First Training Snowshoe Hike

A few days after being accepted into the Breast Cancer Fund’s Climb Against the Odds, I drove to Mount Shasta for my first training climb! It was a beautiful day, the sun actually graced us with her presence (which unfortunately hasn’t been seen since). Linda Chitwood our guide and training guru works with Shasta Mountain Guides and is also the steward of the Sierra Club cabin at Horse Camp. We snowshoed from Bunny Flats on Mount Shasta to Horse Camp where, during the actual climb in July, we will make base camp.

Never having climbed in snowshoes (you’d think such a mountain girl would have, but no!) I quickly became sorry I hadn’t brought poles. Falling on a hillside in snowshoes is not so fun. Usually you are falling because you just stepped on your own snowshoe and then suddenly you are sitting Indian style! It was so hard to get up with a pack on, I just wanted to tell everyone, “Go on ahead! I think I’ll just do some meditation today instead since I’m in the right position!” But, no. Slacking wasn’t going to be allowed. So off we went.

I was doing well until the final uphill leg when the elevation really hit me. I know, theoretically, how elevation can affect one, but until you are actually trying to make your legs take the tiniest of baby steps and your heart rate is already 120 you can’t really understand what it can do to you. When I would stop I would feel just fine, not tired or sore at all, then just one step would have me wheezing and sweating. It was a very humbling experience.

We finally made it to Horse Camp and could actually sit on the chimney of the cabin. The door was beautifully dug out with snow steps and the interior quite cozy though so dark you couldn’t imagine. The mountain came out from behind the clouds while we were resting and it was a spectacular view.

I definitely need to keep training so I won’t be gasping with every step, but if all days could be as lovely as that one, it won’t be a hardship in the least.

Tune in soon for more updates as I work my way to the top!