Dana's Grand Canyon Rim-To-Rim Hike

This week, I had a great experience at REI that turned into much more than a quick gear run. I ended up spending over an hour talking with two incredibly kind and knowledgeable gentlemen. One helped me find a backpack that actually fits—something I didn’t realize was so tricky! I mean it’s just a backpack right? Um, not really…… I had no idea there was so much to consider! The other had worked as a river guide in the Grand Canyon and shared a ton of insight about the trails, the landscape, and what to expect. I went in for gear and walked out with advice, stories, and a whole lot more excitement for my upcoming trip.

The former river guide also gave me a quick lesson on trekking poles—which, as it turns out, I’d been using more like ski poles than actual hiking tools. After about 15 minutes of tips and practice, I left feeling much more confident (and slightly less likely to trip myself on the trail). These two men, well into their 70s or 80s but clearly still full of energy and passion, were an unexpected gift. I truly believe they showed up in my day for a reason—to help me feel more prepared, more at ease, and more excited for what’s ahead in October.

The Ataxia fact of the week:

Problems with cognition and emotion can be related to cerebellar damage in Ataxia. While the cerebellum is known for motor control, it also has non-motor regions connected to brain areas responsible for thinking, memory, and emotion. Damage to these regions can lead to what’s known as Cerebellar Cognitive Affective Syndrome, which includes difficulty expressing thoughts logically and coherently, memory problems, and impairments in executive function and visual-spatial skills. Mood changes are also common and may include depression, apathy, irritability, and limited frustration tolerance. Social interaction can be affected, particularly in children, and tasks that once felt automatic may now require conscious effort and new strategies.

And now you know, 1 more thing about Ataxia! See you next week.