World explorer Helen Ranney says the Grand Canyon changed her life.
From the base camp of Mt. Everest to the floor of the Grand Canyon, Helen Ranney is doing everything she can to have fun working, traveling and spending time with her husband, world-renowned geologist and author Wayne Ranney.
In addition to her many roles as wife, mother of three adult children, grandmother of eight and great-grandmother, Helen has worked for Arizona Highways as sales manager and the Grand Canyon Conservancy (GCC) as director of marketing and associate director of philanthropy. She also has lived in Hawaii; first, as a child and later in life, as an adult.
With her “formal” career behind her, the rambunctious, on-the-go woman recently ran a half marathon with one of her daughters. She also hikes the trails of the Grand Canyon often – sometimes for fun and other times for her work with the Grand Canyon Conservancy Field Institute – and is doing what she calls other “fun jobs,” working with river running companies, such as Arizona Raft Adventures (AZRA) and Canyon Exploration and Outdoors Unlimited on “exchange hikes.”
“Exchange hikes are when people only ride part of the river and then hike out. I love doing this. I also do river orientations and give formal talks along with PowerPoint presentations to prepare people for river trips,” she said. “I teach what to pack for hiking, camping and what to expect.”
As a professional hiking guide, Ranney did 27 exchange hikes last year.
Ranney also serves on the board of directors for Grand Canyon Youth, a Flagstaff nonprofit organization that conducts educational outdoor expeditions to connect young people to the rivers and canyons of the Southwest.
In a Grand Canyon Conservancy YouTube video, Ranney explains how a hike down Kaibab Trail in the Grand Canyon changed her life. Previously she wasn’t a fan of camping or even the outdoors.
Since taking those first transformational steps, she has completed a 15-day trek in the Everest region of Nepal, hiked to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, went on a safari in the Serengeti and hiked for 21 days on the John Muir Trail in the Sierra Nevadas. She also spent a month traveling through South America using public transportation and recently traveled to Antarctica.
“Each and every one of the places I visited are now a part of my heart and who I am, and I attribute that to the relationship I have with the Grand Canyon,” she said. “The sense of peace, the sense of place and the sense that I am home.”
Aside from her love for the outdoors and adventure, being a mentor comes naturally, according to her associates.
“When I started working for GCC in 2008, there was so much to learn about living and working at the Grand Canyon,” said retired GCC CEO Susan Schroeder. “Fortunately, Helen worked for GCC at the time and quietly and patiently mentored me on all the things I needed to know about the Grand Canyon. She calmly answered questions, shared insights and offered advice,” she said noting that visitors gain a lot from Ranney as she shares stories of the canyon’s rich history, unique wildlife and geological wonders.
Born into a military family in Fort Cavazos, Texas, Ranney says she moved 29 times in her life. Her family lived in Hawaii in the 1960s, “I went to grade school there and consider it one of my homes.”
After the Vietnam War, her dad served as a reservist. “We moved to Phoenix in 1972. My dad was a big traveler and loved to drive so we traveled all over the United States and Europe.” She also lived in Belgium for a short time in the ‘70s.
“I’ve always been so proud of my mom,” she added. “While my dad was serving in Vietnam, she went back to school and her earned her college diploma from the University of Hawaii, while raising two children!”
Ranney also volunteers at the National Park Service Canyon District, helping visitors and answering questions.
“Tenacity is a good word to describe my mom,” said Ranney’s son, Zack. “My mom is an overcomer. I have witnessed so many difficult situations come her way and she’s handled all of them with grace. She never blames others or complains, she just moves forward in such a graceful and elegant way. My mom can survive anything.”
Currently, the Ranneys are planning their next big adventure. “The Grand Canyon gave this life to me. I am forever grateful.”
FAVORITE PLACE TO VISIT
I have enjoyed hiking in the Sierras since completing the John Muir Trail. It’s definitely a place that is beautiful and challenging that I have enjoyed going back to. The last time was for my 60th birthday with two friends in 2022. We went back to “Muir Hut” [aka John Muir Memorial Shelter] on the morning of my 60th and we had it to ourselves for a bit.
ROLE MODELS
My dad was a big traveler, so my travel bug comes from him, and also Wayne. He made his own path and he’s been very supportive when I quit my good job to work part-time seasonally so we can travel together.
LATEST HOBBY
I’ve taken up perennial, drought-tolerant flower gardening. Maybe I’ll take a master gardening course, but for now, I just play around and figure things out myself and with a friend who has more local gardening experience. I love watching the hummingbirds, other birds and small wildlife, bees too, in our garden.
SUPERPOWER
Love. Love for my guy, Wayne, my kiddos, family and my strong women friends who hold each other up to be ourselves.
HOPE FOR THE NEW YEAR
More travel! My second Antarctica trip will also include Chile and Uruguay. Hoping to do another hiking trip in Europe, too. FBN
By V. Ronnie Tierney, FBN
Photo by V. Ronnie Tierney, Fresh Focuses Photography: Helen Ranney, shown here on the Bright Angel Trail, spends much of her time hiking in the Grand Canyon.