#RunningTo Week 1 in Review: Grand Canyon, Flagstaff, Hoover Dam

#RunningTo Week 1

Now that I’m week-deep into a massive trip across North America, I’m going to temporarily retire my compilation tradition of The Weekend WOW. It’s time for a new weekend tradition.

It’s called my #RunningTo Week in Review. Each weekend, I’ll be posting my favorite pictures from the wandering week that was.

Since I can’t upload every single snapped picture to my Instagram, here’s your chance to see more of my journey! You might even get some witty captioning, too. But no promises.

#RunningTo Day Zero
Ain’t nothing like a blank slate.

I started my trek last Saturday night with a night-long drive to the Grand Canyon. I hung around that impressive crater for three whole days, including an overnight hike and campout at the bottom.

In short: the Grand Canyon kicked my butt. But it also empowered me. Gosh did it ever. Here are some pictures of that first sunrise and my hardcore hike to the bottom:

#RunningTo Grand Canyon Sunrise
I don’t look like I raced 8 hours through the night, right?
#RunningTo Grand Canyon Sunrise
And the world comes alive. My favorite overlook at the Grand Canyon.
#RunningTo Grand Canyon Hike
Descending into the Grand Canyon on my 16-mile roundtrip hike!
#RunningTo Grand Canyon Hike
Money.
#RunningTo Grand Canyon Hike
6 miles down into the Canyon, and this walking/mule bridge pops up. Pretty sure it led to Narnia at the time.
#RunningTo Grand Canyon Hike
My sweet campground! Only took me an hour and a half to construct my tent for the first time.
#RunningTo Grand Canyon Hike
It’s 20 degrees hotter at the bottom of the canyon than the top. Yay.
#RunningTo Grand Canyon Hike
“Through Painted Sneakers” — the Thomas Mark Zuniga follow-up to Donald Miller’s Grand Canyon tale.
#RunningTo Grand Canyon Hike
The morning of my 9-mile hike back up the Canyon! This smile would not last.
#RunningTo Grand Canyon Hike
Making it back to the Rim! Consider this Canyon CONQUERED.
#RunningTo Grand Canyon Hike
Number of Grand Canyon rattlesnake bites per year: 0. Number of Grand Canyon squirrel bites per year: 100. The numbers don’t lie.
#RunningTo Grand Canyon Hike
DEADLY.
#RunningTo Grand Canyon Sunset
My last sunset at the Grand Canyon while a fire rages on Utah’s North Rim.

After the Grand Canyon, I retreated to nearby Flagstaff for a couple days. My calves thoroughly sore from the 16 miles up and down, it was awesome just to chill downtown for a few hours!

#RunningTo Downtown Flagstaff
Sweet coffee shop in the lobby of this downtown hotel!
#RunningTo Downtown Flagstaff
Sunset in Downtown Flagstaff.
#RunningTo Downtown Flagstaff
The routeiest route that ever was.
#RunningTo Downtown Flagstaff
My bedtime.

After a brief stay in Flagstaff, I then drove over to Boulder City, Nevada, home of the Hoover Dam. I’d been to the Dam once before, but never to the massive bridge connecting Arizona with Nevada. What an incredible vantage point!

#RunningTo Hoover Dam
Literally took 10 takes to get this picture/angle from the old lady who snapped it for me. God bless her.
#RunningTo Hoover Dam
DAM.

Hope y’all enjoyed my first week of #RunningTo! I’ll be back Monday with my first actual blog post of the trip. And later in the week you may even get some video action. It’s been a great trip so far! Thanks for all your prayers and thoughts. Hope to wander your way soon!

Travel well,

Tom

Question: Have you ever been to the Grand Canyon or Hoover Dam? What do you think? What’s the most impressive geographical feature you’ve ever seen?

3 Comments
MLYaksh 6 June 2014
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Never been to either of those- I have been to the Pacific Ocean before. Loved it, despite my usual dislike for lots of water. I’ve also been to Stone Mountain. Talk about impressive.

Rebecka 6 June 2014
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Never been to the Hoover Dam or the Grand Canyon, but if I ever go, I now know not to feed the squirrels! The most impressive geographical feature I’ve ever seen… Probably the Alps.