Flying remote, Utah’s remote canyons
- UNPLUG. Magazine
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
A simple message from adventure writer and pilot Ney Grant set the stage for an unforgettable journey for John Belanger and his son Michael, known collectively as The Rugged Outdoorsmen.
The invitation was clear: meet in a remote corner of Arizona for an adventure few ever experience.
Belanger, a military veteran with an extensive background in special operations, didn’t hesitate. Grant, a whitewater kayaker, mountaineer, rock climber and award-winning photographer, has spent decades exploring North America’s wildest landscapes, often piloting himself into remote locations.
The plan: meet at dawn at a small airport in Kanab, Utah, load gear into Grant’s vintage 1963 Cessna 182 and fly over the Grand Canyon at sunrise. After landing on a remote dirt airstrip, the team would descend into Soap Creek Canyon for a challenging hike to the Colorado River, then return to the skies for a scenic flight over Escalante National Monument. The final leg included camping near an old ghost town on public lands in southern Utah.
The flight delivered an immediate thrill. “Sunrise over the Grand Canyon in a vintage Cessna was a great way to start the trip,” Belanger said.
“Landing on the remote airstrip shortly after sunrise was a thrill.”
From there, the physical challenge began. The descent into Soap Creek Canyon required navigating massive boulders, climbing under and over rock formations and using ropes for particularly steep drops. Round-trip, the hike spanned about eight miles.
“Certain sections of the canyon required us to rope down, and on the ascent we had to climb back up using the ropes as well,” Belanger said. “It required agility and was an extreme adrenaline rush.”
The reward came at the Colorado River, where the group paused for a riverside lunch and took in panoramic views. “The sun was high, the views were spectacular and the weather was perfect,” Belanger said.
After completing the hike, Grant piloted the team on a flight across Escalante, offering aerial views of the Vermilion Cliffs, a region frequently captured in Western films.
The adventure concluded with a campfire under the stars near a ghost town used in the TV show Gunsmoke. The group shared stories of their day before packing up the next morning.
What started as a simple message became a story of flight, exploration and the enduring bond between father and son — proving some adventures truly are once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
Belanger grew up in New York’s Adirondack Mountains and has been an outdoorsman since age nine. He and his son Michael run The Rugged Outdoorsmen, a business that tests outdoor clothing and equipment.
They also serve as the field marketing team for TimberTote Adventure Campfires, known for their popular single-log campfires.
The Belangers invite others to follow their adventures on Instagram at @theruggedoutdoorsmen and @realtimbertote, on Facebook as The Rugged Outdoorsmen LLC, and at www.theruggedoutdoorsmen.com.
