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29029 Snowbasin #1 Recap

Suffering is a Privilege

By 29029 Everesting

August 16^th, 2023

Snowbasin is no stranger to 29029. Having played host more than any other mountain, its slopes are well-versed in the transformative journey of adversity that is 29029.

Steep. Hot. Dusty. Sunny. Elevated. Scorched.

This is Snowbasin, the battleground for 36 hours of suffering.

On the other side of that suffering, something great awaits.

Suffering is a Privilege

Nowadays, the mind often leaps to unearned advantages when we speak of privilege.

But there’s another kind of privilege. It’s not found in titles or birthrights, but in the fires and struggles of the mountains of adversity.

It’s the privilege of suffering. It’s the privilege of pushing past your limits.

Beyond the peak of suffering lies a reward so unparalleled, it redefines privilege itself.

True privilege is not just what’s given due to circumstances, it’s also what is earned through sweat and persistence.

Newfound privilege was waiting to be found at the summit of 29029 Snowbasin. Deeper wisdom, heightened resilience, increased compassion, and a stronger respect for reality all awaited those who were willing to climb.

Wisdom

Wisdom comes from time to reflect. We often miss that in everyday life. We miss that pause - that chance to look inward - as we rush from one thing to the next.

To look deep inside and truly understand yourself - to gain that wisdom - you need to brave the eye of the storm.

You need trials and tribulations.

Each step on the mountain provided those trials. The harder it got, the more you learned.

Every loose rock, every steep segment, and every vertical foot gave the opportunity to learn a little more about yourself.

On the mountain, you had nothing but time.

And in that time, you came face to face with suffering.

With every bit of time you spent suffering, you gained wisdom.

Resilience

Resilience isn’t born in comfort. Resilience is forged in the fires of a challenge.

29029 Snowbasin provided the challenge - it was up to you to seize the moment.

It wasn’t easy, and that’s the point. Each step had to be earned.

Each step took effort.

And that effort - that push through the adversity you were facing - was exposure therapy for resilience.

Resilience, just like a muscle, must be trained to grow.

The slopes of Snowbasin were the training grounds.

As the hot Utah sun bore down, you kept climbing, testing - and growing - your resilience.

The summit awaited.

Compassion

Snowbasin has seen tears: tears of sorrow, of joy, of pain, and of sheer determination.

Every drop tells a story of struggle, a struggle that the community of 29029 leaned into.

Although everyone’s Everest may be unique, the journey was shared. Through suffering yourself, you were able to understand what others on the slopes were going through.

In the shadows of the towering Snowbasin peaks, compassion from the community acted as the beacon that lit the way.

The mountain could be conquered, but it had to be done together.

Respect for Reality

Mountains are the ultimate leveler.

At Snowbasin, pretense faded, and reality set in. Whatever story you were telling yourself about the mountain - about how your experience would go - got tested in 36 hours.

The mountain didn’t differentiate between novice and veteran. The mountain didn’t care what you had done in the past. The mountain only cared about what you did in the moment.

The mountain only cared about your next step.

If you approached the mountain with arrogance, you were likely humbled.

If you approached with humility, the difficult times were made just a bit easier.

However you approached it, those 36 hours on the slopes taught a deeper respect for reality.

Whether you completed a single ascent, or pulled on the Red Hat, you left Snowbasin knowing what it takes to do great things.

First Hike

Amid the vastness of Snowbasin, Theresa Smith stood as an embodiment of raw courage. Having spent her life in New York City, her feet were more accustomed to the rhythmic heartbeat of bustling streets than the unpredictable terrain of the mountains.

She chose courage over familiarity. Having never even hiked a single mile in her life, Theresa chose to toe the start line at Snowbasin and take a dance with the unknown.

She put one foot in front of the other to finish her first-ever hike: her first summit at 29029.

Exhausted and depleted from the effort, as the sun started to dip below the horizon, Theresa still chose to conquer another first: hiking at night.

Theresa reached her own Everest, checking off two firsts at Snowbasin. She left the mountain not only with a newfound belief in her own capabilities, but also a refreshed understanding of the sheer difficulty and perseverance required to conquer the epic summits of life.

Cowbells & Compassion

Cowbell Rob found himself in the unique position at 29029 Snowbasin as a first-time climber who was also a 29029 veteran at the same time.

Rob has spent countless hours at 29029 aid stations as a volunteer over the years, practicing his compassion and willing participants onward towards Everest with his never-ending energetic cowbell.

Dozens of Red Hat’s that have been earned at 29029 owe a portion of their success to Rob.

At Snowbasin, it was Rob’s turn to tread the path he had always championed.

With unwavering commitment, Rob chose to remain sleepless, aiding fellow climbers, even after completing his 13th summit.

He refused to don the Red Hat until he truly felt his work was done, so he continued climbing - and continued inspiring others forward.

Finally, after 36 hours and more than 13 ascents, Rob finally took his reward: a Red Hat that symbolized far more than just a personal achievement, but the achievement of everybody on the mountain.

Redemption Through Resilience

Megan Hottman was hit by a car in June of 2022 while riding her bike. She spent most of that year in a wheelchair, unsure if she would ever be able to return to the activities she loved.

29029 Snowbasin acted as the beacon in the distance that Megan worked towards through her rehab. She tested her resilience every step of the way just to arrive at Snowbasin able to climb.

Once she was there, she seized the moment. Her indomitable will pushed her towards the summit, and when the Snowbasin dust had settled, she proudly donned the Red Hat, reclaiming her narrative and proving her near-unlimited resilience.

The Summit of Spirit

The echoes of Snowbasin resonated with tales not just of conquest, but of transformation. Raw courage met rugged slopes while every participant, from the seasoned athlete to the mountain novice, carved their own unique path of determination and discovery.

Yet, the summit is merely a point in your journey. Each climber leaves with more than the weight of their achievements - they depart with stories etched into their souls. Stories of unparalleled wisdom learned, resilience grown from challenge, compassion deepened through shared struggle, and a profound respect for the untamed realities of life.

Theresa’s first hike, Rob’s tireless support, and Megan’s redemption are all but glimpse into the rich tapestry of tales that 29029 Snowbasin harbors. Each climber, with every step, writes a chapter, enriching the legacy of 29029.

Perhaps the most enduring lesson from Snowbasin is this: mountains, in their silent majesty, offer not just challenges to conquer, but mirrors into our deepest selves. Every ascent is an invitation for introspect - to grow and emerge anew.

As the shadows of Snowbasin fade and the echoes of 29029 become memories, one truth remains: the mountains we conquer outside are but reflections of the greater summits we overcome within, and in every climber's heart, the journey continues long after the last step is taken.