Ep 085. Escalante Route Grand Canyon Day 1 (Trail Series). 5,000 Feet Down & Birthday Cake on the River

Welcome to the Escalante Route Trail Series—a special set of episodes recorded on-trail during a backpacking trip deep in the Grand Canyon.In this series, I’m bringing you along day by day as my friends and I hike the Escalante Route, sharing the real-time experiences, trail conversations, and behind-the-scenes moments from camp each night.Day 1 was all about the descent.After a shuttle shuffle and a later-than-ideal start, we dropped nearly 5,000 feet from the rim down to the Colorado River via the Tanner Trail.The miles were straightforward but steep, with barking knees, tired ankles, and a whole lot of anticipation as the canyon opened up below us.We were blessed with cloud cover, cooler-than-expected temps, and an early arrival at camp Tanner Beach where we celebrated birthdays, stood knee-deep in the river, and leaned fully into Type 1 fun.In this episode:A downhill-heavy first day into the Grand CanyonManaging heat, water, and expectationsBirthday cake in the backcountryFirst impressions of canyon scale and desert vibesSettling into camp early and watching the light fade🎧 Hit play to kick off the Escalante Route with a big descent, good weather luck, and a sandy riverside camp.Where 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.Learn more and join our waitlists for these programs here:BACKPACKING COURSE WAITLISTTHE ADVENTUROUS REINVENTION EXPERIENCE WAITLISTROCK CLIMBING RETREATS WAITLIST