Backpacking Rescue: Dan Becker and I Assess What Went Wrong and How to Avoid Disaster

[@chrismoore600]

Just watched Dan's video and as a retired North Carolina State Park Ranger I've done lots of rescues and searches in the back country. You guys did great. You plan you prepare and assess. You move forward with the knowledge you got. Outstanding job wish all my responses were that easy. I'd hike with you guys.

[@freeheel748]

I'm going to disagree on the assess part. The leader of the group needs to assess the other members and make sure they don't hit the wall. The clues were there and were ignored. It wasn't just tired. It was way beyond. After the emergency arose good choices were made.

[@blessedresistor]

@@freeheel748where did you work as a ranger or first responder? You really seem to know your stuff so I’m curious

[@freeheel748]

@@blessedresistor, I detect sarcasm. Anyway. I went to ranger school but never worked as one. Not a first responder but that's not the expertise I refered to. I live in the north and have volunteered on searches. I'm a backcountry ski guide, a dogsled guide and have countless winter adventures under my belt at 63. I take many people out and have had stressful emergencies. I know a lot about group dynamics in these scenarios. I don't mean to come down on anyone's learning experience. Accident investigations need to be honest. This video was an assessment and I think it fell short. Stay together when things are rough and pay close attention to the slow guy. Sorry If I ruffled feathers. I worry and care.

[@davepirtle9790]

​@@freeheel748 I am not sure about that criticism . The "leader" said he was aware the guy was falling behind but it seemed he didnt communicate it very well. I agree with staying together especially in unfamiliar territory and any type of inclement weather. But I was totally impressed with how they handled the emergency and how prepared they were.

[@freeheel748]

@@davepirtle9790, You kinda echo my point. You have to pay closer attention to the other members. It's not enough to say, "How ya doin"? I was also impressed that they didn't wait to call for help.

[@ChristianPaulPhotography]

Before you guys even left camp on Day 2, Dan was showing how tired he was. I saw it in both Dan's video, and your video as well. Then having to do that kind of elevation gain the next day with an ice fall obstacle, trails washed out, and bottomless powder in snowshoes would would be a punch in the face no matter how in shape you think you are. If you are already tired, you are already in the negative column. You seemed ok, but Dan and his camera guy looked torn. I'd be lifetime grateful if all that happened was Rhabdo in that situation. It could have been so much worse. Your rescue execution was spot on. I had to evac a friend with multiple fractures in sub freezing weather at 2 AM in the Uintas back in 2019. I related to your experience watching both your videos. You'll have a great campfire story. I hope Dan comes back stronger. All the best.

[@joe1071]

Dan is in complete denial. He’s not a regular exerciser, coupled with that spare tire around his waist, there’s absolutely no way he was in the strength or endurance shape required for that outing. 10/10 times with that timeline he doesn’t make it. Either needed a more broken up timeline with hydration, fueling, rest breaks, and extending the overall time of the trip by a lot, or he would need to be in way better shape. The fact he thinks he was in good enough shape and rhabdo was just a random happenstance is lunacy.

[@force10jc]

I recently went on my first solo, 2-night backpacking trip. I wasn't at camp the first night more than an hour before I cut my hand doing something dumb with my folding saw. It wasn't a disaster situation like what happened to Dan, and it wasn't enough to end my trip early thanks to my first aid kit. It was indeed an attention grabber that made me pay attention and be mindful of what I'm doing and the environment around me. It only takes a split second to go from a great time to a rescue situation, or worse.

[@BM-ms3gr]

Especially when going solo, you should be even more careful than you normally would, knowing that you can’t prepare for everything that can possibly happen.

[@nigelh3253]

This is a very useful comment. It's very easy to become complacent and careless in routine situations. As you say, could be a real problem when wild camping in remote locations. Safety first!

[@ClimbingEasy]

I was on a solo trip a popped my ankle. Bouncing on one foot for over 17miles and 8000ft elevation gain puts everything into perspective.

[@davepirtle9790]

​@@ClimbingEasy I watch high altitude mountaineering videos , imagine 8,000 meters instead of 8,000 feet!

[@gregchenoweth8963]

Thanks Dan and Eric. I am better for your experience.

[@mariatassoni3781]

As a Wilderness EMT, Triage RN, and a member of my county’s search and rescue medical team, I think you all did extremely well under the circumstances. I’m not sure when Dan started to feel poorly, but if it was when he was already going up to the North Rim, he was right to keep going. Rescuing him on trail would have been very difficult, even under the best of circumstances and could have been dangerous for everyone involved. We always encourage people to self rescue if possible, and if not, try to make it as easy as possible for others to rescue you. As was mentioned, even when you press the SOS on your GPS device, it might be a very long time before anyone can get to you. Also, helicopters may not be able to access you, depending on where you are and what the conditions are. I appreciated that Dan wouldn’t have changed a thing, and that he and his friends learned so much from what could have been a disastrous situation. Thank you for enlightening all of us so that we can be safer when going out into the wilderness!

[@CTStone-cm9ep]

I’ve done the triple rim hike before - it’s not an easy hike, let alone in the snow. I was basically drinking Pedialyte the entire hike to stay hydrated. Glad to see you guys home safe.

[@CordCrenshaw]

This is the video I’ve been waiting for. Thank you for sitting down to discuss the lessons learned.

[@BackpackingTV]

I think it's an important part of learning and I hope it helps others too!

[@IdRatherBeHiking]

I've got an entire series called "Trail Fails" on my channel where I go over all the stupid things I do out on the trail and how to learn from it if you are looking for more.

[@CordCrenshaw]

@@IdRatherBeHiking yes please and thank you

[@habituallinestepper8839]

@@BackpackingTV it has already.

[@ianteague2672]

I pretty much agree with Chris and as a hiker of over 20 years would love to hike with you guys. I do however feel that Dan side stepped a key issue relating to prevention of Rhabdo and the physical conditions that can result in Rhabdo. Medical advice indicates that it can occur when personal physical limits are exceeded or if you go beyond your 'normal' limits. Personal experience has shown me that even very fit triathletes can break down on a mountain trip that they aren't specifically conditioned for (happened with a friend). Even though Dan is/was in great condition, this trip seems like a step change in term of level of exersion if compared to his previous hikes. I've seen this particularly in heavy snow conditions. Mountains (or Canyons) are the ultimate physical challenge and you can always encounter conditions you aren't ready for but I think the better question might be, if you were fitter, could you have avoided the situation?

[@WalkTheParks]

A lot of this exemplifies what I love about the Grand Canyon: It's extremely challenging! More challenging than almost anywhere else. I enjoy the challenge, but it can also get you into a ton of trouble, and quickly, for a number of reasons. Altitude is the ultimate crusher too. You can be super fit and get destroyed by altitude. Glad you're ok. Remember, if you're exhausted and feel terrible, turn around and go to lower elevation, particularly if you're breaking trail in deep snow. Easy to say in hindsight though. Be careful out there folks!

[@brhino1017]

Thank you two guys for a totally honest perspective of hiking life and the pitfalls of being outdoors. With that said, remember that the biggest killer on Mount Everest is pride.

[@chris0895ozone]

I would love to hear you guys have a conversation with the Rangers who responded. Great job-both of you!

[@stacks.23]

Applaud you for taking such good care of Dan. So level headed and great call out to rescue, way to save your friend!

[@hikethat401]

Don’t second guess yourself. You were literally a hero out there. So calm and only thinking of your friend. Of course there is always something we can do better. Don’t be hard on yourself. Know one in that situation could have done any better. Thanks for sharing, I’ve learned a lot.🤘

[@GjPeddy]

I wonder if some of the people spitting out "you clearly weren't prepared" do it at least in part because of a defense mechanism against the idea that even though you have years of experience and do your best to be prepared, trained and knowledgeable, these things can happen. They can escape your control and you can get a trip ruined through no fault of your own. I'm personally grateful you guys showed this (and yeah, filmed this) and discussed it honestly, so we all know one more little nugget of valuable knowledge when getting outside. I have myself had a winter day hike (with waaaay lower stakes) where I definitely learned the value of proper hydration on a winter hike (and nutrition because you won't feel like eating if you haven't drunk enough water).. it's not talked about enough! Thank you for sharing your experience!

[@JC-zx6yf]

I think Dan's confidence and hubris is on display here when he proclaims he WAS ready for the hike. If he got caught up with an over exertion condition, his body WAS NOT ready for the hike!

[@annwe6]

It's been quite an experience watching all of this play out in real time. I'm sure in a few months you guys will have understood even more lessons, and that will go on for sometime to come. Hope you continue to share them with your communities.

[@akoonce06]

My husband and I hiked Rim to River about 3 years ago. Everything Dan experienced, I felt like I was experiencing. We were hiking about 1/2 mile an hour on the last 4 miles out of the Canyon. I glad we made it out without rescue. We are planning another trip this fall, and this time I’ll be ready. I feel like I can do it better and have been training. Great series of vids!

[@steverhodes3054]

Excellent, thank you so much for sharing. I’ll be 70 yrs. old this year and I tend to push myself. You guys have given me additional info to consider.

[@lynn465]

I love listening to you two review this. I'm taking away invaluable information that will stay with me always. I'm terrible at staying hydrated and eating in the winter. That won't happen again. Dan came out alive thanks to smart decisions. I would call that's a success story!

[@jeansayers8659]

Guys, thank you so much for having this conversation! This discussion needs to be a “before you go “ talk , for many people! You guys brought out some great points! Glad Dan is better. Much hugz. I was with some ladies who I had met on a local hiking group, a few years ago…and we were on the OHT in Nw Arkansas. One lady was hurt early on, but refused to stop.. two miles later she was at the point of “I can’t go any further” with a severe knee injury. We ended up getting hold of SAR… it was a real reminder about so much. I was a past scout leader and KNEW that some one should take a leadership role, making this type of decision. But I felt uncomfortable at that time , as this lady was supposedly very experienced. In retrospect, I would have called it , rather than accepting that she was able to continue. Now I have found my feet again, with a resurgence of confidence. I know that I can remain calm, calm others and have my medical skills to utilize. And am no longer hesitant to act. As you guys say “20/20”. Thank you again! ❤

[@nathancragg6202]

Rhabo I’ve most often seen in those that are active but a low ‘training age’, but high motivation. In other words ‘fit’ by low American standards, but without the consistency and experience of going to the edge and knowing which alarm signals are true threat and which are the brain telling you to take a break. On top of that I there’s always possibility of misdiagnosis or just simple additional factors the medical staff or the athlete have thought about looking into

[@MrWipex]

Million thanks for this lesson. I had no idea Rabdoe even existed. In a way you contribute to many camper friends safety. 👍🏻👏👏

[@nilesdelta8636]

This explains a lot . You did really well glad he’s ok, with the pre story to the trip and the fluids issue and altitude it makes more sense a perfect storm . Energy gels I swear by em now !

[@chriserickson5801]

I have suffered from this multiple times and the biggest thing that has helped other then iv solution and time has been to carry pedialite. It has been a game changer for me. Good luck and great job guys.

[@longjohnson4641]

Thank you for showing us the dark side of our hobby. It really awesome to see all the adventures & beauty but I am grateful for also showing us what can go wrong, to anyone. I am also glad you're feeling better Dan.

[@medicus5565]

Thanks to both of you for analyzing your experiences and for distilling the important aspects that everyone else can learn from. Your candor and sensible interpretations will likely help many others to be better prepared for their future in the backcountry. Well done and keep up the great work!

[@sigsegv111]

I was just watching until Dan's `I am 100% convinced I was ready for a hike' .. no need to go further .. Dan is definitely not a tough guy specifically and as I am watching him for few years I even don't see any progress on him physically, which was always surprising me a bit .. He needs to change something. I am photographer, not the youngest one too, I am always hiking with heavy gear, basically 45 pounds when I am going for multiday hike and guess what - of course I have to exercise regularly to keep in shape. My two buddies are older than me, one is 60, other 55 (he's ex-military spec ops guy, 250 lbs tank, I was never so fit like he is now in his 55 even when I was on the peak of my abilities in my 30) and guess what he does (they do)? He exercises to keep in shape to be able to do what he loves also (however he really don't need to). I recommend to accept the truth. You can just hide behind the sexy diagnosis (Rhabdomyolysis) but what really had happened is that Dan just broke down physically because he was not tough enough for scheduled hike. I am also ex-military guy, however no spec ops or anything like that but I've seen somebody breaking down like that during my career hundred of times :D .. they were only unlucky that we didn't have any sexy diagnosis to give them, they were told to drink a lot of water and take 2 days rest. And these break downs (not surprisingly) always happened when somebody stretched his/her abilities beyond certain level .. As easy as that. And in my opinion this had happened to Dan. Sorry for saying so .. Please stay safe and good luck with your hiking .. cheers, lt. ~dan

[@smbrumbaugh]

Glad to see this video, and glad it wasn't focused on responding to mean comments or something frivolous like that. Instead, great reflection and learning. On or off video, this is the best thing you can do when things go sideways. Appreciate the content.

[@worstuserever]

Thank you for this follow-up. Very glad you are all safe and well! Looking forward to a return attempt, next year maybe? From my own knowledge and experience, an observation I'd like to add is that many conditions do not present in a linear gradient that warns us when to stop. Sometimes symptoms are separated from the cause by several hours and then develop acutely. It's important to learn something of human physiology and be mindful of the potential for a delayed onset following an activity or exposure. I'm somewhat sensitive to sunlight, and to excessive heat, both of which have resulted in a few, fortunately rare, bouts of illness. Each time I've recovered within 24 hours but they were extremely unpleasant with massive relentless headaches, nausea and vomiting, much worse than anything I've experienced from a bacterial or viral infection and quite alarming. I felt nothing wrong during the time of exposure and so far found little consistency in the amount that causes trouble on any particular occasion. I just completely minimise my sun time, especially when it gets high.

[@habituallinestepper8839]

You got nothing but respect from me. Thank you for these valuable videos. I’ve learned a lot.

[@packratmatt]

Excellent content , great learning opportunity! Keep the momentum going, your channel, and Dan Becker's is setting the example for some of the best of the social media content creators! 👌

[@jaestulock5997]

Thanks for the recap! I watch both your and Dan's channels and I appreciate the separate perspectives. I'm glad Dan is recovering and I too hope you, Jake, and Emmet are doing well. I'm sure it was quite a sobering experience for all. Some time ago I was with a group on a trip in Pennsylvania. One member of the group was stung/bitten by an insect of some sort and had a reaction. Though "middle of nowhere" in PA is much different than the actual "middle of nowhere" we had to do a situational assessment. We decided to get him walking back to the campsite we left that morning, though it was the longer route, it was less strenuous, and took us close to a paved road rather than the forest road at the campsite ahead. Later at camp, after tucking my friend in, a ranger came by for his nightly check and assessed his condition telling us we made the right decision. Its a good feeling to hear that...Eric you made the right call, F the naysayers.

[@musingwithreba9667]

Thank you both for sharing this experience, it has been a great lesson for everyone who may put themselves into similar experiences and who also have never heard of rabdo! (sp?) Go back and conquer that trail Dan! Don't let it get you! 🤣 My first solo backcountry trip I made some mistakes. Lots in fact. And I could have just said "ok, never again! I'm beat!" But, I went back! And I conquered that trail. I also saw a couple of experienced hiker KZbinrs after I did it who also had similar difficulties on the same trail, and I didn't feel so bad at all after that! I felt more accomplished actually. Now you know the symptoms to look for, and how to avoid it, you can do that rim to rim to rim again. If your wife lets you 😉 Happy trails guys!

[@debr721]

So proud of you guys and so happy you are all alright. Very important to share. You capturing the events will most likely save someone else's life somewhere. Stay safe everyone.

[@izatt82]

These things happen! Last year I am pretty sure I was heading towards rhabdo as well. Polar opposite conditions hot and humid 95-100 and very humid. It was my mistake I was running late the day before and didn't eat and drink the day before like I should have. Luckily when the cramps got really bad we only had a couple miles left to camp. We had to make it to camp because of the water access. I thought I recovered enough by morning to just start the day slow. That lasted about four hours and before it got too bad I got off the trail for a day. It took a full day of being able to barely walk doing mobility work and eating and electrolyte loading to get back on the trail. Rough lesson learned, but that will stick with me for a long time. I knew better and just had bad judgement. I think you all did great!

[@barneyrubble1754]

this has been a great learning tool. I have been backpacking for 48 years. never heard of it. there had been times where i pushed the envelope. i am going to be more conscientious because of this shared experience. thank you. keep the videos coming. yabadaba doo !!! 🤙

[@carlosnyc13hiker]

You guys did great. I also learned a lot from this whole ordeal you guys have been going through. Me & my hiking buddy are in our mid 50’s now & we’ve been seriously hiking now for 3 years. I took a first aid course & I am cpr certified also. Not too long ago we went on a partial bushwhacking climb in the Catskills & it wasn’t easy but he was having a harder time. He was on some meds & not properly hydrating. He saw flashes of light & dizzy. I was worried about him. But he pulled through & has since gotten checked up & the doc modified his meds. He went on a hike with his Cusin & son in law who is a fireman & he told me he had no issues & he is so happy. I’m happy also cause hiking at our age is very important to us. Now we can get back to bushwhacking & take our time doing it. Thanks again guys for putting yourselves out there & showing us the truth.

[@markheming3507]

I’ve been backpacking for many years myself sometimes things go sideways & you don’t want to tell folks about the type 2 fun or problems / mistakes etc. it’s way to easy for people to tell you what you did right or wrong when there not in that particular time and place. Thank you guys for being completely transparent & breaking this experience down for us. Regardless of your level of experience You can always learn from others. Love watching your channels!

[@dubo2057]

Glad you guys made it back alright.

[@BackpackingTV]

Thank you!

[@laidbacktraveler2580]

Having acclimation time is critical, especially as you get older - I learned the that last summer having flown 6 hours into SoCal late in the evening, hitting the road early the next morning to Flagstaff, and camping at 8Kft. I had borderline to mild altitude issues the entire week including hiking at GCNP which I also thought might ber from dehydration, but I was drinking my normal 1.5- 2 gallons of water/fluids per day. I finally felt "normal" on the last morning there before we headed back to SoCal. Never had altitude/hydration issues before when visiting the mainland/national parks, but things are definitely different as I get older. Fortunately I knew where my limits were and I didn't push it on that trip and made adjustments to my activities. Stay safe and aware out there folks, adventure has its moments!

[@JessicaTPeterson]

I learned a lot from this. Thanks. I'd never heard of rhabdomyolysis either, in spite of taking a wilderness 1st aid class. This is important information, and I appreciate you both sharing it.

[@seana7251]

Thanks for putting this After Action Review video together and being willing to address the decision-making process in which you engaged.

[@joeldickherber3545]

I commend you two for bringing this life event to light. You could have very well hid it because of pride. Im not going to lie when I first saw Dan's You Tube Title " I had to be rescued " or something of that nature, I thought it was clickbait. Thinking nothing is going to happen to Dan, and a quarter of the way into the video I was like Holy Shit Dan did have to be rescued. Thankfully you all were experienced to know what to do. It goes to show anything can happen to anyone. So thanks again for sharing what an eye opener for all. I'm 54 and love the outdoors. Im taking an interest to backpacking, I watch your videos to learn. I'm hoping my interest becomes reality and doesn't turn into a "wish I had done that". Keep up the great work it is greatly appreciated.

[@amypatterson-bocchi2514]

Thank you for your follow-up reflections. I hadn’t heard of rabdo and I went and researched it after the first video. I’m glad you’re ok, I’m glad that the Rangers were able to extract you without much fuss. Sounds like you made the best of a bad situation that you couldn’t have foreseen. And seeing you learn from your mistakes helps the rest of us plan better. So once again, thank you!!!!!

[@ATOutsider]

Hello to you both , Dan and Eric . 😊😊 I can’t tell you how much I really appreciate this video ! I feel it will definitely help us to learn about conditions like this how to do things maybe differently and how to watch out for certain signs. We certainly said prayers that you Dan we’re going to be fine and everyone else as well. I think you all handled the comments and questions and explained the real truth and the real situation that you all have just experienced and it is truly appreciated. I truly appreciate both of you being so real and so honest because situations and conditions can change, things do happen that are unexpected and out of our control sometimes and I think you all handled everything wonderfully. I have shared your videos and information on this topic, which I feel like is going to help all of my friends and family as well to be aware of this . Keep up the good work stay healthy and I am looking forward to your next video. Thank you!

[@Jenfuu]

I appreciate the deep dive you both did on this. again so glad Dan is ok. Keep on getting better Dan. I cant wait to see more adventures going forward.

[@kurio999]

I totally get you. My first gall stone left me shaking and in agony. A day later, everything was sunshine and roses. It's hard to know when to push the panic button. These days, I would do exactly as you in trying rest and hoping for whatever to pass. Thanks for educating everyone on the risks of rhabo. When people talk about reaching their breaking point, I didn't know that there actually is a breaking point until you found it.

[@garywilson1533]

Thanks for doing this. I learned a lot. Before the one and only hike I did in the Grand Canyon, I had read that five miles in the Grand Canyon is like ten miles in the Sierras. I certainly found that to be true and it helped me to prepare properly. Thanks again.

[@HDChef]

Thank you both for the follow up video and sharing your experience. Hind sight is definitely 20/20!

[@jenniferstanton202]

y'all stayed as calm as possible and it definitely appears that you made wise choices. Thanks for the after action report, the analysis was very helpful.

[@BackpackingTV]

Glad it helps!

[@petercrispin2129]

As a boy Scout leader in Australia, I always get my Scouts to do a "Good, Bad and Ugly" AKA, plan (with a risk assessment), do and review. After every activity, whether it is lashing two poles together, a night meeting, an activity, a base camp or a journey hike.

[@BackpackingTV]

It's definitely helpful to do things like that to keep learning and growing!

[@robertphillips93]

Thanks for filling in the details about your experience with such a serious problem. It's something all hikers should know more about, especially since there could be a more widely existing precondition among them that most of us are not aware of. What am I talking about? Briefly, our bodies run on two different kinds of fuel - fats or carbohydrates. Through similar processes, cell mitochondria produce ATP in every cell for its energy needs. However, these processes do not occur significantly together - when insulin is predominant carbs are the energy source; when glucagon predominates fats are used preferentially. Because we all carry some amount of body fat around with us we are never without at least some kind of fuel. Dan is no exception, so there must be a metabolic cause for his emergency use of bodily infrastructure as a fuel source. If you burn your furniture to stay warm, it is not appropriate to simply say "I was cold" -- and then move on as if nothing unusual had happened. I could speculate that chronic hyperinsulinemia is the culprit, but it would be incorrect to undertake corrective measures without investigating further. The services of a really good endocrinologist or lipidologist is something to consider. For more information the YT videos of Dr Ben Bikman of BYU are superb.

[@KirstenBayes]

Well done for doing the post-trip review. We should all do more of these and share them: it's good to model that. Of course there are learning points, but Dan is sitting there healthy with a coffee so, hey, good job! And hope the next trip is even better!

[@lonnierobin7347]

Great to debrief, glad to see Dan’s getting back. Lessons learned for everyone. Thanks for sharing

[@vannemocilac274]

Illuminating and always learning new things❤

[@Gambeli02]

Glad Dan is doing well. Thank you guys for the update, the 20/20 hindsight and, sometimes dark sense of humor.

[@yZstarAk1979]

Have done that route before.These are real time lessons from the field. Like post expedition discussion.👍Glad you alive Dan

[@Suds974]

Thank you for sharing! I follow both you and Dan and this is a very helpful video.

[@JamesSmith-SC]

Thanks for sharing your experience and helping others.

[@TimOnBooks]

Glad you made it out ok Dan!

[@BackpackingTV]

thank you!

[@behindenemylines9033]

Thanks for addressing this guys, much appreciated.

[@timwarneka5681]

Glad you are both OK!

[@ruben_b]

Been an intriguing set of videos, glad you are doing better. I have done rim-to-rim as a day hike once a year for the past 7 years (I'm now 50), so definitely possible, but it's a no-joke hike. The hydration and fuel (food) aspect has, for me, been my critical improvement over the years. Almost without fail you should drink more than you do, definitely more than you feel like, and you need to regularly eat. My method is a good drink every mile, eat something (like a PBJ sandwich) every hour. Trekking poles are a key part of my gear, as is sun protection. I typically hike in mid-May (when the north rim roads open), and I wear a long-sleeve shirt and wide brim hat. The sun will absolutely sap your strength, especially over all the hours on the trail. I could talk on and on... Final thought - I would encourage you to try again, it is such a powerful place to hike, and you get to see and experience the canyon in such a unique way by hiking through it.

[@njg5942]

Good to see you looking better, mate!

[@greasemonkey4god]

Dan- I’m also glad it went this way… I’ve learned so much over the last videos. As a middle age slightly overweight man who is also stubborn… knowing what to look for and how to prevent issues like this is great!!

[@chase4116]

Just finished reading the comments. Quite a few judgmental holier than thou people. I'm glad you are airing out what was not a great situation. With that comes scrutiny and the peanut gallery. Props to you guys for doing that, I think the extra video/s on the event are good and educational. If you get more views from it great who cares. The only disagreement I have is the level of fitness. I think Dan will have to eventually come to terms with is his level of fitness on this trip. It certainly played a factor, and that is hard to own up to sometimes. Dan will have to be the one to come to grips with that with some inner self reflection. Probably a bit embarrassing of a topic to talk about, I get it. We all F up or don't plan/train 100% like we need to sometimes. It happens. Glad everyone made it out ok, and thanks for the vids guys.

[@sarahcrandall6290]

The 7 mile downhill reminds me of the Sawtooth Wilderness loop. 7 miles down and 7 miles back up. That day was hardddd.

[@baileymccallum5503]

I've never done anything this intense but do hike at high altitudes in CO a couple times a year and I live in MO so I've been affected by altitude sickness many times. I also struggle to eat and drink water when I'm dealing with the altitude. I think it really was a perfect storm. The lack of water and energy from food is a huge part of the rhabdomyolysis. I have heard of rhabdo in people who were in survival situations- one was a man who survived a capsizing boat and had to swim/tread water for 14 hours before being rescued. A huge part of why rhabdo was a problem for him was the dehydration. I dont think it was anything you did, it's just dumb luck.

[@KristiinaKasepaluHarakas]

Love you both. Great conversation

[@davidrobinson5180]

Great chat! I think the audio on Dan's voice was a little too quiet compared to Eric's. But I love the openness and focus of the conversation. Thanks for the debrief.

[@jeffreyhooton4520]

You guys did great. Stopping on the trail might have resulted in a worse outcome.

[@freeradical77]

Rhabdo also happens in elderly people who have fallen and lain on their floor for days before being found. Seen it a few times working in the ER.

[@torreyr5145]

Thank you. I learned a lot.

[@mermaiddonna3047]

I have my WFR - and am kinda baffled why you chose to drive out rather than an air evac . . .although not presenting like a heart attack with the ekg etc - the severe chest pain or - chance of HAPE - YIKES!!! glad you are feeling better!

[@nickhikesinthewoods6150]

Thank God everyone is ok you guys should do it again though for sure

[@jarhead6153]

What about hypoglycemia…? That happened to me while hiking into the Grand Canyon a few years back…didn’t realize what was happening to me, luckily my friends helped me and I was in good enough shape to recover without help a few hours later once we reached Phantom Ranch. I was around 50y/o in good shape as a retired Marine. We took more breaks and snacks on out out hike. Great vid…it stumped me as I was watching the original vid.

[@karenbencke8407]

Thanks for sharing, glad everything ultimately ended up ok! As someone who is outdoorsy, but has no interest in the more extreme end (and thinks some of that is very much reckless), my armchair quarterback view is this very much felt like a freak occurrence. Sure, there are things you can look back on where you would have done things differently, but there are always those things. And even in everyday life, there is no guarantee that things won't go wrong.

[@BackpackingTV]

Thanks Karen. We take risks every day. While this was a big mission to tackle I don't think it was a dumb choice. Sometimes things just go sideways.

[@Feribrat99]

Now that Dixie of Homemade Wanderlust had her SOS flight out and mentioned what happened to you and how she thought you guys did a great job and made the right call in your experience as well, The reality is that a lot of folks are going to be really grounded and aware that there is a time and place to do the thing and make the call, but also how not to go there in the first place. Pride can make us all do dumb assed things and we all have no brains for right thinking when we are in duress and out of balance. She got blind sided as well by a prescription she was taking for a month before she went out on the trail, and she also overestimated what she was capable of at the time. We all can screw up but not all of us will be lucky enough to make it through it or be in the right place at the right time with THE RIGHT FRIENDS surrounding us.

[@kurteuropa8813]

Thanks guys for this "breakdown" video. I'm in South Africa and we have some trail here that are also very challenging. It opens the eyes of over confident hikers including myself. But there is a subliminal message I see: Dan wants to do the South to North rim hike again...Eric wants to do the South to North rim hike again....but there is no mention that you guys want to do it together again lmao. #readingbetweentheboldthicklines

[@smokedpaprika0791]

Are you going to make a video on the rest of the trip? It is amazing to see the canyon with that amount of snow. I only hiked once in the Grand Canyon, in perfect weather in October.

[@douglasconrad8969]

Are you guys gonna do this again in better weather and implement the corrections?? Ah, you both agreed in the vid that you'd do it again. Love to see that vid!😳

[@lynoreabbott1010]

We bonked really hard on a series of 14ers because we didn't force ourselves to eat once. We had dropped in from NYC (sea level) to Denver with no real acclimation time. We made a rule that we had to eat no matter whether we were hungry or not. Really helps to have a rule of "must eat X amount of calories & drink Y oz of water".

[@isleeptillnoon5256]

It blows my mind that a helicopter rescue would have been a financially life altering outcome on top of your medical situation. If I was in your situation, I would probably have made the same choice. It makes me super grateful as an outdoorsy person to live where I live, where it is $50/year if you don't have it already included in your health insurance.

[@dennis2376]

Here in BC there is an discussion about whether people should pay or not for rescue. The reason for this is Vancouver is so near the outdoors and many people go unprepared for a short hike and end up needing help. For example wear shorts and tee shirts and not expecting very cold temperatures, like snow.

[@katieyarbrough4658]

I have hiked the canyon with my family a few times and going downhill that first day kills your calves and shins. The next morning sucks trying to walk and we call it the doing the "Canyon Shuffle".

[@rmill133]

Amazed how many haters. Thank you all for sharing. Your videos (and Dan’s) help the common folk. Which is actually the majority. Truly appreciate sharing stuff like this. Yeah it gets clicks but as Dan said is also embarrassing. But its real. And shit happens. Especially to us everyday folks. Thanks again. Appreciate your channel.

[@drdirtkansas6824]

Curious - - if help were further away... or the overnight stay etc... what SHOULD be done? WHat did doctors do during the stay? how do you treat in the field?

[@Vic-Meow]

Good questions. I'd like to know too.

[@andymytys]

The only other backpacker that I know who got Rhabdo on a hike is Heather Anderson (Anish). She got it during he SB AT FKT, the first few weeks into the hike. She was hiking 40+ mile days on average. So yeah, endurance sports.

[@Smashycrashy]

This makes sense or why crossfiters get it, fit people breaking down their muscles continuously over a prolonged period. The story told in the video isn't that. It is the opposite of that.

[@CrunchyTire]

going to grand canyon in a month or 2. Definitely wont be the same due to the warm season but still good things to keep in mind.

[@natlovell122]

Dan, you gotta get on a good workout plan if you’re gong to be doing epic hikes!!! A lot of my training is based around hiking and the qualities I need to really enjoy my hike and feel great doing it.

[@habituallinestepper8839]

Jeez that’s rude

[@natlovell122]

@@habituallinestepper8839 rude? More like realistic

[@yZstarAk1979]

14:27, yes.And once that happens it accelerates rapidly.Maybe even organ failure.Dehydration and undernourished states will cause the breakdown, or exacerbate the sickness rapidly.Good work getting out

[@TotallyVeracious]

Crossfit people get rhabdo because they're insane. They have high capacity, but the excess work they do is so ridiculous it overwhelms capacity. The steepness and snow and especially the cold made the exertion too much for Dan's capacity. He could improve his capacity with some weight training to increase the power to weight ratio and some occasional HIT training. It wouldn't hurt to consume LMNT electrolytes instead of plain water, but it sounds like he wasn't drinking enough water

[@coonhollow7233]

Two questions: where was the ice feature located and what was done with Dan's gear? Great video follow-up.

[@dont_delay]

To me the first red light was nausea fatigue and as a result drinking less and taking in less electrolytes . That was the time to stop assess and decide about turning around. At least stopping for longer. The route should have included stopping points for reassessment of the weakest hikers ability

[@everfury]

Really loved you in the last episode of The Last Of Us, Eric

[@christopherch7307]

👍🐿👍 Glad yall ok brother

[@_GntlStone_]

This is where the British mountaineers had it right: Regular stops for hot tea, even on the way to the top of Everest. I can't stand just water. I drink warm or cool tea as my water substitute, with as little sugar as is necessary to be palatable. I've also taken to using honey powder instead of sugar sometimes. I also wonder how adding some unflavored protein powder to a hot cup of tea would work out. Or even maybe some hot chocolate with added protein powder as both hydration and nutrition.

[@kevinchrist1658]

Try Dr Berg's electrolyte powder. It's one of the few electrolyte powders that's all natural, no sugar (organic stevia substitute), and has enough potassium that other mixes lack.

[@128btn]

I still think you should have hit the SOS button even if it mean a helicopter rescue. At the time, it looked bleak and that is what the button/insurance is for. Chest pains, in the canyon, in the winter is brutal conditions, luckily it worked out.

[@metricwrencher8702]

When Dan was nauseous and didn't want to eat or drink, he already was in Rhabdo.

[@petevonschondorf4609]

this pair of videos was something the KZbin industry needed since nearly all of the KZbin videos everything goes as planned.

[@BackpackingTV]

It's hard to plan for it to go sideways. haha, but yes! These are important and I'm glad the conversation is out there now!

[@sherrambles]

Great video guys! I was worried about you Eric(and Dan of course)I didn't want this experience to get you down or second guessing your abilities. But I'm glad you both found it to be a learning experience and shared it for the rest of the world to learn from too. Glad you all are doing good and I can't wait to see your next (hopefully less eventful but still awesome) trip to the grand canyon!

[@BackpackingTV]

Thanks Sher! The experience was difficult and it shook me seeing my hiking partner in so much pain. But I'm not feeling down. Some people will be trolls but I find it says more about them than me/us. Thanks!