Webmaster Daniel Miller looks for a spiritual Grand Canyon Experience
From Landscapes and wildlife to history and adventure, what’s the one thing about the Grand Canyon that has intrigued you?
I had always seen beautiful pictures growing up of the Grand Canyon. However, it wasn’t until I started researching about it that I quickly became intrigued by what it had to offer with the wildlife, hiking, camping, and emotional connection each person gets to experience with nature as you disconnect from the connected and technology driven world.
The single most important aspect that the Grand Canyon has to offer is its sheer size and natural beauty that intrigues me the most, however.
If this your first visit to the Canyon, what is motivating you to visit? If this a revisit, what’s your reason for wanting more?
This was my first visit to the Grand Canyon. The motivation came from my brother as we both were looking for something mentally and physically difficult, but spiritually awakening. We were in search of hiking through something nature offers in very few places in the world, and after going over a few options, the Grand Canyon came out on top of them all. And, we both agree, it was the best decision we could have made.
What are five things your Backpack to the Canyon must contain?
Water, water, water. The single most important item in our backpack, and we carried a lot of it! However since we visited during the fall in September, we have about double what we really needed as it wasn’t overly hot like it is in the summer.
The second item is dry food and snacks for the day. You burn so much energy walking through the depths of the Canyon that energy is the second most important thing you will need.
A tent will obviously come next, filled with sleeping bags and mats to get you through the night. We slept next to a beautiful river, and the sound was so peaceful as we slept through the night.
The fourth item is a light change of clothes just incase you need to change into something warmer or cooler, depending on the time of day you are hiking.
The last item you don’t want to forget is a flashlight! Although we didn’t hike at night, if you do go hiking in the night time you need to be able to see.
What according to you is the best way to get to the Grand Canyon – By Air, By Road or By Rail?
Since we live in Florida, a combination of two of the three are best. We would fly to Arizona, and drive from Phoenix to the Hilltop. However once on the hilltop, many take the helicopter down to the village to do a quick hike and spend the day at the gorgeous waterfalls and springs.
What is travel to you in one word?
Experience
What are three tips for an awesome budget trip to the Grand Canyon?
Rent your stuff. They have great prices on backpacks, tents, sleeping bags, etc! Stay at discount hotels–you’re here to see the sights, not the inside of a building! And plan, plan, plan keeping a plan and sticking to the schedule will keep the splurging costs to a minimum and help you and your family stay on track the entire trip.
On your travels, what would you choose a book or a camera, and why?
I never leave without my camera. I have to have memories. Pictures can spark the memory of an event and cause you to remember many more. It is also a way to share a perfect experience, and save it forever. It also allows you to create new memories, whereas a book only allows you to indulge in another persons memory.
As a travel destination, how would you rank the Grand Canyon from 1 to 10?
10
Did you visit the Visitor Center? Did you see the IMAX movie, Grand Canyon: Rivers of Time? What did you think?
We did not visit the Visitor Center. We, instead, went to the Havasu Falls from the hilltop, which is a 10 mile trek each way.
Tell us a little about yourself! This will be included on the web site. What brought you to Grand Canyon? Where are you from? What do you do? What are your influences?
My name is Daniel Miller. I live in Tampa, Florida. I operate a website and a few YouTube Channels, which can be found at www.danielxmiller.com
I went to the Grand Canyon with my brother and a friend in search of a spiritual awakening and to embark on a beautiful journey none of us had experienced before. What started out as an adventure quickly became the experience of a lifetime.
I am influenced by technology, nature, psychology, and the drive to succeed at the goals I set for myself.
All images by Daniel Miller Florida, USA
