Ep 016. Surviving the Grand Canyon’s Royal Arch Loop: Lessons in Desert Backpacking with Meg Atteberry

In this episode of The Adventurous Reinvention Podcast, I’m joined by my dear friend and desert adventure badass, Meg Atteberry. We dive into our epic Grand Canyon Royal Arch Loop backpacking trip—one of the hardest routes in the canyon.

We’re sharing the behind-the-scenes of this challenging adventure, from route planning and navigating tough terrain to dealing with unexpected desert surprises (think cactus mishaps and… frogs?).

Plus, Meg offers her expert advice on desert backpacking, including tips for water management, gear, and timing your desert hikes just right.

If you’ve ever dreamed of a Grand Canyon adventure or want to level up your desert backpacking skills, this episode is packed with insights, lessons, and a whole lot of laughter from the trail.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why the Royal Arch Loop is one of the most challenging Grand Canyon routes
• The prep and planning that goes into a desert adventure like this
• How to manage water, heat, and route-finding in desert environments
• Our biggest challenges and favorite memories from the trip
• Meg’s top tips for desert hiking and how to prepare for your own Grand Canyon adventure

Episode Highlights:

• [00:01:06] Meet Meg and how we connected through outdoor blogging
• [00:11:26] What drew Meg to the Grand Canyon Royal Arch Loop
• [00:17:43] The detailed prep: permits, water logistics, and the importance of a solid 4x4
• [00:28:58] Our hardest moments on the trail (spoiler: they weren’t what we expected!)
• [00:36:34] Favorite memories—from Elves Chasm to the unforgettable frog symphony
• [00:54:10] Meg’s expert desert backpacking advice

Resources & Links:

• Connect with Meg Atteberry on Instagram and TikTok @megintheforest
• Trail Guide Of the Royal Arch Loop (Article)
• What to know before backpacking in the Grand Canyon (YouTube)
• Essential Gear You’ll Need on Your Grand Canyon Adventure (YouTube)
• Incredible Grand Canyon Backpacking Trips that are Best for You (Article)

Where to learn more about Allison:

• She Dreams of Alpine Blog
• Instagram @shedreamsofalpine

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