Five Milligan students hiked the Grand Canyon during spring break. Most of them did not think they would ever do this, but they are happy they did.

 

“It was the trip of a lifetime,” said Brianna Tuscani, a sophomore child and youth development major from Warwick, Rhode Island. The other hikers included Jessica Smith, a sophomore business major from New Port Richey, Florida; Brandon Ellis, business and history major from Sapula, Oklahoma; Christopher Shaw, a Bible major from Edwardsville, Illinois; and Ethan Bourn, a nursing major from Pittsboro, North Carolina.

 

“It was an interesting group,” said Ellis. They were able to bond, and “it worked out well” since they did not get “sick of each other.”

 

The hikers loaded up an SUV on the first day of break to drive more than 1,900 miles to Arizona. Tuscani said it was great “seeing the country for the first time” on I-40 which runs parallel with Route 66.  

 

They kept a loose schedule and tried to do one major thing a day.

 

“I didn’t know what to expect going in,” said Smith, “so everything came as a surprise and was wonderful.”

 

“My favorite part was hiking into the canyon and seeing how big it was,” said Shaw. “I didn’t realize how deep it was, a straight mile down.” He, Tuscani, and Smith took a nine-mile hike down the canyon to Indian Gardens.

 

Smith said, “I wish I could have spent more time soaking up the scenery at the bottom.”

 

The hikers were not prepared for how cold the canyon was.

 

“The first night was 20 degrees,” said Shaw, who said he enjoyed “anytime I was warm.”

 

Ellis enjoyed the quiet moments during the “awe-inspiring” trip. He enjoyed getting away and being able to sit and think in the canyon. “It was a blast.”

 

“It was nice to go on a hike and push myself,” said Shaw. The trip, he said, was “fan-freaking-tastic.”

By Simone Chhut

3.21.16

Tuscani and Shaw about 3 miles into the hike.

Tuscani and Smith in Indian Gardens.