The 98-year-old Bronka Sunstrom’s life came to a pause after devoting herself to nature. Surviving the Holocaust, Sundstrom found the purpose of her life in hiking in which she found solace. The remarkable soul passed away on November 29, Wednesday from congestive heart failure. However, she leaves behind her legacy through the accomplishment she achieved overcoming the challenges life posed for her. 

Living her initial years as a refugee in Sweden after World War II, the hiker refused to pause life. Her hiking adventures gained her the acclamation of a local mountain celebrity. The hiking community now mourns the loss of Sundstrom who not only triumphed the darkest chapters of human history but also etched her name as a hiking folk hero. 

A hiking trailblazer’s tale of endurance

Emerging with a spirit unbroken and later settling in Tacoma and Ashford, Bronka and her husband Ake Sundstrom found strength and solace in the mountains of Mount Rainier. It was in 2002, when she was 77 years old that she grabbed the title of the oldest woman to climb Mount Rainier defying all expectations. 

During this round-trip hiking experience that spanned over 19 hours, Sundstrom proved her endurance and her physical and mental strength showcasing her indomitable spirit. Drawing inspiration from the demanding yet successful feat, the hiker progressed further with other adventures.

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On her 95th birthday, Sundstrom took a hiking adventure to Second Burroughs near Sunrise. Even though she had a near-death experience, Sundstorm had a therapeutic relief that made her share her views stating, “ If it weren’t for the mountains, I wouldn’t be the person I am today. The mountains teach us of independence, strength, confidence, and beauty.” Her insatiable love for hiking was not just limited to achievement but was a form of therapy that propelled her to progress in her life.

Lady of Mountain’s legacy of resilience

During her stay at the Panorama retirement community, a month before her demise, Sundstrom refused to lead a sedentary life and walked five miles a day outside her home. Jason Edwards, the guide who accompanied her during the 2002 climb, “One of the reasons she hiked so much was because it helped to soothe the trauma that she had experienced.” 

Living in a life-threatening condition where every day came with the threat of living her last moments, Sundstrom took this opportunity to live her life to the fullest. Even though the hiker chose to share her story late in life, her wartime experience bestowed her with the mental tenacity to reach new heights.

Noting her resilience in turning mountains into metaphors, the Holocaust survivor-turned-hiker was inducted into the Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall of Fame in 2021. Completing 50 hikes up to Camp Muir in a year and making her last try at the age of 91 earned Sundstrom the title of “Lady of the Mountain”.

From the harrowing depths of concentration camps to making her way hiking up the towering peaks of Mount Rainier, Bronka Sundstrom will forever live in the hearts of those inspired by her. She will be always remembered as a well-lived soul who refused to be confined by tragedy and chose to break through and find solace in nature. 

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