Mary Metcalf, who embodies the spirit of a mother, an explorer, and a passionate rock climber in the High Desert, is undoubtedly a formidable figure.
Metcalf dedicates most of her spare time to attempting lead climbs.
Apple Valley’s Fairview Mountain Park
or up the sandstone crags in
Joshua Tree National Park
along with her sons and co-founder/Partner
Bear Valley Outfitters
, Adam Schenk.
On this Mother’s Day, the Daily Press has showcased Metcalf as a standout mom from District 23. She excels not just in caring for her two sons, Garner, aged 11, and Zander, aged 15, but also serves as an inspiring figure promoting feminism through outdoor activities.
A trailblazing lifestyle
Metcalf relocated to Big Bear so her children could be nearer to nature, as reported by the Daily Press.
She mentioned that Garner and Zander enjoy stand-up paddling, cycling, skiing, and skateboarding whenever they get the chance. They were also members of the Big Bear class that dubbed the renowned
the eagle pair consisting of Jackie and Shadow
baby eaglets
Gizmo and Sunny
.
Inspiring her boys to live a healthy life outside came naturally to Metcalf, she said, because her parents encouraged the same for her growing up.
Before she was leading 5.10- and 5.11-rated sport climbs outdoors with her family, however, Metcalf was a trailblazer on her mountain bike.
She was the first woman to bike the 3,000-mile Great Divide Mountain Bike Route in 2008, an unsupported journey that took Metcalf across five U.S. states from the border of Canada to the border of Mexico.
Metcalf completed a modified version of the
Great Divide bike route
in 30 days. She cycled a total of 2,745 miles with more than 200,000 feet of vertical elevation climbing, which, Metcalf admits, is a “s— ton.”
She was one of nine to complete what 17 started out to do that year.
Bravery when confronted with risk
Metcalf tackled astounding challenges, such as navigating through end-of-season snow, enduring areas with grizzly bears while riding alone, hefting her 45-pound bicycle over downed trees, and fending off unwelcome vehicles in desolate sections of the path.
Once, when Metcalf encountered a snowy mountain passage near 7 PM, she was uncertain about the extent of the snowbank. She chose to traverse it before nightfall and set up her camp right beyond it. However, what she anticipated as a simple task turned into a seven-hour struggle in the darkness—a factor heightened by fresh grizzly bear tracks found in the snow, emphasizing the seriousness of her predicament.
For seven hours, Metcalf created loud disturbances to deter unwelcome top predators during her risky journey, knowing well about the strongly flavored smoked salmon she had secured in her bike pack. She couldn’t shout for assistance on the path; otherwise, she’d face disqualification.
The lone cyclist experienced degrees of exhaustion during her journey that she had never imagined. She also mentioned feeling both anemic and malnourished throughout her trip.
In more than one instance, Metcalf toyed with the idea of quitting but remembered that she wasn’t just riding the trail for herself; she was doing it for women everywhere.
A revamped blog kept up by Metcalf throughout the journey showcased messages of admiration, optimism, and motivation from the women who were following his progress from their homes.
She stated to the Daily Press, ‘Women possess the toughness and determination to persevere during difficult periods,’ adding that this quality is deeply rooted within us as caregivers. This tenacity is essential because without such strength, giving birth would be insurmountable.’
Metcalf chose a regular two-person tent over a smarter, lighter bivy sack for safety reasons. She would appear bigger in the tent, she said, so no one could tell if she was a man or a woman alone in the wilderness.
A gender gap exists in the outdoors that doesn’t need to, Metcalf explained. Her completion of the Great Divide Route was an effort to advocate for the receptivity of women in outdoor sports and recreation.
The biker babe still rides occasionally but has since turned her focus to rock climbing because it is “more inclusive for the whole family.”
Now, she loves watching her sons grow in the outdoors and become more skillful climbers, skaters and skiers.
McKenna works as a journalist for the Daily Press. You can contact her via email at mmobley@gannett.com.
The article initially appeared in the Victorville Daily Press.
Brave and bold: Honoring an pioneering mother this Mother’s Day
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