117 | Nine Women, One Canyon: The Hiking Tribe’s 32-Mile Grand Canyon Gauntlet (Live at Service World Expo 2025)

Show InformationEpisode Number: 117Recorded at Service World Expo (October 2025)Date: November 11, 2025Duration: 23:52Host Contact InformationHost: Justin DeeseWebsite: JustinDeese.comContact: [email protected] Contact InformationGuest: “The Hiking Tribe” (3 of the 9 women) — Kim Martin, Kristen Deese, andCompany: Various (women from the trades)SummaryRecorded live at Service World Expo 2025, Justin and guest co-host Kristin Deese sit down with three members of a nine-woman “Hiking Tribe” who tackled the Grand Canyon’s Hermit Trail: 32 rugged miles over four days with ~35-40 lb packs, cliff-hugging traverses, and a brutal first day dropping ~5,000 feet. They share how permits pushed them from a planned rim-to-rim into an even gnarlier route, why trekking poles saved their knees, what camp life really looked like, and the surreal moment a supermoon lit the canyon like daylight. Most powerful of all: the solidarity—nine women from the trades choosing a hard thing, supporting each other through fear, tears, and triumph, and proving they can do it again.TakeawaysHard resets matter: four days off-grid (no music/speakers per leave-no-trace) brought unexpected calm and clarity.Downhill is the destroyer: 5,000 feet down over “Grand Canyon miles” taxed arms, triceps, and balance more than the climb out. Trekking poles made a huge difference.Team > terrain: nine women rotated help—tent setup, foot care, morale (yes, trail songs!)—so everyone got through the sketchy spots.Guides matter: smart food logistics and first-aid (especially feet) turned a suffer-fest into a safe, epic push.Choose hard things: testing limits builds personal strength at any age—then makes you hungry for the next challenge.Chapters00:00 — Live from Service World Expo 2025 + intros (Justin & guest co-host Kristin)03:00 — The “crazy idea” is born: bucket lists → Grand Canyon plan (permits derail rim-to-rim)05:30 — Hermit Trail reality: bouldering with 35–40 lb packs + cliffside single-track08:15 — Day 1: 7 GC miles, 5,000 ft down, and the helicopter daydreams10:40 — Why downhill hurt more than uphill + the magic of trekking poles12:10 — Camp life: tents, food logistics, and surprisingly great fajitas13:50 — Silence, serenity, and the post-trip aversion to background noise15:20 — Leave-no-trace: even music is a no-go; embracing the quiet16:40 — Supermoon over the canyon: a wordless, teary, unforgettable night18:05 — Support systems: fear spikes, trail songs, and looking out for each other19:30 — The deeper win: confidence, age-defying grit, and planning the next one21:10 — Justin’s closing: pride, perspective, and why choosing “hard” mattersKeywords#GrandCanyon #HermitTrail #ServiceWorldExpo #WomenInTrades #Backpacking #HikingTribe #OutdoorAdventure #RimToRim #Resilience #Mindset #Leadership #Teamwork #Supermoon #LeaveNoTrace #PersonalGrowth #FreedomBlueprintPodcastMentioned in this episode:Homeservicehoorah.com