Summiting Mt. Baker with SheJumps

2024-07-13

I've never considered myself athletic. I grew up doing things like hiking, swimming, and riding bikes, but was never much of a gym-class or team sports person. I'd dabbled in a few 5K and 10K road races, but signing up to climb Baker with SheJumps as a Fundraiser was a big step for me.

Declaring a lofty intention publicly, working toward it, and then pushing through on the actual day was daunting, but lessened my fear of being public with my goals.

Six months of training

The SheJumps climb required being comfortable and capable carrying 35+ lbs at a pace of 1K gain over a mile in under an hour. I read about gym programs to get there, but the prospect of so much stairmaster was not appealing to me. Instead, I spent a lot of time hiking with a heavy pack, snowshoeing, outdoor stair repeats in Seattle, backpacking trips, and triathlon cross-training (swimming and cycling alongside the running). Essentially, my prep was snacpacking with my friends, and being luxurious with pack weight.

I'd already done a women's NOLS mountaineering course in Alaska in 2023 and had my Wilderness First Aid certification through SheJumps. Baker felt like it was attainable, but a stretch.

The fundraiser

Each climber had to raise $2,400 for SheJumps on top of a $500 registration deposit. I organized a fundraising party at MoRa, a natural wine bar in Seattle, with help from friends who donated space, DJ'd, and put together a raffle with artwork and experiences. The evening raised over $1K for SheJumps and introduced a lot of people to each other. I ended up raising $2,776 personally, with some of it matched by corporate donations. The nine of us collectively raised over $20K.

SheJumps runs 200+ events a year, more than half of which are free or donation-based. I'd been a beneficiary myself, of a Wilderness First Aid course for BIPOC women that gave me a community I still lean on, and this felt like the right way to pay it forward.

The climb

We started the approach on July 12th at Park Butte Trailhead, camping at Sandy Camp. At 4am on July 13th, we put on crampons and headlamps and started moving.

Mt. Baker silhouette against a deep blue pre-dawn sky, two stars visible — 4am. The mountain before the sun.

Climbers roped together on the glacier at sunrise, Cascades visible below — Roped up on the glacier. The AAI guides taught us glacier travel, ice axe technique, and crevasse awareness.

Looking down the glacier from high on Baker — snow field, exposed rock, blue sky

The summit was clear with views of the San Juans. It was awe inspiring to have been at Sucia Island in the San Juans a few weeks prior, and now glimpsing the island from the summit of Baker.

Saachi at the summit, smiling, blue helmet, red pack, pure blue sky behind — Summit, July 13, 2024.

Nine women on the summit holding a SheJumps flag — The Group!

After

Two people resting at high camp — tent, rocks, Cascades panorama spread out behind — High camp. Exhausted. Worth it.

The experience of declaring a goal, training for it in my own way, and finishing it surrounded by other women was extremely energizing. I loved getting to do something new and difficult with a community of supportive women, and left the climb with new friends.