Skier Julie McGuire has become the first woman to ski all 33 of the Catskill High Peaks.
McGuire finished her quest last week on Kaaterskill High Peak. She said two snowstorms in a row allowed her to finish her ski project, becoming the first woman – and just the third person overall – to ski all of the Catskill High Peaks.
She is a high school English teacher who divides her time between New York City and the Catskills.
“I started backcountry skiing in 2018 after my spouse blindsided me with a divorce,” McGuire said on her Instagram account. “The agony was so intense that I didn’t know how I could continue to exist another second.”
She said she took up skiing when she saw an ad for a women’s backcountry ski camp with no prior experience required. She said skiing has provided her with a way of rebuilding herself and coping with stress.
McGuire is no stranger to the Catskills. She is a Catskill 35er and a Catskill 3500 Club board member.
“No matter how confident you think you are, there are situations that make you question yourself. When I climb and ski something challenging, I have indisputable proof of my worth,” she said in her Instagram post. “I think everybody should have access to the outdoors so that they can experience the state of consciousness natural beauty facilitates and test their mettle with challenges.”
