Mount Rainier is widely regarded as one of the Pacific Northwest region’s most symbolic displays of power, majesty and breath-taking beauty.  For two 2009 Climb for Clean Air participants, Rainier is all of that, and much more. 

Issaquah, Washington resident, Jeff Rafuse and Puyallup’s John Hickson share similar stories.  Both men started smoking while teenagers.  Despite multiple attempts to quit smoking over the years, neither Rafuse nor Hickson had ever found the inner desire or motivation to kick the habit for good.  Avid listeners of Seattle-based KIRO radio’s Ron & Don Show, Rafuse and Hickson heard about Don O’Neill’s plans to participate in the American Lung Association in Washington’s Climb for Clean Air, a multi-day trek to the summit of Mt. Rainier.  The Climb’s mission of saving lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease resonated deeply with both men.  Rafuse and Hickson had never met, but had now both found their motivation to quit smoking. 

Trading in his four packs of cigarettes a week for crampons and a backpack was surprisingly easy for the 29-year old Rafuse, a self-professed couch potato who, prior to registering for the Climb, had very little experience in the outdoors.

“Having a firm goal set for myself really made a difference in my ability to resist the temptation to start smoking again,” says Rafuse.  “I had so many family and friends who were supporting me that I knew I couldn’t let them down.”

Rafuse says his first reality check of the impact smoking had made on his lungs came during his first training hike on nearby Tiger Mountain.  Rafuse mistakenly followed the more difficult Cable Line trail to the top and quickly found himself out of breath.

“That first training hike was a pivotal moment for me,” says Rafuse.  “I sat there gasping for breath and realized that smoking for half my life had really affected my lungs.  I’m still a young guy and it was a real wake up call for me to get myself in shape, start living a healthier lifestyle and reach my goal of making it to the summit of Mt. Rainier.”

Using this newfound realization as his motivation, Rafuse continued to train and quickly developed a passion for hiking.

Similarly, Hickson, a 48-year old plumber, had people urging him for years to kick his pack-a-week habit.  After hearing about the Climb event, Hickson was committed to living a healthier lifestyle. 

“I had always thought climbing sounded like a lot fun and knew deep down that I should probably stop smoking, but it wasn’t until I heard about the Climb for Clean Air that I decided to do something about it,” says Hickson.  “In all the times I had tried quitting before, I was always doing it for someone else and not because I truly wanted to stop.  Once I made the decision to join the Climb I had a reason.”

Hickson’s training routine included hikes on Rainier’s Panorama Point Skyline Loop.  His first attempt at the trail took him seven grueling hours to complete.

“My lungs felt like they were going to collapse during that first climb, but I kept going reminding myself with each step that you’ve got to breathe to live,” says Hickson.  “I was more proud of myself when I finished that first hike than I was at the end of the actual climb event.  I just sat there and cried.”

Rafuse and Hickson trained for three months in preparation for the event – hard work that paid off with successful climbs for both men.  Rafuse, who lost 30 pounds while training for his Rainier climb, reached the summit.  Step by step, breath by breath, it took everything he had to make it to the top.  He’s convinced that with more training and time without cigarette smoke in his system, he’ll be able to enjoy his next climbing experience even more.  Rafuse’s determination and enthusiasm even served as inspiration for his girlfriend, Sarah, who joined him in kicking the smoking habit.  Rafuse has now set a future goal of climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro.  

Hickson came just shy of reaching the summit on this year’s Climb for Clean Air, but he already has his sights set on reaching the 14,410 foot peak next year.  The natural beauty he witnessed along the climb was enough to convince him that there are better things in life for him to devote his time to than cigarettes.  Kicking a 30-year smoking habit has not been easy.  When a craving for a cigarette occurs, Hickson focuses on Mt. Rainier in the distance, the hard work he’s done to get this far, and his ultimate goal of relishing the views from the summit.   

“Climbing that mountain was the most challenging yet rewarding thing I’ve ever done in my life,” says Hickson.  “Mt. Rainier is my inspiration to never smoke again.  I wish I had never started smoking to begin with. In the short time that I’ve been off cigarettes my skin looks healthier and I have noticed a huge difference in how I feel.  I’ll never go back to smoking again.  I’ve got too much to lose if I do.”

“Now that I’ve been cigarette-free for several months, I look back on the habit and wonder why I didn’t stop before,” says Rafuse.  “I see people smoking now and I just want to grab them and tell them it’s not worth it.”

Both Rafuse and Hickson offer high praise for Climb for Clean Air, with particular emphasis on the event’s training and support infrastructure and the lifelong friendships made during the experience.

“This event is a great way to get the word out about all of the good things the American Lung Association does for people who can’t breathe,” says Hickson.  “I’m a prime example of it.  I pat myself on the back everyday for deciding to get involved with the climb and this organization.”   

“I encourage anyone who is interested in climbing Mt. Rainier to look into joining the Climb for Clean Air event,” says Rafuse.  “It’s a life-changing experience and you’ll definitely be a different person after you’ve done it.”