In August 2024, Theo Edmonds and I spent time at the Grand Canyon south rim, lower Antelope Canyon, and the California coast from Big Sur to Monterey. It was an artistic exploration to understand how natural intelligence can inform and enhance our lives and work.
If any word can describe what I felt at the Grand Canyon, it would be Hózhó, a Navajo (Diné) philosophy and belief in “Developing pride of one's body, mind, soul, spirit and honoring all life.” It is a way of living in harmony - being one with and part of - the world around you. To walk in beauty, to create environments that are inclusive.
Along the Trail of Time that follows the south rim, one step represents a million years as you move through billions of years of history. Every step, a reminder that the small things we let hijack our thoughts are ever so trivial in the grand scheme of things. That our time here is precious - it is our most limited resource - something to be valued, savored and protected. Over the course of the trip, I took more than 165,600 steps.
For Theo, as a Culture Futurist®, one of his main lines of inquiry is to more deeply understand how human conception of time changes the way we approach innovation. In America, there may be no better place to learn more about this concept than those places where the natural environment radically leaves such clear visual indicators of time.
Below are photos, reflections, trail exploration notes, and more.
Personal Reflection // Grand Canyon
My mind was too excited to sleep
My spirit, energized
Out the door before the sun began to illuminate the horizon
Moving through light and shadow, across jagged edges and smooth surfaces
I felt a deep connection to this place
Trails I had traveled
Just not in this lifetime
My legs changing color
Layers of red dirt collecting
As my feet moved across millennia
I laughed, sang and cried
The vastness throwing open its wide embrace to me
Birds flew overhead
Lizards ran between rocks and across the trail
A family of deer ate breakfast on the ridge
Whispers from the past and present floated along the trails
In languages known and foreign to me
We all existed, there, together
In that moment
All that was and will be
Flowing across time and space
Millions upon millions of years
For with each step I moved through time and yet
Each step was now
Both can be true
In the Grand Canyon, I was…
Inspired to dream and push myself
Required to evolve and grow beyond what I knew.
Grand Canyon, South Rim
We spent 3 days at the Grand Canyon South Rim, staying at Maswik Lodge, just a short walk from the rim and multiple shuttle stops. The lodge worked out great for our stay and as a basecamp for Theo to work from. It also has a dining hall with multiple affordable options for meals to fuel your ventures into the canyon.
The first day, I did a rim-river-rim adventure, taking Bright Angel Trail down and over the Colorado River to Phantom Ranch, returning via South Kaibab Trail. I started at 4:25am and it took just over 6-hours total (5:24:34 moving time) covering approximately 20-21 miles (there was an error with my GPS in the canyon) with around 5,000 feet of elevation gain. There were places to get drinking water along Bright Angel and at Phantom Ranch, and restrooms at various points. This is by far the most well-maintained park I have ever visited! By the time I was coming back up S. Kaibab, the sun had risen and it started getting hot out with lots of direct sun exposure. It reached 101-103 degrees at the base of the Canyon that day, with storms blowing in shortly after Noon. Thankfully, I was done before then!
The second morning, we watched sunrise behind the El Tovar hotel, and then I followed the south rim west visiting the scenic overlooks along Hermit Road for multiple hours, taking the shuttle back so I could follow the Trail of Time east toward the Grand Canyon Visitor Center. Storms lasted from afternoon to evening, causing flash floods in the canyon. This page is updated daily with Grand Canyon 7-day weather forecasts.
Our last morning, I went to watch sunrise at Skeleton Point which is 3-miles down S. Kaibab Trail from the trailhead, parking at Pipe Creek Vista since the shuttles hadn’t started yet (adds 0.9 miles each way). It was breathtaking, and to make it even more magical, rain from the night before created small pools along the trail, reflecting the surroundings and sky. Of the two main trails, S. Kaibab offers more expansive views of the Grand Canyon. If you’d rather watch sunrise from the rim, walking the rim path along Hermit Road to one of the overlooks would also give you a great view. After sunrise, we drove 2.5 hours to explore lower Antelope Canyon, departing the following day for California.
See list of recommended adventure supplies at bottom of post.
The Havasu Baaja, People of the Blue Green Waters, or as they are known today, the Havasupai Tribe, have lived below the rim of the Grand Canyon for over 1,000 years. They see “humans as elements of the natural world, fully embedded within it. In their view, humans belong to nature.” - I am the Grand Canyon by Stephen Hirst
Antelope Canyon
On our third day in the Grand Canyon area, we drove to lower Antelope Canyon (2.5 hour drive). We did the 11am Deluxe Tour with Ken’s Tours, which limited our group to 6 people, and included a guided tour, learning about Navajo culture and traditions and lunch. Our guide Kelly was Navajo, and spent a lot of time with our group telling us about the history of the canyon and her people before lunch. Inside the canyon is magical and stunning with the colors changing throughout the day.
Our guide was great, pointing out the shapes of animals and silhouette of a Chief, and noting that the height of 1 finger held up against the canyon wall is roughly equivalent to 1,000 years. She also had us pose for photos at multiple spots. If you plan to visit upper or lower Antelope Canyon, book your tour in advance - tours are required to visit both, and can book days/weeks in advance.
Photo 1 by our tour guide Kelly, last photo by Theo of me going up one of the ladders in the canyon, all other photos by Josh Miller.
California: Big Sur, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Monterey
We drove from the Grand Canyon to Carmel-by-the-Sea, where we’d booked an Airbnb in Carmel Highlands that was on the edge of a canyon, and with a view of the water. The canyon had a redwood grove beside a spring, with some trees wide enough it would take multiple people linking hands to reach around them.
Two mornings were spent at the Point Lobos State Nature Reserve, which has been called “The crown jewel of the California State Park System.” It is a beautiful network of trails that go out along interesting rock formations with views of the shore and ocean - birds flying overhead, and people out hiking, taking photos or capturing the scene through painting. The second time I went, low clouds shrouded the park, giving Jurassic Park vibes - it was a lot of fun to explore.
The second day, we drove to Big Sur to hike in Andrew Molera State Park. The trail, an approximately 8-mile loop, includes over 1,300 feet of ascent, taking you up to look out over the ocean and nearby shores, before finishing your hike closer to the water. Both parks charge $10 entry, and open at 8am. That afternoon we visited Carmel-by-the-Sea, a town known for its welcoming attitude toward dogs (When I made a dinner reservation, they proactively asked if our dog would be joining us). They also have a High Heel Ban on heels over 2 inches. Apparently it isn’t enforced, but its still entertaining to think about.
The last day we went to Monterey, California after my trail run through Point Lobos. I rented a paddle board, taking it up the coast where Sea Lions and Sea Otters floated and ducked in and out of the kelp fields. The Sea Lions could be heard across the water, barking at each other from along the peer and the beach they’ve claimed. After paddle boarding, I walked a few miles up the Monterey Bay Coastal Trail, checking out the shops and scenery, and making it to Otter Point where Sea Otters were floating on their backs eating dinner. It was absolutely adorable. We finished the day back in Carmel-by-the-Sea at Terry’s Restaurant and Lounge, a “1929 landmark property previously co-owned by legendary Hollywood actress Doris Day and Carmel’s most esteemed businessman, Denny LeVett.”
Recommended adventure supplies:
*This list is not broadly applicable to Antelope Canyon, outside of your body and clothes the only thing you can take in is your phone or camera and a water bottle.
Satellite device - I have the Garmin inReach mini 2. Requires monthly subscription, but will allow you to signal SOS and have responders notified, it will also connect with your phone and allow you to send a limited number of short text messages when you don’t have service. (ie: I’m running late, but I’m all good)
Head lamp (For trails and walking around the rim in the dark)
Hydration pack (2L - get one with a little extra room for your other supplies)
Sunscreen (Mineral stick for face, Sport spray for body)
Water filtration system - Example of a similar one to what I have. At the Grand Canyon, I filled 1 bottle with creek water at Phantom Ranch as a backup and drank it on the shuttle after finishing at S. Kaibab because that trailhead doesn’t have drinking water and I had used all my fresh water.
Hiking boots or trail running shoes depending on your preference - I did these in trail running shoes.
Gaiters to keep out dirt/sand/rocks
Moisture-wicking shirt with SPF. I wear this one from Columbia and have it in 4 colors, it is easy to wash in the shower while traveling.
Hat, light-weight shorts or running tights, light-weight wool socks (or similar, I wear Feetures with my trail running shoes)
Trekking poles - I did not use these, but if you aren’t used to going up and down with a lot of elevation change, or want help with your balance, consider taking trekking poles with you!
Calories for your adventure! Protein bars (GoMacro Oatmeal Chocolate Chip are my fav), single serve nut butter packets, gel (I carry a Hammer flask with chocolate gel - flask comes with order), trail mix, etc. If you’re going to be out there for multiple hours like I was, consuming calories every 45 min - 1 hour 30 min is a good schedule to start with based on your pace and needs.
Calories afterward! Have protein powder or other nutrients waiting for you in the car of back in your room. Maybe stop and grab a burrito afterward - mine was delicious! REPLENISH!
Plastic bags (1G) - in case of rain, and to keep things protected from sweat.
Put your phone on DND (Do not disturb). 1) Enjoy the beauty of your surroundings, be in the moment, the world outside the experience can wait. 2) This keeps random messages from getting delivered during that 5 second blip when your phone gets service, that you won’t be able to respond to. Save yourself the stress of not being able to respond.
