Dana's Grand Canyon Rim-To-Rim Hike

Three months in, and honestly… I’m kind of proud of myself for my consistency!  Week 12 brought some new gear and gourmet experimentation (if you count PB&J as gourmet).

This week, I officially introduced trekking poles to the mix. And let me tell you, I found them pretty challenging. They’re supposed to help with rhythm and stability, but so far, I’ve mostly been kicking them or tripping over them. It’s a work in progress. I’m hoping we can eventually become friends!

Now, onto the culinary adventure: I brought a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on the long hike this week. I ate it before 9 am! Yes, it felt weird, but surprisingly I definitely had more energy. Apparently, it’s recommended fuel, and surprisingly, it worked! These walks are stretching into the 3–4 hour range, and they’re only going to get longer, so food that powers me and doesn’t upset my stomach is now top priority. I’ll keep experimenting with trail snacks, but so far, this one’s a winner.

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Ataxia Fact of the Week: How It Affects Vision

Let’s talk eyeballs. Ataxia can mess with your vision in two main ways:

1. Eye Movement Abnormalities – The cerebellum (aka the brain’s coordination command center) helps control eye movement. When it’s not working properly, you might experience double vision or nystagmus (involuntary eye movements that make you feel like your eyes are doing the cha-cha without permission).
2. Retinal and Optic Nerve Issues – In some genetic types of ataxia, like SCA7 or Friedreich’s Ataxia, the retina or optic nerve can be affected, which may reduce vision. Important note: Ataxia doesn’t cause blindness, but it can definitely make your eyes feel like they’re on a rollercoaster.

So there you have it—vision quirks courtesy of ataxia. More facts to come next week, assuming I don’t get tangled in my trekking poles again.