Summitting the West
PROBLEM
A recovery journey from an accident
In 2022, Sonja set out to climb the highest peaks in the western United States. She needed a big goal to get herself back outdoors. Following injuries she sustained in a 2021 car accident, Sonja had stopped trail running and hiking. Carrying anything more than a 10-pound backpack was painful.
The Mountain Guides in Jackson, WY, one of Sonja’s guiding services, recommended she prepare for her expeditions with 100 Year Athlete (100YA).
SOLUTION
hiking Long Days with Heavy Packs without pain
That summer, Sonja managed to summit three high points: Humphreys Peak, AZ (12,633’), Mt. Elbert, CO (14,400’), and Gannett Peak, WY (13,810’). Gannett involved carrying a 40-lb backpack for 50 miles over the course of four days—something Sonja would not have been able to do prior to working with Rebecca.
a holistic approach to build Mobility, strength, and confidence
RESULTS
Sonja began training with 100YA’s Rebecca Ballstaedt in spring 2022. The program emphasized strength training, divided into push and pull days, and daily mobility work to address spine and hip issues that limited Sonja’s ability to hike with a load.
“Rebecca’s wisdom of not only anatomy but also the mind-body connection is invaluable,” Sonja says. “Her empathetic planning strategies encompassed everything I needed, including trusting my body after injury, fueling my body with the right foods without obsession, finding joy in moving my body without stress, and gaining confidence in my ability to use gym equipment and knowing I could sustain 12-hour days in the backcountry.”
“With Rebecca’s encouragement and straightforward communication, I have been able to meet my goals and take on more endeavors like finding my love of downhill mountain biking and guiding friends who are new to backpacking (including shuttling their packs),” Sonja says.
