Dayna Stimson on the Get Stoked Girls Podcast
- Rhianna Walzer
- May 15
- 10 min read
Updated: Oct 30
A conversation about big mountain skiing, ultrarunning, and balancing a career in family medicine.
Meet Dayna Stimson — big mountain skier, ultrarunner, and family nurse practitioner. Her journey in the mountains began with childhood tears on skinny skis and has grown into a life defined by endurance, adventure, and a commitment to service. Balancing her healthcare career with big mountain skiing, solo FKTs, and a passion for empowering others, Dayna has found structure and purpose in her training under coach EmKay Sullivan, helping her pursue bold goals while staying balanced.
In this conversation, Dayna reflects on burning out from competitive nordic skiing, rediscovering the joy of movement, managing risk and resilience in the backcountry, and the mindset needed for long efforts. We met in Bishop, California, on the canal, a favorite running route for locals waiting for snowmelt. With the Eastern Sierra as a backdrop, she shares her transition from nordic skiing to big mountain lines, her approach to risk in snowy terrain, her FKT on the Evolution Loop, balancing healthcare with outdoor pursuits, evolving relationship with food, and advice for inspiring more women to embrace movement in the mountains.
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Athletic Background
Rhi: To start things off, can you walk us through your athletic background?
Dayna: My parents first took me cross-country skiing when I was about four. I guess I cried the whole time and swore I’d never do it again. Growing up, I played soccer, danced, rode horses. I pretty much tried everything. It wasn’t until middle school that a friend convinced me to join the ski team, and that’s when I really fell in love with it. I realized I was good and got hooked on the competitive side. I raced through high school and into college, but balancing school, training, and life got exhausting. I ended up burned out, got sick a few times, and eventually stepped away from racing. It took a few years, but I eventually found my way back to sport, this time, with more joy.
Rhi: What does training for competitive nordic skiing look like? What kind of schedule were you on during the season?
Dayna: Training for competitive nordic skiing is pretty intense — you’re looking at 500 to 700 hours a year. Aside from April, which is typically a rest month, training ramps back up in May with a mix of cross-training and roller skiing. Cross training also includes running, hiking, and long days in the mountains. Once the snow hits, it’s full-on skiing, often 12 to 20 hours a week, plus strength training and frequent double sessions.
Rhi: After college, you took a break and mentioned feeling pretty burned out. What was the journey like getting back into skiing?
Dayna: The first time I remember really enjoying skiing again after quitting racing was during a winter biathlon in Mammoth. The event combined skate skiing with target shooting. You’d ski a loop, shoot five targets, and do penalty laps if you missed. I did it with my mom and some of her friends, and it felt like such a fun, low-pressure community event. It was the first time in a while I thought, “Okay, this is actually really lovely,” and it started to reignite my love for skiing.
Big Mountain Skiing
Rhi: These days, you’re focused on big mountain and backcountry skiing. How did you make that transition from nordic skiing, and what drew you into that side of the sport?
Dayna: Interestingly, I didn’t get into backcountry skiing until grad school in Vermont. In high school, I was focused on racing and nordic skiing, so I didn’t explore it then. Vermont’s terrain was perfect for bridging nordic and backcountry touring with shorter climbs, gentler slopes, and less risk.
I got a pair of Voile skis with fish scales so I didn’t need full skins, but they were wide enough for good turns. Transitioning from nordic to backcountry felt natural because it combined endurance with the fun of downhill. When I returned to the Sierra, the terrain was more challenging, so I took an avalanche course, got the proper safety gear, and kept building my knowledge. Being fit and technically skilled helped, but there were gaps to fill. Having a supportive community was key, and it’s important to develop your own skills and not rely too much on partners to stay safe.
Every time you’re in the mountains, you learn something new from the experience or from others. You notice different snow types, assess stability, and pay attention to the terrain. It’s all about checking in with your partners and learning together.
Rhi: Speaking of partners, do you have a go-to skiing partner now? What was it like finding the right person to ski with? Were there any experiences where it just didn’t click, or have you always had a solid partner?
Dayna: Most of the time, I ski with my husband. We also have a few friends with similar skill levels who we ski with regularly, and we’re all drawn to the same types of terrain. In backcountry skiing, it’s important to match up not just in skill level, but also in risk tolerance. Some of my great friends have a much higher tolerance for risk than I do, and while that’s totally fine, it can mean we’re not the best match for skiing together. It’s all about ensuring that everyone feels safe and is having fun while also growing in the sport, without getting into situations that feel too risky or scary.
The most important thing is skiing with people I trust. If you have open communication, it’s easier to speak up if something doesn’t feel right, like saying, “I don’t feel good about this, we should turn around.” I’ve definitely been in situations where I didn’t feel comfortable but didn’t speak up, and that’s something they emphasize in avalanche courses — understanding group dynamics. It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking if no one else is expressing concern, everything must be fine, but often, others might be feeling the same way but aren’t speaking up. I also believe in a strict turnaround rule. If one person feels uncomfortable, we all turn back. It’s not worth creating a situation where someone feels unheard or unsafe.
Skiing with trusted people who encourage open communication is key.
Rhi: Let’s talk about a memorable line. Can you share a trip report of one that really stands out to you? What made it unforgettable?
Dayna: One of the most memorable and humbling lines I’ve skied was Pinner Couloir off Mount Laurel near Convict Canyon. It’s a 4,000-foot couloir that narrows to just over a ski length in spots. During the huge 2023 winter, it was the first big, consequential line I’d attempted in the Sierra. I felt the steepness was within my ability, but I was underprepared and relied on a partner who’d seen a few posts saying conditions were good. We didn’t boot up the line, so we had no sense of the snow until we reached the top.
I hadn’t brought crampons or an ice axe, which was a huge oversight. Once we dropped in, the snow was icy and terrifying. A few hundred feet in, turning back wasn’t really an option, so we committed. My legs shook uncontrollably, and I had to stay completely present and focus on each turn. When we reached the lower third, the angle eased and it started to feel manageable. Making it to the bottom brought immense relief and taught me the importance of preparation, gear, and fully understanding a route. That line was a turning point in taking full responsibility for my own safety.
Rhi: That brings me to mindset — there’s obviously the physical prep that goes into big mountain skiing, but the mental side is huge too. How do you approach the psychological demands of being in big terrain?
Dayna: For me, a big part of managing the mental side is practicing positive self-talk. When I'm struggling, it's usually because self-doubt starts creeping in, so I try to remind myself that I’ve done hard things before and made it through. Staying grounded in that memory helps me reset. Confidence plays such a huge role in how you show up out there, but I think it’s equally important to balance that with humility, like having a deep respect for the terrain and not letting ego push you into forcing it. Some days, it’s just not the day. The weather, snowpack, visibility — any number of things might not line up. So I try to hold both: confidence in my skills, and the willingness to call it and turn around if something doesn’t feel right.
True strength in the mountains is balancing trust in yourself with respect for the environment.
Rhi: What advice would you give to someone who's just getting into backcountry skiing? Where should they start, both in terms of skills and gear? Any tips or recommendations for easing into it?
Dayna: The biggest thing is being prepared for big mountain environments. Backcountry skiing is totally doable for a wide range of people, but preparation makes all the difference. At a basic level, that means having essential gear like a beacon, shovel, and probe. In places like the Sierra, especially in spring with ice or corn, crampons, ski crampons, and an ice axe are also very helpful for steeper objectives.
Taking an intro avalanche course early on was invaluable. It helped me understand snow science, group dynamics, decision-making, and communication in the backcountry. It’s a great entry point and a minimum for going out safely. Being mindful of who you ski with is also key; sometimes I’ve chosen not to ski with certain people because their training or awareness wasn’t sufficient. Having more experienced friends or mentors is equally important. My advice is to invest in the gear, take the right courses, and surround yourself with people who push you to grow while keeping you safe. That is the foundation for becoming a solid, reliable partner in the backcountry.
Trail Running
Rhi: Let’s shift gears into running. I’d love to hear about the Evolution Loop FKT. What drew you to that objective? Was it something you trained specifically for? And can you walk us through what that day was like for you?
Dayna: I ran the Evolution Loop for the first time last October. The route is about 55 miles point to point, starting at the Bishop Creek trailhead, going over Paiute Pass, dropping down to the John Muir Trail through Evolution Valley, then climbing back over Bishop Pass to finish at South Lake. It gains around 10,000 feet of elevation, and while people call it a loop, it technically isn’t unless you do the longer version of over 60 miles. I had been thinking about it for a couple of years, inspired by a running buddy who spoke highly of the route, and last fall everything finally aligned, including fitness, weather, snow conditions, and work schedule, so I decided to go solo.
I started around five in the morning with just a headlamp and stars overhead. The terrain was stunning, the solitude intense, and I only saw three people the entire day. By the last 10 to 12 miles, the high altitude above 9,000 feet was taking a toll, but my friend Amy met me at the top of Bishop Pass and ran the final stretch with me. Her presence helped me stay focused and finish strong. The day was the perfect mix of pushing myself solo and sharing part of the experience with a friend, making it a really special adventure.
Behind the Scrubs: Working in Healthcare
Rhi: Let’s shift gears and talk about work-life balance. Being a full-time DNP is a big commitment, and not just in terms of time, but emotionally, mentally, and physically. How do you balance that demanding career with getting out for big adventures?
Dayna: I’m fortunate to work three days a week, which gives me four days for training, recovery, or whatever I need. The days I do work are long, so fitting in training on those can be tricky, but having longer stretches of time off lets me do bigger, more focused workouts. On workdays, I keep things shorter, maybe just a quick gym session, especially in winter when it gets dark early.
One thing that’s helped is learning to prioritize and compartmentalize. I try to leave work at work, though as a caregiver and empathetic person, some patients stay with me after hours. I’m learning to manage that better over time. Balancing caring for people without taking on their struggles is still a work in progress, and on tough weeks I notice my body feels drained, making training harder. Over time, I’ve improved at wrapping up extra work during work hours, shifting focus when I’m off the clock, and prioritizing sleep and nutrition, which has made a huge difference in my energy and performance.
Rhi: How has your career in healthcare influenced your approach to training and endurance, especially when it comes to things like nutrition, recovery, and overall well-being?
Dayna: I think the research and data really back up the importance of things like sleeping well, fueling your body, and exercising regularly, whether or not you're training for something specific or consider yourself an athlete. These habits are crucial for everyone’s health. As a healthcare provider, I'm focused on helping people find ways to incorporate these practices into their lives, despite the many barriers to health that exist. If you can help people prioritize sleep, movement, and balanced nutrition, those three things alone can improve many aspects of their health. Of course, there are other factors that impact health, but I think these are foundational.
Energy, focus, emotional balance — it all starts with how I take care of my body.
Rhi: Could you share a bit about your approach to nutrition, both on a day-to-day basis and how you adjust it for endurance efforts?
Dayna: Over the years, my approach to nutrition has changed a lot. In high school, I struggled with body image and compared myself to the athletes I admired. I thought I had to look a certain way to perform and had an unhealthy relationship with food. I remember avoiding ice cream for months, focusing on restrictive eating with little guidance on proper fueling for endurance.
Now, both science and experience have taught me the importance of proper fueling, especially carbs, for endurance. My relationship with food has improved, and I see how eating well helps me feel better, recover faster, and perform stronger. Long endurance events really helped me understand that you can’t push through big efforts without proper fuel, and realizing that was a turning point.
Endurance taught me that food is fuel — in the mountains and in everyday life.
Get Stoked Girls
Rhi: What would be your final words of advice to get girls stoked?
Dayna: I think one of the biggest things for me is having female friends who are equally stoked about being in the mountains. While my husband is my main ski partner, my running partners are all a group of badass women I’ve met since coming back to Bishop. It makes the experience so much more fun and special. I think it’s important to find people who are really excited about doing the same activities you are. Seeing others accomplish amazing things in the mountains is inspiring, especially when it’s badass women pushing boundaries. We’re always inspiring each other. Some weeks one of us might be stronger in a hill workout or whatever it is, and that feels incredibly special. So, having friends who are passionate about the same things is key. That’s definitely number one for me.
Seeing other women push boundaries in the mountains fires me up to do the same.
