STORIES
INSIDE PASStoPASS
Testimonials
Many hikers have shared their experiences in testimonials and short stories- see more 2016-22
Some hikers have shared their story in BOOK CHAPTERS as well.
SHELIA AND THE SHERPA (2024) – WILL KEARNEY
If the video gives you any glitches, go directly to https://photos.app.goo.gl/YriH7SmLugSLa3UW6
TAMARA BARRY
When I was 45 years old, I noticed that my right hand a tremor. As a Family Nurse Practitioner, I knew what the possible diagnosis was. By age 60, the symptoms of PD progressed enough that I needed to begin treatment. The silver lining was that exercise has been shown to slow the progression!
I have been active my entire life. I have had to give up a couple of sports like Nordic and alpine skiing and technical mountain biking. I still ride my road and gravel bike and continue to kayak, snowshoe and hike. I can’t express how excited I was to find Pass to Pass. I have hiked with them the past 2 years and will be participating in one this year. My daughter has been my support person. Sharing this experience with her has made us so much closer.
This organization is top notch. To be able to be in the wilderness with people who are experiencing the struggles that Parkinson’s presents but courageous enough to challenge themselves has been inspiring. The leaders have all been so supportive and encouraging. And the llamas, well, they are the main attraction on the trail!
I cannot thank Bill Meyer and everyone on the board enough for this program. I look forward to it every year.
SARAH EITZMAN
Ten years ago, my world changed when I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. Suddenly, at 53 years of age, my active lifestyle seemed like a distant dream. In high school and college, I was an avid backpacker and hiker, but my busy life as a mother and pediatrician had delayed some of my planned trips. When Parkinson’s entered my life, those trips became overshadowed by uncertainty and limitations.
Discovering Pass-to-Pass was a turning point. It offered more than just activities for outdoor enthusiasts; it provided a safe haven where my husband and I could re-engage with backpacking in a supportive environment. Pass-to-Pass isn’t just about the trails; it’s about the people who walk them. Through the trips taken with them, I’ve had the privilege of meeting individuals who defy expectations, who face their own challenges with courage and grace. Their stories inspire me to push past my own limitations, to embrace every moment with gratitude and determination.
Parkinson’s may have altered my path, but it hasn’t defined my destination. With the help of Pass-to-Pass, I’ve reclaimed my love for backpacking and discovered a community of kindred spirits who remind me that adventure knows no bounds. Together, we traverse trails, conquer mountains, and celebrate the resilience of the human spirit.
MIKE SMYSER
I grew up in the Puget Sound region and for the past 50+ years I’ve been hooked on being in the wilderness. It has always been a magical and tremendous experience filling me with awe and energy.
Thirteen years ago, however, I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease (PD). At times, it’s a huge task to perform the most mundane things, such as getting food on a fork and putting it into my mouth. And then there are the agonizing toe-curling foot cramps which often disrupted my longer walks. I could foresee a day when walking, let alone day-hiking would soon be impossible.
Then, we were introduced to Pass to Pass! I have now participated in two wonderful hikes along the Pacific Crest Trail organized by Pass to Pass. Oh, to see the stars again! To hear the quiet! Or not, as on my first hike, we were awoken around midnight to the loud howl of a wolf, followed by coyotes and elk in the distance. Again, I experienced that feeling of being so awe struck by the enormity of the mountains.
I hope to go on my third hike this year. Preparing for the endurance and strength required to do such a hike helps motivate me throughout the year. I am so grateful to the helpful and enthusiastic on-site and behind-the-scene team leaders who organized the hikes, as well as my fellow hikers (including my wife) with whom we were able to share the struggles and successes in managing PD. And of course, I am hugely grateful to the wonderful and personable llamas for helping carry some of my gear. Nonetheless, I still will carry a pack weighing about 15 pounds which is about my limit these days. It’s a small price for me to pay for still being able to participate in these great adventures.
TAKAHIRO SHIGEMITSU
My name is Takahiro Shigemitsu. My friends call me Hiro. I am a senior software engineering manager who’s has worked at Microsoft and Amazon. Although I’m used to functioning at a very high level, I started having trouble just brushing my teeth. In 2016, after two frustrating years, I was diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease. I was just 45 years old, with a wife and teenagers.
Looking for someone to talk to, I went to a local support group for people with Parkinson’s. I met Ken Kisch, PasstoPass cofounder who encouraged me to join one of the group’s hiking trips. “I was scared. I was fit but I worried about what would happen if my symptoms got worse. We had wonderful trip leaders who really understood Parkinson’s and could assess what each hiker needed. It’s a safe environment where I can be myself. It was strenuous and I truly loved it.”
I returned for another hike the following year and did two trips in 2021. The first was difficult and the second was moderate. “I love the challenges and I love the people. Being on the trail brings out the kindness and generosity in my character.” PasstoPass inspired me to give back to the Parkinson’s community by joining the board of the Pacific Northwest’s chapter of the American Parkinson’s Disease Association (APDA).
I plan to continue hiking with PasstoPass. “The benefits are great exercise and it pushes me to be independent. The wilderness forces you to appreciate what you have and what you can do. I want to do this for the rest of my life, as long as I’m able.”
ANN LANE
I’m a former natural resources attorney forced to retire early after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s at age 52. I live in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and walk the trails outside my back door with my dog. Our whole family, my husband and two sons, love to hike, camp, fly-fish and play golf. I stay fit by taking Rock Steady Boxing classes, which are designed for people with Parkinson’s. I believe that exercise and a strong support group have made a huge difference in my battle with Parkinson’s Disease.
My first PasstoPass hike was on the Pacific Crest Trail in the summer of 2021. Tammy Sloan Smith, my friend of 40 years, was my support hiker. Together we completed all 35 miles, something I’m proud to have accomplished. Tammy and I loved hiking with the llamas and sharing another wonderful adventure. I learned that it is possible to live well with Parkinson’s. During my first PasstoPass hike, I learned, after a lifetime of always having to be first on the trail, that being in the middle or even in the back of the group isn’t so bad… as long as I can keep going.
ERIC MATSON
I am a retired corporate lawyer who finds special joy in outdoor adventures, particularly wilderness experiences. The opportunity to help others experience that joy is very gratifying. My wife and I moved to Washington State in 1980 and have experienced many backpacking adventures together and with our kids over the years, in the Pacific NW and far beyond. In recent years we have done more expedition and wilderness sea kayak trips than backpacking, but among my (our) favorite backpacking adventures have been two completions of the Wonderland Trail (once in each direction), Section J of the PCT from Snoqualmie Pass to Stevens Pass, several trips into the upper Enchantments, the Goat Rocks Wilderness section of the PCT, the Coast-to-Coast walk across northern England, and the Olympic Coast North trail. I also enjoy day hikes, snowshoeing, X-C skiing, kayak day paddles, and playing pickleball.