As a Range and a Paramedic rescue is part of our job. If we didn't want to do it we would never take the job. I've done so many rescues from cliffs searching for lost hikers. Trust me we love what we do.
As a volunteer S&R ground pounder who had to buy all his own gear and isn’t getting paid. I do it because it needs to be done and it brings me joy doing it. 100% agree with this comment.
I watch a lot of videos of high altitude mountaineering and I appreciate your experiences . To those who criticize , they are the same people who ask why do people climb mountains? The best thing about hiking /climbing is you make your own rules and story. The 911 operator and ranger deserve special mention for their professionalism and sense of urgency. Kudos to both of them.
Don't post public comments often but feel I should mention that I may be an immediate demonstration of the usefulness of the your (and Eric's) videos on this eventful trip! Believe it or not, I saw the two rescue videos from you and Eric THE NIGHT BEFORE I was heading towards GC with a planned 20 mile rim-river-back (the typical South Kaibab - Bright Angel, plus some sightseeing detour) day hike. I knew winter hikes avoid the heat in summer, but the trail conditions are really unpredictable. I had to plan a long day hike as I was not able to get any permit at any campground for a more relaxed backpacking trip during the days I would be there. I'm actually aware of rhabdomyolysis, learned in Chinese in old days as 横纹肌溶解症, but I have never considered that could ever be a risk for hikers like me. In the meantime, just as you mentioned in this video, I don't drink much water while hiking either - sometimes climb 5 miles of mountains with half bottle. There was a storm in GC NP before my arrival, and the top 2-3 miles are covered by icy snow - hard and slow. I used trekking poles throughout the trip - the sore arms/chest/back next day showed they did their hard work. Temperature was low and wind was howling, which typically makes me drink even less water if I had gone with my typical style. But BEING WARNED BY YOUR VIDEOS, I packed in 3L of water, with two refill at the Phantom and Indian Garden. I added electrolyte to every drinks and forced myself to consume certain amount of water every mile. I also packed in twice the amount of food and did eat most of them during lunch break and on the trail. Of course I'm not saying that I will surely get rhabdomyolysis if I don't prepare all these things. But considering the road condition, the weather, especially my drinking habit, and the fact that it is not too uncommon to see rhabdomyolysis in GC (just thinking of even Dan Becker getting it in GC!), these videos at least helped me, as an old man alone on the trail, to better prepare my trip. Many thanks!
Winter is one of the windiest times of the year around these parts. These hikes are brutal even in perfect conditions, when there is snow and ice and the like it is so much worse! I would never hike during the winter like this, if only cause its like... the canyons the ice and falling. Yeah no, do not want. I like my bones where they are at! Glad to see you too are doing good.
These episodes are good documentary of what can happen in the backcountry and how we can be better prepared to handle it. I am glad you all continue filming. This is information is more important than everything else you two have done.
My 17 yr old son had Rhabdo TWICE. It was near the end of his chemotherapy after fighting T Cell Leukemia. He was still getting chemo but less frequently and was trying to get back into shape but his body had been so depleted of muscle from the treatment. It was brutal. He tried to work out with weights a few times and developed severe pain in his arms and chest. His arms stiffened up so bad they were locked in a bent position for the first 3 days in hospital. He could not straighten his arms at all. His kidneys shut down within a day. In hospital for a week. Then a few months later after one of his last chemo treatments he got it AGAIN but to a much lesser degree. His kidneys were not damaged that time. He is now 24 and doing very very well. Cancer free, works out all the time and is a paramedic nonetheless!
Told my better half what you were diagnosed with. She's a physician with a masters in molecular biochemistry. She is also an avid mountain biker and hiker. She told me how lucky you were and you inspired her to study up on your condition. Then she said...man, he was really lucky to get out alive...Sobering
I’ve hiked the Canyon over 20 times, I’ve seen it humble even the most in shape people, myself included. You guys didn’t do anything wrong…in fact you did it right in the sense that you realized the situation and didn’t make it worse, by trying to be hero’s. And yes, trekking poles are an absolute must on the hike!
I had a similar experience on a 5 day hike from Onion Valley and exit out Whitney portal. Side note: I suffer from altitude sickness and have to take meds. The weather for a couple of days proceeding was brutal, very high winds and chilly day time temps. Along with not eating enough from the constant nausea from the altitude, I was in a big calorie deficit. On the morning of the summit, I felt pretty good, but all of a sudden my body shut down big time after about 30 mins of hiking to the summit. I went back down to a lower spot where my sleeping bag and tent was and layed there for several hours trying to recover. I eventually made it down to Whitney portal with the help of friends. Also in my opinion, some of the negative comments are from people that have never been in the backcountry and know nothing about what a trip entails.
You're both class acts. So easy for people to Monday morning quarterback so don't let them get to you. To me, you all made it home safely and THAT is a successful trip! Thanks for sharing your story guys!
This is a very informative video for hikers than your regular trekking pole review. Sorry this happened to you, but your suffering made this informative. Thanks. Great video!
Sharing your thoughts so publicly as you process these events is so inspiring. From tragedy to recovery, there are lessons to be learned, but only if you take the time to reflect on the various factors that played a role and what, if anything, you would do different on future trips. Thank you for being so transparent with this event.
I do not believe calling for rescue is a failure. I broke my leg in the Lake District in England last summer and had to be rescued out. 3 weeks later, I continued my hiking with a boot and crutches in Greece, where the ground was a bit more level. You both and other hikers who have done videos inspired me to return to the hiking that I have done when I turned sixty. I plan to do more hikes, and this summer, I will be sixty-three. Just remember you two, and other RUclipsrs are an inspiration to many of us!! ❤
Dan, first off, I’m glad you are ok. Secondly, there is no failure in the situation! I have always instilled in my girls, the ONLY way to fail is to NOT learn from the experience. Not only did you learn much from this experience, but you have educated many of us along the way! Thank you so much! Hike On Brother!
Thank you, Dan, for speaking so openly about this. Your point about remembering to drink and eat in the cold is so important. I also made that mistake when I was thru hiking the AT on freezing cold days. This kind of thing can happen to anyone. I love how you are already talking about going back out after such a scary experience. Thanks again for sharing!
As a former paratrooper, any landing you walk away from (parachute OR having to land back on ground in the aircraft) was a success! I am glad you guys had a successful end to your very eventful trip!❤🎉
I can say it gives me pause, and strongly tells me to slow my roll. Hike less, listen to my body, eat well, constantly water up and check with my doctors before long hikes. I’m 67 and have gone to all my doctors preparing for my Thru hike. Thank you guys. It’s all an adventure. God bless.
I teach a basic wilderness survival class and I appreciate the post trip banter on your rescue. The takeaway for me is how experienced you both are and still got into a bit of trouble. Mother nature is enjoyable most of the time, but a confluence of events can get even experience backpackers and hikers into trouble. Typically, a bad experience is a multitude of bad decisions. Your ability to disect your trip and decision making is invaluable. I'm glad you made it out and are able to share this experience with others.
Thanks Dan(and Eric) for reviewing this incident. We're glad you're recovering now and doing great! Pay no mind to those who say your rescue negatively impacted others or could've put others in harms way. You guys did amazing risk assessment, and SAR very much prefer rescuing people like you and your crew than those who don't take into all those factors into account. You guys went in prepared and just had an unexpected medical emergency. Rhambomyolisis although rare in the normal population, is not unusual in those who do strenuous activities as such. I personally know two people who've experienced it. You guys don't need to explain yourself. :)
After action reviews are so valuable. Thank for taking the time to do this and sharing it with us. It’s probably going to save some people as a result.
Good debriefing guys! Glad everyone is safe. People that weren’t there should just listen and learn. You made the right decisions because everyone is alive and safe.
Mentioned this on Eric's channel too...I think these debriefs are so important after an incident like this, whether it's filmed or over a cup of coffee. That's how you learn and improve. Sharing this with us helps us do the same....minus the feeling super crappy in the backcountry part. Lol! Good content.
It's so useful to know what happens if you call for help / press the SOS button to demystify it in case I'm ever in a situation where I'm considering my rescue options, so I'm very glad you filmed the rescue! Thank you for sharing it. It's really important so that no one tries to tough something out because they have a stigma or fear about calling for help and ends up in serious trouble. Thanks for the debriefing videos so we can all learn from this!
I did my first back country hunt in the mountains of Colorado last October. It was unusually cold for that particular unit the week we were there (overnight lows in the 5-10° range vs the normal 20-30° for that time of year). We pushed ourselves ALOT harder on the second day than we should have, especially given I was new. We had already done 6-7 miles chasing some elk when the sun started to set. We were exhausted and out of food and water, but we still had about 6 miles to get back to camp. We got back about 10 pm and tried to get settled in but I ended up throwing up. We assumed the same as you (altitude sickness, maybe with some dehydration) but fortunately my hunting partner made the call to pull the plug. We backed out, drove to the nearest town and got a hotel for the night. It wasn’t until I took a hot shower that I realized I couldn’t feel my hands or feet. It wasn’t the cold that caused them to go numb, but my body had shut down circulation to my arms and legs because I was pretty severely dehydrated. Fortunately, I was able to get lots of fluids in me, get some good sleep in a warm bed and was able to bounce back. We also slept in the next morning and got a hot breakfast before heading back out. We spent most of the day just scouting from the truck so I was able to rest and recover. My hunting partner and I both have discussed after watching y’all’s videos just how close I may have been to sharing a similar fate. Thankfully he had enough snap to force me to stop, cause I may have stubbornly tried to push myself the next day.
Really enjoyed sitting in on you guys hashing through the events. So thankful you ALL made it and that you have recovered so well, Dan. I think this experience and your willingness to be real and share will at some point help others handle similar tragic situations. ❤️ you both.
I appreciate your video so much. Thank you for breaking it down and discussing the detail. My mother was rescued 30 years ago by helicopter after hiking down. She mentioned multiple times she wasn’t feeling well and my father just kept pushing her to continue. It wasn’t until a ranger came upon her stumbling around the bottom that she received help. She had was hospitalized for several days after her rescue. I’m hiking the canyon in a few months (I’ll be the same age as she was when she needed to be rescued 53) and your video has been invaluable. Glad you are okay. My son has his WFR and I’m a nurse. We are taking all advice and researching a ton. Thanks for the great video.
First off, glad you are ok Dan. Love the gear and trip videos. Trips like this are easy when everything goes as planned. However, the majority of your viewers, whether or not they admit this, will learn more from this video and such emergency situations than from all your other videos combined. I remember your Great Smoky Mountain National Park trip a couple of years ago and I learned so much from that video. Thanks for documenting this.
Thank-you for dispelling the myth that calling for rescue is a failure. Commented on one of your posts from a year ago about he time I had to call search & rescue for my daughter who spilt boiling water on her leg. She left by helicopter with her sister, (they could take the 3 of us without the dog or gear, they had a ground crew coming in case the helicopter couldn’t land), I left with a ground crew. My daughter was 10 at the time, we were 65k in, would take at a minimum 2-3 days to get out. The burn was extensive, we weren’t going to die but I didn’t want her to get an infection. I was blasted by so many that I eventually deleted the post. The common remarks were I shouldn’t be out there, I am an irresponsible parent, that I wasted SAR’s time…. language was a bit more harsh. Accidents & unknown health conditions can cause circumstances to need a rescue. No one should feel bad for needing to call for a rescue.
I definitely appreciate the follow up video. As I've said many times before, I do cross country motorcycle trips but use some of the stuff I learn from you in my packing. People usually only show the high times and never the failures. Last year, I ran out of fuel in the Mojave desert, and had to walk to a truck stop to buy gas and back. I made sure people saw that so it's not all just cherries and rainbows. So glad you're okay and I can't wait to see the follow-up trip when you do this again.
Long-time hiker here and no matter how prepared we are… we too have run into unexpected injuries, near misses and shifts in our plans. You cannot always anticipate things and we do our best to make the best decisions, care for each other in the midst and learn from the experiences. Hard to watch but glad you are recovering. Thanks for being vulnerable and sharing your journey Dan. Cheers to a swift recovery!
A little late to this party but as a first responder for many years you will always question what could have done differently after the fact. You can play out hundreds of scenarios in your head but in the end all that matters is that you got out safe and you are healthy. For what it is worth to anyone that may find themselves in any sort of situation where they may need help. I don't care where you are, it is our job to help you. This is what we signed up for and what we were called to do. We will do whatever it takes to get to you and help you. Just be smart and call for help if you need it. Glad your on the mend Dan.
It is so hard sometimes when you are on the trail to know when you should stop. In a 2 week trip on the AT last year we ended up doing a 16.5 mile day over rough terrain and in the rain. From Trail maps and our weather resources we wouldn't have expected what we encountered. Once committed we had no choice but to move on. While it all worked out in the end with no ill consequences but by the time we reached the Hostel for the night I could barely stand. It was a learning experience. We were trying to avoid some forcasted really bad weather the next day (which never materialized) and the profile maps didn't do justice to the difficulty of the trail. It was Dragon's Tooth in Virginia north bound. What surprised us after a strenuous climb/scramble we thought the downhill would be better. It was significantly worse.
So happy to hear you're almost 100%. Definitely listen to your body--and sleep! (Ha! Ha!) Your rescue was not a failure--it was a success in that you were rescued and survived. It was a learning experience and I'm very happy you're around to give us the lessons learned.
Dan - thanks so much for these videos about your experience in the Grand Canyon. I am a Scoutmaster and will be taking scouts to the Canyon next year in April to do a R2R2R. We have done it twice before but. I am constantly telling the scouts and the parents that it is no joke. It is a special place to hike and we do all sorts of training and preparation for it. Your videos on your incident have become mandatory viewing for my scouts and parents to help drive home why I require so much preparation for the trip. I am an AT thruhiker but I understand that ANYONE can find themselves in this situation. You prepared as much as possible and still hope it is enough. I do think your experience will help so many more people since you have a large enough audience. Props to you and keep up the good work.
Thank Dan and Eric for being so open and frank about what happened, how you dealt with it and what it did with you guys emotionally. You are true friends. Your experience made me decide to follow a formally recognised wilderness first aid course, before we leave for the Via Alpina Red Course in France/Italy, next July, which we’ll do partially solo. We’ve been doing some pretty wild stuff in the last decades, without such training. It is not just about the practical skills you learn at a course, but also about keeping a clear head, weigh your alternatives and make wise decisions under duress. Your experience should be a wise lesson for all of us outdoor people.
Thank you for being so open and transparent about your experience. Hopefully it will prevent some others from experiencing the same. Everyone has to remember to feed, water and rest their bodies to keep your body from going after its muscles for life/death energy needs. Certain weather conditions can mask the normal queues our bodies give us, and when it is noticed, it can come quickly. Glad you are on the mend. I hope your future videos keep this safety aspect prominent.
Hi Dan (and Eric)! Dan, I'm so very glad that you're home and recovering. I've watched both yours and Eric's videos on the Grand Canyon trip. Eric's experience as a (former) guide and Wilderness First Responder was vital in recognizing you needed to get out of there and taken to a hospital. The Grand Canyon's Rim to Rim (to Rim) hike is strenuous at any time of the year, but you saw extreme conditions with the amount of snow in the area. Add to that, the elevation changes. You guys did everything possible to take necessary precautions. As you stated in the other video, if you'd been able to stay at Phantom Ranch the first day, it would have given you a chance to rest before pushing on to hiking up to the North Rim. I knew you were already home and recovering when I finally watched the video, my heart was in my throat just seeing what you were going through. Thank God you're safe and on the mend now. I will say, I already wanted to become certified as a Wilderness First Responder, but now I'm even more determined to get the training.⚕ What the Ranger said to you about other hikers pushing themselves too far is true. While yes, it would have been a bit more difficult to get you from further down in the canyon, Search and Rescue rarely have easy access to the people they rescue. In having Eric with you, he was closely monitoring you and constantly assessing your condition. It did in fact make rescuing you easier by pushing on to the trailhead. You are blessed to have such a wonderful and knowledgeable friend in Eric. You guys made the right decisions, given all that was going on at the time. If you need anything, please don't hesitate to message me.
I am so grateful on your outlook on this. A rescue is a successful end to your hike, as you are still here to hike again and share your experiences (this is not even mentioning the how grateful your family is to still have you here). My family very much enjoys your channel.
Thank you for sharing. In addition to taking wilderness first aid and navigation courses, I learn a lot from other people's experiences. I almost always solo hike and want to be as prepared as possible, including being prepared to make the call that I need to bail out or hit SOS if things go sideways instead of trying to push through when it wouldn't be safe to do so.
Nice conversation guys. Thanks. As an old guy who started hiking the Canyon five years ago, with each adventure I feel like I’m even more of a neophyte. I respect (fear?) the Canyon more with each trip. A very special place. As I say each time I drag my tired old butt out, the Canyon teaches.
If this video saves the life of one person, that would probably make it your most successful hiking trip ever. Thanks for sharing. I'm beginning retirement life with a plan of backpacking like crazy. I've gotten my gear together over the last year, and am waiting for the weather at this point. Your video has reinfoced to me how important it is to renew my first aid training. Looking at NOLS courses right now.
I'm a frequent weekend backpacker, Eagle Scout, and WFA trained, and don't think I had never heard of Rhabdomyolysis before your videos. They have been very enlightening, and glad nothing more serious came of of your experience. I do wonder about susceptibility and rate of onset. I've had a hike or two where I had to dig pretty deep to finish, and experienced similar symptoms, though not to your degree: moderate chest pain, full body aches, feeling lightheaded or borderline delirious, and nauseous. I knew I had over exerted myself, but always just pushed through, grinding through the miles. Thankfully I've never gotten to your point, and had to stop, or consider rescue. I know I was hydrated, and well fed, but when you hit that wall, and keep pushing, it hurts, and can take a day or two to recover. I do speculate that it could have also been early onset of Hyponatremia in some cases. Thanks for sharing, and hope you get back on the trail soon!
Watched both videos and this one. I am glad your okay. I've been down the canyon at least a dozen times, always staying at least one night. I appreciate that you wanted to continue but I personally would have wimped out not too far from Cottonwood and told my buddies there isn't much point going to the top through the heavy snow just to see, well, more snow. If a Ranger found us at Cottonwood they might hand us a ticket but I have found most of them to be pretty cool in these kinds of situations especially since the camp grounds were probably deserted.
I think if there was anything on the first day that both should have taken into consideration was the altitude. I live out east at 500ft. I hunt in Colorado starting at 8k and going up to 12k. If I dont get to CO a few days early and acclimate myself to the conditions, this could easily happen to me. Just think y'all bit off a little more than you can chew on THIS hike. It happens to ALL of us, even those leaving nasty comments. You all are experienced hikers, but in a effort to achieve a goal, you might have been a little ambitious. Im glad to hear that Dan is safe and getting back into hiking and Im glad he didnt try this on his own and had the support of the other 3 men with him. Lesson learned! Heal well Dan and thanks for both you and Eric for posting it and allowing us the opportunity to learn from your mistakes as well.
I’m just glad to hear y’all are ok. I’ve had too many close calls to take chances by not calling for help if put in a situation. Thank you for bringing this experience to us who value both of y’all’s advice.
Last year I hiked the Colorado Trail and got 100 miles in at 11,000 feet before being pulled off Trail with Altitude issues (I live literally at Sea Level at the Beach). Cerebral and Pulmonary Edema, hallucinating, and was so nauseous even forcing myself to eat made me gag. By the time EMS got to me, I couldn’t remember how to stake my tent! I did everything right… got in Denver five days prior to setting out, and the last two days of that moved up higher in altitude for my hotel. Here is my point… Someone asked me how I felt because I ‘failed’. I NEVER FAILED. I showed up, which is more than most people can say. And I have the most amazing stories because I showed up to do it. Thank goodness my cousin is a 911 dispatcher in Denver and recognized I needed to be pulled off through my texts through Garmin, because I didn’t recognize how bad I was. I didn’t want to press the SOS button, either. I’m so glad you’re okay! And I look forward to seeing more Adventures from you!
This is such a valuable video, guys. This is life and we don’t directly control what happens to us. Thank you for this critical information! My wife and I have backpacked the Grand Canyon in winter, at least 2 dozen times. We have experienced the nausea and lack of wanting to eat and drink both in cold and the heat. It becomes a downward spiral. We believe “The Canyon” is out to get us every time we go below the rim. Isn’t that what makes it an adventure? It’s worth the risk for the absolute stunning beauty.
I’m really glad you’re recovering well! I agree with what you were saying about the comment sections, as an avid outdoorsman with backpacking experience and a medical student soon to be a doctor, I felt like a lot of the negative comments on your video were a little extreme. I feel like if I were in your situation I probably would have attempted things the exact same way as you. In watching your video I was thinking about rhabdo a little bit earlier than you guys but even with that knowledge, I can completely emphasize with not wanting to be the one to call for help, I also have the same desire to not be a disruption to others. Maybe I would have tried to urinate to see if my blood was dark/red (a sign of rhabdomyolysis affecting the kidneys) and honestly, if I didn’t see that I think I also would have tried to sleep it off, especially going into a rest day. Even if I knew it were rhabdo, the only thing I would have changed would be to have called for help earlier, I still would have climbed out for an easier rescue. But, like you say, hindsight is 20/20 and I really do think you handled things excellently and made all the right/reasonable decisions with the information you had at the time.
I hit the wall on a 160 mile bicycle ride. Even though I trained as hard as I could. The last 30 miles were pure hell. But I did learn to change my strategy. Not push so hard at the start and save a reserve for the end. I am glad you survived. Love your videos and have learned a lot.
I am so glad to hear that you are doing much better. I actually got Rhabdo in 2018 the week going into Christmas (only got released because it was Christmas Eve and I was consistently trending better), so I completely feel what you were going through. I was actually doing normal training while drinking a minimum of a gallon of water a day (and peeing every 30 minutes haha), but my doctor wanted to try putting me on Ritalin because I was experiencing major ADHD symptoms. Turns out, the Ritalin was the actual trigger, but that is a whole different story. The main thing I want to say is I do want to send out a caution to you. I was actually not able to continue working out until very recently (yes, over four years later). Every time I tried to start working out again, even when doing just bodyweight exercises, I would get extremely swollen again. I would then have to stop immediately, and I would not try again for another 2-3 months. I started rowing a few weeks ago, which is the first time I have been able to exercise without swelling up since 2018, although I think that is partly because I am currently on prescribed anti-inflammatory meds for other reasons. All of that is to say, just be careful moving forward. Start with easy hikes again and slowly work your way back up to tough hikes. I would hate to see you have a major issue again in a couple of months because you wanted to do a big hike and felt good. My whole family loves you (and Eric!), so please take care of yourself!! We are wishing you all of the best.
Thanks so much for sharing your experience, I think you both taught us a lot. I was overwhelmed when watching the rescue video and totally unaware of how attached I've become to you. Take care and God bless.
So glad you're okay Dan. Really appreciate you sharing your experience. I was a little aware of rhabdo but only in the context of high temperatures and acute injury. It might save someone else's life just to know that it can happen in other situations too. Maybe even mine!
I have heard of what you had but I'm not familiar enough to recognize it. My family does SAR (well, I guess none of them do right now, but they did for years and years), my son trained as a PJ and he would happily tell you their motto "that others may live" Is what took him out there to be ready in case someone needs help. And you walked to the truck under your own power! You did great. I was like, oh, cool, they made it back to the parking lot, perfect.
This is just a side note to your experience. Horses get a muscle condition from rhabdomyolsis called "tieing up". Very painful muscles from exercise. It has a tendency to reoccur. From a vet.
Glad you’re feeling better. Thank you for sharing this experience with us, I’ve learned a lot from these few videos. Hope you make a 100% recovery soon, happy trails!
Dan, Thank you for being so transparent! Glad your feeling better, me and my family are praying for you and your family. I’m a total newbie at backpacking and you’re videos have totally inspired me.
Love you both for the thoughts and attitude. Some Qs you responded i had too. Didnt post tho. Hope for safer future hikes and am grateful with you all 4 there that it went as it went to educate.
Regarding being in shape…The two times I had rhabdo were each after 2 days of intense physical activity that I had been doing for years. I was in shape. In retrospect, each of the circumstances involved reduced fluid intake due to circumstances. I pay more attention to my fluid and diuretic intake nowadays. The first time was at the end of a 48 hour martial arts retreat, and I may have been coming down with a cold that I did not notice at the time. The second time was at the end of a two day Ultimate Disc tournament (6 games total). Multiple people on the team had run out of water before the second to last game was over, the final game was started right away, and we couldn’t find safe water within walking distance.
New hiker here! THANK YOU FOR THESE LESSONS! This awareness is soooo needed. I’m actually taking serious notes. My first hike had me questioning my decisions. So many things went wrong. Both of you are a blessing.
Another instance where a person will suffer from rhabdo is from a crushing injury from an accident and we monitor for this with daily lab work after a trauma. So glad you are well because I watch each of you in every video
After watching your video, all I want is to do your trip in the winter. It’s so special, having that whole space to yourself. Loved all you shared, thank you
It's great to see you're doing better! I love that you two are discussing this in detail. I am definitely taking away a lot of useful information. ❤️ thanks!
I looked at you moving in that video and thought wow that pack looks incredibly light. It’s unfortunate that this happens but as someone who hopes to do trips like this in the future I thank you, and appreciate you sharing all of the good and bad.
I think people would like to think that this was a failure of preparation because it means that there's something they can do to ensure that they're never in a similar situation (not to mention that all your trips are perfect if you only ever set foot on the trail in your mind). The truth is that preparation is important. This would have been much worse if you weren't who you are and as prepared as you were. But no matter how well we prepare, things can still go wrong on the trail and you bringing awareness to that is doing the hiking community a service.
Glad everybody's ok. Accepting a challenge is good. Absolutely, "stuff happens". But the most significant line I heard in this, that includes all the ramifications surrounding the situation, was the Rangers saying, "People push themselves to death"
Just wanted to express some thanks for putting up a video like this. I'm certainly glad you're ok and recovering. But this is the stuff we should learn from!
I’m so happy you’re okay. I recently read a book called Over The Edge: Death in the Grand Canyon about search and rescues and I’m certainly glad you’re not going to be a story in a future edition!
Both of you are doing an excellent service to everyone who enjoys the outdoors. Sharing the learnings and analyzing what could be done differently or the same benefits everyone. Constructive criticism is acceptable, but trolls, go find another thread to share your wisdom
WOW, so glad you survived this and are able to bring this to our attention. I am 72 and made the tough decision to bail from a tough backpacking trip last August. Doubt I had your issue but more likely exhaustion from loss of appetite. You mentioned hydration at one point in this video so I wanted to ask you a question. I've been watching the Gear Skeptic videos on nutrition, hydration, electrolytes and recovery to address my problem. Have you watched these extremely informative videos about maintaining the correct chemical balance in our bodies while backpacking?
Thanks for sharing and highlighting the importance of hydration and nutrition. As an avid hiker, RN and SAR volunteer I concur that you made a good choice to get to the top while you could.
I am so glad to see you able to laugh at what happened looking back on it now. It was scary. I really felt for you watching that video. You were with really good people that day, day’s . Fortunately for you. Live and learn. That’s what will make you a better person.
Me and my wife love to hike and backpack. We first learned of you guy's ordeal while watching Epic Trails. Then I searched RUclips for more info on it and found this video. Loved you guys breaking down the chain of events and analyzing each step and etc. This provides so much learning for hikers, both novices and experienced, and it's opened up awareness about rhabdomyolysis. Thanks Eric and Dan, appreciate you guys!
Just like to start by wishing you a speedy recovery. I have also just watched Ted Kings RUclips video of his tour divide race where he too had Rhabdo, I had never heard of this before so that was very strange seeing two people I watch getting the same rare condition. Anyway hope you continue with the videos when fully recovered as they are amazing
I think the idea of not calling for help because you don’t want a rescuer to risk their lives is one of the most ridiculous things you could ever believe. It’s like saying you’re not gonna call the fire department while your house is burning because you don’t want to be a burden on the fire department or cause any of the firefighters to take any unnecessary risks. Search and rescue crews are made up of people who are passionate about the outdoors and who have dedicated their lives to helping people get back to safety when their journeys through the outdoors take turns for the worst. I’d also argue that delaying your call for help actually makes things more difficult for search and rescue. It’s a lot easier to plan a safe rescue mission if the person you’re rescuing isn’t at immediate risk of death. I think you made the right call waiting till the next day to make the call since you didn’t think it was that bad and you were still capable of getting yourself out of the canyon, but so many people nitpicking your decision seem to be of the mindset that you should only be rescued if you’re actively dying and that’s such an insane way of thinking
I know about Rhabdomyolysis but I’m a RN. I have to force myself to drink when hiking even when hot and got dizzy one time and hadn’t even gone very far. Realized I wasn’t drinking enough🤦🏽♀️🤦🏽♀️🤦🏽♀️. I also wasn’t accustomed to 86-90 degrees. I’m not really a hiker hiker…just casual hiker. Glad you are okay. If your urine is dark then that’s no good. I now keep track. Thank you for your openness.
Dan, so I have basically 2 questions for you. 1. What are the early signs to be aware of so if you can stop and get some rest and recoup before you get too bad? 2. What are the best early treatment, clearly lots of fluid and food, but on the food side, Carbs, protein, Fats?
Great video guys, thanks for touching on some important points. From my viewpoint you did everything you could to effect a safe outcome, great job on that. Things happen to everyone, no one is immune.
I'm very new to hiking, I plan on doing the Newfoundland east coast trail soon, and these two videos really opened my eyes to being careful with how much I exert myself. The East Coast Trail isn't some crazy demanding trail but I think learning about Rhabdo is really important for anyone who wants to hike. I'll be extra careful and pay close attention to taking care of myself on the trail. Thank you for documenting this whole thing so well and I'm glad you're ok, I believe it's important for any hiker to see this video.
Dan and Eric - Thanks for sharing your experience honestly and providing great educational content. What some critics need to understand is that a trip like this is an adventure. As such, there will always be unknown events that were unpredictable and there will always be risks. Mankind would not have progressed far if people never tackled the unknown, knowing there would be m,any risks on the journey. Think of early sea voyagers when many people were sure the earth was flat; early aviators who through many surprises and mistakes led the way in an industry that changed the world; early astronauts who led the way to space travel. Keep taking us on more adventures and we will be there with you - if on the other side of the screen at home. So happy that both of you and the rest of your crew are O.K. and will be stronger people from your adventure.
I have really enjoyed listening to your Q&A ,and the analysis of your situation & choices you made! Super greatful that all worked out with no serious or lasting effects and that you had such great care in your team members & with ranger, EMS & health care professionals. In the scuba world we have a group where we discuss incidents that happen to learn from each other & I think it's great if the hiking/backpacking world has that too! I am newer to backpacking and didn't know if this type of group exists or not, but thank you for your vulnerability!
Hiking in and back out of GC is no easy hike - even in great weather. Did the South Rim to Colorado River and back out same way as a solo day hike. It took twice as long to hike back out than planned and was only carrying a light day pack. I learned how important adding electrolytes to drinking water is when exerting that much in an arid climate - which I didn't have on that trip. Had terrible cramps and had to spend a lot of extended time resting on the climb out and several days after. The elevation gain and amount of energy spent is far more than one could ever imagine when planning - even for experienced hikers. Now will always pack electrolyte tabs and extra snacks when hiking with that much elevation change. You only learn these lessons thru experience and pleased you are sharing yours. Thanks for sharing!
Regarding going in the winter, I live near a large escarpment with many parks throughout. It's easy for regular people to get to even the more remote locations. But by going during the winter I can experience the area with zero other people around. It's amazing
Also, who tf thinks DB doesn't know his gear? Clearly not a follower of the channel. Probably one of those people who only watch "disaster vids", and thinks everyone is a fraud
At the end of the day, the point of doing this kind of thing is to challenge yourself. The way you challenge yourself is to push your limits. On this trip you found a set of circumstances that you could not push through even though you were willing to try. Next time you can see if you can go further knowing the circumstances that stopped you before.
The thing I take from this is, Dan was not hiking alone. I see so many of these RUclips videos where even the title says it all. "Overnight Alone", "Camping the Highlands Alone". Personally I would rather be with the hiking buddy from hell than ALONE. Your buddies saved your life. No question. Great videos from both of you!!!
I've taken care of tons of Rhabdo patients as a nurse (all of them elderly - fallen and I can't get up for days) but it is nasty and so very dangerous. I'm so glad you've recovered so quickly
So great that you are sharing these details. I experienced severe altitude sickness at 12k’ deep into the Winds, even though I spent a couple days at Pinedale (7k’). These things can just happen sometimes. I know lifelong Coloradans who have gotten altitude sickness. The key is to recognize when something is not right and find a way to get out to safety.
As a Range and a Paramedic rescue is part of our job. If we didn't want to do it we would never take the job. I've done so many rescues from cliffs searching for lost hikers. Trust me we love what we do.
Thank you Chris Moore and all your co workers for being there so we can enjoy the splendor of nature.
Thank you for doing so
As a volunteer S&R ground pounder who had to buy all his own gear and isn’t getting paid. I do it because it needs to be done and it brings me joy doing it. 100% agree with this comment.
@@hiroprotagonist850 Right on did it for years as a volunteer I know you're pain. Stay strong brother.
I watch a lot of videos of high altitude mountaineering and I appreciate your experiences . To those who criticize , they are the same people who ask why do people climb mountains?
The best thing about hiking /climbing is you make your own rules and story.
The 911 operator and ranger deserve special mention for their professionalism and sense of urgency. Kudos to both of them.
Don't post public comments often but feel I should mention that I may be an immediate demonstration of the usefulness of the your (and Eric's) videos on this eventful trip!
Believe it or not, I saw the two rescue videos from you and Eric THE NIGHT BEFORE I was heading towards GC with a planned 20 mile rim-river-back (the typical South Kaibab - Bright Angel, plus some sightseeing detour) day hike. I knew winter hikes avoid the heat in summer, but the trail conditions are really unpredictable. I had to plan a long day hike as I was not able to get any permit at any campground for a more relaxed backpacking trip during the days I would be there. I'm actually aware of rhabdomyolysis, learned in Chinese in old days as 横纹肌溶解症, but I have never considered that could ever be a risk for hikers like me. In the meantime, just as you mentioned in this video, I don't drink much water while hiking either - sometimes climb 5 miles of mountains with half bottle.
There was a storm in GC NP before my arrival, and the top 2-3 miles are covered by icy snow - hard and slow. I used trekking poles throughout the trip - the sore arms/chest/back next day showed they did their hard work. Temperature was low and wind was howling, which typically makes me drink even less water if I had gone with my typical style. But BEING WARNED BY YOUR VIDEOS, I packed in 3L of water, with two refill at the Phantom and Indian Garden. I added electrolyte to every drinks and forced myself to consume certain amount of water every mile. I also packed in twice the amount of food and did eat most of them during lunch break and on the trail.
Of course I'm not saying that I will surely get rhabdomyolysis if I don't prepare all these things. But considering the road condition, the weather, especially my drinking habit, and the fact that it is not too uncommon to see rhabdomyolysis in GC (just thinking of even Dan Becker getting it in GC!), these videos at least helped me, as an old man alone on the trail, to better prepare my trip. Many thanks!
Winter is one of the windiest times of the year around these parts. These hikes are brutal even in perfect conditions, when there is snow and ice and the like it is so much worse! I would never hike during the winter like this, if only cause its like... the canyons the ice and falling. Yeah no, do not want. I like my bones where they are at! Glad to see you too are doing good.
These episodes are good documentary of what can happen in the backcountry and how we can be better prepared to handle it. I am glad you all continue filming. This is information is more important than everything else you two have done.
I have a series on my channel called "Trail Fails" which is exactly this. Breaks down failures and what can be learned from them.
My 17 yr old son had Rhabdo TWICE. It was near the end of his chemotherapy after fighting T Cell Leukemia. He was still getting chemo but less frequently and was trying to get back into shape but his body had been so depleted of muscle from the treatment. It was brutal. He tried to work out with weights a few times and developed severe pain in his arms and chest. His arms stiffened up so bad they were locked in a bent position for the first 3 days in hospital. He could not straighten his arms at all. His kidneys shut down within a day. In hospital for a week. Then a few months later after one of his last chemo treatments he got it AGAIN but to a much lesser degree. His kidneys were not damaged that time. He is now 24 and doing very very well. Cancer free, works out all the time and is a paramedic nonetheless!
Told my better half what you were diagnosed with. She's a physician with a masters in molecular biochemistry. She is also an avid mountain biker and hiker. She told me how lucky you were and you inspired her to study up on your condition. Then she said...man, he was really lucky to get out alive...Sobering
I’ve hiked the Canyon over 20 times, I’ve seen it humble even the most in shape people, myself included. You guys didn’t do anything wrong…in fact you did it right in the sense that you realized the situation and didn’t make it worse, by trying to be hero’s. And yes, trekking poles are an absolute must on the hike!
I had a similar experience on a 5 day hike from Onion Valley and exit out Whitney portal. Side note: I suffer from altitude sickness and have to take meds. The weather for a couple of days proceeding was brutal, very high winds and chilly day time temps. Along with not eating enough from the constant nausea from the altitude, I was in a big calorie deficit. On the morning of the summit, I felt pretty good, but all of a sudden my body shut down big time after about 30 mins of hiking to the summit. I went back down to a lower spot where my sleeping bag and tent was and layed there for several hours trying to recover. I eventually made it down to Whitney portal with the help of friends. Also in my opinion, some of the negative comments are from people that have never been in the backcountry and know nothing about what a trip entails.
I'm heading NOBO on the JMT July 20th out of Cottonwood Lakes. Nervous about the altitude
@@hikingmatilda467 Hopefully you will have a few days prior to help with acclimatization . You can always get a Rx for diamox to take just in case.
Sure did. I'll have 2 days in Horseshoe Meadows and 1 night in Cottonwood Lakes. Hope that does the trick.
You're both class acts. So easy for people to Monday morning quarterback so don't let them get to you. To me, you all made it home safely and THAT is a successful trip! Thanks for sharing your story guys!
This is a very informative video for hikers than your regular trekking pole review. Sorry this happened to you, but your suffering made this informative. Thanks. Great video!
Sharing your thoughts so publicly as you process these events is so inspiring. From tragedy to recovery, there are lessons to be learned, but only if you take the time to reflect on the various factors that played a role and what, if anything, you would do different on future trips. Thank you for being so transparent with this event.
“Inspiring?”
I do not believe calling for rescue is a failure. I broke my leg in the Lake District in England last summer and had to be rescued out. 3 weeks later, I continued my hiking with a boot and crutches in Greece, where the ground was a bit more level. You both and other hikers who have done videos inspired me to return to the hiking that I have done when I turned sixty. I plan to do more hikes, and this summer, I will be sixty-three. Just remember you two, and other RUclipsrs are an inspiration to many of us!! ❤
Dan, first off, I’m glad you are ok.
Secondly, there is no failure in the situation!
I have always instilled in my girls, the ONLY way to fail is to NOT learn from the experience.
Not only did you learn much from this experience, but you have educated many of us along the way!
Thank you so much!
Hike On Brother!
Thank you, Dan, for speaking so openly about this. Your point about remembering to drink and eat in the cold is so important. I also made that mistake when I was thru hiking the AT on freezing cold days. This kind of thing can happen to anyone. I love how you are already talking about going back out after such a scary experience. Thanks again for sharing!
Wow, Dan, I can see how wonderfully God took care of you. Praise Him for your ultimate safety and recovery.
As a former paratrooper, any landing you walk away from (parachute OR having to land back on ground in the aircraft) was a success! I am glad you guys had a successful end to your very eventful trip!❤🎉
I can say it gives me pause, and strongly tells me to slow my roll. Hike less, listen to my body, eat well, constantly water up and check with my doctors before long hikes. I’m 67 and have gone to all my doctors preparing for my Thru hike. Thank you guys. It’s all an adventure. God bless.
I teach a basic wilderness survival class and I appreciate the post trip banter on your rescue. The takeaway for me is how experienced you both are and still got into a bit of trouble. Mother nature is enjoyable most of the time, but a confluence of events can get even experience backpackers and hikers into trouble. Typically, a bad experience is a multitude of bad decisions. Your ability to disect your trip and decision making is invaluable. I'm glad you made it out and are able to share this experience with others.
Thanks Dan(and Eric) for reviewing this incident. We're glad you're recovering now and doing great! Pay no mind to those who say your rescue negatively impacted others or could've put others in harms way. You guys did amazing risk assessment, and SAR very much prefer rescuing people like you and your crew than those who don't take into all those factors into account. You guys went in prepared and just had an unexpected medical emergency. Rhambomyolisis although rare in the normal population, is not unusual in those who do strenuous activities as such. I personally know two people who've experienced it. You guys don't need to explain yourself. :)
After action reviews are so valuable. Thank for taking the time to do this and sharing it with us. It’s probably going to save some people as a result.
Good debriefing guys! Glad everyone is safe. People that weren’t there should just listen and learn. You made the right decisions because everyone is alive and safe.
Mentioned this on Eric's channel too...I think these debriefs are so important after an incident like this, whether it's filmed or over a cup of coffee. That's how you learn and improve. Sharing this with us helps us do the same....minus the feeling super crappy in the backcountry part. Lol! Good content.
It's so useful to know what happens if you call for help / press the SOS button to demystify it in case I'm ever in a situation where I'm considering my rescue options, so I'm very glad you filmed the rescue! Thank you for sharing it. It's really important so that no one tries to tough something out because they have a stigma or fear about calling for help and ends up in serious trouble. Thanks for the debriefing videos so we can all learn from this!
I did my first back country hunt in the mountains of Colorado last October. It was unusually cold for that particular unit the week we were there (overnight lows in the 5-10° range vs the normal 20-30° for that time of year). We pushed ourselves ALOT harder on the second day than we should have, especially given I was new. We had already done 6-7 miles chasing some elk when the sun started to set. We were exhausted and out of food and water, but we still had about 6 miles to get back to camp. We got back about 10 pm and tried to get settled in but I ended up throwing up. We assumed the same as you (altitude sickness, maybe with some dehydration) but fortunately my hunting partner made the call to pull the plug. We backed out, drove to the nearest town and got a hotel for the night. It wasn’t until I took a hot shower that I realized I couldn’t feel my hands or feet. It wasn’t the cold that caused them to go numb, but my body had shut down circulation to my arms and legs because I was pretty severely dehydrated.
Fortunately, I was able to get lots of fluids in me, get some good sleep in a warm bed and was able to bounce back. We also slept in the next morning and got a hot breakfast before heading back out. We spent most of the day just scouting from the truck so I was able to rest and recover.
My hunting partner and I both have discussed after watching y’all’s videos just how close I may have been to sharing a similar fate. Thankfully he had enough snap to force me to stop, cause I may have stubbornly tried to push myself the next day.
Really enjoyed sitting in on you guys hashing through the events. So thankful you ALL made it and that you have recovered so well, Dan. I think this experience and your willingness to be real and share will at some point help others handle similar tragic situations. ❤️ you both.
I appreciate your video so much. Thank you for breaking it down and discussing the detail. My mother was rescued 30 years ago by helicopter after hiking down. She mentioned multiple times she wasn’t feeling well and my father just kept pushing her to continue. It wasn’t until a ranger came upon her stumbling around the bottom that she received help. She had was hospitalized for several days after her rescue. I’m hiking the canyon in a few months (I’ll be the same age as she was when she needed to be rescued 53) and your video has been invaluable. Glad you are okay. My son has his WFR and I’m a nurse. We are taking all advice and researching a ton. Thanks for the great video.
I don’t know anything about your dad, but I do hope that he learned a lesson about listening to his wife about her physical well being.
@@thisbeem2714sadly he never learned that lesson.
First off, glad you are ok Dan. Love the gear and trip videos. Trips like this are easy when everything goes as planned. However, the majority of your viewers, whether or not they admit this, will learn more from this video and such emergency situations than from all your other videos combined. I remember your Great Smoky Mountain National Park trip a couple of years ago and I learned so much from that video. Thanks for documenting this.
I hate all you guys had to go through this, but the info you are sharing and the things we are learning by you going through this is of great value.
Thank-you for dispelling the myth that calling for rescue is a failure.
Commented on one of your posts from a year ago about he time I had to call search & rescue for my daughter who spilt boiling water on her leg. She left by helicopter with her sister, (they could take the 3 of us without the dog or gear, they had a ground crew coming in case the helicopter couldn’t land), I left with a ground crew. My daughter was 10 at the time, we were 65k in, would take at a minimum 2-3 days to get out. The burn was extensive, we weren’t going to die but I didn’t want her to get an infection. I was blasted by so many that I eventually deleted the post. The common remarks were I shouldn’t be out there, I am an irresponsible parent, that I wasted SAR’s time…. language was a bit more harsh.
Accidents & unknown health conditions can cause circumstances to need a rescue. No one should feel bad for needing to call for a rescue.
I really appreciate the frank conversation so I could learn. Also, calling for help when you need it is a sign of strength.
I definitely appreciate the follow up video. As I've said many times before, I do cross country motorcycle trips but use some of the stuff I learn from you in my packing.
People usually only show the high times and never the failures. Last year, I ran out of fuel in the Mojave desert, and had to walk to a truck stop to buy gas and back. I made sure people saw that so it's not all just cherries and rainbows. So glad you're okay and I can't wait to see the follow-up trip when you do this again.
Long-time hiker here and no matter how prepared we are… we too have run into unexpected injuries, near misses and shifts in our plans. You cannot always anticipate things and we do our best to make the best decisions, care for each other in the midst and learn from the experiences. Hard to watch but glad you are recovering.
Thanks for being vulnerable and sharing your journey Dan. Cheers to a swift recovery!
A little late to this party but as a first responder for many years you will always question what could have done differently after the fact. You can play out hundreds of scenarios in your head but in the end all that matters is that you got out safe and you are healthy. For what it is worth to anyone that may find themselves in any sort of situation where they may need help. I don't care where you are, it is our job to help you. This is what we signed up for and what we were called to do. We will do whatever it takes to get to you and help you. Just be smart and call for help if you need it. Glad your on the mend Dan.
It is so hard sometimes when you are on the trail to know when you should stop. In a 2 week trip on the AT last year we ended up doing a 16.5 mile day over rough terrain and in the rain. From Trail maps and our weather resources we wouldn't have expected what we encountered. Once committed we had no choice but to move on. While it all worked out in the end with no ill consequences but by the time we reached the Hostel for the night I could barely stand. It was a learning experience. We were trying to avoid some forcasted really bad weather the next day (which never materialized) and the profile maps didn't do justice to the difficulty of the trail. It was Dragon's Tooth in Virginia north bound. What surprised us after a strenuous climb/scramble we thought the downhill would be better. It was significantly worse.
So happy to hear you're almost 100%. Definitely listen to your body--and sleep! (Ha! Ha!) Your rescue was not a failure--it was a success in that you were rescued and survived. It was a learning experience and I'm very happy you're around to give us the lessons learned.
Dan - thanks so much for these videos about your experience in the Grand Canyon. I am a Scoutmaster and will be taking scouts to the Canyon next year in April to do a R2R2R. We have done it twice before but. I am constantly telling the scouts and the parents that it is no joke. It is a special place to hike and we do all sorts of training and preparation for it. Your videos on your incident have become mandatory viewing for my scouts and parents to help drive home why I require so much preparation for the trip. I am an AT thruhiker but I understand that ANYONE can find themselves in this situation. You prepared as much as possible and still hope it is enough. I do think your experience will help so many more people since you have a large enough audience. Props to you and keep up the good work.
Thank Dan and Eric for being so open and frank about what happened, how you dealt with it and what it did with you guys emotionally. You are true friends. Your experience made me decide to follow a formally recognised wilderness first aid course, before we leave for the Via Alpina Red Course in France/Italy, next July, which we’ll do partially solo. We’ve been doing some pretty wild stuff in the last decades, without such training. It is not just about the practical skills you learn at a course, but also about keeping a clear head, weigh your alternatives and make wise decisions under duress. Your experience should be a wise lesson for all of us outdoor people.
Thank you for being so open and transparent about your experience. Hopefully it will prevent some others from experiencing the same. Everyone has to remember to feed, water and rest their bodies to keep your body from going after its muscles for life/death energy needs. Certain weather conditions can mask the normal queues our bodies give us, and when it is noticed, it can come quickly. Glad you are on the mend. I hope your future videos keep this safety aspect prominent.
Thanking God that you are still here and getting better! 🙌
Hi Dan (and Eric)! Dan, I'm so very glad that you're home and recovering. I've watched both yours and Eric's videos on the Grand Canyon trip. Eric's experience as a (former) guide and Wilderness First Responder was vital in recognizing you needed to get out of there and taken to a hospital. The Grand Canyon's Rim to Rim (to Rim) hike is strenuous at any time of the year, but you saw extreme conditions with the amount of snow in the area. Add to that, the elevation changes. You guys did everything possible to take necessary precautions. As you stated in the other video, if you'd been able to stay at Phantom Ranch the first day, it would have given you a chance to rest before pushing on to hiking up to the North Rim. I knew you were already home and recovering when I finally watched the video, my heart was in my throat just seeing what you were going through. Thank God you're safe and on the mend now. I will say, I already wanted to become certified as a Wilderness First Responder, but now I'm even more determined to get the training.⚕ What the Ranger said to you about other hikers pushing themselves too far is true. While yes, it would have been a bit more difficult to get you from further down in the canyon, Search and Rescue rarely have easy access to the people they rescue. In having Eric with you, he was closely monitoring you and constantly assessing your condition. It did in fact make rescuing you easier by pushing on to the trailhead. You are blessed to have such a wonderful and knowledgeable friend in Eric. You guys made the right decisions, given all that was going on at the time. If you need anything, please don't hesitate to message me.
I am so grateful on your outlook on this. A rescue is a successful end to your hike, as you are still here to hike again and share your experiences (this is not even mentioning the how grateful your family is to still have you here). My family very much enjoys your channel.
So glad everyone is safe and sound
Also thanks for sharing as I never knew about this. Sharing is caring. Now we can make informed decisions.
Thank you for sharing. In addition to taking wilderness first aid and navigation courses, I learn a lot from other people's experiences. I almost always solo hike and want to be as prepared as possible, including being prepared to make the call that I need to bail out or hit SOS if things go sideways instead of trying to push through when it wouldn't be safe to do so.
Nice conversation guys. Thanks. As an old guy who started hiking the Canyon five years ago, with each adventure I feel like I’m even more of a neophyte. I respect (fear?) the Canyon more with each trip. A very special place. As I say each time I drag my tired old butt out, the Canyon teaches.
If this video saves the life of one person, that would probably make it your most successful hiking trip ever. Thanks for sharing.
I'm beginning retirement life with a plan of backpacking like crazy. I've gotten my gear together over the last year, and am waiting for the weather at this point. Your video has reinfoced to me how important it is to renew my first aid training. Looking at NOLS courses right now.
I'm a frequent weekend backpacker, Eagle Scout, and WFA trained, and don't think I had never heard of Rhabdomyolysis before your videos. They have been very enlightening, and glad nothing more serious came of of your experience. I do wonder about susceptibility and rate of onset. I've had a hike or two where I had to dig pretty deep to finish, and experienced similar symptoms, though not to your degree: moderate chest pain, full body aches, feeling lightheaded or borderline delirious, and nauseous. I knew I had over exerted myself, but always just pushed through, grinding through the miles. Thankfully I've never gotten to your point, and had to stop, or consider rescue. I know I was hydrated, and well fed, but when you hit that wall, and keep pushing, it hurts, and can take a day or two to recover. I do speculate that it could have also been early onset of Hyponatremia in some cases. Thanks for sharing, and hope you get back on the trail soon!
Watched both videos and this one. I am glad your okay. I've been down the canyon at least a dozen times, always staying at least one night. I appreciate that you wanted to continue but I personally would have wimped out not too far from Cottonwood and told my buddies there isn't much point going to the top through the heavy snow just to see, well, more snow. If a Ranger found us at Cottonwood they might hand us a ticket but I have found most of them to be pretty cool in these kinds of situations especially since the camp grounds were probably deserted.
I think if there was anything on the first day that both should have taken into consideration was the altitude. I live out east at 500ft. I hunt in Colorado starting at 8k and going up to 12k. If I dont get to CO a few days early and acclimate myself to the conditions, this could easily happen to me. Just think y'all bit off a little more than you can chew on THIS hike. It happens to ALL of us, even those leaving nasty comments. You all are experienced hikers, but in a effort to achieve a goal, you might have been a little ambitious. Im glad to hear that Dan is safe and getting back into hiking and Im glad he didnt try this on his own and had the support of the other 3 men with him. Lesson learned! Heal well Dan and thanks for both you and Eric for posting it and allowing us the opportunity to learn from your mistakes as well.
I’m just glad to hear y’all are ok. I’ve had too many close calls to take chances by not calling for help if put in a situation. Thank you for bringing this experience to us who value both of y’all’s advice.
Last year I hiked the Colorado Trail and got 100 miles in at 11,000 feet before being pulled off Trail with Altitude issues (I live literally at Sea Level at the Beach). Cerebral and Pulmonary Edema, hallucinating, and was so nauseous even forcing myself to eat made me gag. By the time EMS got to me, I couldn’t remember how to stake my tent! I did everything right… got in Denver five days prior to setting out, and the last two days of that moved up higher in altitude for my hotel. Here is my point… Someone asked me how I felt because I ‘failed’. I NEVER FAILED. I showed up, which is more than most people can say. And I have the most amazing stories because I showed up to do it. Thank goodness my cousin is a 911 dispatcher in Denver and recognized I needed to be pulled off through my texts through Garmin, because I didn’t recognize how bad I was. I didn’t want to press the SOS button, either.
I’m so glad you’re okay! And I look forward to seeing more Adventures from you!
This is such a valuable video, guys. This is life and we don’t directly control what happens to us. Thank you for this critical information!
My wife and I have backpacked the Grand Canyon in winter, at least 2 dozen times. We have experienced the nausea and lack of wanting to eat and drink both in cold and the heat. It becomes a downward spiral. We believe “The Canyon” is out to get us every time we go below the rim. Isn’t that what makes it an adventure? It’s worth the risk for the absolute stunning beauty.
I’m really glad you’re recovering well! I agree with what you were saying about the comment sections, as an avid outdoorsman with backpacking experience and a medical student soon to be a doctor, I felt like a lot of the negative comments on your video were a little extreme. I feel like if I were in your situation I probably would have attempted things the exact same way as you. In watching your video I was thinking about rhabdo a little bit earlier than you guys but even with that knowledge, I can completely emphasize with not wanting to be the one to call for help, I also have the same desire to not be a disruption to others. Maybe I would have tried to urinate to see if my blood was dark/red (a sign of rhabdomyolysis affecting the kidneys) and honestly, if I didn’t see that I think I also would have tried to sleep it off, especially going into a rest day. Even if I knew it were rhabdo, the only thing I would have changed would be to have called for help earlier, I still would have climbed out for an easier rescue. But, like you say, hindsight is 20/20 and I really do think you handled things excellently and made all the right/reasonable decisions with the information you had at the time.
I hit the wall on a 160 mile bicycle ride. Even though I trained as hard as I could. The last 30 miles were pure hell. But I did learn to change my strategy. Not push so hard at the start and save a reserve for the end. I am glad you survived. Love your videos and have learned a lot.
I am so glad to hear that you are doing much better. I actually got Rhabdo in 2018 the week going into Christmas (only got released because it was Christmas Eve and I was consistently trending better), so I completely feel what you were going through. I was actually doing normal training while drinking a minimum of a gallon of water a day (and peeing every 30 minutes haha), but my doctor wanted to try putting me on Ritalin because I was experiencing major ADHD symptoms. Turns out, the Ritalin was the actual trigger, but that is a whole different story.
The main thing I want to say is I do want to send out a caution to you. I was actually not able to continue working out until very recently (yes, over four years later). Every time I tried to start working out again, even when doing just bodyweight exercises, I would get extremely swollen again. I would then have to stop immediately, and I would not try again for another 2-3 months. I started rowing a few weeks ago, which is the first time I have been able to exercise without swelling up since 2018, although I think that is partly because I am currently on prescribed anti-inflammatory meds for other reasons.
All of that is to say, just be careful moving forward. Start with easy hikes again and slowly work your way back up to tough hikes. I would hate to see you have a major issue again in a couple of months because you wanted to do a big hike and felt good. My whole family loves you (and Eric!), so please take care of yourself!! We are wishing you all of the best.
Thanks so much for sharing your experience, I think you both taught us a lot. I was overwhelmed when watching the rescue video and totally unaware of how attached I've become to you. Take care and God bless.
Glad you’re safe dude ❤
This took a lot of guts to post. good information here Thank You.
So glad you're okay Dan. Really appreciate you sharing your experience. I was a little aware of rhabdo but only in the context of high temperatures and acute injury. It might save someone else's life just to know that it can happen in other situations too. Maybe even mine!
I have heard of what you had but I'm not familiar enough to recognize it. My family does SAR (well, I guess none of them do right now, but they did for years and years), my son trained as a PJ and he would happily tell you their motto "that others may live" Is what took him out there to be ready in case someone needs help. And you walked to the truck under your own power! You did great. I was like, oh, cool, they made it back to the parking lot, perfect.
This is just a side note to your experience. Horses get a muscle condition from rhabdomyolsis called "tieing up". Very painful muscles from exercise. It has a tendency to reoccur. From a vet.
Glad you’re feeling better. Thank you for sharing this experience with us, I’ve learned a lot from these few videos. Hope you make a 100% recovery soon, happy trails!
Dan, Thank you for being so transparent! Glad your feeling better, me and my family are praying for you and your family. I’m a total newbie at backpacking and you’re videos have totally inspired me.
Love you both for the thoughts and attitude. Some Qs you responded i had too. Didnt post tho. Hope for safer future hikes and am grateful with you all 4 there that it went as it went to educate.
Dan... all true fans stand beside you. Sorry you had to go through that. I will continue to watch and love your videos...
Regarding being in shape…The two times I had rhabdo were each after 2 days of intense physical activity that I had been doing for years. I was in shape. In retrospect, each of the circumstances involved reduced fluid intake due to circumstances. I pay more attention to my fluid and diuretic intake nowadays.
The first time was at the end of a 48 hour martial arts retreat, and I may have been coming down with a cold that I did not notice at the time. The second time was at the end of a two day Ultimate Disc tournament (6 games total). Multiple people on the team had run out of water before the second to last game was over, the final game was started right away, and we couldn’t find safe water within walking distance.
New hiker here! THANK YOU FOR THESE LESSONS! This awareness is soooo needed. I’m actually taking serious notes. My first hike had me questioning my decisions. So many things went wrong. Both of you are a blessing.
Another instance where a person will suffer from rhabdo is from a crushing injury from an accident and we monitor for this with daily lab work after a trauma. So glad you are well because I watch each of you in every video
After watching your video, all I want is to do your trip in the winter. It’s so special, having that whole space to yourself. Loved all you shared, thank you
It's great to see you're doing better! I love that you two are discussing this in detail. I am definitely taking away a lot of useful information. ❤️ thanks!
I looked at you moving in that video and thought wow that pack looks incredibly light. It’s unfortunate that this happens but as someone who hopes to do trips like this in the future I thank you, and appreciate you sharing all of the good and bad.
I think people would like to think that this was a failure of preparation because it means that there's something they can do to ensure that they're never in a similar situation (not to mention that all your trips are perfect if you only ever set foot on the trail in your mind). The truth is that preparation is important. This would have been much worse if you weren't who you are and as prepared as you were. But no matter how well we prepare, things can still go wrong on the trail and you bringing awareness to that is doing the hiking community a service.
Glad everybody's ok. Accepting a challenge is good. Absolutely, "stuff happens". But the most significant line I heard in this, that includes all the ramifications surrounding the situation, was the Rangers saying, "People push themselves to death"
Just wanted to express some thanks for putting up a video like this. I'm certainly glad you're ok and recovering. But this is the stuff we should learn from!
I’m so happy you’re okay. I recently read a book called Over The Edge: Death in the Grand Canyon about search and rescues and I’m certainly glad you’re not going to be a story in a future edition!
Such a relief to see you in a video again! You've been in my thoughts and prayers a lot.
Both of you are doing an excellent service to everyone who enjoys the outdoors. Sharing the learnings and analyzing what could be done differently or the same benefits everyone. Constructive criticism is acceptable, but trolls, go find another thread to share your wisdom
WOW, so glad you survived this and are able to bring this to our attention. I am 72 and made the tough decision to bail from a tough backpacking trip last August. Doubt I had your issue but more likely exhaustion from loss of appetite. You mentioned hydration at one point in this video so I wanted to ask you a question. I've been watching the Gear Skeptic videos on nutrition, hydration, electrolytes and recovery to address my problem. Have you watched these extremely informative videos about maintaining the correct chemical balance in our bodies while backpacking?
Thanks for sharing and highlighting the importance of hydration and nutrition. As an avid hiker, RN and SAR volunteer I concur that you made a good choice to get to the top while you could.
I am so glad to see you able to laugh at what happened looking back on it now. It was scary. I really felt for you watching that video. You were with really good people that day, day’s . Fortunately for you. Live and learn. That’s what will make you a better person.
Me and my wife love to hike and backpack. We first learned of you guy's ordeal while watching Epic Trails. Then I searched RUclips for more info on it and found this video. Loved you guys breaking down the chain of events and analyzing each step and etc. This provides so much learning for hikers, both novices and experienced, and it's opened up awareness about rhabdomyolysis. Thanks Eric and Dan, appreciate you guys!
Just like to start by wishing you a speedy recovery. I have also just watched Ted Kings RUclips video of his tour divide race where he too had Rhabdo, I had never heard of this before so that was very strange seeing two people I watch getting the same rare condition. Anyway hope you continue with the videos when fully recovered as they are amazing
So glad you’re well. I’ve never heard of this? Thanks for being our Guinea pig and educating us all. Love your channel! Stay well see you soon.
I think the idea of not calling for help because you don’t want a rescuer to risk their lives is one of the most ridiculous things you could ever believe. It’s like saying you’re not gonna call the fire department while your house is burning because you don’t want to be a burden on the fire department or cause any of the firefighters to take any unnecessary risks. Search and rescue crews are made up of people who are passionate about the outdoors and who have dedicated their lives to helping people get back to safety when their journeys through the outdoors take turns for the worst. I’d also argue that delaying your call for help actually makes things more difficult for search and rescue. It’s a lot easier to plan a safe rescue mission if the person you’re rescuing isn’t at immediate risk of death. I think you made the right call waiting till the next day to make the call since you didn’t think it was that bad and you were still capable of getting yourself out of the canyon, but so many people nitpicking your decision seem to be of the mindset that you should only be rescued if you’re actively dying and that’s such an insane way of thinking
I know about Rhabdomyolysis but I’m a RN. I have to force myself to drink when hiking even when hot and got dizzy one time and hadn’t even gone very far. Realized I wasn’t drinking enough🤦🏽♀️🤦🏽♀️🤦🏽♀️. I also wasn’t accustomed to 86-90 degrees. I’m not really a hiker hiker…just casual hiker. Glad you are okay. If your urine is dark then that’s no good. I now keep track. Thank you for your openness.
So happy you're recovering!
I appreciate both of you! Your honesty and willingness to share this is rare and very much appreciated. Thank You!
Thanks for sharing the whole experience. Maybe a down and out to PR is a better starter kit for the flatlander with elevation issues
Dan, so I have basically 2 questions for you.
1. What are the early signs to be aware of so if you can stop and get some rest and recoup before you get too bad?
2. What are the best early treatment, clearly lots of fluid and food, but on the food side, Carbs, protein, Fats?
Great video guys, thanks for touching on some important points. From my viewpoint you did everything you could to effect a safe outcome, great job on that. Things happen to everyone, no one is immune.
No worries, I had a failed attempt at doing a 100 mile 4 day trip.
I wouldn’t change it because I learned so much for next time.
Glad you ok.
Glad you're doing well, Dan. Thank you guys for the update, the 20/20 hindsight and, sometimes dark sense of humor.
I'm very new to hiking, I plan on doing the Newfoundland east coast trail soon, and these two videos really opened my eyes to being careful with how much I exert myself. The East Coast Trail isn't some crazy demanding trail but I think learning about Rhabdo is really important for anyone who wants to hike. I'll be extra careful and pay close attention to taking care of myself on the trail. Thank you for documenting this whole thing so well and I'm glad you're ok, I believe it's important for any hiker to see this video.
Dan and Eric - Thanks for sharing your experience honestly and providing great educational content. What some critics need to understand is that a trip like this is an adventure. As such, there will always be unknown events that were unpredictable and there will always be risks. Mankind would not have progressed far if people never tackled the unknown, knowing there would be m,any risks on the journey. Think of early sea voyagers when many people were sure the earth was flat; early aviators who through many surprises and mistakes led the way in an industry that changed the world; early astronauts who led the way to space travel. Keep taking us on more adventures and we will be there with you - if on the other side of the screen at home. So happy that both of you and the rest of your crew are O.K. and will be stronger people from your adventure.
I have really enjoyed listening to your Q&A ,and the analysis of your situation & choices you made! Super greatful that all worked out with no serious or lasting effects and that you had such great care in your team members & with ranger, EMS & health care professionals.
In the scuba world we have a group where we discuss incidents that happen to learn from each other & I think it's great if the hiking/backpacking world has that too! I am newer to backpacking and didn't know if this type of group exists or not, but thank you for your vulnerability!
Hiking in and back out of GC is no easy hike - even in great weather. Did the South Rim to Colorado River and back out same way as a solo day hike. It took twice as long to hike back out than planned and was only carrying a light day pack. I learned how important adding electrolytes to drinking water is when exerting that much in an arid climate - which I didn't have on that trip. Had terrible cramps and had to spend a lot of extended time resting on the climb out and several days after. The elevation gain and amount of energy spent is far more than one could ever imagine when planning - even for experienced hikers. Now will always pack electrolyte tabs and extra snacks when hiking with that much elevation change. You only learn these lessons thru experience and pleased you are sharing yours. Thanks for sharing!
It gives the rescue team practice and it gives you as the hikers valuable learning experience. I’m glad everyone made it out ok
Regarding going in the winter, I live near a large escarpment with many parks throughout. It's easy for regular people to get to even the more remote locations. But by going during the winter I can experience the area with zero other people around. It's amazing
Also, who tf thinks DB doesn't know his gear?
Clearly not a follower of the channel. Probably one of those people who only watch "disaster vids", and thinks everyone is a fraud
At the end of the day, the point of doing this kind of thing is to challenge yourself. The way you challenge yourself is to push your limits.
On this trip you found a set of circumstances that you could not push through even though you were willing to try.
Next time you can see if you can go further knowing the circumstances that stopped you before.
I’m glad you’re feeling better.
The thing I take from this is, Dan was not hiking alone. I see so many of these RUclips videos where even the title says it all. "Overnight Alone", "Camping the Highlands Alone". Personally I would rather be with the hiking buddy from hell than ALONE. Your buddies saved your life. No question. Great videos from both of you!!!
I've taken care of tons of Rhabdo patients as a nurse (all of them elderly - fallen and I can't get up for days) but it is nasty and so very dangerous. I'm so glad you've recovered so quickly
Glad you are ok and recovering. Thanks for sharing this important discussion.
So great that you are sharing these details. I experienced severe altitude sickness at 12k’ deep into the Winds, even though I spent a couple days at Pinedale (7k’). These things can just happen sometimes. I know lifelong Coloradans who have gotten altitude sickness. The key is to recognize when something is not right and find a way to get out to safety.