Instead of concluding that the two approaches were totally incompatible, however, Pete latched on to another idea altogether: Apparently, there was a shortcut! If Rich could somehow be talked into allowing us to accompany him and his team on the first part of their trip, it would both cushion and accelerate our own acclimation to the canyon. Wasting no time, Pete emailed Rich the very next day and announced that we wanted to tag along.
If Rich has any brain at all, he'll tell you no.
