Lisa Hanna

Bio: I was born in Ohio so I am a "buckeye" fan. Chris and I moved here in 2004 and I work at Sunrise Hospital as a nurse. We have one son, Alexander and he is married to a great girl Kimberley. Chris and I are grandparents or should I say he is papa and I am Glamma (Glamorous grandma). I love anything to do with sun and fun so hiking fits in beautifully.

Age: 54

Why did you join the 52 Peak Club: Whether looking to lose weight, reduce stress, or simply clear your head and get out into nature, hiking with the 52 peak club offers it all. It delivers almost immediate rewards. The club offered a systematic way of safely hiking to peaks that I would have never known existed.   


Date Completed all 52 Peaks: June 19th, 2013 (34th person to become a 53er)

Toughest Peak: My toughest hike was Black Velvet, it was early on in my collection of the cards , A queen of clubs and it was long and I had a healthy fear of height then too. I had to have a lot of coaching from assistant leader, Eric to get to the top. Linda another assistant leader kept saying “It’s a walk in the park” I felt like I was climbing Everest when I got there 

Favorite Hike: Oak Peak was my favorite. It has everything a trail walk in, scrambling, 10 dry waterfalls and Chris set a rappel on down side. It was a perfect day with  perfect friends

How did you feel once you became a 53er: They say hiking is healthy. Is it ever! By using hiking as a way to stay physically active, I have lost over 25 pounds, reduced my risk of heart disease and slowed the aging process by making me feel youthful. It also offered me mental health benefits by reducing stress and anxiety while completing my Master’s degree in Nursing during this time. This was all due to 52 peak club and hiking with a great variety of friends.

Advice for new hikers: It’s simple. As you hike more frequently, you’ll develop additional stamina, skills, and overcome your fears. But let’s face it, what activity is more fundamentally human than walking upright on two feet? You will improve over time by hiking each card and building the skills involved to complete the hike associated with it.
It’s cheap. Compared to just about any other sport, you need good shoes and a comfortable pack, and you’re pretty much ready to go.
It’s real. Hiking encourages you to step away from your ho hum life and step back out into nature. It’s a chance to experience the nature directly, without a filter unless it associated with a camera and rediscover the rhythms of the day and the seasons. It is beauty at its best.
It’s forever. You can enjoy it your whole life and introduce it to others as Branch has. It’s also a sport that doesn’t tolerate procrastination or excuses for very long. And if you’re looking for some motivation to get up off the couch and onto the trail, consider these reasons to start hiking.