up to the Rim - all in one day. The South Rim, because it's a longer hike. 😏

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When You're In Control...

While online setting myself up to conquer this bucket list item, which I'd been getting excited about for over a year, I met some people who were able to well advise me. I received suggestions on how to dress for the hike, what to take to eat, & when to be eating it.

At first it was because I was looking for someone with which to make the hike; I didn't think it would be all that great to hike solo; it really wasn't all that bad. After putting in the time & effort for several weeks to track down someone who'd want to make this hike and want to [read: be able to] make this hike on the same day as I did, I relented & began setting myself up.

When you're in control, you make it happen.

Maybe it was a "control" thing. I'd be able to set up my flight, as well as my rental vehicle knowing that whatever plans I did make were all mine & I wouldn't be inconveniencing anyone except me (in the case that I fouled up some part of the planning! 😎😂).

The first thing I knew I'd need to be packing: these.

Which also brought me to the discovery that I'd need to have checked baggage. These are on the TSA unacceptable-onboard-a-plane list. So be it.

I'd stick this, which I'd used in July into another luggage bag (one I had which was on wheels) so that I'd be able to get by with checking just one bag. These, even when completely collapsed, weren't short enough to fit inside this & also be able to shut it. I then began cooking up more brilliance with what all I would pack in & around the bag inside the bag.

So as not to take up unnecessary, additional spacing, I figured, even though they'd be a slight inconvenience to take off, etc. through airport security, their not being packed, rather, worn would make for maximum additional space-still-available-to-pack-other-things. So be it.

I untied & removed these through the airport security process & then sat comfortable aboard the plane knowing that in wearing these versus these, (remember this post?), no matter the plane's temperature, my feet were bound to be kept cozy.

And they do say if, in being the extremes from the main part of your body, your hands & feet are comfortable & cozy, then the rest of you is sure to be too!

I would then have maximum space to fill in & around with appropriate food, beverage, & even some clothes... 😉

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It's Smelling a Little Bit Productive

Back in town I was ready to focus on the important things in life. Correcting the remainder of my storage unit (from here & here), setting up plans to check another item off my bucket list, & this, this, & this...especially this & this! After spending nearly a solid month creating dirty laundry, these are the things which make me smile.

Being able to function as an independent, decisive, adult member of society has its rewards. I'd just taken control & polished off a few goals during the previous month. Now I was setting myself up to conquer one more. With my birthday around the corner logic prevailed & I began the "homework" process to know what was most important for me to do in order to properly prepare in order to keep on placing checkmarks within the metaphorical boxes lining the left-hand side of my ever-growing bucket list. 😏

With clean garments sprawled across the carpeted floor after lining the dowel rods of this to maximum capacity, I began searching online for all the pertinent information on what I needed to know for a successful trip & finally hike the Grand Canyon.

Knowing exactly what day I planned to hike made setting up my flight & rental vehicle easiest. Thanks to mapping apps I could confirm the logistics of where I'd need to be & the reality of whether it'd be possible. Based on needing to board a flight about twelve hours sooner than I thought would be practical, I soon learned that the additional hours would be just the right amount that I'd need in order to finish setting myself up for the main event.

First, though, I had roughly a month to gather the best information & make the necessary connections in order to make the most of the long-awaited experience.

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A Hike in a Park

After this experience coasting on the river, I became greatly encouraged to take a day or so & visit a park a few hours drive away. I was additionally encouraged to camp at the park for at least a night.

The park, a National Park, was loaded with natural beauty & I found myself stopping several times along the main street & turning my rental vehicle around to go back to various parking cut-away sections in so that I'd be able to stop & capture the moments along the path. It was a lesson in noticing, just noticing & not always just running on by. (Both literally & figuratively, that is.)

It turned out, in my potential overpacking that having packed these turned out to be a "successful waste of space". (Hooray for that! 😁) These are the things that happen along the way which I recall as I'm packing in the future, further reminding me of the goodness within the action of overpacking. Because sometimes it downright equals good sense & practicality.


I had the opportunity to hike some grand, spectacular trails & photograph some impressive scenes. I tossed a few of these & an apple in a fanny pack I'd been regularly using & wore one of these on my back, which made it easier to enjoy the day to its fullest without a disruption in energy.

I'd woken up very early that first morning to make the drive out to the park (after not having allowed myself to fall asleep until very late). And when I digressed & stretched out that night at the campsite, within the folds of the trees, I easily fell asleep. I slept very well. I woke up amazed at the soundness of my sleep & the amount of hours of my sleep (which totaled 11).

I knew, in part, that since I'd driven to the park with just a few hours of sleep under my head that my body would be desiring more rest at the end of the day anyway. I wasn't wrong about that. I do also think that, because my rental vehicle wasn't parked in the wide open back section of a store's parking lot as it'd been previously during my time in this state-across-the-country-from-home, & instead was parked on an actual campsite in an actual campground, that my body felt "permitted" to relax & just be.

Having the opportunity to hike the trails that I did turned out great for my body overall. I ultimately felt my limbs stretched in a unique way over the various sections of hiking trails. An element of cross-training in the ready preparation for the next (& last) marathon to be just days after these hiking days & before I headed back home made for a great fit as well.

The park didn't have internet capabilities (unless while at the visitor center) & so therefore, as a lone hiker with a gregarious personality (& only so much 💰 to commit to these activities), after enjoying the experience as much as possible, I headed back to the town a few hours drive away which had become a sort of home away from home. And, if it's meant to be, someday, maybe, it actually will be my home.

Just not so much in this near future. 😄

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Posh Sleeping

When I made this trip almost all the way across the country, & because I would definitely need to rent a vehicle to get around for a few weeks (which was gonna cost me much moola even with uber discounts included), I realized long before I hopped aboard the Greyhound that I'd be best off to "car camp".

In my general inexperience with car camping (just an overall affection for camping) I figured that as long as I got myself an SUV for a rental, I'd be set & I could fold down the backseat, leaving a long amount of space for me to stretch out. It turned out that I only needed to fold down a portion of the backseat leaving ample width for this whether I'd be sleeping on it or inside of it. This, in turn, left space where I could also set up & consider which things from my checked luggage bag I'd need at certain points during my trip.

I set myself up just fine for my first night - where my only "glitch" became the unexpected learning experience of being farther north than my "hometown" familiarity being much more unanticipated daylight than I could process. Well, that's an exaggeration, yes. It was July & not June anymore, after all. And therefore a time of year when it's sensible - rather, assumable - that each day's daylight will be the appropriate minutes shorter that it should be. And, well, it is, for each given area.


I'd learned years ago how Alaska has daylight all day for half the year & then darkness all day for the other half the year. Or, something like that. Similar to those who believe that Earth is flat, I somehow got it into my head that it's only in Alaska, down to the jagged borders of the state's line, where this "extended daylight" happens.

😂 Well, yes, the tears of laughter are all on me! As well they should be!! I mean, really people, c'mon! There's no practically, no logic - because, well, I simply hadn't ever really thought about it. I knew it to be true for Alaska & so I "locked" it in as being "only in Alaska". And that it is definitely not.

It's a gradual phenomenon (okay, so "phenomenon" might be a strong word to use here, although when one discovers something that seems on equal level to comprehending that the Earth is round & not actually flat, "phenomenon" has a bit more reasoning than might otherwise be acceptable). And by "gradual" I mean similarly to how the time zones exist, in part, to maintain modern day latitude fluctuation, there's something to be said for daylight in regard to longitude as well.

And so, in addition to all of the other "unexpected learning" I experienced on this trip to cross the finish line of two marathons, I also learned, first hand, how much more daylight there is further north than where I typically spend my time. And whereas I expected, in mid-July, for the sun to be going down (for it to be practically dark, or absolutely dark) definitely by 9:15 or 9:30 at night, well, that's not what I did experience that first night of sleeping in the back of an SUV (so no curtains on the windows) & in a parking lot (so no trees - definitely none of appreciable abundance) while I tossed & turned a bit anyway out of general heightened anticipation for the first of the two marathons, which I'd be crossing the finish line for after I slept like this three more times. On the positive note, I certainly had the time to adjust my body to this alternative (car camping) sleeping style. I really do believe it was roughly 10:45 that first night when darkness fell upon that parking lot. And so it was.


When I awoke needing to use the store's restroom, & figuring that a "stretching out" walk through the store would do me well anyway, I found myself contemplating the home fashions department just a little bit more. I was hesitant because I knew whatever I'd chose to buy would be large or bulky & that I'd not want to pitch it out, rather to manage forcing the zipper closed on my checked luggage bag once I did pack it back up for the return trip.

Since I'd been silly enough to reason I'd potentially read six books (when I ended up bringing back a seventh book too) & where I furthered my reading of one of the original books & managed my way through nearly a third of another, there simply wasn't space for me to be buying anything of substantial size that I'd not be eating or recycling, etc.

Alas, I found this. I found it to be reasonably priced & felt that I'd be ultimately be able to wrap my belongings around it in order to get it shoved well into the checked luggage. And, in the end, it folded down incredibly (intense compression) & everything else got piled heavily atop it with additional items originally not included with the carry-on, now adding to the carry-on after all. Because, yes, it did all. work. out. to bring it back with me.

And, because I did purchase it, I was able to set it up underneath this. The extra cushioning (or cushioning in general 😊, because otherwise I was stretching out directly atop the barebones "carpet" of the SUV) became a welcome respite.

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If you'd like to shop my general Amazon Store, click here. By clicking any of these links to get to Amazon's site I may get a small share of the sale. Thank You!