life has a way of unfolding in Seasons a dynamic Journey with different interests and hobbies changing friend groups and evolving sources of inspiration and while you're in a particular season it can feel impossible to imagine a life any other way I try not to overthink it and instead take the fullest advantage of the current season that I'm in and this season of my life I'm drawn to being outside on a bike exploring nature I want to test my physical and mental limits I feel like I have something to prove to myself and for me nothing could epitomize this experience more than bike packing the Arizona Trail something that I've dreamt about for the last several years after watching someone strap their bike to their back and began their descent down the north rim of the Grand Canyon an 800m Trail traversing across a diverse Arizona landscape with expansive Vistas and amber colored Skies towering Saro cacti and prickly plants bone jilling pine tree forests in the Grand Canyon a geological Masterpiece for my last bike packing trip of 2023 the Arizona Trail 800 a route that lives up to its reputation all right so we just rode to the monument there it is this is the official start of the ride so uh it's a great temperature out actually I mean it could be a little bit cooler but I mean what do you want we're in Arizona right now so Mexico yeah I know we're in freaking Mexico but uh it's pretty Pleasant just did a little rearranging there's a little rattling going on but I think we're ready to get started proper now yeah that's good Chris all right so I started this trip thinking that I'd be riding solo in fact I really thought that I wanted it this way somehow in this equation of proving something to myself doing it alone was a key ingredient but I was sharing this shuttle with a guy named Gordon and as we were getting our bikes ready to go I started to talk to him about riding together in that moment I immediately regretted it like imagine an awkward blind date in my head I'm thinking sure I guess I'll try it it could be nice to have company but what if he's really fast that vest he's wearing he looks like he's going to be fast also I'm filming it's so annoying this isn't going to work also what if I just don't get along with him or he's a psycho people think I'm the psycho yeah this definitely won't last first a gate we roll through the undulating Hills of Southern Arizona together sharing intimate details of our lives back home it's amazing when you meet a stranger how quickly you can open up tell him some pretty deep and vulnerable [ __ ] like you may never see this person again so who cares before I know it feels like I'm oversharing yikes maybe I'm the psycho the Sun starts to set we're knackered we agreed it's probably time to set up cam had fun riding with Gordon a day so far not a psycho nice work today [Applause] dude nice work Chris all right it says 35 miles 3200 ft of gain 4200 feet of descent average speed 7.8 miles I got 3700 a Cent Oh I like that number better let take it it's good enough to me I agree Chris you're all sorted already you're almost ready to eat yeah my friend Neil says about me fast on a bike slower on the house fast on a bike slower on the house oh slow around the house slow around the house I'm always crack aoon [Music] yeah air mattresses you don't really need much air in them me yeah like mine's almost empty right now but it was I know mine's like I slept like a py day two on the Arizona Trail Gordon and I have such a long way to go it's almost hard to Fathom as we start to Pedal we're trying not to think Beyond today instead where's the next food and water resupply where might we sleep tonight out here the miles come slow under the scorching Sun where are we going after this I don't know so we're at Canelo Pass Trail Head you said are we going to Kentucky from [Applause] [Music] here all right so we decided to take the Legacy section of the Arizona Trail to get into Patagonia and the trail is not really here anymore tarmac woo oh yeah look at those salt stains right there that was a bar fight oh my gosh wow all right so we just got off the trail here we're on some tarmac heading towards Patagonia where we're on the hunt for some burritos it's hot today like 100° hot so the shade break in Patagonia is welcome but the sun is draining every ounce of my energy I'm struggling it is 303 pulled over on the side of the trail some shade kind of having a little moment here I told uh Gordon to just keep on heading down the trail without me I don't want to hold him up he's just going a lot faster I was trying to keep up spiking my heart rate going to take a little 15 minute break here just kind of lay down wanted to make it to uh Kentucky camp tonight honestly it's like feels like it shouldn't be that far but just too tired man I'm going to set up camp here tonight I'm probably like 6 miles from Kentucky Camp um and I hope tomorrow I'll get up early and I'll be able to catch Gordon again all right it is about 4:45 kind of up so I figured I should start packing and get moving instead of just rolling around well I didn't make it very far I made it like 20 ft and then I realized that my tire is flat starting with a flat tire morale is low this isn't helping it's only day three I'm already haunted by the fear of failure may have underestimated this route all right I've been riding for about an hour and 10 minutes gone about 5 miles so there's a little bit of climbing a little bit of descent got a beautiful sunset behind me Sunrise rather I think uh waking up real early is the ticket it's it's going to be hot today I can already feel it I get to Kentucky camp and I see a guy smoking a cigarette outside the cabin I ask him if he seen a Canadian guy in a bike and he tells me yeah he just took off a few minutes ago I'm laughing on the inside about what Gordon told me the other night fast on a bike slow around the house this means that maybe I'll be able to catch Gordon instead of finding the proper water spigot I just work quickly to wash the crusted salt off my body and refill my bottles with the warm hose water a decision I'll regret for the next 8 hours all right it is 11:36 man back up with Gordon woo sitting here in some shade cuz it's hot out uh so we're just thinking about where we want to go to like resupply we've got Veil as an option and then there's suita as an option and there's like this little place in between but they're all like 20 M away I'm happy to be reunited with Gordon we find a place just off the route to get some Doros and we Lounge for an hour or two while the sun sets we ride into the night when the temperature is more reasonable and set up camp in the dark all right it is 610 Gordon and I are at the Dave zerman Canyon Trail head morning y'all got a earlier start today like 5:30 I think we started riding yeah feels good out for me yeah we're uh this is like downhill so we're cruising it was like the easiest miles we've had so far it feels like so we're going to be coming up to Saro National Park here pretty soon we don't go through it we do like a little side detour and I don't know what's going to happen it's going to get hot that's what's going to happen it's going to get hot it's going to get hot that's one thing I do know fire balls coming for us so we're just coming up to the boundary of Saguaro National Park and so we deviate from the a for a little bit made it to rock and k k wo stoked all right in a turn of events we are now waiting out in the rain and Gordon doesn't have a rain jacket ah have a rain coat yeah so hopefully this is going to stop soon but it's actually coming down pretty good all right that was the the entrance of the Saguaro National Park we are not going to go in there you can see now it's real sunny out no more rain it's feeling hot again all right we took a little detour to this uh Learning Center the people in here were very hospitable reup on some water looked at some endangered fish you're heading up Readington pass it's 2:30 literally the hottest part of the [Music] day nice work slow and steady too hot to go fast Gordon two time Arizona State mountain bike Champion what the heck and I'm trying to keep up with this guy are you kidding me ridiculous yeah today today I learned that Gordon is a two-time Arizona mountain bike champion no wonder he's been kicking my ass this entire trip yeah we're at Readington Road all right so we're stoked to be here going to find a place to set up tence is a little bit slanted I don't know there might be a better spot all right it is 5:55 was up at 4:30 Gordon's tweaking over here he's he hasn't even eaten his breakfast yet he's just been screwing around all morning I don't know what he's doing leave me [Laughter] alone it's going to be like 112° in like 2 hours slow around the house fast on a bike look there's so much air in here still angry I'm an angry camper took off before Gordon he was still needing to eat eat his breakfast and I'm just way slower than him so here's a look at the [Music] terrain it's going to be slow moving today look who finally finished breakfast good ride oh that was the early morning race Chris hi I was in a funk this is Molino Basin is where [ __ ] got real yeah there going to be a lot of hika bike coming up steep hi bike this upcoming section of hika bike is called the lemon push it's exposed Steep and follows the official push Wilderness bypass up Mount Lemon it's mostly unridable and it's one of the route's most physically and mentally demanding stretches all right we just rolled up to General Hitchcock Highway we found this picnic area there's a Tarmac road that leads up to Summer Haven it's 19 mies that is not the way that we're going to be going up to Summer Haven though yeah so it's going to be long hot push I think up to Summer Haven from here all right it's 340 what's going on Gordon wck wrecked we got so much more to go yes we do it's just been hike a bike like we knew we knew what it was going to be but it's just like really steep hike a bike like you're lifting your bike over some big stuff Abby hooked this up with peanut butter bagels and water that was great pecans so there's uh Mount Bigalow trail head and there's a water spigot there which would be awesome it's like five miles away good luck Chris good luck to you Gordon I need luck yeah I think Mount Lemon summer haven over there on the other side of that Hill still have like oh my gosh 2200 ft 3.7 miles that's a lot I don't know what's happening with Gordon right now it's kind of a this burned area there's some steep sections he doesn't have a dropper a little sketchy I thought I'd lower my seat before I die oh gosh is that why you got your tool out yeah I was just telling the camera that you don't have a dropper High post so scary oh my God I can get her down an inch I think if only you were a previous Arizona state champion and with high post I didn't have dropper look at you oh that's funny there no [Music] gangster this is what we're dealing [Music] with [Music] on highly not all right we have pulled into showers Campground somewhere I don't know we were on a quest for water and we were tweaking we couldn't find a we were like just roaming around trying to find water so the in the dark we're knackered good work today though Gordon that was a hard day man Jesus Christ you're an animal Gordon was tweaking at Camp so I left without him told him I'd meet him in summer even that's some hike a bike beautiful full Sunrise behind me all right I'm cruising down Mount Bigalow Road reflecting a little bit on yesterday gosh that was some hard hike a bike it's nice to be cruising downhill on a smooth road right [Music] now let's see if they have breakfast here I told Gordon I'd meet him at lemon the General market across the streets closed [Music] all right they're serving breakfast dude it's a trip in there so fancy got funny music playing but uh yeah they have breakfast so hopefully Gordon hurries the [ __ ] up we can go get some breakfast how'd you like that ride this morning Gordon it's great yeah there there's a couple spots where I was like Z High posting no fall zones for sure yeah CS man yeah like my ski [Music] yeah oh yeah good so I use my sealant and I can get some here that's is good [Music] news yeah that's right it's going crazy look he's getting more what the heck this hting [Music] buttons that's kind of cool they have this actually you ready to get radical Gordon on red Ridge radical BR radical bra pretty steep little hand pump going on there oh it just doesn't quit it's just like I just want to ride my [Laughter] bike stressed out all the time all right we just got down red Ridge here Gordon what' you think sketchy how is it with uh without a dropper awesome yeah it's just like almost doing a handstand the whole way down yeah yeah so uh now we're headed back up to I guess Dan saddle or something I don't know we have about 2,000 ft now that we have to climb back up and then we'll be rewarded with another descent woo I reckon you can make it work in a pinch yeah oh gosh look at this Fair fles little stove wood stove all right we've been working on this hill for a couple flowers 2,000 ft we have about 300 left that's a hell of a ridge yeah man this road sucks it's so chunky yeah of course it looks like it smooth out down here though Rock blew right up to reer in Spoke that's never happened before it's like stuck in there and this is like almost pulling out and that's not looking too good either I don't know what else to do yep I'm cutting my spoke thanks to this baby head infested White Knuckle [ __ ] descent no I didn't need to I just panicked in the moment that's some MacGyver [ __ ] for sure okay I think I'm good though all right we just stopped at the Oracle Patio Cafe and Market the Cafe is closed but the Market is open and man this is a great little market we met Bo who works here and he was really nice um so got some really tasty looking food probably going to eat something here and then uh head back to the a ride in the night and uh find a place to post [Music] up all right it's like day 40 and we're still in Tucson getting our ass is kicked getting any choya I'm getting good I can dig my Fork out if yeah pull it off my leg and keep on R all right we've like entered the land of the choya check it out Troya is everywhere it's on the trail what happens is when you're riding kicks up and then it sticks to the back of your calves my calves happen to have pretty big surface area that's what I was looking see Gordon's got the comb pro move that ain't to brush his his uh wavy locks folks that's for in [Laughter] [Music] there time's starting to slip away and the days meld together we're beginning to acclimate to the scorching Heat we hardly Flinch at the cat claw it tears at our flesh almost a week in I feel like Gordon and I are finally starting to find our Rhythm it's riding through the desert we're on some uh dirt road now though and it's like it's flat it's smooth Freeman we're in Freeman we just pulled up there's a water box over there got a little freaked out there's only one gallon in there and so there's this water tank we're going to check that out so let's hope there's water in the rain collector yes spig it right there stoked look at this got air conditioning we're at a hotel in Kerney and if you've done your research on this section of the Arizona Trail you've probably heard of oldtime pizza likely you've heard of this guy named Gary some people affectionately refer to him as the king of Kerney his daughter now runs oldtime pizza and Gary's a guy that likes to help out people on the Arizona Trail he drove to the trail head with a truck and picked Gordon and eye up then when he arrived he checked the water box to make sure it was full and drove us into Kerney thanks Gary you're truly the king of C there's a pizza place we can actually get pizza and bring it back here it's uh Gordon in my one we anniversary today so we splurged and got the room maybe we'll bring maybe we'll bring dinner back to the motel tonight all right good old Gary from uh Kerney he just dropped us back off where he picked us up yesterday amazing so we're about to get started on the picket Post Trail we're at the a low Point 1,646 FT elevation next to the hila River and we're about to climb 3,100 ft up uh picket post Gordon's got all kinds of [ __ ] in his tire there look at that oo that's that is a big one actually Gordon what do you think of that water water again water so we got like 500 ft of climbing left once we get hopefully there's water here okay one one4 mile I'm praying of the baby Jesus woo woo [ __ ] water these trips have a way of giving you appreciation for the most fundamental of Comforts shade water and a few moments of being still all right so we just had a big old Siesta here at the Arizona Trail water collector on picket Post Trail this was a great little spot until the ants came and started crawling all over us while we were like trying to nap all right so we're starting the picket post descent and just like everything else like you climb up all day and the burning heat you're like sweet we're going to have some fun on the downhill and it just like beats you up still right it's like thankless that yeah just full of cat CL like we're got blood all over yeah you're just like going down this hill and you're just like shacking all this sharp stuff along the way and it's like impossible to avoid nothing comes easy out here is the moral even the dissents like just have a way of punishing you more all right we're having a little situation here I freaking stopped on the trail cuz of a bird and then fell into a cactus and then Gordon got a rim strike and now he's got a puncture so now we're adding more sealant all right we're at the picket Post Trail Head uh there's some guys that are meeting the a300 finishers out here Steven Max so yesterday we got some burgers and some assada tacos um some Gatorade it was great come here all right to the picket Post Trail head with Steve and Max they've been awesome hooking us up with some food uh they've got given us drinks and they're going to have food for the a300 finisher uh how's that working out well we're only going to have a few of them but we're just going to be here to you know even if it was one person it wouldn't matter yeah yeah even if it's one work for but we'll also hit like hikers that come through Backpackers whoever so awesome yeah yeah so great Max is a Crusher he's done he's done this Trail three times yes well three completions three completions crazy but uh yeah Gordon and I are stoked pancakes for breakfast coffee from Steve so thanks guys I really appreciate it awesome good luck on your adventure yeah it's a war zone out here look at all this dust there's guns going off everywhere it's out of control welcome to America all right so we're here with uh Gordon's buddy Mark and he saved the day for USA yeah he uh got us some new tires sealant like noon all kinds of [ __ ] Trail Angel another Trail pretty much so huge shout out to Mark so awesome thanks so much man we really appreciate it it is 7:15 and we are riding in the superstitions we're on the Jacob Crosscut Trail hoping there's water and food and coffee we'll see we're at Saro Lake Marina we've got some time to kill before the restaurant opens we're meeting Gordon's Brother Jay for lunch and luckily a waitress named Stephanie seats us and brings us coffee water and orange juice before the restaurant opens thanks Stephanie you were awesome all right we just spent way too long at this restaurant but uh it was cool to meet Gordon's brother yeah his buddy Mark and they were really generous got our lunch we had an awesome waitress un Stephanie hooked us up with so much water and so now we're going to jump into Saro Lake while we're here and then we'll finally start our giant clb so what just happened find a money in the street what the heck 20 bucks walking around money Chris holy cow all right we're doing a scavenger hunt for more more money there's got to be more all right it's like day 200 Gordon and I are cruising up to the Four Peaks Wilderness see the Four Peaks so we got a couple of climbs feels like we're making good time scope the Four Peaks Wilderness was one of my favorite sections of the entire Arizona Trail it's where the temperature started to shift we weren't constantly on the brink of heat exhaustion anymore an untame Wilderness with sprawling desert Landscapes mixed with towering Summits it was beautiful and for the first time on the trip I didn't feel like I was fighting for every mile so here's in the spring not water actually looks reasonable but there's another spring called pigeon spring up a little higher 1300 ft I'm climbing like 3 miles still to get there all right we're calling it right here great view from our campsite tonight right next to the road but I don't think we're going to see a lot of traffic on this road we haven't seen one car since we got on this road good work today dude all right Mark [ __ ] on that light down there is one of the bike Packers I think that's someone in number two [Music] position yeah we've already done like 1,800 ft finally really that's what my watch says it's probably [ __ ] straight out of bed yeah got about 9 miles I thought it was all downhill for I know and then my Garmin keeps saying oh 400t Hill that's 200t hill 400t hill look at these clouds oh my gosh it's like someone turn turn on the AC for us good so hope you enjoy it why are you planning hoping to arrive today uh we don't know have you been sleeping Jake be good did you get in the rain yesterday yeah okay good to I could see it and I decided yeah I think it was a good decision yeah yeah luck on your all right we're at Sycamore Creek and the water is Flowing I have my GoPro back cuz Alexandra found it Alexandra found my [ __ ] GoPro what that's so cool I was like I wonder who this is no racer would carry that's right Gordon's calling me Mark everything's back to normal [Music] after a lot of climbing today we're trying to beat the sunset make it to Jake's Corner we're riding along this Gold Ridge Trail beautiful single track with views of the mait all Wilderness in the Mogan Rim in the distance the trail starts out smooth flowy and fun but it quickly turns steep like steep enough that I decide I'm going to walk my bike which is challenging in and of itself we're meeting up with a few of Gordon's friends at Jake's Corner they also totally hooked it up with pizza Chipotle snacks and water thanks Betty and Kelly I want to hear your little rant again Gordon what's happening it's the lights on inside my bike turns out I just have a slow leak and sad bladder rain jackets got no zipper on apparently the zipper fell off and I thought I was leaking tuna juice all over my I didn't have a coffee yesterday that was a terrible experience yeah I don't want to live through that again our first stop here today is going to to be pacing so hopefully around lunchtime we'll get there right on in all day look at that okay Gordon and I just finished eating the most giant breakfast ever how are you today I'm than you how are you happy Chris yeah I'm happy too I need a nap but instead we're going to ride to Pine Gordon found us this Airbnb and so here we are just pulled in and now the tweaking will commence there's going to be an explosion in here look at this what the heck oh boy the dot successfully applied really T Gordon and I got a taste of the good life at the Airbnb last night and we're going to be heading down into La Pine or pine and then we'll keep on riding uh with the goal of getting up the Mion RIM today it's going to be a big day I think it's going to be hard uh mostly on single track all right riding on the Highline Trail this single track here is so smooth and beautiful and it's just the perfect temperature um stoked to be out here this is a really nice section of uh the trail [Music] heading up to mugan rim Gordon is an animal I'm just been like pushing my bike up this hill look at what Gordon does what do you think of that oh it's so rough It's Crazy Fire yeah Mad Max in there we're headed to the ranger station to get some water oh my God we're in we uh filled up at the ranger station with water the ranger there kind of freaked us out she's like it's going to be 17° yeah for a high but she said that was on Sunday today's Thursday we're getting the hell out of here but we're heading north and we're going up an elevation see that didn't really click for me cuz I'm thinking Celsius and I'm thinking that's a beautiful summer day no Canada no freezing what for [ __ ] no I don't know she's tweaking she's tweaking she's tweaking we've moved past being too hot and now we've moved on to being too cold got like all my clothes on the Happy Jack section is notoriously bumpy and slow and it leads us to the Mormon Lake Lodge fresh water from the Mormon Lake Lodge the next like Milestone or the next like point of interest is probably like 15 miles there's not very much climbing it's like 800 ft or something we're uh riding through more burned area there's still some areas that are [Music] smoking all right it's 5:18 we just got to the Marshall Wilderness Camp area uh we put in our longest day mileage wise and did about 61 or 62 miles which is good and so now we're going to post up here we got this full moon and uh there's lots of flat area for us to set up camp here only 4,000 ft in twist method [Laughter] okay uh Gordon and I are just got into Flagstaff and look who we ran into what's up what's up bro can't believe you guys are out here we're just passing through had no idea what are you guys doing yeah bro we're doing the a where's your bike bro want to join us oh so we just happen to have a lot of things that you might be interested in oh I'm interested we stopped we stopped groc store bought them a whole bunch of stuff I thought they would want and uh we're going to let them grow from here and we're going to meet him at the south of the Grand Canyon but it doesn't count now cuz they got support didn't they oh and I got emotional support my C official so Parker and cth are going to do rim to rim with us and they're going to be camping at the north rim and then they're going to hike back the next day so rim to rim rim to rim what's up TW twers twers will tweak Tweakers must tweak Tweakers are going to tweak yes okay guys have fun don't leave don't leave I want to go I want to go I can't run anymore oh God I'm out of breath okay after we get our resupply from Robin Ember we tackle a big climb up Humphrey's Peak it's frigid out and we ride into the night and try to lose some elevation and hopes for a warmer Camp it's 7:12 we uh descended from Humphrey's area which is like 9,000 ft and we're now camped probably at about 8,000 it is freaking freezing last night and so Gordon and I are just chilling in our tents right now waiting for it to heat up a little bit before we start riding um the next real resupply is tuon and we're probably not going to make it there cuz that's like a 70 mile [Music] day all right it is 5:41 it's [ __ ] freezing out it says we've gone 61 mil 2923 Ascent we're trying to make it to tcon and we're uh putting on our lights cuz we're going to need him we're getting a tuon one way or the [Music] other Gordon and I just had a big day and now we are at a pasta place and we're still batteries are dead we're going to get a hotel here so happy Gordon and I are at the GC we' made it to the Grand Canyon woo Gordon had a little package here that has his supplies for carrying across the bik uh the bike across the Grand Canyon look that's all it is oh my gosh you're crazy oh see we got we got our shirt off now getting hot hot and here getting all packed up these guys are getting their bikes ready to cross the Grand Canyon look he's taking his shirt they got to get all this [ __ ] in a pack on their back good job yeah you guys impressed pack that pack weighs 2 lb right I was a doubter you were a doubter but I I don't know I'm still I'm still kind of doubting it we'll see what cheers Che everyone Cheers Cheers can't wait to watch you guys suffer with those bikes on your back tomorrow blacking the dexterity with these gloves be strong wion oh yeah you Ain got to the trail head and I'm tired what to say are you ready to rumble how we doing well so far it ain't going too terrible I think you guys are making good time yeah yeah look at Gordon go go Gordon go go [Laughter] fast how are you guys doing oh my God eat piece of cake don't have a bike on we're not carrying bicycles so cool here it's so cool what a great morning you guys picked a perfect day to do this planned it perfectly no planning involved rather be lucky than good hey stop right in the [ __ ] shot god damn [Music] it how you feeling good one Up's going to be different frustration the struggle is real the struggle is very know right that looks heavy it's heavy it got heavier somehow Gordon and I have finally reached the last boss and we're heading into the belly of the Beast here goes our little Sherpa we start at the bright angel trail head around 5:00 a.m. usually people doing the Act start at the South kib Bob trail head it just made more logistical sense this way since we wanted to hike with Rob and Ember the downside is this adds several miles to the hike the weather's perfect I'm so happy to be doing this with Gordon Rob and Ember by the way carrying your bike on your backpack with all your kit it's about as uncomfortable as it looks I don't think there's a way to make it not kind of suck it feels kind of surreal to finally be down here I'm thinking back to years ago when I watched someone else strap their bike to their backpack on the north rim of the Grand Canyon I watched an amazement and envy as they descended into the canyon I was struck I remember thinking I hope one day that I'll have the courage the will and dedication to do this like in that moment that guy was my hero as time went by fear began to naw at me that doing the Arizona Trail would only be a dream or something that I'd talk about one day doing it's cliche to say but I convinced myself the only thing worse than failing would be not even trying and now as Gordon and I trudge through the canyon some of the people we stop and talk to react like we're some kind of Heroes I know I'm not but it feels good to be on the other side of the conversation for once we're moving slow and it's totally kicking our ass part of me doesn't want this to end because after the Grand Canyon feels like we're basically done it's the first time that I have real confidence that Gordon and I will make it to Utah you're motoring trying to feeling good no got this [ __ ] pedal in my back that's unfortunate yeah huh I'm doing okay hanging in there it's got to stay motivated you know yep there's Gordon how you doing Parker stay at the park for me literally damn it the national park I just got an overnight bag no big deal I ain't packing everything on my in my bike yeah you found your n Niche what's that just carrying heavy loads up M I don't think that's my Niche and if it is my Niche [ __ ] that I need to find a new Niche yeah I think we're going to ditch you yeah slow just cuz I want to see everything take pictures oh yeah yeah yeah for the art right yep the art I really like the night photography out here so we you going to get some oh boy five miles left Gordon five five these last miles are such a struggle it feels like like it's never going to end and Gordon he's hiking to the Moon I swear Gordon Gordon and I started hiking at 5: this morning it is 10:12 at night and we just made it to the north rim of the Grand Canyon Gordon you're a [ __ ] Champion dude oh [ __ ] oh can't believe it now what I don't know sit down just sit down for a second world this is the toughest man in the world this guy packed that bike across the Grand Canyon and I left him for dead bags [ __ ] H I left him for dead at 6 and half miles to go you left me I did there was nothing I could do for you Gorge see the moon right next to the Moon that Lodge there that's where you need to go that's where you need to go how was your little Ascent last night bro it was hard you've done this before I've done it before I thought it was easy don't underestimate the Grand Canyon yeah yeah so we left you guys for dead and then we hiked 6 and2 miles and by the time we were getting to the top it was cold and windy and dark and I had a belly a oh no and then we got it and Ember was clutched dude she she did the conation here she got us here she went and got the water she put our food in the Box she found the toilet it was Pitch Black I was done she dude Cal's the MVP she is she's the MVP one push I thought Gordon was just going to be like you know the dude in the desert when they run out of water and they just just go I was the guy on the poster that says do not go to the bottom and Monday I was the guy bent over oh my God we spend some time together in the morning enjoying the views and the quiet at the north rim there's literally no one else here this morning Rob and Ember will be heading back down the Grand Canyon and Gordon and I we're hoping to make it to Jacob's like you need a hand for years I've been asking him to help me with this and you know what he does he films me struggling cuz he thinks that's funny yeah but he meets a whole new Parker's replacing yeah yes help every day got that folded into three kind of a pain in that tight space isn't it yeah it is yeah and then it kind of comes undone on the end Parker's pretty funny yeah all right we just refilled our water at this refill station at the North room of the Grand Canyon got about I don't know 80 mil left all right so we're just getting back to rejoin the ad and look who we run into some Champions Johnny and Alexandra congratulations breaking records I went faster than I did last year hell yeah dude yeah these guys are so awesome and inspirational so and look their bikes are packed up cuz they're going to walk down the [ __ ] Canyon again psychos yeah a little crazy yeah I'm so glad I found goo that was so sick and right on the other side of this Ridge you can see smoke there's a fire burning you can see the Flames when we were down there and we're like I hope we're not riding into that hello this is going to be our last day on the Arizona Trail last time breaking down Camp last time Gordon has to set up this shitty tent shitty setting up this tent was almost as much struggle as the whole trip okay so we're going to get packed up and then there's a restaurant like right there you can almost see it and we're going to get some breakfast and then we have a 23 Mile day how's it looking Gordon 3 miles left all downhill don't even have to Pedal don't not to Pedal just hike a bike up some more Hills pushing up some rock no in my bike yeah cat claw choya don't believe what you read yeah got to experience it for yourself drinking that to shoots [ __ ] bro this is the last push right here the last push of some rocks right here oh he's going to do it in style woo on November 2nd 2023 Gordon and I reached the northern Terminus of the Arizona Trail reaching this end is a bit anticlimactic and in the moment I'm having a hard time feeling the gravity of what this accomplishment means to me I'm feeling a mixture of emotions too my legs are exhausted but there's part of me that doesn't want this to end I feel so Bittersweet we've got a few hours to sit around as I wait for Rob and Ember to pick me up and Betty to pick up Gordon as we wait the reality sets in it's could be the last time that I ever see Gordon I hope not part of the reason I said I wanted to do this ride was to prove something to myself how bad do I really want it am I a person who can deal with discomfort and fear am I really willing to put in the effort do I even know what it means to put in the effort well I did it and I still ask myself these questions and truthfully I'm okay with that so for now I'll set my sights on a new goal and ask myself the same questions and give it a try and Gordon if you're watching this thanks again for being an awesome writing partner I hope we do it again [Music] sometime all right Gordon you just finished the a800 what would you tell somebody who wants to do this what would I tell someone who wants to do this yeah oh you better like [Laughter] struggling yeah it doesn't come easy it's a tough Trail there's nothing easy about it there's no easy days yeah especially with the heat the cold the lifting the pushing ing the walking the cat claw The Limited water limited food the tweaking endless tweaking on the trip yeah yeah it's all about efficiency yeah and yeah okay I don't know if there's anything you can do to get ready for it yeah you just got to suffer through and uh be patient every day be patient day by day
