Last Sunday, Julie Quillan hiked Mt. Shasta from Bunny Flat at 6,860 feet into Horse Camp at 7,950 feet, camped in the snow and continued on to Lake Helen at 10,450 feet on Monday.
“I am glad I have another few weeks to train,” she admits, because the climb to Lake Helen was merely a practice run for the 14,000-foot climb to the peak of Mt. Shasta she is dedicated to make on June 24 for the Breast Cancer Fund’s “Climb Against the Odds.” She’s making the climb in memory of her friend Tammy Herrera, who died of breast cancer three years ago.
Julie has another three weeks to train for the climb but says she is as ready as she can be physically, and is gearing up for emotional parts of the climb: accomplishing her goal with a 23-member team on her side and remembering her friend, who Julie says would have had a blast making the climb with her.
Julie confesses to being a bit intimidated by other team members, particularly those from the Bay Area with superior cardiovascular strength, whom she affectionately refers to as the “über-fits.” “I have never been an ‘über-fit’ and I had to adjust my training accordingly,” she says. When Julie began training for the climb, her first hike was to Whiskeytown Falls, 1.7 miles and 700 feet elevation. She recalls that after that hike, “I was so sore, I had to take a nap and take the next day off work.”
Four months of intense weekly training has included one day of leg strengthening, two mountain bike rides, two cardio workouts, one short hike with a pack weighing more than 35 pounds, one long hike with a 25-pound pack and daily stretching. She still has trouble imagining the whole ascension happening in one day.
Julie attributes much of her success to her 62-year-old coach, Linda Chitwood. “She’s ripped. I want to be her when I grow up.”
On June 23, Julie will carry her 40-pound pack of supplies to Horse Camp, the team’s base, unload, rise at 1 a.m. on June 24, reach the summit in 10 to 12 hours and descend back to base.
Months of training have preceded this one-day journey to remember her friend and honor those who have battled breast cancer. Two of Julie’s family members were diagnosed with cancer in the past two months; proof, Julie says, that we are never far removed from the disease.
Julie, always modest about her accomplishments and passionate about the Breast Cancer Fund’s mission to eliminate preventable causes of breast cancer, says she has most enjoyed meeting people and hearing their stories. “My story is no different than the story of those who are supporting me. Everyone who has donated an auction item or written a check can relate to me and my reasons for making this climb.” she says. “Now all I can do is show up and walk.”
For more information about the climb or to contribute to the Breast Cancer Fund, visit www.breastcancerfund.org/climb09/julieq. To follow Julie’s progress as she prepares to climb Mt. Shasta, visit her blog, http://quillins.blogspot.com/. Read Part 3 of the climb next month here at anewscafe.com.
Help Julie raise the additional funds for her “Climb Against the Odds.” HawkMan Studios, ArtHop participating businesses and local artists are proud to support Julie in her climb with a sale of the following art, jewelry and gifts. Sales are on a first-come-first-served basis, and proceeds will benefit the Breast Cancer Fund. To purchase any of these items, please call HawkMan Studios at (530) 243-1169 or email hawkmanstudios@yahoo.com. To read Part 1 of Julie’s story, click here.
Basket of Homemade Soaps, Donated by Bolandi – $40
“Still Life with Butter Dish,” Original framed oil, Donated by Artist Irina Stroup – $40
Numbered Robert Sexton Lithograph & Poetry, Donated by Kathleen Evans – $75
“Before the Fires,” framed photograph, Donated by Artist Linda Garcia – $75
“Mt. Shasta Sunlight,” original framed acrylic, Donated by Artist Mickey Theobald – $100
“Grecian Goddess,” one-of-a-kind necklace of quartz crystal, vintage glass & copper, donated by Artist Ursula Guderian – $75
Adam Mankoski is a recent North State transplant who feels completely at home here. He enjoys experiencing and writing about the people, places and things that embody the free spirit of the State of Jefferson. He and his partner are the owners of HawkMan Studios and the creators of Redding’s 2nd Saturday Art Hop.
