Fran Capo Celebrity Guru

Hi, I'm Fran Capo. By profession I am a stand up comic, motivational speaker, adventurer, voice-over artist, spokesperson and nine-time author. Most of the tips listed here are excerpts from one of my books, "Adrenaline Adventures: Dream it, Read it, Do it!" I love motivating people to go out there and explore the world. I have personally put together groups of adventurers and slept in Ice hotels, climbed mountains, dove in caverns, gone spelunking and driven race cars. I just love watching people break new boundaries, which is probably why I hold three world records which are listed in Guinness and Ripley's Believe it or Not. My records are for being the fastest talking female (602.32 wpm) and the only author to do a book signing both at the top of Kilimajaro and down by the wreck site of the Titanic. I've appeared on over 1000 radio and 250 television shows and presently writes a blog for the WB called Fran's World. I'm having a blast living live to the fullest. If you want to email me, join one of my adventures, become a sponsor, have me speak at your event or just say "hi" you can visit my website.

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How to View the Grand Canyon

I've been to the Grand Canyon three times in my life.
The first was on a 3-day rafting trip with my son. To get to the raft we had to take a helicopter it was awesome, especially when the Canyon drops away and you are looking down at the vast opening. We slept at night under the stars in open cots, and by day we traveled over the white waters in the muddy Colorado River. It was a wonderful experience.
The second time was by foot, again with my son. We walked 1/2 way down Bright Angel Trail. We were with a group, so while it was fun...our time was limited.
The third time was a combination, and I took both my son and my mom.
Since my mom is elderly and has arthritis, I drove to the points, she would get out and look and snap some pictures, then get back in the car.
I also took her on a helicopter ride and in a 1/2 raft ride that was run by the native indians who have certain rights at the Canyon.

The main thing is decide how long, and what kind of experience you want to have.
Do you like walking? Then hike
Do you like cool water and overnights? Then raft the canyon.
Are you short on time? Then take a helicopter trip.
Either way you will get a good feel...but honestly there is nothing like spending a few days in the canyon.

Day Hiking in Grand Canyon

Like with any successful trip…plan ahead. As a day hiker no permits are required, but remember you are entirely on your own. Your decent into the Canyon, even for a short while, begins your journey into a world where self-reliance (bring enough water), and common sense (don’t go off the trails) are crucial. There are no loop trails on day hikes, you will hike the same trail in both directions…it is recommended you do not attempt to hike from the rim to the river and back in one day…so if you plan to go to the bottom, bring overnight essentials.

Know the Weather

In the canyon, the spring weather varies and can change dramatically and quickly. Snowstorms are common on the rim in March and have been known to show up as late as May…so unless you plan on bringing a snow shovel…check the weather. In April and May it can also be windy…thus bring a windbreaker jacket. And for those of you who like to roast, by the middle of May temperatures along the river in the inner canyon can reach 100 F…so sunscreen, a hat, and plenty of water are great sensible things to bring. You want to enjoy the canyon, not drop dead in it…

What to Eat While Hiking the Canyon

On any hike (from Kilimanjaro to the Canyon - yes I've done both) it is essential to stay properly fueled. So salty snacks and water or sports drinks should be consumed on any hike lasting longer than a 1/2 hour. A quick bio lesson, food is your body's main source of fuel and salts (electrolytes - like in Gatorade). So therefore you need to keep your tank full…yes even if you are not hungry you should nibble. You also need plenty of fluids…(water or Gatorade)…Why? Because by the time you are thirsty that means you are already starting to dehydrate. The time to drink is before you are thirsty…sip every fifteen minutes. The rule of thumb (or pinky) is to drink 1/2 to 1 quart of fluid for every hour of hiking.
Your best defense against getting sick or exhausted is to have a large breakfast (so you start with a full tank), eat a full lunch( to keep going) and snack every time you drink…Yes this is not the time to go on that New Years resolution diet you've been planning. Happy hiking.

Check Your Time

Like in cavern diving…plan in thirds. When you dive in a cave you use up 1/3 of your tank, and save 2/3 to get back out. As with hiking, know how much time you want to spend. Use 1/3 of that time to descend (remember our dear friend gravity helps us out), and 2/3 of your time to come back up. Use the other third…just checking if you are paying attention….

Dress for the Hike

Now of course I am not assuming you'd go naked…but some people dress so warm that their only chance of survival is to strip down. So do what is necessary on most adventures, dress in layers. This way if your hot, you take off a layer, and if you're cold, you put another on. And don't wear cotton…when wet it sticks to you like a bad boyfriend. Invest in some wyck away clothes, clothes that will take the sweat away from your body and keep you nice and dry. And even though I hate them…don't forget a hat…as you know for cold it keeps you warm (most percentage of body heat is lost through the head) and in warm weather it keeps the sun from frying an egg on your head.

Pole, Pole as They Say in Africa

When climbing Kilimanjaro the Masai warriors who also doubled as our porters would say, Pole Pole, which meant slowly, slowly. Yup that's the key to hiking...slow and steady wins the race, or climb in this case. How slow is slow? If you can carry on a conversation, you are hiking at the right pace. If you find yourself short of breath, that means your legs and digestive system (the one that ate all those snacks) are not getting enough oxygen. Lack of oxygen can cause fatigue, heavy legs (how attractive!) and exhaustion...so do us all a favor...and take it easy.

How Do You Know if Your Dehydrated?

A headache is usually the first sign of dehydration. If you feel one coming on…stop and drink water. The other thing is simple. Check in your toilet.
If your urine is any other color than clear (yes it is NOT supposed to be yellow) then you are dehydrated. Drink till you are clear…all systems go.

A Word on the California Condor

There is a lot of wildlife in the Grand Canyon. But one special bird, the California Condor has a place in the hearts of the Canyon. You see in 1996, Northern Arizona was selected as the reintroduction site for this endangered species. The reason was because ancient condor bones were found in caves near the canyon and so this was at one time their native ecosystem.
The efforts of that program are beginning to show because there are now about 30- 35 condors living in and around the Grand Canyon Area. Pretty cool. So…be respectful of these creatures as they make a comeback. Enjoy them from a distance (this is on the ground of course since I don't imagine you will be flying with them), do not feed them or leave out food for them (they need to find their own), don't throw objects at them (hopefully this is a no brainer) and do be a tattle tale..if you see some idiot harassing them, tell a park ranger.
How do you spot them? Their wing span is 9 1/2 feet long. The adults have a bare orange head and black feathers and a white triangular patch on the front of their underwing. The baby condors have naked black heads, black feathers, and brown markings under their wings. The males and females look alike. They are all tagged by the program.

Mountain Lions and You

When my son, Spencer and I rafted the canyon and slept overnight I remember one thing that really stood out. One night when we got up, there were paw prints near our cots. It was confirmed by the guides that they were mountain lions.
Pretty gutsy since there were about 15 of us on that trip.
But none the less we are told they are all around, secretive creatures, just looking for food as with most animals, and lately showing up more in populated areas due to the shrinkage of their territory.
So while most people will probably never see one…they are around in the park developed park areas, and while there has never been a documented attack in the park, I'm sure they'd like to keep it that way.

So…unless you want to become the first victim…here are some suggestions.
1) Don't hike alone.
2) Keep an eye on small children…keep them in sight at all times.
3) Don’t leave food out, including pet food where animals can reach it.

Now if you do all this and you happen to come across Snagle puss…then DO NOT TURN AND RUN. If you have a cat at home you know this provokes a chase. Just back away slowly.
- Stand up tall. I know this is not the time you are usually thinking about your posture…but the thing is the bigger you seem the less likely they are to attack. Put a small kid on your shoulders, hold open a jacket…anything to appear bigger.
- If they attack, fight back. Do not play dead, we are not talking bears here.
- Finally if you see a mountain lion, note the area and report it to a ranger. They will trap them live, and fit them with a radio collar to monitor their movements.