Everest....so surreal...like a dream...can't wait so see you again!!

Hi Everyone!!!

Well, as you probably read below,there was no summit for me this time on Everest. I reached the Balcony (8400m) of Everest (8848m) on May 13th and then got ill and had to turn around...more details to come on that evening. I was probably 6-7 hours from the summit. Turning around was one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make. After collapsing for the third time though, I laid face in the snow for good 10 mintues before digging deep and knowing that going on would just be stupid and irresponsible, as I would not only be risking my own safety, but that of others. So Everest I will see you again, and hopefully really soon!! It is incredibly hard to work for so many years towards a goal and then have to turn away from it only hours away.

I am still not back in the U.S., but hope to be home this weekend. I am feeling much better, think I have regained almost all of my weight back(that was quick!), and ready to share more of this incredible journey...busy writing away...so stay tuned. My body is still recovering and sleep is the greatest gift. Overall though, I just feel blessed to be overall healthy, as others this season were not so fortunate.

It is hard to believe the journey is over and now seems a bit surreal...like it was a dream. I cannot wait to go back though! As much as I was tired of the freezing nights, roasting on the glacier some days, and pushing my body to the max point of exhaustion, I already miss it-the awe of the mountain, the challenge of pushing myself, the amazing people I met, the overall incredible experience that I could never replicate in my day to day. So Everest will be there for me next time :)

Special thanks to everyone for following along the journey and supporting our efforts for women in Congo....many more details to come soon.

Special thanks also to:
My incredible employer McKinney Rogers for partially sponsoring my climbing fees and also allowing me a sabatical to go on this remarkable challenge. Looking forward to seeing the team again :)

To Kathy Setian (Climber), Steve Prentice, Melanie O'Toole, Mylene Pelandre, and Tristan Ang,and Hector Miranda for either climbing this big mountain or trekking to Base Camp and supporting the campaign either by fundraising or moral support!!

To VDAY and International Medical Corps for their continuous work and efforts for women in the Democratic Republic of Congo. You are impacting the lives of women and children on a daily basis and giving them a chance for a better future.

To Dokument Films- David Serota and Giovanni Messner for all of their support and encouragement and this amazing clip they are working on---you'll see it soon :)

To Ning for building me an amazing new interactive website where I could communicate with you all....I had built the first one myself and I am sooooo grateful for their help!

To Eve Ensler, who without the article she wrote back in August 07, I may have never set off on this journey.

More to come soon, but you can still support our efforts for women in Congo at www.climbtakeaction.com

Also, please note that none of the money donated through my site went towards my climbing expenses. All climbing expenses were paid by myself and partially by my sponsor McKinney Rogers. All donations made go directly to both International Medical Corps and VDAY and are 100% tax deductible.

Thank you all for your loving messages and encouragement. More to come, pic, videos, and stories....


Hugs,

G