Ep 017. Royal Arch Loop Day 1 (Trail Series). Not So Easy Downhill + Sleeping in Frog Canyon

Welcome to the first episode of my Royal Arch Loop Trail Series! If you listened to last week’s episode, you got the full recap of our Grand Canyon adventure one year later. But now, it’s time to go back in time and experience it as it happened—raw, real, and straight from the trail.In this episode, Meg Atteberry and I are recording from Day 1 of our Royal Arch Loop adventure. And let me tell you, this day was no joke. We tackled endless boulder fields, climbed our way through tricky downclimbs, and were punished by the desert sun. Oh, and I sat on a cactus within the first mile. 🙃We’re sharing it all—the highs, the lows, and the unexpected (including an aggressively loud frog orchestra at camp).What You’ll Hear in This Episode:Why Day 1 of the Royal Arch Loop was brutally long (and why we kept saying “just two more miles” for hours)The surprising technical challenges we faced early onMeg’s “desert mode” vs. my Colorado winter legs struggle 😂My tragic encounter with a cactus (and Meg coming to the rescue)The moment of awe that made the day worth itA sneak peek at what’s coming on Day 2This is the real behind-the-scenes of an epic desert backpacking trip. You’re going to feel right there with us on the trail, sweaty, exhausted, and laughing at the chaos.Resources & Links:Connect with Meg Atteberry on Instagram and TikTok @megintheforestTrail Guide Of the Royal Arch LoopWhere to learn more about Allison:She Dreams of Alpine BlogInstagram @shedreamsofalpine🎁 FREE GIFT: Grab the Outdoor Backpacker Starter Kit for FREE here to get started on your journey with backpacking.🥾 BACKPACKING COURSE WAITLIST: This is our signature program where we teach you how to become a safe, confident, and self-sufficient backpacker. It's an online course, coaching program, and community to support you in your journey to becoming a confident backpacker and step into your adventurous identity.