Prescott mom, Certified Personal Trainer, and line dance instructor loves a good challenge and the great outdoors—and finds plenty of both on local trails
Prescott Woman Magazine chatted with Madison Stephens, a mom, personal trainer, line dancing instructor, and avid hiker, to find out what makes her enjoy Prescott and everything it has to offer.
PWM: How long have you lived in Prescott?
Madison: We have lived in Groom Creek, in Prescott Arizona, for nine years.
PWM: Why did you choose Prescott as your home?
Madison: We moved here from north Phoenix. What initially interested us about Prescott was family. What sealed the deal was the opportunity to live and raise our family in the beautiful Prescott National Forest
PWM: What’s your occupation?
Madison: I am foremost a mom to four beautiful kids. I am also a Certified Personal Trainer and work out of Founders Gym. There I run fitness classes and train some amazing one-on-one clients. I also teach line dancing to adults and children, mainly out of Dance Project North located in Prescott Valley.
PWM: Do you have any kids?
Madison: I have four children: Miranda, 11; Audrey, 9; Malone, 5; and Sterling, 5. I am also a nanny for a little girl, Ari, who’s 11, and have been since she was 3. I call her my fifth child. She is always part of our crazy adventures.
PWM: What is your favorite thing about living in the Prescott area?
Madison: My absolute favorite thing is that I can walk outside my back door and enter hundreds of miles of hiking trails in Prescott National Forest! The outdoors are a huge part of my family’s daily life and Prescott provides so many unique places to explore.
PWM: How do you think Prescott enhances your occupation and hobbies?
Madison: As an avid hiker I am always looking for the next challenge. Prescott offers many. Earning the Prescott Triple Crown (summiting Granite Mountain, Thumb Butte, and Spruce Mountain in one day) has been my favorite. I have done this hike two ways. One, driving from trail to trail, making the actual hike 18 miles in eight hours. Two, hiking from trail to trail, making this hike 38 miles and completed in 13.5 hours. Beyond the challenging hikes, there is beauty around every corner. From the dells to Wolf Creek, Prescott is always amazing to me. I find myself saying “I can’t believe I get to live here” every day.
PWM: Are you working on anything new or exciting for the upcoming year?
Madison: This next year is going to bring more adventure and dancing. I have created monthly family line dancing events as well as monthly adults-only line dancing events; watch my Facebook and Instagram for details! I also have a few group hikes in the works, guiding a group through the Triple Crown, as well as guiding a group into the Grand Canyon.
PWM: If you could contribute to anything in the Prescott area, what would it be and why?
Madison: I want people to find their joy in nature and fitness. I want to help as many as I can find their strength and challenge their limits! I want to show moms that we are strong, and we can do anything we set our minds to! As a side note, my biggest achievement to date is hiking the Grand Canyon Rim to Rim to Rim, 55 miles in 23 hours.
For more information, contact Madison at 928.515.4093 or [email protected]. Follow her on Instagram @hikeit_maddies and on Facebook at Madison Elizabeth Stephens.