Tina Russom, Associate General Counsel at CSN, recently completed a significant trek to Phantom Ranch in the Grand Canyon. After three years of entering the Phantom Ranch Lottery, she finally secured a spot with help from her brother. Accompanied by their father and another brother, they set out on an ambitious Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim (R2R2R) hike—a 42.7-mile journey from the South Rim to the North Rim and back.
Russom’s training was interrupted by tendinitis, leading her to modify her plans. The group began their adventure with a 7.8-mile descent down the South Kaibab Trail to Phantom Ranch. While one brother completed the full R2R2R hike, Russom opted for a different route, exploring Ribbon Falls on an 11.9-mile round trip.
The ascent back to the South Rim proved challenging due to tired legs and intense sun exposure. “I started at 5:30 a.m. to beat the heat, but it was still so hard,” Russom said. “It felt like it would never end!”
Russom prepared for this journey through rigorous training that included long-distance running and stair workouts at CSN during lunch breaks in high temperatures.
Despite facing challenges, Russom enjoyed highlights such as stargazing without light pollution and encountering wildlife like deer at Phantom Ranch.
Looking ahead, Russom plans to return for the North Rim portion she missed and is considering a “key swap” hike with her brother starting from opposite rims.
“I’ll train with more weight in my pack next time,” she said, “but I can’t wait to go back and finish the adventure.”
