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Phantom Ranch, Grand Canyon, Sedona, & the Southwest

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Home/Contributors/Denise Traver

Denise Traver

Denise on the South Kaibab Trail
Denise Traver
Hit the Trail founder

Working as a park ranger at Phantom Ranch, Cottonwood Camp, and Indian Gardens, my duties included emergency medical services, trail patrols, law enforcement, search and rescue, interpretive ranger talks, and last but not least, providing encouragement for exhausted hikers.

After years of working as a Grand Canyon National Park backcountry ranger and then as a field instructor for the Grand Canyon Field Institute, I decided to share some of the things I’ve learned while working with the public and during my own backpacking experiences.

So often while working in the canyon, I would see people having the worst time of their lives in one of the most glorious places on earth! And with just a little more knowledge and preparation, they could actually be having a good time. I know that’s a radical concept, but stick with me. I’ll do my best to prove it to you!

To say I’m an outdoor enthusiast is a major understatement! I live for the wilderness. I’ve always worked to supply my habit and have been very fortunate to have made the outdoors my workplace.

I love to share my experiences and feel very privileged when I’m able to watch the emergence of a self-confident, competent person that often happens after backpacking in the Grand Canyon. It’s like watching a butterfly emerge from a cocoon. Many people share my feeling that you cannot come to the canyon without feeling an incredible impact on your personal life.

Denise Traver’s love for wilderness in general, and the desert southwest in particular, is rivaled by her commitment to sharing these treasures with others.

In her capacity as a Grand Canyon National Park backcountry ranger and a lead instructor for the Grand Canyon Field Institute, Denise has treated outdoor enthusiasts from around the world to her unique blend of knowledge and enthusiasm for the rich natural and human resources found within our public lands.

A journey with Denise into the backcountry has been routinely described as “the trip of a lifetime” by veterans of her numerous outings. Their appreciation of her practical tips on the art of backpacking is as well-received as her grasp of the “hard” sciences that pertain to the terrain they’ve encountered together.

Though no longer a full-time GCFI instructor, Denise has played a major role in the direction, popularity, and continued success of one of the leading field seminar programs in the country.

Mike Buchheit
Director, Grand Canyon Conservancy Field Institute

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Site Contributors

Christa Sadler

Christa Sadler started playing in the dirt when she was a toddler, much to the dismay of her …

Denise Traver

Working as a park ranger at Phantom Ranch, Cottonwood Camp, and Indian Gardens, my duties included …

Gary Ladd

Gary Ladd, renowned Southwest photographer and author of numerous books including "Page, Arizona: …

Larry Lindahl

Larry Lindahl photographs the American Southwest with breathtaking scenes of the landscape and its …

Michael Anderson

Michael F. Anderson, Ph.D., earned his doctoral degree in history from Northern Arizona University …

Mike Buchheit

Mike Buchheit was the director of the Grand Canyon Conservancy Field Institute for over 25 years, a …

Robert Audretsch

Robert W. “Bob” Audretsch, B.A., M.S.L.S., held professional library positions in Michigan, Ohio, …

Sally Underwood

Sally is a native Arizonan and an avid student and interpreter of the Colorado Plateau and …

Thomas M. Myers, M.D.

Dr. Tom Myers grew up in Flagstaff, Arizona. His interest and passion for the Grand Canyon began in …

Wayne Ranney

Wayne Ranney is a geologist, trail guide, and author based in Flagstaff, Arizona. He completed his …

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