The 25-mile Grand Canyon rim-to-rim trek is a grueling and rewarding feat for any hiker. But for Valley burn survivors Jason Nelson, Tami Chmielewski and Parker Mildebrandt, it was a way to raise funds for the Arizona Burn Foundation, a nonprofit that advocates for burn prevention, education and support for burn survivors and their families.
Nelson, an experienced hiker from Mesa who sustained burns on 80 percent of his body in 2014, sees similarities in the challenges of his lengthy, painful recovery and long-distance hiking. “It’s mentally and physically exhausting. You overcome a lot of different obstacles to just survive in the first place, and then to go on from surviving to thriving is a completely other journey.”
Gilbert resident Chmielewski, who was severely burned on her feet, legs and abdomen in 2022, cites her love of a challenge and a desire to inspire others as her motivation. “Recovering from the burn was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life. And the rim hike was the hardest thing I’ve ever done on purpose.”
Burn survivors often have difficulty regulating body temperature due to skin grafts, requiring extra precautions. During the group’s rim-to-rim adventure last May, she completed 17 miles of the hike before wisely turning back. “I’ll definitely do it again. I have to conquer it!”
Mildebrandt, also from Gilbert, was injured in a gas leak explosion. “In the hospital, I was just always looking for some reason to push through and get back to normal.” On behalf of ABF, Nelson reached out to him during his recovery, providing moral support and encouragement.
Burn injuries, like long-distance hiking, can be life-changing experiences. “You’ve been through this trauma, but it’s life-affirming and inspiring,” says Nelson, who proposed and planned the canyon hike. “It’s a perfect way to show that everything’s a process and it’s going to be OK.”
The rim-to-rim team, which included Chmielewski, Mildebrandt, Parker and his wife, Sierra, along with a group of supporters, raised $41,490 to help fund ABF programs like camps, mentoring, therapy, events and education programs.
“Every time I get to the top, I say I’ll never do this again,” Mildebrandt says of completing the trek. “Then I think, well, when can I do it again?”
WANT TO SEE YOUR PHOTO HERE?
Upload your photos to phoenixmag.com/citizen-hiker
Photos that best depict trail character and experience will be added to our website slideshow.
Each month up to three photos will be selected to illustrate the Citizen Hiker article in our print edition and online.
