A 92-year-old man has made headlines and set a record by successfully hiking 44 miles across Arizona's Grand Canyon.
Alfredo Arriaga Burdio, currently living in Berlin, completed his record-setting trek across the Grand Canyon on October 15, 2023. The trip allowed Bourdiot to claim the title of the oldest person to cross the Grand Canyon from rim to rim on foot. (Male) According to the announcement on New Year's Day, Guinness World Records.
Bourdiot's journey lasted a total of 34 hours and 2 minutes, of which 21 hours and 15 minutes were actual hiking time.
According to all the world record-breaking authorities, it takes 11 hours and 15 minutes to hike from the North Rim Trailhead to Phantom Ranch in Bourdieu, and an additional 10 hours to hike from Phantom Ranch to the South Rim Trailhead the next day. It took a while.
It wasn't Bourdieu's first record-setting accomplishment. I went hiking However, it will cross the Grand Canyon. The idea to attempt this record came to Bourdiot when he previously hiked the Grand Canyon with his son.
“I had read about the previous record holder, John Jepkema, and had great respect for him,” Bourdiot told Guinness World Records. “I knew I was only a few months younger than Mr. Jepkema and thought I had a great chance of setting a new record the following year.”
Bourdiot began preparing for the historic hike in January 2023, about nine months before he actually set out on the trip. walk 8 miles every day.
The record attempt was originally scheduled to take place in early 2022, but was postponed due to dangerous weather conditions.
Bourdiot's hike began at the North Rim, taking breaks about every hour.
“The first five hours were very tiring,” Bourdiot recalls. “But what surprised me was that after about 15 minutes of rest, eating, and taking electrolytes, I recovered and had the strength back to tackle his next seven hours.”
Bourdiot claimed that her mindset and ability to take things slow during difficult times helped her overcome the hike.
“I'm thinking about the next step, the next step, but I'm not thinking about how far I have to go yet,” Bourdiot said. “Then it’s not that hard and it’s very doable.”
Bourdiot fell in love with hiking after his wife died from ALS in 2006. After her death, Bourdiot made it a priority to visit the places they had traveled together, taking his daughter and her 9-year-old grandson on hikes from end to end. Grand Canyon.
Bourdiot said the most interesting part of the hike was the people he met along the way, cheering him on.
“What was really great was meeting all the people on the trail. Their support and kindness and just happiness was amazing,” he said.
While hiking, Mr. Bardio also encountered a group of firefighters who gave him the Tucson Fire Department patch and made him an honorary member of the Tucson Fire Department.
The 92-year-old also expressed his gratitude to those who accompanied him to witness the journey.
“Can you believe that two people who would normally cross the canyon in eight hours agreed to be witnesses, walked at my speed, and showed their unwavering support?” he said. “Julian Coyner and Peter Todd are truly extraordinarily kind and wonderful people.”
What Bourdiot learned from this hike is that even as you get older, it's never too late to try something.
“I started living a healthy lifestyle when I was 76 years old,” he says.
Bourdiot is reportedly planning to hike the Grand Canyon again this year.
“My son-in-law already has a cabin for October 2024, but I want to see if I can go with his family then,” he said. “But I have to see how I am then. I'm getting older.”
