Teammate to Know: Sheri Brillhart

19 days. No cellphone, electricity or running water. Rafting a river and camping beneath the stars.

Sheri Brillhart, a senior audit manager and white-water rafting hobbyist, said she evaluated the pros and cons of going on the 16-person private boater trip through the Grand Canyon, rafting the Colorado River, before she signed up for it. What she encountered was a once in a lifetime opportunity for self-discovery, reflection, and reinforcing her value.

Stepping outside her comfort zone:

Sheri joined a friend’s long-pursued Grand Canyon expedition after the friend secured a permit through a lottery.

• Despite her experience with rafting and kayaking since 2019, she had never camped without amenities for an extended period and wondered whether she could handle it.
• She was also concerned about the physical demands of the trip since she had a health condition.
• Being an introvert, she questioned whether she could lodge outdoors with a large group of people.

Planning was key:

• Her team members prepared months in advance for her absence and her manager helped ease any concerns about taking that much time off.
• She planned carefully with family members to ensure responsibilities were covered.

Plus, she knew her group would be carrying satellite phones to make calls to the outside world in case of emergency (thankfully, there were none!).

Embracing the challenge:

After weighing the many factors and realizing an opportunity like this might not come again, Sheri said “yes” to the adventure. From Feb. 14 to March 4, she and the trip participants said goodbye to modern conveniences and camped, rowed, and slept in the wild.

 

Read on to find out:

• How she adjusted to the often-harsh elements
• A moment that pushed her boundaries
• How she found her value among experienced naturists
• How the trip gave her a fresh perspective on home and professional life at Truist

(Her answers have been edited for brevity and clarity.)

No modern luxuries, so tell us what did you bring on the trip?

We brought:

• Six rafts (typically with one or two people in each, along with gear for all 16 group members)
• Five kayaks, and an empty tandem inflatable kayak
• Waterproof “dry bags” where our camping and personal gear were stored. (Dry bags are durable sealable bags designed to keep stuff dry while travelling through wet conditions.)

We also carted the “kitchen” which included six propane tanks for a kitchen stove and food for 21 days in case we were delayed getting off the river. In addition to that, we brought a portable toilet set up with handwashing stations.

You said the first few days of the trip were especially challenging. What made those early days so hard?

We went through significant weather changes. When I left Charlotte, the weather was in the 60’s. The next day in Flagstaff, Arizona, it was snowing.

• The first six days of the trip, we experienced extreme wind, rain, and cold.
• At night, the gusts were so strong I sometimes had to hold my tent in place with my arms and legs just to keep the poles from collapsing on me.
• Hygiene protocols required us to add a bit of bleach to our wash stations which caused our hands to develop painful cracks.
• Several group members got sick for 12-24 hours at a time with a possible norovirus, leaving them exhausted and impacting our chore routines. (We all pitched in to help!)

In hindsight, there was a lot more work than I anticipated: the daily breakdown and packing then set-up and repacking not only my own things but also the kitchen, the fire pit and the toilet area; helping with meals and dishes and managing all the logistics of living outdoors for nearly three weeks.

What was a point when you felt yourself shift from discomfort to becoming more comfortable?

Eight days into the trip, we reached the ranger station dubbed Phantom Ranch. That was a turning point for me. It was the only place on the route with real bathrooms, running water and a small store, and it felt luxurious. But more importantly, by then we’d settled into a rhythm. People were stronger in their roles, the weather had improved and I could finally exhale a little. The shift in weather is also when I started sleeping outside under the moon and stars, which became one of my favorite parts of the trip.

Is there a moment on the river that stands out?

There’s one rapid I’ll never forget. After scouting it, my friend explained the plan and told me we really needed to avoid getting pushed too far right, because that could send the raft into the canyon wall causing it to flip over. I was a passenger sitting in front of the raft, holding on. As we descended through it, I could see we were headed straight in that direction, and my friend yelled a bit panic stricken, “Hold on, Sheri!”

For some reason a huge sense of peace and calm washed over me, and I knew that whatever happened I would be okay. I was very aware that there was nothing I could do but “go with the flow.” I also trusted that the rest of the group would provide whatever safety measures were needed if we did end up in the water.

We did hit that canyon wall. But instead of that hit resulting in the expected flip and potential long swim through the rapids, we easily bounced off the wall and continued on our way. That moment summed up the whole trip for me: release what you can't control, have some faith in your more experienced group mates and have belief you've been placed right where you should be.

"My purpose is to “bloom where I am planted” and make a difference while continuing to grow personally."

- Sheri Brillhart

When the noise of the outside world fell away, what became clearer to you?

The trip grounded me in what matters most. I’ve had health challenges in my life, and that has long shaped how I think about time, gratitude, and making the most of today. But everyday pressures can wear at those reminders. Being disconnected gave me space to come back to them and appreciate how much of a gift good health, perspective, and simple joys really are.

What is your personal purpose and what did this trip reveal about that?

I believe my purpose is to “bloom where I am planted” and help make a difference while continuing to grow personally.

Early on the trip, I struggled because I felt like I didn’t bring the same technical skills or certifications that others did. But friends on the trip reminded me I was there because they wanted me there, and that my presence mattered. That was a meaningful lesson: we don’t always know why we are in certain places or situations, but to trust that we are there for a reason and can make a difference.

What perspective did you bring back home and to work when you re-entered everyday life? 

That there is so much noise in everyday life, and a lot of it doesn’t deserve the space we give it. That perspective felt like one of the biggest gifts of the trip.