While others in the Monadnock Region may have been celebrating the return of summer over Memorial Day weekend, Wellness Center Member Jane Jontz was on top of Mount Shasta in northern California, battling severe winter winds and an intimidating sheer rock face. On the third day of her second attempt to summit this 14,179-foot mountain, the group she was with had to turn back. It was too dangerous, but Jane is not discouraged. It was all in the name of raising funds for breast cancer research, a cause close to Jane’s heart. Her 37-year-old sister-in-law died of the disease in 2008.
Jane’s climbs are organized by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle. She is still accepting donations for the cause at her FHCRC website. Jane covers her own travel expenses for these climbs, and must raise a minimum of $3,000. She makes up any deficit out of her own pocket.
Jane had tried to climb Shasta last year also, but altitude sickness caused her to turn back. Before that, she successfully climbed Mount Hood. Mount Shasta’s sheer face requires cramp-ons and the use of an ax—not to chop through the ice, but to implant and hold like a ladder rung in front of you.
‘It’s very courage-building, very adrenalin, very in-the-moment,” she said. “I’m a planner/worrier type of person and, with this kind of a climb, you can’t be anywhere but right there.”
Jane first got the idea to climb to raise money through a good friend who worked for a company that produced trekking poles. The company helped sponsor the climbs and Jane knew instantly it was meant for her.
“[For fundraising] some like to ride, some like to walk, some like to do jewelry parties—but for me, climbing is a perfect combination of a wellness activity and a goal,” she said.
To prepare for her climb, Jane signed up with Wellness Center personal trainer Bernadette Stephens last fall, and has been doing two sessions a week ever since. Jane works full-time at Teleflex in Jaffrey and needed to do the trainings either very early or after work.
“[Bernadette’s] got so much energy and she’s so positive and yet she’s so careful on the equipment, to make sure you don’t get hurt and you’re doing the exercises the right way,” Jane said.
After the Shasta climb, Jane completed her first triathlon with Bernadette’s help. Jane trained over the winter in the BWC pool, using a tether Bernadette set up for her. Jane’s training also includes 45 minutes on a stationary bike every weekday morning at 5:30. On Thursday evenings, she does yoga.
Jane says she loves being “pushed” to achieve, and needs the upper body strength they’re currently working on for another adventure, an 8-day trip she’ll lead for the Seirra Club to Yosemite National Park over the July 4th holiday. Again, she’ll be climbing up the sheer face of cliffs, using cables and going “hand-over-fist” when necessary.
Jane, who has lived in Indiana and Texas, moved to Peterborough a year ago from Raleigh, North Carolina. At age 50, she says she doesn’t see herself slowing down at all. “I’m going to ride this ride as long as it will take me and then I’m going to sit down and read books.”
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