Women's Hiking, Backpacking, and Outdoor Adventures and Education. My 21 year old son, Shamar, took his last breath moments after the crash. Why Cairn?
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Murrieta, CA
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On Tuesday, May 15, 2018 I came home from work to learn the most devastating news any mother would hear. My son was driving down Rancho California, in the hills of Temecula, and a truck pulled out in front of him. My son took his last breath moments after the crash. Since then, I have grieved and I have lived, for him. I planned his Celebration of Life, which was held at Harveston Lake. And then I began my journey. I went on my annual birthday camping trip the end of May to Whitney with friends, I backpacked from Tahoe to Yosemite, I took my step son up Mt Whitney, the tallest mountain in the lower 48, to leave some of my son’s ashes on the summit, and I went on a solo backpacking trip in the Sierra. I took photography classes, since my son was a photographer, joined a photo club, and bought 10 camera kits for his high school, Chaparral. We also donated money to create scholarships for those who are studying photography and videography at Chaparral High School and Palomar College. I carved pumpkins for my son, I made sure the family got together for Thanksgiving, and I decorated the tree with Shamar’s ornaments from when he was a child. I took his friends out to eat when they were home from college, my son was the one who was always getting people together. I also gave his closest friends Shamrock necklaces, hats, cufflinks, ornaments, and kept in touch with them if they needed a mom-friend. I ran the Big Bear Revel half marathon and PR’ed. I celebrated my son’s 22nd birthday with my best friend in Miami, that is where Shamar wanted to spend his 21st birthday. We did salsa dancing, paragliding, I had his favorite drink, and we went on an Oprah Girlfriend’s Cruise to the Bahama, where I spread some of his ashes on the beach in Miami. I took my first international trip. We went to Peru and I climbed to 17,000 feet and spread some of his ashes on Salkantay Pass on the way to Machu Picchu. We also took a trip to Africa to climb even higher. We climbed to 19,340 feet to the summit of Kilimanjaro, where I also spread some of his ashes. I quit my job of 20 years to find my purpose in life. I took Wilderness First Responders course, took CPR, and signed up to volunteer for San Jacinto area Search and Rescue. I am also trying to find companies that help build teen’s and womens’s leadership skills through the outdoors. This past summer I backpacked Mt Whitney, North Lake South Lake Loop in the Sierra, Kennedy Meadows to Cottonwood Meadows, did the High Sierra Trail and part of the John Muir Trail, I climbed the tallest mountain in Arizona, backpacked Big Pine, did the SoCal Six Pack Peaks, I ran another half marathon and two 15k’s. I tried to honor my son by doing the things we used to do as a family and also doing things he would be proud of me for doing, trying to continue to live my best life. This is why I created Cairn Connection. I want to help women and young adults with depression, by trying to get them moving outdoors. I will promote weekly walks, hikes, and even take people camping and backpacking. I would like to help others climb a 14’er, introduce people to photography, painting, and even just enjoy coffee and each other’s company. Don’t be afraid to take the first step. Don’t be afraid to help yourself. Life can be beautiful.
