Dana's Grand Canyon Rim-To-Rim Hike

We did it!! This extreme hike in the Grand Canyon was a difficult yet incredible experience! These 2 guys are my new best friends for life…….Joe and Seth. We made the journey out of the canyon together. I’m so proud of us but especially proud of them! They both have Ataxia and were my inspiration the whole trek up. It’s amazing what you can do when you put your mind to it! These guys are living proof of that. A big shout out and congratulations to the other 19 hikers in our group who also completed this hike! We crushed it! Pictures will follow….

This week I got myself back into the gym for some strength training and time on the StairMaster. It felt great to get back to ‘training’ after vacation. On Saturday, I completed my final long walk before the big hike in the Grand Canyon.  With that milestone behind me, I’m officially winding down.

But while the physical training is tapering off, the prep hasn’t stopped. I spent a good chunk of the week researching food! Trying to figure out what food I’ll be bringing with me for the hike along the South Kaibab Trail. It’s a one-day trek, expected to take anywhere from 12 to 15 hours, and I’ll need enough water and food to keep my energy up for the entire journey.

It sounds simple—pack food and go—but it’s actually a bit of a challenge. I need meals and snacks that are lightweight, nutrient-dense, and allergy-friendly (no fish, no nuts). If you’ve ever looked at protein bar ingredients, you know how tricky that can be. So I turned to Pinterest, YouTube, and Amazon to help me brainstorm recipes and find the right containers to carry everything in. I’ll be hauling five liters of water, so keeping my pack light is a priority.

After testing a few recipes, I think I’ve landed on a solid plan for both food and gear.

Looking ahead, this coming week will be much more relaxed—shorter walks, no more half-day Saturday treks. I’m feeling a mix of excitement and nerves, but mostly I’m just ready. Ready to take on this challenge and see what I’m capable of.

Thanks for following along. I’ll check in next week as I make my way over to Phoenix! 😊

This week I had to get a little creative. I was on vacation which meant I had no access to a gym and no weight training. Despite that I still managed to walk a total of 12 miles for the week and I felt accomplished! I started each day with a peaceful 3 mile walk, capturing beautiful sunrise photos along the way. I was proud of myself for making the effort. After all I was on vacation!

I’m looking ahead – just about two and a half weeks left until the big hike! I’m second guessing my training and wondering if I’ve done enough to prepare but at this point, it is what it is. Plenty of people tackle it without perfect prep, and I know I can do it too.

Ataxia fact of the week:

Did you know that there are support groups for people living with Ataxia? These groups offer a chance to connect with others who truly understand the experience. The power is in the shared stories, the sense of community, and the meaningful connections formed. Knowing you are not alone makes all the difference.

This week, I got all my weight training in. I mixed things up a bit and focused on the essentials: quads, hammies, core, and calves. Basically, everything I’ll need to survive those hills without having to be air flighted out half way through.

I also hopped on the StairMaster for 15 minutes. It’s like climbing a mountain that never ends!  My goal is to gradually increase that time over the next couple of weeks—slow and steady, is king!

Next week’s big challenge? Vacation. Saturday is a travel day, so the usual long walk is off the table. But thanks to a wise friend (and a little creative thinking), I’m going to break up the mileage across the week. It’s not glamorous, but it adds up—and let’s be honest, it’s way better than doing nothing.

As for nutrition, well… vacation is where good intentions go to snack. I’m aiming to be as healthy as possible while still enjoying myself. Because yes, I will eat the salad—but I might also ask if it comes with fries.

I’m inching closer to the big event, and I can feel it—it’s going to be awesome. Until then, I’ll keep climbing, training, and pretending the StairMaster is my friend. 

The countdown is ON, baby! Just six weeks until the hike, and I am beyond excited. This is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, and I’m staying laser-focused on my training and health — no injuries, no sniffles, no excuses!

This Week’s Wins:
I crushed all my workouts! One day I couldn’t make it to the gym, so I swapped machines for dumbbells — and let me tell you, I’m extra sore (in a good way). The real highlight? A 12-mile hike on Saturday with a dear friend who reached out and said, “I want in!” She joined me, and it was amazing. The miles flew by, we caught up on life, and it reminded me how special these moments are.

I also tackled Purgatory Chasm — rocks, twists, turns, and a little challenge thrown in. But hey, that’s what training’s all about!

Shoutout Time:
I want to give a huge thank-you to my friends at Biohaven Pharmaceuticals. They’ve been incredibly supportive of me and the Ataxia community.  They’re doing amazing work — and I’m proud to call them friends. Their dedication to patients and families in clinical trials is inspiring.

Final Thoughts:
Stay focused. Keep chasing your goals. Wishing everyone an awesome week ahead. Let’s keep pushing forward. See you next time!