Climb Against the Odds 2026

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Recent updates

Thursday, June 18, 2026

Tonight, we will gather climbers, BCPP friends, family, supporters, staff, and the Mt. Shasta community to celebrate and host a reception sponsored by our fantastic partners in prevention, Innersense Organic Beauty!

1:10: All climbers have made it back safely to Bunny Flats and are off the mountain! They are in such great spirits and we are so proud of them. Congrats, Climb Against the Odds Team 2026!

11:00AM:  Supporters gather at the Bunny Flat Trailhead to welcome the climbers home with cheers, posters, and big hugs. 

9:57 AM: All groups are descending to the trailhead.

9:20 AM: The first group is heading down to Bunny Flat and should arrive in 1.5-2hrs.

8:45 AM: No climbers have departed base camp yet. Once they do start to move down, it will take them a couple of hours to get to Bunny Flat trailhead. Possible eta 11:00 AM-12:00 PM (we will update this time when we know more).

Summit day updates

*real-time photos below*

Wednesday, June 17, 2026

11:15 AM: Linnea Sherman, Lindsey Schultz, Caroline Albert, Natalia Korobkova have reached the summit at 14,179′! 

11:01 AM: Andy LaVelle, Bryan Churchill, Taylor Barstow, Hannah Price, Matt Price, Corinne Lenehan, Rhiannon Sergienko, Kate Fayngersh, Bliss Bryan, Kana McKee, and Sean Fizer have reached the summit at 14,179′! 

10:28 AM: Betsy O’Brien, Kate Sommers-Dawes, Jinny Tuscano, and Monica Reisz have reached their personal summits at 13,850.

10:00 AM: Next? The climbers will cross the summit plateau then another couple hundred feet to the final summit.

9:55 AM: Several teams have topped Missery Hill. The summit is in sight! Weather: a bit breezy on the plateau.

8:55 AM: Climbers are now approaching Misery Hill, bottom elevation of 13,100′.

8:05 AM: All teams have made it through the Red Banks to the thumb at 12,900′. Nice time for a big break. It’s calm, sunny and warm. 

7:50 AM: Rob Abramowitz climbed down with Brooke, Alex, Johanna to basecamp. They are all well and going to rest.

5:35 AM: The sunrise offers more light for the climbers as they ascend.

5:05 AM: Alex Gayle, Joanna Luo, and Brook Hayes have reached their personal summits at 11,400′.

4:49 AM: All teams are arriving at “Obermans” for a break at approximately 11,400 ft. Light wind continues, but the coldest hour of the day sets in. Guides are getting the ropes ready. They will be heading into a steeper section of the mountain, so the climbers (based on their teams of six) will be roped together for their safety. A little bit of light is coming out.

4:00 AM: The climbers are moving up from Helen Lake on their way to the Red Banks. The climb from Lake Helen to the top of Red Banks is a key part of the Avalanche Gulch Route, gaining around 2,400 feet of elevation.

See the climb teams staggered? It’s good to not be right on top of each other in case of a fall or rock fall. If someone directly above you slips they could take you out on their way down. Same for kicking up a chunk of ice. 

3:40 AM: Teams are taking a break at lake Helen at 10,400 ft. Cool, clear night with lots of stars and light wind.

2:30 AM: Nola Orr reached her personal summit at 9,500 ft.

2:20 AM: All rope teams (1-4) have left base camp and are on the move up.

1:30 AM: Hikers wake, get dressed in their summit gear, and have an early pre-dawn breakfast.

Photo credit: Rich Meyer

Photo credit: Danny Kern

 Prep and hike to basecamp

Tuesday, June 16, 2026

6:00 PM: All climb groups have made it to base camp! The climbers have completed snow school and will eat dinner to refuel before heading to bed early (or at least try to). They have a 2 am wake-up call to begin their summit attempt to 14,179′.

11 AM: The climbers were divided into four rope teams and are currently en route to base camp at 9,500′.

10 AM: After they geared up, all climbers carpooled to the Bunny Flat trailhead. From there, we took some photos and sent them on their way with cheers, love, and support!

8 AM: After getting their food and hydration, the climbers headed to our long-time friends and incredible guides at Shasta Mountain Guides. There, they could get their rope team assignments, rent any last-minute gear, and unpack and repack their Osprey backpacks to ensure they only brought what they needed for their climb. The packs end up weighing about 45 lbs, so being mindful of what goes in is very important. Every ounce counts!

6 AM: Today, the climbers woke up bright and early to have breakfast and prep their lunches for their day hike to base camp.

The journey to Mount Shasta begins

Monday, June 15, 2026

For our 27th Anniversary of Climb Against the Odds, we are honored to welcome 27 volunteer climbers from across the country who will attempt Mount Shasta’s icy 14,179 ft peak to challenge the 1 in 8 odds of a woman’s breast cancer diagnosis.

Many climb in honor of their own breast cancer diagnosis, for a loved one, or for future generations, carrying prayer flags inscribed with names up the mountain. We all climb for prevention so that no one should have to hear the words “You have breast cancer.”

Help them reach their $300,000 fundraising goal!

All of the funds raised by our inspiring climbers go to support BCPP’s work to translate science into education, pressure businesses to make safer products, protect consumers from toxic chemicals, and advance health-protective laws.

Our climbers are packing up and preparing for their travels from across the U.S. to Northern California’s Mt. Shasta.

Upon arrival, climbers will check in at the Mt. Shasta Resort, and  will meet their event leader/mama bear, Marie DeJournette, to pick up goody bag and their climb sponsor t-shirt.

Next, they will head to pick up climb rental gear at Fifth Season. They also have the chance to complete any remaining last minute shopping for food and gear in town.

Their official all-hands on deck Welcome Dinner kicks off at 5:00 pm where all of the climbers will get to meet each other in person for the first time!

We are happy to reunite with our dear friends from the Mt. Shasta community, who generously host us every year. Each year, we select a local Shasta community member to join the climb team, and the funds they raise help support Mercy Foundation North’s breast cancer programs and services in the region.

And last but not least, we are so thrilled to reconnect with Shasta Mountain Guides, our expert mountaineering guides who support us up and back home safely down the mountain on this journey to Climb Against the Odds for breast cancer prevention.