Brett Moulton is a guest ‘Expert’ on outdoors activities and living an active lifestyle with Type 1 diabetes through proper training and planning. To read his full ‘Experts’ bio, click here.
One of the biggest fears many diabetics have is being stranded without enough insulin, medication, or diabetes supplies. This fear no doubt prevents many from venturing out into the wilderness and away from civilization to enjoy the natural beauty of places such as the Grand Canyon.
However, I have always lived my life believing that Type 1 diabetics can physically accomplish anything with a well thought out plan. Last September I set out on a three day hike into Haulapai Canyon, a part of Grand Canyon National Park with a group of friends. It had been some time since I had done an extended remote hike, and I needed to relearn a few things.
First, I had to train and develop the confidence that I was physically “ready” to hike 30 + miles in and out of the rugged and remote (but extremely beautiful) Grand Canyon.
There are no communication lines, food or water available for the first 10 miles of the hike, so I had to carry all my potential needs, including extra glucose for low blood sugars. I wear an insulin pump, which makes adjusting insulin levels quicker and easier, but also requires me to carry spare infusion sets and reservoirs in case an infusion set pulls out. I always bring twice the insulin and two or three more infusion sets than I think I will need, just in case. I try to position my infusion sets in locations that have proven to “stay in” the best.
Food was also a key concern. Weeks ahead of the hike I started developing a non-perishable menu for three meals a day along with the many snacks needed to fuel the calories being burned. I always err on the side of having too much so I never get caught short.
On the downside, this usually means carrying far more weight than others on the hike and I factor this into my pre-hike training regimen. On this particular hike we had mules carry our sleeping supplies, a large amount of our food and other amenities. However, I made sure to personally carry all of my critical diabetes supplies to avoid anything vital getting lost. I carried the food and drink I needed to get the 10 miles to Supai Village along with all of my insulin pump and testing supplies. My day pack weighed in at about 22 pounds, whereas the rest of the group carried about 10 pounds. My philosophy is “better safe than sorry”!
I also made sure to create a plan B and C to bail me out of the hike if necessary. While this is usually a good idea, on this particular hike I was been nursing an injury to my feet, making the backup plans vital.
Plan B was to rent a mule to carry me out of the canyon and plan C was to have a helicopter fly me out ($85) the final day. Fortunately, although the feet were sore after the first day and 13 miles, they got stronger each day and I was able to enjoy the beautiful canyon views, the cool blue-green waters of Havasu Creek, the picturesque waterfalls and the village of Supai.
The end result was a wonderful backcountry hike that relatively few people ever have the joy of experiencing first hand. The satisfaction and experience of the journey was well worth the planning required!
(Each of the Expert columns are based on the experiences and knowledge of the individual columnists. The columns are meant to provide you with helpful information, but are not meant to be considered direct advice. Before making any decisions that could affect your health, make sure to contact a physician or the appropriate medical professional.)
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