Report on backpacking in the Grand Canyon

Fern · Post by **Fern** » Thu Jun 19, 2014 10:52 am

Hi, all!

I just got back from my rim to rim hiking trip in the Grand Canyon and thought I'd report what worked for me and what didn't. Needless to say, we are all different in what we can and can't eat, so take all of this with a grain of salt.

I didn't ever get around to making venison jerky due to a busy schedule (graduations, wedding, birthdays, etc.), so I stocked up on Tanka buffalo jerky and hoped for the best. For breakfast I put sunflower butter on a flattened banana from Trade Joe's and sprinkled it with dehydrated blueberries also from Trader Joe's. While hiking, I alternated between the Tanka, some applesauce-like squeeze tubes of fruit and veg (Happy Squeeze, I think), dried blueberries, banana chips and salted, roasted sunflower seeds. I tried to go easy on the buffalo jerky, due to Tex's warning about the shared DNA with cattle.

In addition to camping, we stayed at Phantom Ranch down in the Canyon. Their fare is mostly gluten free but since the choices were beef stew and steak, I couldn't eat the entrees. The salads were good and served without dressing. I had a foil pouch of salmon that I ate at cocktail hour before dinner and was quite content to nibble salad and visit with my companions.

My only mistake, was on the last night, eating about 6 bites of a steak. That was really not a good idea. The next morning I had gurgles and feelings of urgency most of the way up the 9 mile trail to the top. There were pit toilets every mile and a half, but strangely, I didn't have D until I got all the way up to the top and went into the loo to wash up before lunch. The worst was the familiar MC fatigue. I had no energy at all and the heat and altitude didn't help. I had patient hiking companions who didn't mind my strategy of walking from shade patch to shade patch and taking a minuted to catch my breath, take a photo and cool off.

I honestly felt very healthy and well fed all but the last day. Honestly, it is so hot down there, and hiking is so strenuous that I didn't have a lot of appetite, so I came home with a lot of food. All in all it was a great experience and I would do it again.

UkuleleLady · Post by **UkuleleLady** » Thu Jun 19, 2014 4:13 pm

Hi Fern, so glad your trip went well. That is quite a trip for an MCer. Bravo. Very inspiring that we can indeed get our lives back.

Nancy

Post by **tex** » Thu Jun 19, 2014 4:52 pm

Hi Fern,

Congratulations on completing a successful backpacking adventure over some pretty tough terrain. I agree with Nancy — that's an impressive accomplishment. You packed an interesting menu, but apparently it worked.

Thank you for sharing your trip with us.

Tex

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Thu Jun 19, 2014 6:39 pm

Way to GO!!!!
what a huge accomplishment.

thanks for sharing, it is a timely reminder that with the right diet, knowing your body, good planning, you can embark on these amazing adventures.

hope you got some good photos...

Fern · Post by **Fern** » Thu Jun 19, 2014 7:14 pm

Thanks, Nancy, Tex and Gabes!

Since I figured out the MTHFR thing, and started supplementing with L-5-methylfolate and Sam-e, and I got serious about eliminating the offending foods from my diet, I have had good energy and have been able to maintain my fitness. My MC has been kept to a dull roar.

My diet has been coming together since I started sorting through what I can eat that also provides me with ample dietary folate.

My companions thought my fare kind of sad until at one hiking break, I took a wooden coffee stirrer and put blobs of sunflower butter on banana chips and topped them with freeze dried blueberries. They all agreed my hiking canapés were better than their trail mix. My Happy Squeeze pouches were also a hit, especially after being chilled in Bright Angel Creek.

I did get lots of good photos, Gabes. So many interesting things were flowering on the hike down from the North Rim, and I loved seeing the century plants in different stages of their cycle. Ribbon Falls was a magical oasis. The entire hike was like walking through a postcard. There isn't a bad view in the whole 23 miles. When I was faltering on the hike out, I shrugged it off, knowing there was no deadline to make it to the rim. I took my time and enjoyed the views.

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Thu Jun 19, 2014 7:23 pm

That is fantastic that the L-5 Methylfolate and Sam-e have worked so well

I recently posted a few things about Magnesium - from the book Magnesium Miracle. like Pyrrole, one of the things linked to MTHFR is heavy metal toxicity.
High doses of magnesium are very good at clearing the heavy metals... and various other aspects linked to the damaged cells due to MTHFR.

Fern · Post by **Fern** » Thu Jun 19, 2014 7:34 pm

I'll look into that, Gabes. I do try to soak in an Epsom Salts bath about 3 times a week. It's harder to get to it in the heat of the summer, though.

Thanks!

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Thu Jun 19, 2014 7:48 pm

if you are D dominate MC'er the best way is via the magnesium oil spray..
info on doses and costs are in this post

http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=19963

Leah · Post by **Leah** » Sat Jun 21, 2014 12:21 am

Hi Gabes. I just wanted to say that I have been rubbing the mag. lotion on for about a week or do now. I don't know if it's a coincidence, but my BMs are more solid. ??????? I also started getting weird cramps in various places in my back. My rubbing the lotion directly on the spot, it actually seems to help.????

Leah

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Sat Jun 21, 2014 5:46 am

leah,
fantastic news, that is awesome.

i am pretty confident it is the magnesium, one of the 3 main reasons i started higher doses was to reduce and balance histamine inflammation.

i have not taken any h1 or h2 blockers for over 8 weeks! prior to this i had been taking them 3-5 times a week for quite a few months. my poop is the best it has been in mmmmm 6 years or more.

hard to believe something sooo simple, affordable, can be providing this level of benefit, and fairly quickly! like the improvement that correcting a vit d3 deficiency can bring. it is the same for the mag and the b group...

i am also pretty sure, that complete healing cant happen if there are deficiencies like this.
especially for those where MTHFR and/or Pyrrole is involved. fix the cell health, the whole body benefits..

UkuleleLady · Post by **UkuleleLady** » Sat Jun 21, 2014 11:28 am

Leah wrote:my BMs are more solid. ??????? I also started getting weird cramps in various places in my back. My rubbing the lotion directly on the spot, it actually seems to help.????

Gabes-Apg wrote:i have not taken any h1 or h2 blockers for over 8 weeks! prior to this i had been taking them 3-5 times a week for quite a few months.

These are pretty amazing endorsements. I am eagerly awaiting my mag. oil!

Also (and I'm being lazy here) Anyone know if I'll be able to find out about my MTHFR status via 23andme? I've submitted a saliva sample but not blood.

Nancy

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Sat Jun 21, 2014 1:56 pm

Nancy,
Given the discussions thus far, I think it is these types of deficiencies that is creating niggly symptoms, that people only get 80% wellness.

As these issues are not easily confirmed or acknowledged by main stream medicine, people don't improve beyond the 80%

My MTHFR test was saliva.
Here in Aus, the blood test is only used if there are issues with the saliva test