117 | Nine Women, One Canyon: The Hiking Tribe’s 32-Mile Grand Canyon Gauntlet (Live at Service World Expo 2025)

Show Information

Episode Number: 117

Recorded at Service World Expo (October 2025)

Date: November 11, 2025

Duration: 23:52

Host Contact Information

Host: Justin Deese

Website: JustinDeese.com

Contact: podcast@JustinDeese.com

Guest Contact Information

Guest: “The Hiking Tribe” (3 of the 9 women) — Kim Martin, Kristen Deese, and

Company: Various (women from the trades)

Summary

Recorded live at Service World Expo 2025, Justin and guest co-host Kristin Deese sit down with three members of a nine-woman “Hiking Tribe” who tackled the Grand Canyon’s Hermit Trail: 32 rugged miles over four days with ~35-40 lb packs, cliff-hugging traverses, and a brutal first day dropping ~5,000 feet. They share how permits pushed them from a planned rim-to-rim into an even gnarlier route, why trekking poles saved their knees, what camp life really looked like, and the surreal moment a supermoon lit the canyon like daylight. Most powerful of all: the solidarity—nine women from the trades choosing a hard thing, supporting each other through fear, tears, and triumph, and proving they can do it again.

Takeaways

• Hard resets matter: four days off-grid (no music/speakers per leave-no-trace) brought unexpected calm and clarity.
• Downhill is the destroyer: 5,000 feet down over “Grand Canyon miles” taxed arms, triceps, and balance more than the climb out. Trekking poles made a huge difference.
• Team > terrain: nine women rotated help—tent setup, foot care, morale (yes, trail songs!)—so everyone got through the sketchy spots.
• Guides matter: smart food logistics and first-aid (especially feet) turned a suffer-fest into a safe, epic push.
• Choose hard things: testing limits builds personal strength at any age—then makes you hungry for the next challenge.

Chapters

00:00 — Live from Service World Expo 2025 + intros (Justin & guest co-host Kristin)

03:00 — The “crazy idea” is born: bucket lists → Grand Canyon plan (permits derail rim-to-rim)

05:30 — Hermit Trail reality: bouldering with 35–40 lb packs + cliffside single-track

08:15 — Day 1: 7 GC miles, 5,000 ft down, and the helicopter daydreams

10:40 — Why downhill hurt more than uphill + the magic of trekking poles

12:10 — Camp life: tents, food logistics, and surprisingly great fajitas

13:50 — Silence, serenity, and the post-trip aversion to background noise

15:20 — Leave-no-trace: even music is a no-go; embracing the quiet

16:40 — Supermoon over the canyon: a wordless, teary, unforgettable night

18:05 — Support systems: fear spikes, trail songs, and looking out for each other

19:30 — The deeper win: confidence, age-defying grit, and planning the next one

21:10 — Justin’s closing: pride, perspective, and why choosing “hard” matters

Keywords

#GrandCanyon #HermitTrail #ServiceWorldExpo #WomenInTrades #Backpacking #HikingTribe #OutdoorAdventure #RimToRim #Resilience #Mindset #Leadership #Teamwork #Supermoon #LeaveNoTrace #PersonalGrowth #FreedomBlueprintPodcast

Mentioned in this episode:

SERVICE MANAGER ACADEMY 2026

WWW.SERVICEMANAGERTRAINING.COM