Phoenix Adventures and the Heart of a Vegan Grandfather

A passionate hiker and proud vegan hiker, Ron combines his love for nature, wellness, and sustainability on every trek.

Whether scaling the rugged trails of Camelback Mountain or exploring the breathtaking hiking adventures around Phoenix, Ron is all about embracing the outdoor lifestyle. With his “rise higher” mindset and commitment to vegan hiking, he inspires others to connect with nature while staying true to their values.

Tell us more about yourself, please

I’m a 55 year old grandfather and my girlfriend and I began our vegan journey in 2017.

We had been doing vegan and vegetarian meals once or twice a week, but the change came after a hike with my daughter. During our drive I saw a calf on the side of a gravel road, and I asked my daughter to stop so I could get a picture.

As I pointed my phone at the calf, a cow stepped in front of me to protect her baby. At that moment I decided I could no longer eat anything that loves and protects its young just like I do. I finally feel like I’m truly living my morality. I feel like I’m doing something for the greater good.

People seem to think vegans are weak and we’re all suffering from some sort of protein deficiency. I try to educate people on the many ways vegans get their proteins and other nutrients. I also use myself as an example. Since becoming vegan I have hiked thousands of miles including 6 Grand Canyon hikes and one of those was a solo rim to rim hike.

Phoenix is a pretty good place to be vegan. We have several restaurants that are all vegan and we have bi-weekly vegan socials downtown. I enjoy cooking at home and I really love to make mexican food. I included a pic of some chickpea tacos that I made.