Climbing for a Cause

ambassadorhikingvolunteerfundraisinggivebackwashingtonoregon

Jun 27

Women Who Explore x Climb for Clean Air

At Women Who Explore, our mission is rooted in empowering women in the outdoors—creating space for connection, confidence, and adventure in wild places. We believe that every woman deserves to feel strong, supported, and inspired on the trail, no matter her experience level. And this year, our local team of twelve women from Washington and Oregon is taking that mission even higher by partnering with the American Lung Association’s Climb for Clean Air.

In June 2025, we’ll be summiting the iconic Mount Saint Helens—not just for the challenge, but for the cause. Because when women come together around something bigger than themselves, we create a real, lasting impact.

Why We're Climbing

Climb for Clean Air is a life-changing mountaineering program that gives people the opportunity to summit world-class mountains while raising vital funds to support the American Lung Association’s work to improve lung health and fight for clean air for all.

For our team, this climb is personal. Some of us have loved ones battling asthma or lung cancer. Others have experienced firsthand the effects of poor air quality and wildfire smoke. And for all of us, clean air is something we think about every time we step outside to breathe deeply in the places we love most.

This is the first time our Women Who Explore team has joined the Climb for Clean Air program, and while a few of us have stood on the rim of Mount Saint Helens before, this climb carries new meaning—because we’re doing it together, for something bigger.

From the Trail to the Summit: How We’re Training

We’re in it for the long haul—literally. Our team is training every week, whether it’s on solo adventures or as part of the Climb for Clean Air official training hikes. From snowshoeing in the mountains to night hikes, trail runs, and even a climbing clinic, we’re pushing ourselves to grow stronger in both body and mindset.

Some of our members are taking on unique challenges, like a hike to Camp Muir on Mount Rainier, and one member is trekking the Three High Passes and Everest Base Camp—a truly epic journey.

Whether it's rain, snow, or sunshine, we show up. Together or solo, on trails across Washington and Oregon, we're logging the miles and building the kind of resilience that summit days—and life—require.

Fundraising with Heart

Our goal is to raise at least $18,000, and each of us is getting creative to make it happen. (update, they have raised over $19k!!!)

From yard sales, homemade sourdough bread, and noodle sales, and a fun-filled paint & sip event, to even plasma donation, we’re doing everything we can to reach our goal while connecting with our communities along the way.

Every dollar raised supports clean air advocacy, lung disease research, and programs that help people breathe easier, from kids with asthma to those living with lung cancer.

Join Us on the Journey

This climb isn’t just about summiting a volcano—it’s about standing up for something bigger than ourselves, together. It's about empowering women in the outdoors, giving back to our communities, and protecting the very air we breathe. There will be a post climb update blog post and keep an eye on the WWE social channels for stories and photos.

Want to support our team?

Whether it’s a donation, sharing our story, or cheering us on, your support makes a real difference. Together, we can reach new heights.

The Climb for Clean Air Team will be climbing on Saturday, June 28, and so far have raised nearly $20k for the American Lung Association. While they have surpassed their goal of $18k, all the proceeds are for an amazing cause. Thank you to ALL the amazing people on this team and their hard work. We cannot wait to share content of their summit.