The rim-to-rim-to rim hike (R3) in Arizona’s Grand Canyon is well- known to seasoned outdoor adventurers as a meaningful achievement.The beautiful vistas of this natural wonder attract nearly 5 million tourists, annually but only about one percent hike to the bottom. Of those, upwards of 250 require rescue mid-hike and the Grand Canyon claims an average of 12 lives per year.Those who achieve a successful R3 and live to tell about it can take home more than bragging rights. Some find greater meaning and purpose through the monumental effort.#placement_573654_0_i{width:100%;max-width:550px;margin:0 auto;}var rnd = window.rnd || Math.floor(Math.random()*10e6);var pid573654 = window.pid573654 || rnd;var plc573654 = window.plc573654 || 0;var abkw = window.abkw || '';var absrc = 'https://ads.empowerlocal.co/adserve/;ID=181918;size=0x0;setID=573654;type=js;sw='+screen.width+';sh='+screen.height+';spr='+window.devicePixelRatio+';kw='+abkw+';pid='+pid573654+';place='+(plc573654++)+';rnd='+rnd+';click=CLICK_MACRO_PLACEHOLDER';var _absrc = absrc.split("type=js"); absrc = _absrc[0] + 'type=js;referrer=' + encodeURIComponent(document.location.href) + _absrc[1];document.write('');Crescent City’s David Lee Hatton II didn’t finish the R3 on his first attempt this past March, but he did come away from the experience with a fantastic story and indelible connection with a new band of brothers. David Lee Hatton II at the Grand Canyon. Contributed photo “I prayed for my life to be saved and this group of men found me out of nowhere. It was like divine intervention,” says David.Last winter, the now 19-year-old had started the R3 (down the South Rim) with a friend, only to face the hike alone after the friend turned back. Determined to complete the task, Hatton forged ahead. He was caught by the frigid weather and soaked while stranded in the canyon snow with his body temperature falling rapidly. The clock ticking as he braved the elements, he reached the Manzanita rest area only to find the Park Service Ranger residence was only seasonably staffed and not yet open. Hatton found a bathroom and wisely stripped off his wet cotton clothing. As far as David knew, no help was coming.Luckily for David, another group was out on the frosty trails. A band of 13 men was attempting the R3 at that moment. The group was led by three founders of Man Made, former Colorado Rockies pitcher Josh Kalinowski, U.S. Army Lt. Colonel Jimmy Kleager and retired U.S. Navy SEAL and Sniper School instructor William Branum. The three leaders and their clients had been training for this adventure for weeks-yet everyone was caught off-guard when they heard cries for help in the dark as they reached Manzanita.That’s when they found Hatton, dangerously cold, shivering in his underwear in the rest-station bathroom. According to Man Made’s Kleager, Hatton was wise to strip down after his cotton gear got soaked.“In the adventure world, there’s a saying, ‘cotton kills’ because as soon as it gets wet, it wicks the heat from the body. Wearing wool or other technical clothing is preferable, but for David it was too late. Even in underwear, a person is in a better situation than they’d be with wet clothes sucking out body heat. I’m just glad we could help him in time,” Kleager said.The group of heroes (via radio) contacted park rangers and saved David Hatton’s life escorting him back to the Ranger Station at Phantom Ranch.David has completely recovered and is eager to return to the canyon that nearly claimed his life. On October 2 he rejoined his rescuers turned mentors and began an attempt to conquer the R3 once and for all. The hike is expected to take 16 hours to complete.David has been humbled by this ordeal. One might say it’s a hike to redemption.“Exposure is no joke,” he said. “The situation could have gone so much worse. Another couple of hours and I wouldn’t have made it. I feel so incredibly lucky.”David did not mince words about his excitement to return to the Grand Canyon with Man Made.“You can say the R3 and I have unfinished business. Only this time, I’m not going it alone,” he said.David Hatton’s closing comment on this experience, “Don’t accept failure as the enemy. Never give up. Never!”Stephanie Bradley is the founder of Bradley Brand Management. Stephanie can be reached at bradleybrandmanagement@gmail.com googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('ad-1515727'); });