What do you do when your heart rate won’t come down, the sun is climbing fast, and the Canyon stretches endlessly in both directions? For Alan Fletcher, the answer was clear—listen to your body, not your ego. In this episode of Tales From Below, we follow Alan’s solo Rim-to-Rim hike in May 2025, a journey marked by wisdom, self-awareness, and the courage to pivot. It’s a reminder that strength isn’t always about pushing through—it’s knowing when to pull back so you can hike another day.*****Please join the hiKin Grand Canyon Facebook group—the official group of The Grand Canyon Hiker Dude Show—by clicking here. Our group is a judgment-free zone full of interaction, information, and inspiration—it's simply THE place to get the best information in advance of your Canyon adventure. Join Brian, Coach Arnie, and most of the guests you've heard on the show in an environment created to answer your questions and help you have the best possible experience below the rim. It's completely free.*****Bright Angel Outfitters is now hiKin, a community of like-minded hikers dedicated to helping each other hike our best hike. It's about all of us. Let's go get it!*****To reach Coach Arnie, you can call or text him (yes, really!) at (602) 390-9144 or send him a message on Instagram @painfreearnie.*****Have an idea for the show, or someone you think would be a great guest? Reach out to Brian anytime at [email protected].*****The Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is our gift to the Grand Canyon hiking community. This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll have precious shade on your Grand Canyon hike—every route on every hour of every day of the year. Check it out at gcshadetracker.com. Another free resource from hiKin Grand Canyon aimed at making your adventure the best and safest it can be.*****For more great Grand Canyon content, please check us out on the following platforms:YouTube (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for informative and inspirational videosInstagram (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for photos from the trailTikTok (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for fun and informative short-form videosFacebook (@GrandCanyonHikerDude)

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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