05/17/2026
Today we celebrated the beautiful life of - who left us far too soon.
During the ceremony, her beautiful mother Margaret mentioned me, and although we had never met before today, I made sure to find her afterward to give her a huge hug. In that moment, she placed a small urn of Danielle’s ashes into my hands. She told me that after seeing everything I had done, she wanted me to have them and to honor Danielle in whatever way felt right.
That moment will stay with me forever.😭
There is no doubt Danielle made an incredible impact on the hiking community and on so many lives, including mine. During some of my hardest moments, she gave me hope. Every time I was in the hospital, she would send me messages reminding me to stay strong and keep fighting.
For seven years, Danielle fought Stage 4 lung cancer as a non-smoker, and she did it with grit, humor, positivity, and strength that inspired everyone around her. She taught me so much about resilience and finding light even in the darkest moments.
A little bit of these ashes will absolutely be spread in the exact place where we first met, but they’ll also be carried to other areas I know she loved. In many ways, these ashes belong to this community and to the amazing people who had the privilege of knowing her.
Rest easy, Danielle. Your footsteps, your light, and your love will continue on every trail we walk. MAKE IT COUNT✌🏾
