Ernest Scheuer ’51 completed his trek in 2024 at age 94, setting a Guinness World Record.
By Bennett Campbell Ferguson
October 22, 2026
Until he turned 94, Ernest “Ernie” Scheuer ’51 had never seen the Grand Canyon up close. “I’d seen it from the air, flying over, but I’d never been there before,” he says.
That changed in 2024, when Ernie became the oldest person to hike the canyon from one rim to another, breaking a Guinness World Record. “It’s just beautiful to look at,” he says, recalling the canyon’s majesty. “It was just a wonderful experience and I had great companions, including people that I’ve hiked with for a long time.”
Among Ernie’s hiking companions were his grandson from Virginia and a cinematographer who captured the journey for a short film. The party began their trek at the North Rim, slept at Bright Angel Campground, and soldiered on to the South Rim to complete Ernie’s history-making hike.
“It was not a Rosie Ruiz event,” Ernie says jokingly, referring to the runner who notoriously faked a Boston Marathon win in 1980. “I really did it.” Recently, Ernie also attended Reed Reunions, where he was the sole member of the class of 1951 who was present.
For Ernie to be recognized by Guinness, photos, videos, and personal testimonies had to be submitted. Ultimately, he was confirmed to have broken the record previously set by Alfredo Aliaga Burdio, who hiked rim-to-rim at 92—and who Ernie is planning to visit in Berlin.