CSN Employee Conquers Phantom Ranch Adventure
After three years of entering the Phantom Ranch Lottery, Tina Russom, CSN Associate General Counsel, finally hit the jackpot—thanks to her brother! Joined by their dad and another brother, they embarked on an unforgettable trek to Phantom Ranch, the only lodging below the Grand Canyon rim, reachable only by mule, foot, or rafting the Colorado River.
The group’s ambitious goal was to tackle the Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim (R2R2R) hike: a grueling 42.7-mile journey from the South Rim to the North Rim and back. However, tendinitis derailed Russom’s training and forced her to adjust her plans.
Their adventure began with a 7.8-mile descent down the steep South Kaibab Trail, dropping 5,000 feet in elevation to Phantom Ranch. After settling into their cabin, the family split up. One brother completed the full R2R2R, while Russom explored the stunning Ribbon Falls, an 11.9-mile round trip with a 1,200-foot elevation gain.
The toughest challenge? Climbing back up to the South Rim. With tired legs, a heavy pack, and relentless sun exposure, the 5,000-foot ascent proved grueling. “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 trained intensely for the adventure. Her routine included long-distance running, spinning, and climbing Lone Mountain. She even did stair workouts at CSN during lunch breaks, often in 100-degree heat, to simulate the canyon’s rugged conditions.
Her top trail snacks? Pickles for electrolytes and Uncrustables for quick energy.
Despite the challenges, the trip was full of unforgettable highlights. Stargazing from the canyon floor, with no light pollution, was a surreal experience. Wildlife encounters included a herd of deer at Phantom Ranch that seemed perfectly at home among the human visitors.
Russom is already planning her return to tackle the North Rim portion she missed—a 27-28 mile round trip on the North Kaibab Trail. She’s also considering a unique “key swap” hike with her brother, starting from opposite rims and exchanging car keys along the way.
“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.”
