Updated December 6, 2022 — Grand Canyon hiking enthusiasts gathered at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon on April 4, 2009, for the Grand Canyon Hikers Symposium. Endorsed by the Grand Canyon Hikers and Backpackers Association and the Grand Canyon Field Institute, the symposium attracted speakers from across North America.
The purpose of the symposium was to share hiking and backpacking exploits and explorations in the Grand Canyon, as defined by the geographical region from Lee’s Ferry to the Grand Wash Cliffs, rim to rim.
17 presenters shared stories of Grand Canyon escapades and adventure to an attentive audience of over 90 people. The annual event took place inside the Shrine of the Ages at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, Arizona, while near-record winds howled outside.
Bill Ferris’s PowerPoint presentation documenting a four-night backpacking trip in the East Canyon was one of my favorites. His pre-timed slides of maps and photos of Canyon vistas had him hit the 20-minute limit with time to spare for questions. See more about Ferris’ trip at http://www.gcadventure.com/tanbeamesc.html. I was honored to have lunch with Ferris of Flagstaff and his son, Matthew at the Bright Angel Lodge. Symposium presenter NAU professor Dennis Foster and his wife, Cara Lynn, and photographer Charles Bame, rounded out our party for the lunch break between sessions.
Don’t miss next year’s symposium — it will give you an insider scoop on your next Canyon hike.
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UNSTOPPABLE Stacey is a travel writer based in Flagstaff, AZ. Subscribe to her blog for insider travel tips and travel deals for making your next travel experience awesome. She has lived in the Southwest USA for over 30 years. Grand Canyon, Flagstaff, Sedona and Phoenix, AZ and Santa Fe and Taos, NM are a few of the places where she can show you locals’ secrets. She writes about the American Southwest, Spain and Tanzania, East Africa.
