EMBRACING FAILURE

When Christian Hampshire couldn’t outrace depression, he planned a run he’d never return from. This is the story of why he’s still here.

- JARED BEASLEY

Christian Hampshire woke up in a haze. Slowly, he made out the pinyon pine above. Sitting up, he saw the Grand Canyon spread in every direction below him like a dry, inverted Everest. His mouth hurt for water.

He’d been out for 45 minutes. For a moment, he didn’t know why, what day it was, or what he was doing. Then, details started coming back. It was May 15, 2021, the first day the Grand Canyon was open for the season. He was 20 miles into El Cuatro, his fastest known time (FKT) attempt at four North Rim to South Rim to North Rim crossings, with the greater goal of raising awareness and funds for mental health. That’s 170 miles with 45,000 feet of climb at an average of 9 percent grade through near-freezing temperatures at night and 90-plus-degree afternoons.

Things had gone south, quick. He and Rick Ballesteros, his first pacer, had been cruising when they hit Phantom Ranch, a campsite near the base of the canyon. There, Christian told Rick to refill the bottles and catch up with him; he was determined to make each crossing in seven hours. Two hours later, out of the water, he was faltering up the exposed switchbacks of the South Kaibab Trail. There was no sign of Rick, who had bonked just past the ranch. The midday sun was merciless, and Christian had crawled under the scrubby pinyon and lain down.