Surgeon General Visits Red Mountain on way to Grand Canyon

Last week we were proud to host the US Surgeon General Dr. Regina Benjamin and national fitness expert Dr. Pamela Peeke as they prepared to hike the Grand Canyon rim to rim. Their 26-mile trek through the national park was a continuation of the Surgeon General's Walks for a Healthy and Fit Nation, launched in June at the American College of Sport's Medicine's (ACSM) annual meeting in Baltimore. Joining Dr. Benjamin and Dr. Peeke were a group of women determined to make this hike an experience of a life time.

The photo above (courtesy of Dr. Peeke) was taken on a training hike in Snow Canyon State Park near Red Mountain Resort & Spa the day before the Grand Canyon hike.

That night the group was blessed by the Elder Clarence John of the Shivwits band of the Paiute tribe in a private ceremony. Following the ceremony the Shivwits Dancers entertained the group and Red Mountain guests. It was important to Dr. Benjamin to meet with several Native American tribes during her visit to the area to discuss their healthy and wellness concerns. Dr. Benjamin also met with the Hualapai Tribe in Peach Springs, AZ following her Grand Canyon hike.



You can read about Dr. Peeke's experience and more about her hiking partners and their motivation on her "Everyday Fitness" blog on WebMD.com. If you have hiked rim to rim or just want to learn more about it, visit RimtoRim.org, a new website started by a recent rim to rim hiker whose life was changed by the experience.