By Derrick ForsytheRecord Features EditorThere’s a side to Teresa Scott’s personality which many are unaware of.Sitting behind a desk at her daily role as owner of Schraer Heating and Cooling or keeping order as president of the Warren County R-III School Board, she may appear stoic or even unexcitable.“I actually consider myself shy,” quipped the 54-year-old retired schoolteacher.But when it comes to conjuring up challenges or planning unique adventures, Scott has never met a stranger. In fact, rarely does she encounter an obstacle too daunting.“I like to do things a little differently than most people,” said Scott.What many don’t realize is that Scott is one of the most ambitious thrill seekers in Warren County. While she has never physically put a bucket list to paper, she is usually preparing one adventure as she wraps up another.“I always like to have something in the hopper and have a goal,” said Scott. “I like to have the next trip in the works.”Recently, Scott accomplished her greatest personal feat, hiking from the North Rim to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.“I like to avoid the touristy stuff and do things that are outside the norm,” said Scott.Although she has always enjoyed traveling, Scott’s more elaborate trips didn’t begin to take form until she retired from the classroom. Since that time she has been to Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama and Barcelona.What sets her journeys apart from most is her notorious habit of spontaneously veering off course and challenging the guidelines.“We get off the beaten path just about everywhere we go,” said Teresa’s brother, Bill Woolf, who tags along for most of the trips.Signs in the Grand Canyon strongly discourage visitors from hiking across in one day. But those type of warnings fuel the fire for Scott, who tends to take the road less traveled.“I don’t like to be told no,” quipped Scott.On a recent excursion to hike through the narrows of Zion National Park, Scott was disappointed when rangers informed the group that water levels were too high and danger was imminent.Determined and perhaps stubborn, Scott and her friends still tried to access the park before finally determing first-hand that conditions were indeed too treacherous.“We’ll be back,” said Scott, who trained rigorously for the challenge.While preparing for the Grand Canyon hike, she logged over 300 miles of walking and climbing. She was motivated by a humbling occurrence during her first hike across the canyon in 2012. Nearing the final mile of the challenge, Scott — who is known for her relentless knack of not surrendering — hit a wall.“I sat down on a rock and said, ‘I’m done,’” recalled Scott.Her brother spent the next few moments encouraging her to charge on, and she eventually completed the hike.Scott has experienced a few brushes with fate, vividly recounting a whitewater rafting trip in which she got caught under the boat in the most dangerous part of the river.But it wouldn’t deter her from going back.“If you’re not signing your life away, it’s probably not going to be much fun,” Scott says, about living on the edge.Scott has crossed off many of the minor thrills, like parasailing, zip-lining or running a half marathon.She is currently training for her first full marathon, a race through the Napa Valley in California.Many of Scott’s journeys don’t defy death, but instead present unique experiences.While in Greece, she was able to run a lap around Olympic Stadium.“If we’re somewhere and an opportunity presents itself, I usually take it,” said Scott.She was even able to scuba dive at the Great Barrier Reef.Her next few adventures are coming together, with plans to hike another part of the Grand Canyon, this time going from the North Rim to the South Rim and back in a single day.Italy and Hawaii are two points on the globe she hopes to visit soon, and Scott said she is also anxious to mark skydiving off the virtual bucket list.Retired Schoolteacher Sets Out to Fulfill Bucket List