A PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE
Explore yourself. Challenge your limits. Get bragging rights forever.
Join a small group of awesome humans on a rim to rim to rim hike of the Grand Canyon. November 2025.
All genders and orientations welcome!
4 days. 48 miles. 20,000ft of elevation change.
The Grand Canyon is a bucket list for a good reason.
It's epic, and massive, and seemingly endless.
It's also the perfect place to change your life.
In 2021, a mental health crash led me to do something drastic.
I was stuck. I'd lost my vibrant, healthy self and was living day to day frustrated, feeling trapped.
I felt an instinct to go do something big. Something epic. So I decided to hike the Grand Canyon. The whole damn thing.
I'd never backpacked before. I just knew I needed to get out of my comfort zone and face myself in nature, with a friend I could go deep with.
I needed to know I could do it. That I was capable of doing something epic, not just the mind-numbing routines and tasks of every endlessly repeating day.
It was fucking brutal. It was the hardest thing I'd ever done.
And it was exactly what I needed.
There's something special about this hike. You go down, then up, then BACK down and BACK up.
It reflects life in that way. It reflects what's necessary for growth - to descend into ourselves and climb back out, again and again, one step at a time.
My hope for you is that when you go through low points in your life, you'll look back on this hike and think,
"I have what it takes to make it back out."
If any of this resonates, click below to get more details.
I'll send you a video overview of all the core details: cost, the time commitment, physical preparation, gear you'll need, etc.
We'll help you figure all that out if you decide to actually join.
If you've been feeling a pull, a call to something more, to prove to yourself that you have what it takes (or to just get out with a couple guys on a backpacking trip), we'd love to have you.
You'll never be the same.
4 days. 48 miles. 20,000ft of elevation change.
The Grand Canyon is a bucket list for a good reason.
It's epic, and massive, and seemingly endless.
It's also the perfect place to change your life.
In 2021, a mental health crash led me to do something drastic.
I was stuck. I'd lost my vibrant, healthy self and was living day to day frustrated, feeling trapped.
I felt an instinct to go do something big. Something epic. So I decided to hike the Grand Canyon. The whole damn thing.
I'd never backpacked before. I just knew I needed to get out of my comfort zone and face myself in nature, with a friend I could go deep with.
I needed to know I could do it. That I was capable of doing something epic, not just the mind-numbing routines and tasks of every endlessly repeating day.
It was fucking brutal. It was the hardest thing I'd ever done.
And it was exactly what I needed.
There's something special about this hike. You go down, then up, then BACK down and BACK up.
It reflects life in that way. It reflects what's necessary for growth - to descend into ourselves and climb back out, again and again, one step at a time.
My hope for you is that when you go through low points in your life, you'll look back on this hike and think,
"I have what it takes to make it back out."
If any of this resonates, click below to get more details.
I'll send you a video overview of all the core details: cost, the time commitment, physical preparation, gear you'll need, etc.
We'll help you figure all that out if you decide to actually join.
If you've been feeling a pull, a call to something more, to prove to yourself that you have what it takes (or to just get out with a couple guys on a backpacking trip), we'd love to have you.
You'll never be the same.
We're with you at every step. Literally.
Prep & Training
We'll provide a physical training plan, nutrition guidance, medical training, and other resources needed to keep yourself safe, strong, and injury-free.
Check-ins & Accountability
Never get stuck guessing what to do next. We schedule regular check-ins to keep us all accountable and talk through questions and struggles.
Guided Hike
Derek and I have done this before, so even if this is new for you don't worry – we've got your back. We'll even bring extra snacks.
Who's putting this thing together?
Stephen Hutson
Born and raised in Phoenix, I was proud to live by the Grand Canyon. It wouldn't be until decades later that I decided to hike it and experience what it had to offer.
It's a special place, and ever since that first hike, I find myself constantly wishing to be back on the trail, hiking down the winding switchbacks.
I know struggle. I've navigated 12+ years of chronic illness with my wife, at times carrying her to the bath, wondering if we were near the end.
I have Tourette Syndrome, a neurological disorder that has shaped my life since it first appeared in the 3rd grade.
When my son was born, I expected to feel elated and overjoyed. Instead, post-partum paternal depression dragged me underwater for months.
I've numbed my emotion with addiction, religion, and fake smiles.
Here, you can bring your whole self. We're here to push ourselves, do some deep work, and make incredible friends.
I hope you join us.
Derek Jackson
Growing up in Arizona, the wilderness was always the place where I found solace and perspective.
Sometimes I would avoid it, trying to fit myself into boxes of the city grind. In the military, I witnessed what humans can do to each other.
The Canyon became the place that could hold all of what I felt inside, even when I couldn’t.
It’s more than endurance, and it’s more than strength. Each step skirts along the edge of exhaustion and a fall, and yet, it also brings you one step closer to a profound sense of peace. It strips away the noise, forcing you to face the truth of who you are and what you are capable of.
Now, I get to guide others along the stone steps, to help you tap into the same resilience and clarity. Pushing the boundaries of what you thought was possible, leaving you with not only a sense of accomplishment but also with a deeper understanding of yourself.
When I hiked out of Bright Angel to the top, I couldn't stop crying. I don't even know why. I think I truly doubted whether or not I would make it. Once I actually did, it profoundly changed me."
Kris, 62, Phoenix AZ
To learn more, click the button below.
That'll take you to an overview video with more details like cost and time commitment
FAQ
What specific hike is this?
This is a Rim to Rim to Rim hike of the Grand Canyon. We'll start at the South Rim, go down Bright Angel Trail, up and down North Kaibab, then back up Bright Angel. It'll take 3 nights and 4 days to complete. I go over the full itinerary in the overview videos. Click the button above to get it.
What can I expect during the hike?
You can expect laughter, silence, deep talks, light hearted quips, heavy breathing, and questioning your life decisions. You can expect awe and wonder and overwhelming emotion, and pain and soreness and stiff joints and aching feet. It's a unique blend of massive scale (it's the Grand Canyon) and tiny action (one step at a time).
When is it?
We are planning for November 20-24 2025. Early December is a secondary time slot if we can't reserve November.
How much is it?
This isn't straight forward to answer. There's gear, permits, travel, etc. I talk through all the details in the overview videos after you click the button above.
I'm not in great shape right now. Can I still do this?
Absolutely. I went from struggling to stay awake at the dinner table to completing the hike in just a few months. It'll take hard work, and it'll be easier if you start earlier, but you can absolutely complete this hike if you follow the provided training program.
Note that you will be required to complete a physical preparation assessment before the hike. If you cannot complete it, you will not be allowed to come for your safety and the safety of the group.
What gear do I need?
I won't lie, there's a quite a bit. The Grand Canyon is a unique hike because of the extreme weather fluctuation between the top and bottom. I review everything you'll need in the overview video.
Atlas Humans · 2025