Man Plans Length of Canyon hike--NO experience or knowledge

[azbackpackr]

Hahahahaha! This seems to be a combination of outrageous arrogance, along with somewhat ridiculous levels of stupidity, naïveté and ignorance. How much do you want to bet the Park won't even issue him a permit, let alone the Havasupais. I really hope we hear more about this...

http://www.whittierdailynews.com/news/ci_19748002

[PrestonSands]

Suggested reading material for Mr. Ruiz:

over the edge.jpg (7.23 KiB) Viewed 1254 times

I hope his name doesn't appear in a future edition.

[sneakySASQUATCH]

@PLC92084
Job security.

[azbackpackr]

@PLC92084
Job security.

If this guy does become a statistic, then Joe won't let us make fun of him any more! ;)

[big_load]

@PLC92084
Job security.

He seems extraordinarily confident. I bet he'd want you to let him fly.

[PaleoRob]

Sounds like a fantastic idea. I don't see anything wrong with this. plz:

[Al_HikesAZ]

What could possibly go wrong.?

I liked the movie TopGun and I'm a spontaneous guy. I'll ask the US Navy to let me land a jet on a carrier :GB:
I liked the movie Young Frankenstein and I'm a spontaneous guy. I'll ask Barrows Neurological to let me do a brain transplant.
I liked the movie Black Swan and I'm a spontaneous guy. I'll ask the Phoenix Ballet to let me wear a tutu and dance the lead ballerina role. Or have wild pumpkin with a beautiful dancer.

When Fletcher hiked the Canyon, it went from Havasu Creek (RM 177)to Nankoweap (RM 52). Now the Canyon goes from Grand Wash Cliffs (RM 277) to Lee's Ferry. That is 277 River Miles, not hiking miles. Ruiz talks about going in at Hualapai Hilltop and hiking the 277 miles. Does not compute. Kenton ("The Factor") Grua was the first to hike the full 277 miles and it took 30 days. This kid has no clue.

Somebody tell Ghiglieri and Myers to hold the publication of their next edition until we see what happens.

This is almost as crazy as my through-hike attempt from San Diego to Denver when I was 5 years old. I at least had the smarts to call it quits when I knew I couldn't make it.
:SB:

[chumley]

If this guy does become a statistic, then Joe won't let us make fun of him any more! ;)

Obviously I hope nothing bad happens to the guy, no matter how stupid he is. But I could envision reading a Reuters/AP story in a newspaper or website in a few weeks where the reporter quotes from this thread with something like "experienced hikers discussing the proposed trek in online forums roundly criticized the man as foolish" or something like that.

[writelots]

This is almost as crazy as my through-hike attempt from San Diego to Denver when I was 5 years old. I at least had the smarts to call it quits when I knew I couldn't make it.
:SB:

Quitter ;)

[big_load]

@chumley I think it would be great if he took it as a serious goal and dedicated himself to becoming truly capable and prepared.

[PLC92084]

@big_load
He's starting classes again in Feb. He'd better be a fast learner...

The really sad thing is if something tragic happens, and he manages to survive (thanks to our generous influx of tax dollars), he'll probably get movie rights and book deals...

[JimmyLyding]

@PLC92084
Job security.

I've been flown out of the canyon twice at the end of rafting trips, and both times were by guys who wore cowboy hats and told us they learned to fly in the Army. Flying fast and low certainly does add to the entertainment value, especially after being on a boat for 7 days.

This guy doesn't seem too bright. Hopefully GC Park employees will know who he is when he applies for a permit, and deny him.

[outdoor_lover]

@Jim Lyding
Naw, Jim, I think they ought to let him have it. Even if Joel doesn't get Job Security out of it, I'll bet someone else will and it won't be a pilot....

[Al_HikesAZ]

This is almost as crazy as my through-hike attempt from San Diego to Denver when I was 5 years old. I at least had the smarts to call it quits when I knew I couldn't make it.
:SB:

Quitter ;)

I didn't get to be this old and wise by being stupid. "Some people think it's holding on that makes one strong- sometimes it's letting go.” “There are things that we never want to let go of, people we never want to leave behind. But keep in mind that letting go isn’t the end of the world, it’s the beginning of a new life.” And that's about all I have to say about that.

[azbackpackr]

If this guy does become a statistic, then Joe won't let us make fun of him any more! ;)

Obviously I hope nothing bad happens to the guy, no matter how stupid he is. But I could envision reading a Reuters/AP story in a newspaper or website in a few weeks where the reporter quotes from this thread with something like "experienced hikers discussing the proposed trek in online forums roundly criticized the man as foolish" or something like that.

That online article doesn't have a comment thread, unfortunately. Otherwise, the reporter would be getting an earful.

[chumley]

If this guy does become a statistic, then Joe won't let us make fun of him any more! ;)

Obviously I hope nothing bad happens to the guy, no matter how stupid he is. But I could envision reading a Reuters/AP story in a newspaper or website in a few weeks where the reporter quotes from this thread with something like "experienced hikers discussing the proposed trek in online forums roundly criticized the man as foolish" or something like that.

That online article doesn't have a comment thread, unfortunately. Otherwise, the reporter would be getting an earful.

The article allows and does have posted comments. It uses your Facebook profile as the interface, so you may have to be logged in to FB on the same computer you are reading the article on in order to read/post on the article. Unfortunately, so far there are more "good luck/have fun" comments than there are "perhaps you should plan this out some more" comments.

[kingsnake]

I would not mind if Facebook tried to hike the length of the canyon ...

[SuperstitionGuy]

Oh come on guys and gals, let him persue his thoughts and dreams.

After all, it is only a walk in the park, right?

[sneakySASQUATCH]

I didn't get to be this old and wise by being stupid.

Like the old aviation saying goes, "There are a lot of old helicopter pilots. There are a lot of stupid helicopter pilots, but there are not a lot of old stupid helicopter pilots."

[kingsnake]

I always heard that as "There are old pilots, and bold pilots, but no old, bold pilots."

[writelots]

Not to contradict the whole group, but if human ingenuity and determination didn't beat out human stupidity more than half the time, there'd be no human race left on earth. I'm not sure the odds against his success are as uneven as you may think.