After Lee & I completed our 10 hour training hike a week prior to the R2R, Lee hesitantly and very carefully commented that I may not make the “big” hike.  My response was predictable – I cried.  And cried.  And cried.  In a feeble attempt to make amends, he said, “I promise I will walk with you every step of the way, even if it takes us until midnight to finish…”  I cried some more while nursing a horrific chest cold.  As it turned out, he exaggerated: we finished at 11:59 p.m.

Our team of 30 became a team of 26; one had to drop out at the last minute due to a foot surgery and another group of three had their flight from Chicago cancelled due to tornado warnings.  They were determined and drove to Milwaukee, caught a flight to Phoenix, and drove some more to the South Rim.  Unfortunately, they arrived about the same time we were headed to the trailhead in the wee hours of the morning and made the wise decision to withdraw from the hike.  Frustrated, indeed, as the months of physical preparation and anticipation went unfulfilled.

A few of our fellow hikers have shared their inspiring, thoughtful words and breathtaking photos.  I will include their perspectives next week when I have the final donation numbers.

My take is not as eloquent.

At 3:30 a.m. with head lamps guiding our steps down the South Rim, Kelsey and I were in the first “slow” group as we started out in stages based upon trekking speed. I was not offended – it’s a fact I am a slow hiker.  It’s odd to me though, I really think I’m moving right along at a fairly quick pace when I look up and I’m the last in the line by about 200 yards.  I still don’t know how that happens.  Kelsey literally left me in the dust by dawn.  Not dismayed, the second “slow” group caught up with me.  Then the “fast” group caught up and passed me, too.  Lee and Dave were with me, bringing up the rear for our first stop at Phantom Ranch.  Other than not being able to breathe (antibiotics obviously not working; however, the massive dose of steroids prescribed for my hips and knees were working famously), I felt great.

Lee and Dave are now stuck with me since I’m the caboose of the group.  I felt bad – they are the most physically prepared yet forced to move at a snails pace as we headed out towards the 7 mile stretch through the canyon floor, including the infamous “Hot Box”.  Temperatures reached over 110 degrees.  We found two other hikers along the way that were experiencing heat exhaustion like me – we all started getting chilled and needed to rest often.  Thankfully, there was a creek running near our trail and at one point, we were able to submerge into the cold water.  While my two conspirators forged on ahead, Lee and Dave walked painfully slow with me.  I could never seem to catch my breath and my nose ran constantly (this turned out to be a good indicator of being hydrated, oddly enough).  This is where my doubts began to seep in and I honestly didn’t know how I was going to get out of the canyon.  But while doubting, might as well keep taking salt tablets, electrolytes and calories that Lee and Dave continued to hand me.  Might as well take a few more steps.  Another hiker, Jeff, joined us too, to make sure we were all right (more like willing to help physically carry me out, if necessary).

Finally, we made it to Cottonwood – stop number 2.  My two friends had waited for me, as there was a fresh, ice cold watering hole of sorts.  Off came the shoes and pants and we jumped in to cool down our core.  It was heavenly!  And, I think, an actual life-saving moment.  One of our medics had also waited for me to arrive; it turns out she, too, was experiencing heat exhaustion and needed the rest and shade before heading up the last 7 miles.  Without trying to be an ass, I found comfort in finding a kindred spirit in her: we both trained so hard and felt so prepared – although you really can’t train for the heat – yet succumbed to the literal wall of heat.  Misery really does love company.  While my two friends tromped on, Lee, Dave, Jeff, Cassie and myself waited until 4:00 p.m. before heading up, allowing time for the shade to hit.

Once in the shade, both Cassie and I began to feel better.  We could make it more than 20 steps before having to sit and rest, 25 steps at least.  Lee, Dave & Jeff were great – so patient, so kind, no judgement, always encouraging.  Well, except when Dave would have us look towards the sky, point to a mountain top that was over two other mountain tops and exclaim, smiling broadly, “That’s where we end up!!!”

Obviously, we needed our head lamps again for the last 4 miles or so.  At one point, Lee asked us to stop (well, ok, if YOU want to…)  We were walking along a particularly sketchy area where one side of the trail was wall and the other was an endless abyss.  We leaned back against the wall and turned off our head lamps.  The walls of the canyon surrounded 180 degrees of our view and as we looked up, we had a window of a billion stars (it was a new moon so there was not any additional light).  It was amazingly beautiful and we just absorbed the brilliance of the view for five minutes or so.  It was definitely a spiritual moment and the highlight of the hike for me.

We finally made it – 20 hours total – to the top!  And it really was 11:59 p.m.  I sincerely thanked God for sending me angels Lee, Dave, Jeff and Cassie to help me make it. I absolutely, positively could not have done it without them.

Big shout out to Dave and his wife, Linette – they planned the entire event (Lee’s idea but they carried it out).  It was well thought out and we were surprised with a fantastic Wacky medal when we crossed the finish line! Dave’s brother-in-law, Scott, was a volunteer extraordinaire, especially when one of our hikers experienced severe altitude sickness when completing the hike, needing to go to the hospital for the night (nothing like a potassium drip to get you back on your feet).  We had several family members serve as volunteers as they waited for their hikers to return.  I’m still bugged that our daughter – Kelsey, son – Bo and daughter-in-law – Becky, all finished in the top six WITHOUT doing one single training hike…  We all got up early to enjoy breakfast at the North Rim Lodge with an unbelievable view of the Grand Canyon.  Our bus driver, Raul, was great!  He drove us though the beautiful Zions National Park on our return to Las Vegas, making it in time for every single one of us to catch our flights home!  And on a sentimental note, we were able to take “Carolyn” with us on the entire hike!  Her son, Tyler, was able to capture most of the hike on his GoPro so he could show her later when he finally got to see her on Thursday.

Lee and I were snuggled up the day after we got home and he asked me what inspired me to finish.  I’ve thought about this for days and I can’t put my finger on it.  Yes, Nick walked with me for a bit but he wasn’t the driving force.  I wanted Lee to be proud of me, but that wasn’t it entirely, either.  It is similar to the days before Nick died: our house was so full of angels it was almost visible and absolutely tangible.  That’s the same energy I felt in the canyon, angel energy, if you will.  The combination of all of the hikers and the spirit of being together and all those supporting each one individually and as a group was extremely powerful.  Although I doubted HOW I would get out of the canyon, I still knew with absolute certainty that I would, though will never, ever, ever do it again. Ever.

I’m extremely grateful for each Wacky hiker for completing this enormous challenge and the volunteers and donors for their support!  I love that everyone had their own reasons for coming together to help Wacky Warriors support adolescents and young adults affected by cancer.  We are very blessed to have so many friends willing to face such an endeavor to help others.  Our hearts are full, thank you all.