By Davy Crockett

This part will cover additional stories found through deeper research, adding to the history shared in found in the new book, Grand Canyon Rim to Rim History. Grand Canyon rim to rim hikes and runs become very popular as thousands descend into the Canyon each year. Fastest known times for R2R and R2R2R runs are broken.

In 1991, Jerry Chavez, a Vietnam veteran of Leadville, Colorado, worked for the NPS. He operated the pump station at Indian Garden, which pumped water up to the South Rim. He lived year-round at a nice residence down at Indian Garden. Chavez was also a member of the park’s 20-member rescue team and kept in shape by running rim-to-rim.

Chavez said that the “dumbest thing” he saw was people hiking without food or water. “Chavez had seen a lot of weird things in the Canyon, including a guy hiking in a dusty tuxedo and women in high-heel shoes.” Often, he would rescue hikers suffering from heatstroke. One recent case was particularly bad. He remembered, “When I saw that man, he looked like death. We had to carry him up a mile. His temperature was 109. We were running water from a creek and kept pouring it on him. When they flew him to Flagstaff, he still had a temperature of 105. The doctor called and said whoever worked on him saved his life. The guy walked out of the hospital as normal as can be.” Chavez was awarded a National Park Service achievement award.

Out-of-shape parents were often seen bringing down small children. On a winter day in 1989, Chavez was out for a run and found parents with two small children and heavy packs. “The kids were lying in the snow and crying. I told them, ‘You’re going to have to carry those kids out.’” He offered to help, but the father refused and yelled at the kids about 2-3 years old. Finally, Chavez got permission to rescue the kids and carry them out.

Amphitheater High School Double Cross

During the summer of 1991, cross-country runner Virginia Hope Pedersoli (1974-) and others from Amphitheater High School in Tucson, Arizona, achieved a double-crossing giving publicity to the feat to other high schools. The group went down South Kaibab at dawn and reached the North Rim in ten hours. They ate lunch and headed back, finishing in the early morning at about 3 a.m. for a 21.5-hour double cross. Pedersoli said, “It was awesome. Walk until you are dead and then walk some more. It’s hard to explain. While I was doing it, I wanted to quit, but after I was done, I wanted to do it again.” She went on to win five state championships in track and cross-country and competed in track and cross-country at the University of Arizona.

President Bush on South Kaibab Trail

On September 18, 1991, South Kaibab Trail was totally shut down with federal agents crawling around it with rifles and large binoculars. President George H. W. Bush (1924-2018), visited the Canyon and descended down the trail with a group that included Interior Secretary Manuel Lujan (1928-2019). The president wore loafers that became coated with dust and sweat drenched the back of his shirt. He chatted quite a bit about the views and the fishing in the Colorado River and at Phantom Ranch.  He really wanted to get to the bottom, but they turned around after going down 685 feet to Ooh Ahh Point. After they turned around, Bush left most of his group behind and powered up the trail. His hike lasted about an hour and covered 1.8 miles.

Major Destruction of the Kaibab Trail in 1992

During February 1992, a major rockslide destroyed a large portion of the North Kaibab Trail between Supai Tunnel and the bridge across the ravine below. It took out nearly 9,000 feet of switchbacks. The slopes had been soaked by early winter rains, became very muddy, and then crashed down into the canyon. Bruce Aiken at Roaring Springs reported, “Rebuilding the trail is going to be very difficult. It will take at least two months, maybe longer.” Hikers were given directions to use the Old Br...