Climb4

In 2016, Leslie Irby was battling depression and anxiety that was connected to her service while on active duty in the United States Navy. She explored ways to combat her emotional trauma through traditional medicine and did not find the help she needed. Instead, Leslie turned to an unorthodox form of treatment - a thru-hike on the 2,650 mile long Pacific Crest Trail. There was only one problem. Leslie did not have the gear required for the journey. A close friend solicited help from other veterans and they all donated the gear to Leslie. She sold most of her belongings and mentally prepared herself for what the next several months would bring. Most of that was unknown. But she had the grit and the determination, and now she had the tools to begin the journey. In April of 2017, she embarked on her journey at the Pacific Coast trailhead along the U.S. and Mexican border. Bag on her back, a spring sun that hung high in a cloudless sky, and a brand new adventure was at her heels. Over the next several months she endured long days in all types of weather and persevered through periods of solitude that were punctuated by moments of interaction with fellow thru-hikers. She marveled at the beautiful expanse of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in central California, roamed through the Pacific Northwest in the foothills of Mt. Hood and Mt. Rainier, and took her pack off for the last time at Monument 78 at the Canadian Border. This experience begged the question of who else needed backcountry therapy? There are millions of veterans who suffer from depression, anxiety, physical disabilities, PTSD, and other wounds that people may never hear about. These questions were the springboard for Climb4 and our goal is to provide a kit of the essential pieces of gear to make the backcountry more accessible to the men and women who need it most.