By Jamie Lynn Miller
On May 16, 2010, Christy Mahon became the first woman to ski all 54 of Colorado’s 14ers. While the Denver-born, Aspen-based adventure athlete spent several years hammering out the time, and drumming up the means, she always found the motivation. Her unwavering commitment resembles that of other pioneering women in the adventure sports world. From skiing the North Pole to kickboarding down the Grand Canyon, free climbing El Capitan to swimming across the turbulent Atlantic Ocean, it takes a special breed of athlete, and individual, to become a First Lady of Adventure. It’s different than a time trial, and it’s nothing like a competition. The quest to succeed at something no one else has done is an excursion into the unknown, pitting personal qualities against constantly changing conditions and running the gamut of emotions up, down, and through the other side—to success.
Women’s Adventure caught up (figuratively) with Mahon, and six other adventure heroines for a look at how, why, and why not they take on new firsts.
Dee Caffari, Age: 37, Residence: Hampshire, United KingdomFirst Woman to sail around the world, both directions
Renata Chlumska, Age: 36, Residence: Jonkoping,SwedenFirst woman to kayak around and bike across the continental United States
Kit DesLauriers, Age: 40, Residence: Teton Village, WYFirst Person to Ski off the Top of the Seven Summits
Jennifer Figge, Age : 58, Residence: Aspen, COFirst Woman to swim across the Atlantic; up next: the Pacific
Christy Mahon, Age: 35, Residence: Aspen, COFirst Woman to ski all 54 Colorado 14ers
Rebecca Rusch, Age: 42, Residence: Ketchum, IDFirst riverboard descent of the Grand Canyon; first 3-time female winner of 24 Hours Mountain Bike World Championships; first back-to-back female winner of the Leadville Trail 100.
Helen Thayer, Age : 72, Residence:Snohomish, WAFirst Woman to walk, ski, and circumnavigate the North Pole.
The Inspired
How did such grand ideas come about? Higher, farther, more unfettered … What inspired these heretofore unheard-of expeditions?
Rebecca R.: For me, what’s inspiring is the unknown. Not knowing what’s around the next corner is exciting for me. Big walls, swimming the Grand Canyon, long adventure races, 24-hour solos are all similar in that you’re exposed to the elements, the physical challenge, and [you’re] alone in your head for a very long time. I’m willing to say “yes” and put myself out there a bit.
Renata C.: My late fiancé, Goran Kropp, and I had moved to the U.S. We wanted to discover our new home and circumnavigate the lower 48 by walking—by “our own strength.” Goran was killed in a climbing accident in 2002. When he died, there was no alternative; I’d really fallen in love with the project. I decided to kayak and bike and continue on, alone.
Kit D.: I won the World Free Skiing Tour for two consecutive seasons, and I absolutely love to ski and travel. Skiing the Seven Summits seemed like the best possible combination for a project. The fact that it hadn’t been done yet wasn’t my driving motivation—when I started I didn’t even know for sure it hadn’t been done. I wanted to try for a lofty objective and experience what life could show me along the way.
The Tenacious
Any number of physical and mental tests present themselves on the way to an achievement of epic proportions. Emotional speed bumps and everchanging conditions demanded an exemplary set of coping skills and attitude adjustments. How did it feel at its most challenging?
Helen T.: There’ve been many trials and tribulations over the years. As I skied to the [North] Pole, I was constantly threatened by polar bears, known to hunt and kill humans for food. One was only 6 feet away! I was kidnapped for a short time in the Sahara Desert, and they lined me up to shoot me. In the midst of the Gobi Desert, I was within hours of dying of thirst. I was severely stung by bees in the Amazon and had to dive into piranha-infested water to get rid of them. I survived because I [always] believe I will and I don’t give up on my goals. I believe a problem is only a problem until it’s solved.
Jennifer F.: One of the biggest challenges was what I saw along the way. I saw boats of people heading from Africa to Europe, trying to find freedom, and there I was, swimming through that same ocean for “fun.” I ran across India, from the Arabian Sea to the Bay of Bengal, and saw kids eating newspaper for lunch. And for me, reaching the end of the road is challenging; it always comes too quickly. The crew sees land, gets excited and yells, “Land Ho!” But me, I say, “Oh no!” For me, the romance is in the middle. At one point, I was swimming in 30-foot waves, bobbing like a bathtub toy. [My crew] had to look for my red cap, and I had to look for the American flag on the ship. It was like a carnival ride, those waves. Feeling the pull of the ocean the first time, it’s a lot like love: it’s POWERFUL. And then other times, it just holds your head and rocks you.
Christy M.: The final peak I attempted to ski was Capitol [Peak]. It was March, and we made our way up, but couldn’t ski down our chosen route, so we had to come down. The next weekend, we went back. I’d gotten a cold that turned really nasty at 12,000 feet, and again, we headed home. I was pretty sick, and [I] took two rounds of antibiotics. The weather started to get really warm; there was a dust storm, and I was feeling really worn out. I started questioning what this whole project meant to me … but then, I got better. And it started snowing again. And I realized skiing the 14ers was really important to me, after all the effort over the past six years. I wanted the closure. I wanted to just do it.
Dee C.: When you’re suddenly alone, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for 3–6 months, you learn an awful lot about yourself. One of the biggest challenges was to learn to handle the loneliness and manage my emotions. One of my biggest fears is heights, and as I ventured up the mast in the depths of the Southern Ocean, I got stuck halfway up the 26-meter mast. My climbing gear jammed and I couldn’t go up, or down. My immediate reaction was to cry; however, aware that crying wouldn’t really help, I tackled the job of getting back to deck level. Ninety minutes later, I was safe on deck and burst into tears of relief, and fear of what might have been. It was a reminder to me that, above all else, I needed to look after myself, as no one else was around to help me.
The Exceptional
It’s a standard job interview question: Why should we hire you? Though somewhat hesitant to elaborate, the women have a solid sense of their strengths, what it takes to be successful, and which of their beliefs helped them cross the proverbial finish line.
Helen T.: My feet are firmly placed on the ground. I have no illusions that I’m better than anyone else; I just do what I do with enthusiasm and passion and a real zest for life. I hope to inspire others that no matter our age we can turn our dreams into goals, reach for the sky and achieve. I am blessed with the ability to fight back and not give up.
Renata C.: My strength is problem solving. I’m capable of taking a few steps back and becoming resourceful, using my imagination to adapt and adjust to the environment. I was told I could never complete my trip because I’m not a full-time paddler—but I knew paddling was only one part of it. I also needed to know where to pitch my tent, get my food, who to talk to. I knew that the whole picture, not just the paddling, would determine my success. In competitive sports, it’s about performing in the right conditions; for adventure athletes, we need to perform, no matter the conditions. It’s very much a mental preparation for the unknown. I had to face my good side, and my less charming side, too. I went around the United States, but I had to go around myself, as well.
Rebecca R.: Stubborn determination. I have the ability to suffer and work hard for a very long time. I’m not sure where it comes from, but I seem to have a sort of mule-headed attitude that keeps me going. I also hate to quit. One memory that sticks with me is from high school cross-country. I dropped out of a race only because I wasn’t fast and wasn’t feeling great and wasn’t keeping up with the girls I normally did. I stepped off the course and quit in the middle of the race. I still remember the embarrassment when the team and the coach asked me why I quit. I didn’t have a good answer. I just gave up. I haven’t really given up since then.
Kit D.: My approach to skiing, mountain climbing, and life in general is one of total commitment, right alongside a detachment from the outcome. I feel that if we focus too strongly on the outcome, we give up the ability to live in the moment; and since that’s all we have, it’s rare to be successful if one doesn’t live in the moment. Just practice your best and enjoy whatever results that merits.
The Enlightened
What others see as roadblocks, they see as opportunities. With broad perspectives and open-minds, They transform potential problems into intriguing possibilities.
Jennifer F.: I used to run across countries. I got a stress fracture in Mexico, finished the last 60 miles in a cast, and came home to Aspen to rehab. It occurred to me that I could keep doing what I was doing, by swimming. People feel like there’s only one world, but there are so many of them out there! And I was ready for a new one. These endeavors take me places I’ve never been before, always. They give me life. I asked my husband, “Should I see a psychiatrist?” He said, “Absolutely not. They’d never understand.” If I functioned on common logic, I wouldn’t be doing this.
Dee C.: To overcome the scary or difficult times, be it weather, problems that need fixing, or just plain fear, I tend to break everything down to achievable goals. I need to feel that I’m succeeding, heading towards my goal, and that I’ll be able to enjoy a reward after a goal has been reached. When times are good, I extend my goals—perhaps to the next great cape or line of longitude. As conditions deteriorate, I decrease my goal to smaller tasks—the reward of a cup of tea if I can get through the next four hours, or some sleep if I can get through the next weather system.
Christy M.: Initially, I didn’t have the confidence that I would definitely finish my project; there were two peaks, Capitol and Pyramid, that would be a challenge. But, I knew I was going to try. I was just going to get out the door and see what I could do. Driving and skiing, putting in 12-hour days on the mountain, then heading back for work each Monday—it was exhausting; but more importantly, it was exhilarating. You’re spending 12 hours in the backcountry with your closest friends—no phone, no distractions, no TV. Just old-fashioned fun and being together. To have moments like these … there’s nothing else like it.
