Kris Machnick is just not going to let a bit factor like a birthday stand in the best way of her objectives. She celebrated her most up-to-date lap across the solar by coaching exhausting at Pacific Edge Climbing Gym in Santa Cruz, California, an integral a part of her preparation—which additionally consists of CrossFit, weightlifting, cardio exercise, and endurance work—for an upcoming mountain climbing expedition in Hemsedal, Norway. Of course, she nonetheless made time to have fun with family and friends later that day—in any case, you solely flip 80 as soon as.
Climbing in Norway is a return residence for Machnick, who was raised in Kristiansund N., situated a brisk 63 levels north of the equator. She was born on the cusp of World War II, and her small city, technically a trio of islands, was almost decimated by German bombers not lengthy after preventing started. Machnick, the oldest of six siblings, remembers a childhood spent enjoying hopscotch and using bicycles within the shadow of barbed wire and bomb shelters.
Machnick able to tackle Guinness Gully.
Machnick didn’t have the chance to partake of Norway’s well-known out of doors pursuits—trekking, snowboarding, climbing—till she moved midway internationally. She emigrated to the United States at 20 years outdated, in search of profession alternatives that had been unavailable again residence, and met her now-husband shortly thereafter. The two embraced California’s local weather and recreation alternatives, making a life that included loads of time spent outdoor, from operating marathons to mountain climbing in Yosemite National Park.
During these adventures, each at residence and whereas trekking overseas, Machnick usually dreamt of including climbing to her repertoire. She loved any time spent exterior, unchained from her desk, however particularly beloved the mountains—why not discover a option to spend extra time there? She didn’t tie in, nevertheless, till after retirement, when she encountered a gaggle of climbers throughout a visit to Cuba who helped resurrect her curiosity in regards to the sport. Machnick visited a climbing health club for the primary time shortly thereafter; she started climbing outdoor a couple of years later at 64 years outdated.
Although she doesn’t lead (“I think I started too late and I don’t want that responsibility”), Machnick now calls mountain climbing her favourite pursuit. “I think what I like about climbing is that it’s a sport that takes some thought and endurance rather than having so much speed,” she says. “I like ice climbing because it’s more technical. You have to have a lot of gear, but I just love the ice, the snow, and being in the mountains.”
Feeling victorious on Lofoten’s Rock N Roll Ridge.
Even as she was discovering pleasure whereas preventing up more and more tough ice routes, Machnick was additionally watching with disappointment as shut household and buddies had been dropping their very own battles. Her eldest brother died of problems from Parkinson’s illness in 2012; over the subsequent six years, not solely would her sister be recognized with the illness, however Machnick would additionally go on to lose three different shut buddies and kin from Alzheimer’s illness and Lewy physique dementia.
Knowing that well-funded analysis is essential to discovering methods to hopefully stop and develop cures for these ailments, Machnick realized that she might parlay her new ardour and her standing as an older climber right into a fundraising effort. In January 2018, she launched the 8 for 80 undertaking, the place she promised to climb eight ice and rock routes all over the world by the tip of winter 2019, hoping to boost $100,000 to contribute towards Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s analysis alongside the best way.
Machnick’s first climb for the undertaking was Whorehouse Hoses (WI4/5), situated simply north of Silverton, Colorado, on the finish of a protracted, excessive altitude strategy within the San Juan Mountains. From there, she accomplished Bridal Veil Falls (WI5) in Keystone Canyon simply exterior of Valdez, Alaska, and knocked off one other two routes throughout a visit to Lofoten, a Norwegian archipelago situated north of the Arctic Circle.
Feeling pleasure at Red Rocks.
Unfortunately, she was injured in the course of the latter journey, struggling a number of tears of the meniscus in her knee. The restoration interval, together with lack of entry as a result of wildfires in areas she deliberate to climb, offered setbacks, however Machnick remained dedicated, touring to Canada as quickly as her knee allowed. There, she met up with climber Sarah Hueniken and added two extra climbs to her undertaking checklist, Guinness Gully (WI4) and Louise Falls (WI5) close to Lake Louise within the Canadian Rockies.
Her knee nonetheless isn’t utterly healed, however Machnick retains climbing. This month’s journey to Norway and a celebratory climb of Mount Tamplais, situated simply north of San Francisco, will mark the completion of her 8 for 80 undertaking. While she hopes to achieve her fundraising efforts—and would possibly even schedule a further spherical of climbs so as to take action—that hasn’t been the undertaking’s solely objective. “I’m celebrating my own life by going out and doing these climbs,” says Machnick. “It gives me a lot of joy that I actually have the health and the interest in doing this.”
She additionally hopes to affect others to contemplate the significance of bodily health as a element of psychological well being, and encourage them to chase their very own objectives in life. “One thing that inspires me is ordinary people just getting out, doing their thing,” says Machnick. “Being happy and satisfied, and not feeling intimidated or worthless because they can’t achieve some of the things that you see celebrities and sports stars do.”
Machnick admits that it’s a bit more durable pursuing her personal climbing objectives as she will get older, however she’s discovered some changes that make it doable. “What’s hard about it for me is that as you get older, your aerobic capacity declines. There’s nothing you can do about it,” she says. “What I’m working on is being more efficient; you have to do things methodically and correctly, so you don’t waste energy.”
And for many who would possibly wish to comply with in her icy footsteps? “I think you have to start where you’re at, do it for yourself, and not compare yourself to someone that’s 20 years old,” says Machnick. “Instead of going back and feeling grief over things you have lost, you just have to look forward.”
All pictures courtesy of Kris Machnick