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Rhonda Claffey

Still Climbing, Still Shining

By 29029 Everesting

May 9^th, 2025

“36 hours of climbing? Oh, it must be a three-day event,” I thought.

“Twelve hours a day, three days… that’s plenty of time to climb!”

I didn’t know it yet, but I was in way over my head…

My son, Conner, first introduced me to 29029.

He wanted to do it with me, and as a mom, let me tell you - you jump at any opportunity to do something with your son!

It didn’t sound that bad to me. How hard could it be?

But that first event would show me just how wrong I was…

It was 2021, in Snowbasin for 29029, when I first realized I was like a fish out of water.

My mindset wasn’t right. I felt slow - embarrassingly slow - and all I could think about was how I might be in the way.

I kept pulling off the trail, making room for faster climbers to pass.

During those long breaks, letting people climb past me, I ventured off the path into the flowers lining the trail.

I picked a few, stuck one in my hair, and eventually, kept climbing.

It was hard, and all I wanted to do was cry. But I didn’t want Conner to see that I wasn’t having fun, so I kept it bottled up.

Internally, I was a mess.

Externally, I managed to climb 10 times.

This is my Aconcagua. I’m good here.

Conner finished in the middle of the night, so I missed it, but I stayed to watch others summit and earn their Red Hats.

Even though I hadn’t finished, something about watching those other climbers stirred something in me, so I signed up to volunteer at Stratton later that year.

The vibe in Stratton felt great - it was more my kind of mountain!

And as an homage to those wildflowers I picked at Snowbasin, I came prepared, bringing flowers to hand out to climbers, hoping to spread smiles, sunshine, and encouragement.

That’s where Team Sunshine was born.

And that’s also where I decided Stratton would be my mountain.

This would be the place I’d earn my Red Hat.

Not just Stratton, I signed up for Whistler in 2022 as well.

Whistler will be my training, and Stratton will be my glory.

I was nervous and over-emotional at the start line for Whistler.

Conner and my sister were both there volunteering and ready to help me finish.

They asked what I needed to get me to the finish, and all I could say was: “Whatever it takes.”

They would hold me to that.

My ascents weren’t fast - some longer than 4 hours - but I didn’t let that keep me from climbing.

At night, I joined a group for the night hike.

Climbing together in the darkness helped more than I can say! Our paces were similar, and after that first night ascent, we just kept climbing together.

Time flew by, and before I knew it, morning had arrived.

I’d climbed through the night, but the lack of sleep was definitely catching up to me.

I was so tired that I actually fell asleep in the gondola, woke up at the mid-station, and got off thinking I was at the base!

Thankfully, a gondola attendant was there to point me back.

When I reached the base - yes, the actual base - I was ready for a break.

I needed to rest.

But there was Conner, waiting with a bowl of oatmeal.

I guess this is where the ‘whatever it takes’ comes in.

“Eat this quick,” he said. “And then keep climbing. You’re running tight on time.”

I did what he said.

I kept climbing.

After 35 straight hours of climbing - no sleep aside from the gondola nap - I summited the mountain again.

It was my 8th time.

I’d reached Everest!

But I was so tired, I could barely feel the joy of the accomplishment.

It was so unexpected to earn my Red Hat on a mountain that I thought would simply be training for the real achievement in Stratton.

Fresh off my unexpected Red Hat from Whistler, going into Stratton felt a bit strange.

I’d already earned my Red Hat.

My plan was complete.

Maybe this Red Hat would be easier now that I’d already earned one?

It would not be.

As my Stratton climb kicked off, it didn’t take long for me to become the opposite of Team Sunshine.

I hated every single ascent.

Every.

Single.

One.

The good energy I imagined I’d have? It wasn’t there.

I was struggling, and the mountain was winning.

I wasn’t supposed to get my Red Hat in Whistler, I was supposed to get it here! This shouldn’t be going poorly!

As day turned to night, things still weren’t going my way. I decided to take a break and see if that helped me reset mentally.

I stopped in the recovery lounge, planning to rest for 2 hours at most.

However, like they warn you in the speeches, the recovery room can be dangerous. I dozed off and woke up to the smell of breakfast.

Way more than two hours had passed…

I rallied as best as I could, but ultimately would fall one ascent short of Everest when time ran out.

I thought I was going to be okay with it.

But I wasn’t.

I felt like a failure.

After I drove home from Stratton, I put on my Red Bib, got on my incline treadmill, and did one more ascent.

It wasn’t how I wanted it to happen, but it helped. A little.

In 2024, I was turning sixty.

And Stratton was still gnawing at me.

I had unfinished business.

The idea of a marathon for my 60th year had resonated with me, so when I saw TRAIL, I decided that would be my event.

Instead of a single marathon, why not three in three days? That will mark sixty!

The morning of registration, I logged on and saw “Join the Waitlist.”

Sold out, oh no!

Alright, maybe I’ll do Mont-Tremblant.

“Join the Waitlist”

Oh no… Again!

I still wanted to do a 29029 event for my 60th, so I reluctantly signed up for Stratton again - a mountain I thought I’d never return to.

Not long after registration, I got a call from 29029.

A spot had opened up at TRAIL.

I was off the waitlist.

Now, my 60th was going to be all about 3x3 mountain marathons AND going for REDemption at Stratton!

After what I can only call an intense training plan, it was time for Day 1 at TRAIL - a step into the unknown.

It wasn’t easy, and as the miles wore on, I started hedging my bets.

Maybe I’ll only finish one. That would still be victory. I wanted to do a marathon for my 60th, and this would count. I just have to finish today.

And I did.

Then, it was time for Day 2…

When I woke up, my stomach was turning circles. I couldn’t eat, and I could already tell I’d be losing at least two toenails.

Even so, I laced up.

I knew I had to try.

One foot in front of the other.

First to the start line.

Then to the finish.

Day 2 had broken me down mentally, but I persevered.

Day 3 built me back up.

Now, it was party time.

I loved banging the gong after each day, and on that final climb of the final day, it’s all I could think about.

When I crossed the finish line, I felt something I hadn’t allowed myself to feel before.

Pride.

Whistler had caught me off guard with an unexpected victory.

Then Stratton had left me disappointed.

But this - this was mine.

Wearing my Gold Bib and my Gold Scarf, I banged the gong three times.

Three marathons.

Three days.

I’d gone 3x3!

All that was left was REDemption at Stratton.

This time, I knew what I was in for.

Gone were my expectations of an easy mountain. Gone were my expectations of an easy Everest.

I was ready for the grit-fest this time.

It wasn’t easy.

But I was fitter, wiser, and more experienced.

I was ready for the mountain, and when it struck, I struck back.

I moved faster, managed my pace better, and even had time for a short (this time planned) sleep break.

And when that final ascent was done, I had the chance to truly take it in.

I crossed the summit on the mountain that once broke me.

This time, I’d conquered Stratton.

This time, I pulled on my Red Hat with pride!

People ask me why I keep coming back to 29029.

The answer is easy.

Community.

I’ve done plenty of other events. They’re fun.

But the community isn’t the same.

Support.

Connection.

Encouragement.

People helping people, and giving you the space to be who you are.

It’s unique to 29029, and it’s why I keep climbing.

And it’s why I’ve signed up for TRAIL again in 2026.

Team Sunshine?

She’s not done yet.

Footnotes

Voice: Rhonda Claffey. Writing: Evan Wishloff. Photos: Megan Dunn, Brendan Ladd, Evan Wishloff

Button Label

FootNotes

Voice: Rhonda Claffey. Writing: Evan Wishloff. Photos: Megan Dunn, Brendan Ladd, Evan Wishloff

Lance Friedman

Rhonda Claffey

Still Climbing, Still Shining

FootNotes

Do One More

No Emotion, Just Motion

Brian Goldstein

The Foundation for the Summit

Tom Turcich

Higher Together