Tough Girl Podcast Quinn Brett - First person to hand-cycle the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route from the Canadian border to the Mexico border.
Feb 22, 2022
40:21
Quinn in her own words: “I live in Estes Park Colorado. For five years, I worked as a climbing ranger, doing technical Search and Rescue, in Rocky Mountain National Park. To compliment the rescue and medical component of this job, I taught Wilderness Medical Courses. Rest days…. what are those? Climbing, mountain running, triathlons, mountain biking, summit handstand and mini golf—- were just a few sports I was into. I cherished pushing my body and my mind, finding comfort in the uncomfortable. I have a few climbing first ascents, speed records and some mountain running records all over the western US and even across the globe In October 2017, I fell over 100 feet while climbing on El Capitan in Yosemite National Park and sustained a spinal cord injury. I am currently paralyzed from the waist down. Movement and advocacy for public lands was a big part of life and vocation. That hasn’t changed, I still need to be active, adventure and break barriers. This past summer, 2021, I become the first person to hand-cycle the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route from the Canadian Border to the Mexico border in 25 days. My advocacy in public lands continues, as well as, advocacy for spinal cord research—- to improve mine and others quality of life.” New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday at 7am UK time - Hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss out. The Tough Girl Podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons. Support the mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media. Visit www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast and subscribe - super quick and easy to do and it makes a massive difference. Thank you. Show notes
- Who is Quinn
- What she does
- Her love for playing outside
- Her early years
- Working for the National Park Service
- Her journey into rock climbing
- Getting her dream job
- Being encouraged to do more with her life
- Taking her EMT course and how all her skills combined together
- Becoming a Technical Rescue Ranger and what it’s like being in the field
- Dealing with a T11 Spinal Cord Injury 10/2017
- Slipping and falling 100ft
- Being paralysed from the waist down
- Being rescues and transferred to the hospital
- The transition to a new type of life and way of living
- The challenges of getting back into the outdoor
- Wanting to get back into swimming after 3 months
- Getting an off-road hand cycle
- Completing the Tour Divide in 2021
- How getting e-assist helped with access
- Being able to keep up with friends
- Figuring out the technical side of the challenge
- Taking on the White Rim in Utah a 100 mile challenge
- Learning about the underlying issues and figuring out the solutions
- Why preparation is key
- Leaning how to calm the brain
- Doing the Tour Divide as an independent time trail
- Being the first hand cyclist to the the Tour Divide
- Learning to calm the brain
- Why sweating the small stuff is important
- The magical moments from the Tour Divide
- Trail Angels
- Quick Fire Questions - food, music, podcasts, mantra & mottos
- “This wheelchair does not define me”
- Access to the outdoors…
- Keeping fit and active and what that looks like
- Raising money for the Kelly Brush Foundation
- 2 Exciting trips planned for the future
- Climbing Kilimanjaro and going to Bosnia
- How to connect with Quinn
- Final words of advice for other women who are going through a tough time in their life
- The power of community and the power of asking for help