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A Diabetes Walk Across America.

Follow my journey from Midtown NYC (Nov. 2012) to Downtown Los Angeles (Jul. 2013). 

THE GOALS: (1.) Raise $20,000 for the American Diabetes Association, (2.) Spread awareness about the growing epidemic of Type-2 Diabetes, and (3.) Experience America up close and personal.  [MISSION COMPLETE 7/20/13]

DONATE !

Crossing the Canyon (Day 215)

6/29/2013

10 Comments

 
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Grand Canyon, Arizona.  Walking 22 miles from the southern rim into the Grand Canyon and up the northern rim seemed like a simple undertaking.  However, the 110+ F temperature added a different element to the task.
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After receiving several recommendations to walk across the Canyon at night from very knowledgeable locals, I decided to walk during the day in order to meet and converse with people, take colorful photos of the Canyon, and for safety reasons to not slip and fall down to the bottom.
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The sprint down into the Canyon was fairly quick & easy.  Once I got a good pace going the only person who passed me was a trail runner, which I thought was cool.  I miss running and was actually a little jealous.
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3-hours later at the bottom near the Indian Garden I took a nap on the ground, woke up and trekked 5-miles to Phantom Ranch.  Phantom is a complex at the bottom of the Grand Canyon that is composed of log cabins, a campground, ranger station, and a canteen.

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I chilled at the canteen for a bit drinking several cups of lemonade until my belly ached and talking to Noami, the girl behind the counter.  I took another siesta at the eating table, woke, filled my water bottles, and kept trucking.
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At this point I had 15-miles to go to reach North Rim and I was seeing less and less people.  After wiping dripping sweat from my face several times, I knew things were about to get serious.  That trek down to the bottom was to easy for me.  They advise park visitors not to go down and come back up in one day, but I'm hard headed and had to do it.
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The journey back up to the other side of the Canyon was long, hot, and uncomfortable at times.

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Once the sun went down 6-hours after I left the ranch.  Shortly thereafter it was completely dark and the Canyon took on another personality.
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The colorful landscapes were gone, besides the area in front of me lit by my headlamp all I could see was the black silhouette of the scaling Canyon walls surrounding me beneath the stars and satellites.  Seeing the Milky Way spanning across the sky for the first time I realized this was the clearest view I've ever seen of the heavens.
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I then stopped took off my pack, sat down, took a ibuprofen, two sips of 5-Hour Energy, and several gulps if water.  Cleared my mind while massaging my feet for a bit.  I played DJ Shadow's Gi Mix (from "Do Androids Dream of Electronic Beats"), I got up and was ready to go!
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With all of the switchbacks and being in the dark, the last 3-miles were the toughest.  I seemed to be going nowhere, the elevation would rise then fall for quite some time, and it was extremely frustrating.
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"Don't think... be", a Bruce Lee quote and "Battle physically, conquer mentally" line were somewhere in that mix (along with a nice Whitney Houston track) and at that point I was fully engaged going full speed being careful not to slip off the ledge on one of the turns while working my way up.  

I finally made it to the top and felt accomplished. I wanted to pass out but the adrenaline was still pumping.  Great walk, beautiful scenery -- this is probably No. 4 in this trip's greatest challenges.

SoilTrek.com
10 Comments
douq millar link
6/29/2013 03:34:35 pm

Remarkable and congratulations. I've continued to follow your trek and was concerned for you with the huge heat wave out that way and hoped you were safe, esp. after not seeing any location updates for such a long time.

If this was #4, what were the other three that topped it?

Great pix.

Now that you're on the north side how do you get to LA?

Congrats on the contributions too.

Reply
S. Cleveland
6/29/2013 05:25:21 pm

Thank you Douq! I've been in areas where cell and wireless service weren't reliably available.

The top difficult walks were:
1. Continental Divide Trail
2. Kokopelli Trail
3. My cold & hungry walk from Medaryville to Lake Village, Indiana

Headed to Colorado City from here, then to St. George, and then straight to Las Vegas from there.

Reply
Shauna Jackson
6/30/2013 01:43:14 pm

Hello there. My Sister told me about your walk. You met her in Kanab or Fredonia. Marcene Pea. I live in St. George. If you need anything when you come thru let me know. Marcene said she invited you to dinner with us all Friday if you are in the area. Hope you can make it and look forward to hopefully meeting you!! Take care, Good Health and Happy Walking!!
-Shauna Jackson

Reply
Mariangie
7/1/2013 12:10:57 am

Hi Sterling! This is Mariangie and Kevin. We met you near the Indian Garden Campground at the Grand Canyon and you were so kind to stop and tell us about your journey. We were thinking about you the rest of the day hoping you made it to the North Rim safe. It was a tough hike back (uphill) for us, cannot imagine how it was for you.
Will keep checking on you. Be safe

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Susan
7/1/2013 10:16:26 am

I've been following you since you entered Colorado. . . .am glad you are well and still at it. I'd been wondering.

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S. Cleveland
7/2/2013 01:42:21 pm

Hi Susan, the limited connectivity has made it difficult to stay connected. Thanks for your concern, I'm doing great, and keeping things moving!

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S. Cleveland
7/2/2013 01:51:48 pm

It was a pleasure talking to you both! Don't worry about interrupting me, talking with others gives me a boost in energy that caffeine can't even match.

Traveling from the ranch to North Rim I didn't see many people so it was a reverse of what I experienced on the South Rim. I'm glad you guys actually made it all the way down to the bottom, there were a lot of people that quit half-way.

Enjoy the rest of your Summer and thanks again for the donation!

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Denver Weekly News
7/10/2013 09:58:53 am

We are checking up on you!
Great photos of your trek through the Grand Canyon.
Be safe.

Reply
Leah Lepore
7/15/2013 02:46:38 am

Hi Sterling, I meet through my crazy cousin Jody and we had breakfast. and glad you took the day off to join our family for the 4th of July celebration (so much good food). Looks like you are in the home stretch!

Happy trails, Leah

Reply
Sri Sashti
10/17/2013 04:42:49 am

Sterling,
Congrats on your accomplishment...We actually bumped into you as we were hiking out of the Grand Canyon on the Bright Angel Trail back in June..probably 4-5 miles from the top. I was the Indian guy who made a small donation to your walk/cause.

Congrats again..best wishes,
Sri Sashti
Brentwood, TN

Reply



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    STERLING CLEVELAND

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    Departure Date:
    Friday, November 28, 2012

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    Runner, Writer, Thinker, & Positive Energy.


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