Climbing to Empower Women of Congo

Speaking in Palo Alto on August 9th 7:30 PM

2011-08-07T18:29:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone!

I will be speaking in Palo Alto Tuesday, August 9th @ 7:30 PM! This will be my first Everest Slide show presentation. Please come join if you are in the Bay area. Hope to see you there and learn more about our efforts for women in Democratic Republic of Congo!

Georgina Miranda: Climb Take Action on Everest
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/event.php?eid=137105716365907

Location:

Peninsula Conservation Center
3921 East Bayshore Road
Palo Alto, CA

Info:

In what has become an annual tradition – the Everest slideshow – this year’s presenter fits with Madame Chair’s “Year of the Woman” theme. Join us as Georgina Miranda shares her experience on Everest’s South Side this past Spring. Georgina was climbing Everest as part of her Climb Take Action 7 Summits Challenge.

After reading an article in Glamour in 2007 about the violence against women in the war-torn Democratic Republic of... Congo, Georgina founded Climb Take Action in order to empower women in the region by climbing to raise funds and awareness to their suffering. Thousands of women have been neglected, murdered, abducted, brutally raped, tortured, and overall forgotten. Congo Wars have claimed more lives than any conflict since the end of World War II, yet the crisis has received little attention outside of central Africa.

Georgina is a native Los Angelino currently residing in San Francisco. She is a business woman by day (MBA from Loyola Marymount and a full-time management consultant) and an adventurer by night having climbed all around the world, including five of the world’s tallest peaks on each continent.

Come hear Georgina’s riveting story of her Everest climb and about the amazing efforts she has made as an individual to make the world a better place.

Latest Huffington Post Piece on my Everest Summit Bid

2011-08-07T18:08:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,

It has been a while! I just realized I never posted our piece published in the Huffington Post on my Everest summit bid.

So here you go! I am in the process of updating the site, will be speaking to a group this week about the climb in the Bay area, and gearing up for the next of the 7 for women in DRC! More to come on future events and fundraisers.

You can still make a tax-deductible donation to help support women in DRC by visiting: www.climbtakeaction.com. All proceeds benefit VDAY and International Medical Corps!

Everest: Summit, at What Cost?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/georgina-miranda/climbing-mt-everest_b_894785.html

After three hours of restless sleep, I rose at 3 am to pack up my gear, test my oxygen mask, and start the ascent to the South Col (26,000 ft.), the fourth and final camp before the summit of Everest.

This particular climb posed many new challenges. For one, you have to climb with an oxygen mask because you are inching your way toward what is called the "Death Zone," an altitude, generally at 26,000 ft., where your body begins to deteriorate because of a lack of oxygen. Without artificial oxygen, our bodies cannot survive at this height, and even with it we can only make it at that altitude for a short period of time.

When I first started climbing with my mask on, I thought I was suffocating. I kept moving it away from my face for a gulp of fresh air only to sip something that felt nonexistent. As I struggled to breathe, it took every bit of mental focus and strength to keep putting one foot in front of the other. I had to recite little mantras of encouragement: "You are on Everest! This is what you have dreamed of, you are living the dream!"

I also thought about the women of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) -- who I was climbing for as part of my campaign to climb the seven summits -- and the incredible resilience they show every day, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles. With images of them in my head, I kept going.

After traversing some 100 meters of the Yellow Band on the Lhotse Face, and scrambling 150 feet of snow-covered rock at the Geneva Spur, I caught my first up-close glimpse of Everest. I was exhausted, but fulfilled and ecstatic at how far I had come. For three years, I had been training and planning for the next 24 hours. I was here!

Once in the "Dead Zone" at the South Col, even the tiniest tasks take ages to complete. You're so depleted of oxygen that even your ability to make decisions and feel fully mentally aware is compromised. Because of the toll it takes on your body, the original plan was to start the summit that night, but because of high winds, we were forced to stay another night at the South Col, hooked up to our oxygen tanks.

I felt great when I left the South Col the night of May 12, but about three hours into the climb, the lack of oxygen started to take a crippling toll. My stomach started to cramp up, and I collapsed. Like an instinct, my inner voice told me to keep going, so I got up and pushed through only to collapse again an hour later. Finally, five hours into the summit bid, it happened again, but this time just below the Balcony of Everest (27,500 ft.). I had lost consciousness for a few seconds and when I opened my eyes I saw that I was down, holding onto the rope with my jumar, body against the icy slope.

I lay there for what felt like ages, debating what to do. I saw a stream of headlamps coming up the slope behind me. One by one, 15 or so climbers passed me; only one asked me if I was ok. I felt so alone, doubting that anyone would -- or could -- compromise their summit bid to help me if I really needed it. I knew that if I fainted again past the Balcony, I could fall off the exposed ridge and not only jeopardize my life, but other climbers as well. I asked myself if I was willing to possibly die that day for the sake of reaching the top, and to be a huge step closer to conquering all seven summits.

The answer came immediately: no.

At six or seven hours from my goal, I choked back tears as I told my sherpa I had to turn around. To give up my dream, then and there, was one of the most difficult decisions I have ever had to make.

We headed down and my health continued to deteriorate. I continued to have sharp stomach pains and my digestive track completely shut down, emptying into my down-suit. But I had to push on. Thankfully, I made it back to the South Col at around 3 am.

Before going to sleep, I called my best friend, Trisha, and Crystal from International Medical Corps and left frantic messages. Crying and exhausted, I gave them the news that I could not yet believe myself: "I did not make it. I am so sorry."

I felt like I had let so many people down with my failed summit, not just myself. Right then, huddled in my tent, I vowed I would someday come back. I woke up at 6:30 am to our sherpas ushering me to get up and start our descent. I did not feel like I had the strength to climb all the way down to Camp 2, back over the Geneva Spur, Yellow Band, and Lhotse Face. It took me eight clumsy hours with only a half-liter of water, but I did it, and again for seven hours the next day down to Base Camp.

Once at Base Camp, I saw a doctor who said that I had suffered from Hypoxia, where the body is deprived of adequate oxygen supply. When this happens, your body thinks that it is dying and starts to shut off oxygen to non-vital organs. For me, it was my stomach and intestinal tract. Thankfully, unlike a climber just days before me, my body did not cut off oxygen to my brain, and I would have no lasting conditions as a result of the Hypoxia.

When I was in the ER tent at Base Camp, an Australian climber was carried in with snow blindness and severe frostbite on his hands and feet. He had summited. His friends were all congratulating him, but he stopped them: "Well, yes, I summited, but I was blind by the time I got up there and could not see, and now I will lose fingers and toes as a result. I am not sure if congratulations are in order."

My heart broke for him. I felt a rush of gratitude that I had made it back safely without a single life-altering injury. I could still climb and Everest would always be here for a second try.

Now back home in San Francisco, I feel blessed to have gone on this remarkable journey, to have pushed myself to my ultimate limits both mentally and physically, and to be alive and healthy. Everest left an imprint on me and I will never be the same again. I am reminded of it each time I look in the mirror and see my "Everest Tattoo," a scar across my cheek from wind burn on the night of my summit climb.

But while the scar should fade in six months, the memory of Everest, the desire to go back, and inspiration that the women and children of DRC bring to me every day will never disappear. And for that, I am eternally thankful.

Thank you to my employer, McKinney Rogers, for helping make this journey possible, and to my website sponsor, Ning. I will continue on my pursuit to climb all seven summit for the women of DRC. To contribute to my campaign, please visit www.climbtakeaction.com. All donations are tax-deductible and 100 percent of your contributions will go directly to International Medical Corps and VDAY and their courageous efforts in DRC.

Look back on Everest...our new Huffington Post Piece

2011-07-09T15:35:00.000-07:00

Today was an awesome day, I got to climb and our latest Huffington Post piece was published! I am in Breckenridge, CO, enjoying this beautiful landscape and I made it to the top of Quandary Peak today (14,265 ft) alongside my friend Bill from Mt. Elbrus in Russia and my friend and tentmate Pam that was also on Everest and Elbrus! That is the highest I have been since the Everest climb. We also went on a 30 mile bike ride at 9500 ft and so my body is feeling it alright!! But it is good, because I have been working little by little to get back into shape, yet allowing my body time to heal from the climb. I can now proudly run 5 miles, which is a big step after not even being able to run 1 when I got back.

I would like to share our latest piece on the Huffington Post! This is part 1 of 2 and a look back at the Everest climb. Enjoy :) Please share with family, friends, and coworkers to help us spread the message of what is happening to women in Democratic Republic of Congo and what you can do to help!

Thank you!!!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/georgina-miranda/everest-no-turning-back-n_b_891686.html?ref=tw

Everest: No Turning Back Now

Two months on the world's highest mountain: where do I begin?

I guess I should start with why I found myself up there to begin with. Three years ago, I decided I wanted to climb the highest mountain on each of the seven continents, in hopes of raising support for the women and children of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), home to the world epidemic of rape and sexual violence in the world.

When I started, I would not have considered myself a "climber." I loved the mountains and hiking, but had never actually summited anything that required real mountaineering skills. Even before I had learned of what was happening in DRC, I had wanted to climb the seven summits, but it wasn't until I learned of the atrocities committed against women and girls that I found the fuel to make me do it.

I haven't turned back since.

When I embarked on Everest, I had five of the seven summits behind me, but everything about this mountain, both physically and emotionally, was on a whole other level. Through every step, camp, and decision, I came to understand myself differently, and felt an endless fulfilment and motivation in what got me to this place, regardless of what happened along the way.

When you climb Everest, you climb it not once, but many times. We began our trek down the valley at Lukla (9,383 ft.) and climbed over seven days to Everest Base Camp at 17,700 feet. Once at Base Camp, you make the same venture up and down the valley several other times, mostly for altitude recovery. You also shuffle up and down from different camps along Everest to acclimate. By the end, we climbed the ice fall -- one of the most dangerous parts of Everest -- four different times: the first to reach one-quarter of the way up, the second to reach Camp 1, the third to reach Camp 2, and the fourth to attempt the summit.

Each ice fall climb was a different experience. It was important to set off through the ice fall before 5 a.m., so that you didn't risk getting caught on the ice in the heat of the day, when there's a higher risk for avalanches or for the ice to shift or break off. This often meant that some of my time on the ice fall was bitterly cold, while other times I thought I was going to cook right there on the glacier. There were times my body felt great and I could move quickly, other times I could barely muster the energy to reach the next camp.

For two months, I played a mental game with myself. Each time I reached a new camp, I felt a surge in confidence. Even though I had trained and prepared for this climb, both mentally and physically, Everest has a way of knocking you down, and you have to fight to not get psyched out and discouraged.

Honestly, it did not help that I was not the fastest on the team. Some days I felt invincible, and some days I felt like I hadn't trained a day out of my life and I was out of my league. The altitude was a constant struggle and it amplified the effects of all of the other factors that determine how well you climb -- sleep, hydration, food. I never took for granted any given day that I felt well up there, and I hope to keep that gratitude now that I am back in the comforts of home.

Reaching Camp 3 (24,500 ft.) was a high point, and I really felt that I had a good shot at the summit. We were a smaller team, after having lost some of our strongest climbers to illness. I had survived a painful, 11-hour climb to Camp 2 and what felt like 100-degree temperatures on the glacier. My tent was shredded at 2:30 a.m. at Camp 2 from 70+ mph winds (thankfully our guides let us use their tent), and at one point I had the energy to do yoga at 21,300 ft.

Camp 3 is probably the most dangerous of the four camps. If you leave your tent, you have to clip into a safety tent so that you do not slide down the Lhotse Face. But that was not the only reason I was anxious: from this point, you have one more camp to reach, the South Col, before you attempt the summit. I had about 48 hours to go until I was on my summit bid.

I had come too far, experienced too much, to not reach the top. I did not want to let anyone down, including myself. My two months on the mountain had already changed me and I was starting to view life differently. Above all, I was charged to be doing this for the women of DRC, and pursuing a dream that seemed impossible.

There was no turning back now.

Stay tuned for more diaries from my trip to Everest for the women and children of DRC. To support my campaign, Climb Take Action Seven Summits, click here. Every cent of your donation will go to International Medical Corps and VDAY, two organizations providing humanitarian relief in the Congo.

These guys and girls rock!

2011-06-21T01:51:00.000-07:00

Just a little shout out to Kathy Setian (climber), Hector Miranda, Steve Prentice, and Melanie O'Toole again for joining us on the trek and or climb to Everest to raise funds and awareness for women of Democratic Republic of Congo! Supporting International Medical Corps and VDAY.

An article in the New York Times last month estimates that nearly two million women have been raped in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with women victimized at a rate of nearly one every minute. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/12/world/africa/12congo.html?_r=2&adxnnl=1&ref=jeffreygettleman&adxnnlx=1305298839-jX02XbNH7tXabOWFJcAgDw Folks aid and awareness is needed and these organizations are working hard to make a lasting impact of these rape survivors.

You can still support our efforts by making a tax deductible donation at www.climbtakeaction.com
The recovery and readjustment process has been a slow one for me, but I promise to have details on the summit push, summit night, and post trip afterthoughts. Also, look out for us on the Huffington Post! I will post a link to all articles once published. This is my second week back at work and still have a mile long list to do! I am chipping away at it a little at a time. I am physical feeling better, but still have some issues, more to come with the details I will post.

If you would like to get involved in our efforts, please contact me.

Thank you all for your loving support! One step at a time, one survivor at a time, we can make a difference.

Big Hugs!!

G

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

2011-05-31T04:18:00.000-07:00

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

Summit Day

2011-05-16T13:55:00.000-07:00

Ghostwriter #1 is back with an update via SMS from high in the Himalayas. ‎... update from Georgina! "Made it to just about the balcony of Everest (8400m) then collapsed and fainted and had to turn around :( it was the hardest decision I have had to make and disheartening, but happy to be safe. I was about 6-7 hrs from the summit..." G's update cont'd: "Thank you for all of your incredible support. This has been a remarkable challenge and incredible journey for a good cause. Everest we will meet again sometime soon for a second go :) More to come soon on the blog. At BC for some recovery and dr time before the trek out - hugs for now!! G"

We are all so proud of you Georgina and we are glad you are safe and sound! You are an inspiration!

Made it to the South Col!

2011-05-11T09:08:00.000-07:00

Just checked on the Peak Freaks blog and it sounds like the team made it to the South Col in good time and are now resting and sipping oxygen. They are going to stay there tonight and all day tomorrow so they have an extra boost, rather than heading up tonight. The weather is holding, so they're going to rest up and get energized for the big push on the 12th which should have them on the summit the morning of the 13th.

Summit Climb Begins Tomorrow!

2011-05-10T15:31:00.001-07:00

Hi everyone, ghostwriter #2 here, wanting to update you all that Georgina is sleeping at Camp 3 tonight (7,100 m) and will climb to the South Col (8,000 m) and get some sleep before they start their summit climb at 9 pm tomorrow. If all goes as planned, our girl should be standing at the very top of our world day after tomorrow, May 12!

Some other updates: the team unfortunately lost three climbers due to illness. They also got caught in a windstorm at Camp 2 and 74-mph winds shredded her tent, but Georgina is feeling well regardless. She even did yoga at 6,400 m (and wanted to give a shout-out to Gita Wenaweser for the yoga routine)!

Kathy, who is also climbing in support of women in the Congo with Georgina, is doing well and ready for the summit climb too.

She also wanted to give a special thanks to her employer, McKinney Rogers, for supporting her on this climb, to Ning for her website, and to the organizations she is doing all of this for, International Medical Corps and VDAY.

Respect for the Mountain...Always

2011-04-30T02:43:00.000-07:00

April 30th

In one more month we will be flying off the mountain!! Hard to believe we have been here a month and we have only made it to Camp 2 (6400m) and today I write you from Pheriche (4200m). Pam, Mango, Kevin, BG, Roger, and I decided to venture down to Pheriche for our altitude recovery before our final summit push. Typically climbers go down to lower altitude to recover from the time at high altitude just before the summit push. Since our schedule got pretty messed up with this storm, we are still not sure if we will be able to go for another rotation on the mountain before our summit push. As of now the plan is to go back up to the mountain on the 7th and go to Camp 3, then come down to BC rest a couple of days and then go for the summit push. It is an aggressive plan and will be tough to get this all done, but bottom line it is up to Everest...all plans must be run by her and she must give her stamp of approval.

SOOOO yesterday the six of us decided to head out from BC once we heard the plan that we would not be up the mountain again until the 7th and this may be our only chance to head to lower altitude to recover. We made it to Pheriche(4200 m) in 5 hours plus an hour lunch stop in Lubuche (fried rice...yum...yum...yum...yum). It was nice to make it down fast considering it took us two days to go up this way when we first started this trip...just shows how much we have acclimated and gotten stronger. Mango led the way for us, as he knows this valley like the back of his hand after last season and other trips to Nepal. It was a little odd leaving BC, my home for the last few weeks and leaving part of the team there, but I felt it was the best thing for me right now. We are staying at this nice little lodge the Himalayan Hotel, where we have our own toilets in our shared rooms!! This is huge, not freezing your butt off in the middle of the night in the snow when you have to go to the bathroom. It is all whole 500 rupees a night for two, which is like $3 per person :) Anyhow, we are eating to our hearts content!!! Last night half of us ordered two dinners and then the other half of us had Snickers Pie for dessert (that would be me). Snickers pie is a Snickers bar shoved in a dough pastry shell and baked till it mostly melts....ummmm...delicious :) So we are all realizing how big our appetites really are and pigging out!! BG can't get enough chicken...wonder if there will be any chickens left by the time our whole group leaves!! (kidding of course)I really need it, as when I put on my trekking pants yesterday, I realized how much weight I have lost. I had to use some extra climbing rope to tie my pants up to keep them up while heading down the trail. So my main objective for coming down is to eat and gain weight and sleep!! :) I slept 8 hours last night, the first in a long time since I arrived on the trip and I felt amazing this morning!! Pam and I and the rest of our crew here are doing well, healthy, and feel we made the right decision to come and recover down below. When I woke up yesterday morning, I knew it was time to go and was really hoping Pam would agree, as I did not want to go without her...soooo glad she also was ready to head out as well :) Don't get me wrong, our life at BC has been really nice and Sherpa cooks are excellent and feed us till we cannot eat anymore :) As I was chatting with one of the docs today, she told me wieght loss at altitude is almost unavoidable, no matter how much you are stuffing your face, which I have been!! Hence, why we came down to lower altitude to recover.

Today we explored Pheriche, which took hmmm 30 min :) It is really a cute little town, lots of cute Yaks, a couple of cute pups, warm people, and it's green. When Pam and I were hiking in, we both agreed it reminded it us of being in the middle of remote Ireland, instead of sheep, there were Yaks :) We went to visit the docs at the clinic in town and learned that 15-20 people have been helicopter evacuated from Base Camp this season so far for many reasons. We had breakfast (cheese omelet) and lunch (grilled cheese and fries) and now sit in the lodges' sun room, which is more like a refrigerator room, as the sun has left and there is a wicked snow storm outside....guess that storm is finally moving up the valley. I can only imagine what the weather must be like up above and glad we are safe and nearly warm :) Weather calls on the mountain are always tough..things can change overnight. For now, we trust our guides and Sherpas on their decision to bring us down and just hope for the best in this next month. We will leave here and head to Base Camp on the 5th and be back at BC on the 6th.

In talking to locals and other teams, the weather on Everest this year has been said to be the worst in a loooong time! One guy today at the med clinic who has lived here 60 years said he predicts the monsoon is coming late....only time will tell. One of the hardest things about climbing Everest is the WAITING. You come here to climb a mountain, and a big one at that, and instead, you wait....and you wait alot. Meanwhile, your body deteriorates at altitude, you lose muscle mass, you lose weight, and you try to fight off any bugs. So you show up a rockstar, super fit, toned, strong, and over time you get weak and yet you still have this huge mountain to climb. It is a mental game, gotta stay strong, hope for the best, pray for good weather, and stay positive!!. I believe everything happens for a reason, not sure why this storm had to throw a dent in the schedule and may make things a little tougher for us, but it is what it is and all part of the experience. I have been reading a lot about Buddhism while I have been up here and I really embrace their practice of it is not about what happens to you, but more about how you react to it :) For now, we are enjoying eating and sleeping and getting stronger again for what is to come.

Tomorrow we plan to hike to Dingboche to visit Mama's Bakery :) The next stay Pam and I will hike to Alma Dablam's Base Camp (6 hour trip) and check that out...she is also a beautiful mountain. After that we shall see, we definitely plan to keep active and exercise everyday we are here to get stronger.

Thanks again to everyone for their support and encouraging messages....this is an experience of a lifetime for sure.

To learn more about the Everest for Congo Climb visit: www.climbtakeaction.com

April 28th

Well, there was a plan, Camp 3, but then Everest decided No. I thought I would not be in touch till the 4th or so, as the plan was to head up to Camp 1, 2, and 3 in a 8-10 day rotation on the mountain. We made it to Camp 2 and spent two nights there and then yesterday morning found out a storm was headed our way on Friday and could last up to 6 days, so we had to come down. Better safe than sorry! So now we are safe at Base Camp once again....and now we wait! Not sure if there will be time for another rotation on the mountain to make it to Camp 3 for acclimitization, or we may just have a single push...meaning one more rotation with summit push included. It is up to Everest....all respect to her mighty majesty, as she will only let us go as far as she wants to and we have to play by her rules. She is not going to let us visit her precious summit easily, that's for sure...hmmm Everest, how many times do we have to climb you?!? As if once wasn't hard enough...lol ;)

SO...most of us made it to Camp 2 in a single, but TOUGH push. It took me 12 hours to get there with a 40 min break at Camp 1 (we left just before 5 AM). The trip to Camp 1 took me a little under 7 hours again, except this time by 6:30 AM my hands were FREEZING!! I had to stop and add hand warmers....too bad they didn't actually start working till about 10:30 AM!! See hand warmers need oxygen to activate and well at this altitude they take a lot longer to take effect. Big reminder for me for our push to Camp 3 and the summit push. I was doing punches in the air, waving my arms in the air, anything I could to get the blood pumping to my fingers. My right thumb and index finger were the worst, as that is where I got frost nip on Denali....it was not a fun reminder. Jang Bu also tried to warm my hands up by sticking them in his jacket and I was counting and praying for the sun to shine on the ice fall, as I knew that would make life A LOT better. Jang Bu also had a pair of extra little light wool gloves that he put on top of my liner glove and then we shoved my inner mitt gloves on...with the hand warmers inside too. Mind you this whole time Jang Bu was only wearing little light wool gloves and just fine, not cold at all. So not sure what my deal was, I know I suffer from cold hands, but it was a little much!! The sun finally hit us about 9:30 am and I was cheering :) I thought that by leaving with my mitt inner liners I would have been plenty warm...lesson learned for next time! The nice thing about the ice fall is that it is distracting, so although my hands were cold, I still had to focus on where I was stepping, clipping in, and just overall paying attention to my surroundings. Also, each time you go through it, it is a little different. For example, this time a section I was able to climb up before, I ended up doing this split maneuver to get up! It was pretty funny and I think I gave some of the Sherpas going down a good laugh. I guess those yoga classes paid off...lol. It is also very beautiful and although the sun did not directly hit us until about 9:30, we had daylight within an hour of leaving BC. On a side note, we saw a dog coming down from Camp 1 :( Not sure why they brought him up there, but this little guy was going down the ice fall and also being carried across ladders....I do not think he liked the ladder crossings very much and looked freaked out :(

At Camp 1, we had a little 40 min break and grabbing what we had left up there from the last trip-my sleeping bag, mat, and some extra warm clothes. I had a bar and some GU and then it was off to Camp 2. I told Jang Bu to go ahead of me, as there was no need for the poor guy to go as slow as I do, with his heavy pack. I knew he could book it to Camp 2 in no time, as to where it would take me quite a while and it DID! He made it to Camp 2 in a little under 2 hours, whereas it took me about 4 hours! It was a tough slug up to Camp 2, we are all not sure why, as the route is pretty easy and not inclined very much at all...it is like a baby roller coaster...not even. Anyhow, that push from Camp 1 to Camp 2 was a loooooong slug as for like 2 hours you can see Camp 2, but just not reach it. I guess normally this is the easy part of the climb and a quick 2 hour stroll....well not this time. We saw an avalanche come down as we were walking and it seemed pretty close....but not too close obviously. When I was about an hour from the actual Camp, Jang Bu appeared with a thermos and hot juice :) He told me how he had made it in under 2 hours and then grabbed my pack, which didn't have a whole lot in it at that point, but still I was soooo grateful for the help, cuz I was tired and he showed me the rest of the way. That day I had tighted my waist belt on my pack just below my rib cage, to avoid friction on my hips with my harness and well, it killed my ribs...it felt like I had done hours worth of stomach crunches. When we were almost to Camp 2, I got to meet Squash, a 30 year British girl that plans to paraglide off the summit!! I look forward to learning more about her proposed plan :)

So we were at Camp 2 for two nights. On our second night we got 18 inches of snow about. Pam and I were pounding our tent at night to get the snow off and keep the ventilation, but the Sherpas also came around and made sure all our tents were not buried as well. While at Camp 2 we got to see the Lhotse Face and part of the route up to Camp 3. It did look pretty intimidating and it will be a big push to get up there, 1000 m from Camp 2. It was cool to be at Camp 2 and feel a little closer to the mountain. It is a massive one and we definitely haven't scratched the surface!! We really haven't had a chance to experience the most challenging part of the climb. The views from Camp 2 are pretty amazing though and it gets chilly once the sun goes down!! We all got to try out our downsuits up there which was neat :) They were pretty much mandatory attire for dinner since it got soooo cold at night. They work great though :) My second night at Camp 2 was a painful one, as I did something to my neck in my sleep...I maybe got an hour or two sleep total! At one point Pam and I both sat up in the tent at the same time in the middle of the night and we both agreed we couldn't sleep. I was trying to use my nalgene filled with hot water to massage out the knot I had :( When we got up the next morning, we got news of the storm at breakfast and were told we had to pack up and head back down to BC. I left at 10 AM and by then all of Camp 2 looked like a ghost town, most of the teams had left as well. I was able to make it down in 4 hours back to BC. I was really surprised, as it was 12 hours up and 4 hours down!!

The way down was interesting, it was HOT though!!! As we went through the ice fall it got hotter and then Jang Bu was laughing as I was grabbing fist full of snow and shoving them under my helmet and down my shirt...I just couldn't get enough of it to cool off. Where was that polka dot bikini I left in Kathmandu when you need it!! Kidding...my skin would have been roasted. That is the thing about traveling on the glacier...no matter how hot it is, you want to keep your skin covered up to protect against sun damage. It was tough with my all black outfit on and capilene 3 layer top! Jang Bu called me strong and said good walk, I think he was surprised I made it back in 4 hours too, considering how slow I have been walking. I felt really good that day and it was nice to be able to keep up with the team for once and definitely helped my own moral for sure :) Oh I also got to cross the five-ladder crossing coming down from Camp 2, I did it!! It was adventurous and fun :)
Well now we are at BC and it is a waiting game. Tim has a meeting at two with the other team leaders and we will learn more about what is happening on the mountains and what a summit push might look like. Last night we watched the movie Blades of Glory...totally cheesy, but Will Ferrell gave us all a good laugh and distraction :) We were all cracking up. My neck is fine now too and I got a good night sleep so I feel better. Depending on the weather forecast and how the meeting goes, some of us may head down from BC to wait out the storm...but too early to tell right now. I am feeling good, stronger, and ready for whatever we need to do next. Getting up to Camp 2 definitely kicked my butt, but I made it, which felt good. I am finally starting to notice I have lost a little weight, so although I have been eating like a horse, I guess I need to eat more :) No problem :)

SO more to come, but for now....Everest, what is next? What do you have in store for us? Wish we knew, but it is all part of the adventure.

Big Hugs Everyone!!
G

www.climbtakeaction.com

Last Night I looked Up in the Sky and Gave Thanks

2011-04-22T23:39:00.000-07:00

On April 19-21 we went to Camp 1. The game plan was to go to Camp 1, spend 2 nights there and then take a day trip to Camp 2 on the 20th. Instead we got caught in a wind storm (40-80 mph winds) and so we got to hang out at Camp 1 the whole time. On the 21st we walked half way up to Camp 2, saw the 5 strung ladder and then headed down.

The trip up to Camp 1 was magical through the Kumbu Ice Fall....a mystical maze of crevasses and obstacles, clipping in and out of the fixed lines up the mountain. We left at 4:30 AM and it took me 7 hours to get up! I was happy because I made the time limit to get up there :) I have been a little self conscious about my speed, so it felt good to make it! It also felt good to make it because, at least now I know I can make it to Camp 2. The wind storm was exciting and Everest gave us a little taste of what she is made of. Basically, it reminded us that we can only go as far as she will let us. Up and the camp, Pam and I were tent mates and it was fun to catch up. We also read parts of my book, Little Book of Wisdom from the Dali Lama. It brought up some interesting conversations. Coming down the ice fall sometimes I felt like Jane in a Tarzan movie as some of the kicked in steps were waaaaay to big for my short little legs. So it was some dangling rope maneuvers and jumps! All clipped in and safe of course! The real test will be on the 25th, when we head to Camp 2, and then head to Camp 3---the move to Camp 3 has been described the toughest portion of the trip by some. So hopefully I can make it! Then we will come back down on May 3rd and venture down the valley to recoup and then just wait for the right moment to go for the summit push in late May. Time here is flying and part of me feels like this adventure and incredible journey will be over before I know it!

The trip up to Camp 1 was also special because it was the first time I got to climb with my personal Sherpa, Jang Bu :) He truly is one of the nicest, most patient, and kindest person I have met. He taught me the Nepali word bistahrai, which means "slowly". He said slowly, hopefully we will make the summit. That meant a lot to me. He taught me this word because I kept apologizing for going so slow through the ice fall, a place where you want to get out fast. Jang Bu has summit ted Everest 6 times, 3 times from the North and 3 times for the South. He is extremely humble and looks after me : ) I have nothing to prove up here, which is why I got a personal Sherpa... to have an expert by my side to help me navigate this mountain. I am going to learn so much from him I can tell. It has also been great to start building that bond as well. I think he just got a new camera, so we both took turns taking pictures of one another through the ice fall. My favorite was when he ran onto the five strung ladder above Camp 1 so I could take a photo of him....meanwhile everyone was trying to go around the ladder as it looked a bit tricky. Basically, Sherpas are amazing people, and we are so blessed for them and their incredible talent.

Overall the ice fall and the ladders where not a scary as I thought it would be. It felt good to be on the mountain finally. When I was tired going up and I though I couldn't go any further, I thought " you are in the Kumbu Ice Fall, a place you have dreamt about and wanted to be at for years, now suck it up, enjoy this experience of a lifetime, and keep moving :)." It worked, a little self tough love.
Yesterday we learned about our oxygen masks and had a safety talk. Tim and the guides are consistent in reminding up what we are up against and how we need to be smart about the decisions we make. As Tim said, Everest has never taken anything from him, and it should not take anything from any of us...not our lives, our fingers, our toes, etc.

Yesterday I also went to town on my tent! I moved it and re shoveled the platform to lay flat as I was not able to get a good night sleep as with the snow melt it had shifted the platform and my head was below my feet! Now it is all fixed and the shoveling was a great workout on my rest day :)

So last night we all watched the Bucket List in our dining tent and when I got back to my tent I looked up into the most beautiful clear sky and gave thanks for my life, for all the amazing experiences I have had so far, for my family, my friends, for my job and sponsor, and for the chance to pursue a dream, this dream of a lifetime. I felt so blessed, so loved, and had the best sleep of the trip yet.
More to come after we make it down from our next rotation on the mountain. I hope I make it to Camp 3 and that will likely mean I can go for the summit push in late May. Regardless of the outcome of this trip, it will be an experience that will stay with me a lifetime. It is not about the summit, but the journey...although the summit would be AMAZING of course!!

On a side note, all the health issues seem to have passed. My endometriosis acted up on this last trip to the mountain, but I have managed to get through that as well. I am feeling back to my old self again...whooohooo!

A special thanks to my family and friends for all of their support, to our donors and supporters making a difference for women in DRC, for International Medical Corps and VDAY for their amazing work in DRC, for McKinney Rogers for partially sponsoring me to be here, and for Peak Freaks for keeping us climbers safe!!

Much Love!
G

P.S. I am craving Portos Bakery in LA, Pupusas, Vigoron, Maduros Fritos, Tacolicious, hmmmmm, basically yummy food :)

Made it to Camp 1!!!

2011-04-19T10:25:00.001-07:00

Ghostwriter #1 here, sending out a message on behalf of our girl Georgina. As of 1:00am, our incredible climber and her friends at Peak Freaks reached Camp 1 on the highest mountain on earth! I had the honor of getting my very first SAT phone text - yay!

She is hopefully nestled up in her down sleeping bag getting some much deserved rest at 20,000 feet. It was a tough day for our heroin, but she always pulls through. In her own words (loosely), "you just put one foot in front of the other and eventually you get to the top of a mountain."

Peak Freaks should be updating their site soon with details too: Peak Freaks

Peace out friends. Keep sending the love to Georgina - I bet she can really feel it being that she's on top of the world!

Everest: As Quickly As It Can Freeze You, It Can Fry You Too

2011-04-19T08:39:00.000-07:00

Our team made it to Everest Base Camp (17,500 ft.) a little over one week ago. I am blessed and humbled to be here. Everyday is a test of will, from dawn to dusk. But even when I feel exhausted and stretched to my limit, I find inspiration all around me and, most importantly, in the cause that brought me here.

After a little more than one week at Base Camp, I am still adjusting to the altitude and way of life here. We spend most of our time perfecting our skills, acclimatizing, and waiting for that perfect time to go up, and we have to be ready to go when that window opens.

In these first days on Everest, I have had a small taste of what lies ahead.

A couple of days ago, we were tasked with practicing walking through the ice fall, the most dangerous part of the climb. Here, we cross ladders and bridges over icy abysses in the glacier. Many climbers have died at this part of the climb - which is roughly a quarter of the way to Camp 1 - because the glacier can move with little warning, exposing deathly cracks and crevasses.

Surprisingly, the ladders and bridges were not as scary as I thought they would be, but the climb to and on the glacier was grueling. It took three hours to climb up the glacier and 1.5 hours down. The sun beat down on the ice and practically baked us in our climbing gear. That is the thing about Everest: as quickly as it can freeze you, it can fry you too.

This coming week, we will try and make it to Camp 1. If all goes as planned, we will do three rotations on the mountain before attempting the summit. This means we should climb to camps 1, 2, and 3 three times each before reaching Camp 4 the night before our summit bid on an early morning in late May.

Everest is a completely different climbing experience than any other mountain I have climbed, including the highest mountains in Europe, North America, South America, Africa, and Australia. I know it will take every bit of inspiration and mental and physical endurance to get me up there.

People take on Everest for many reasons. For some, it’s a life dream to get to Base Camp. For others, it’s a life dream to reach the summit. To most, it’s a test of their personal limits.

Being at Base Camp is living out a personal dream, but that is only part of the reason I am here. My journey here started four years ago when I first read an article about the epidemic of rape in the Democratic Republic of Congo. I decided I wanted to do something dramatic to highlight a crisis that most of the world knew nothing about.

I climb for the women of Congo, and when I have trouble finding resilience on this picturesque, but unforgiving mountain, I think of the resilience they show everyday against all odds, and am able to keep going.

To support my campaign, Climb Take Action Seven Summits, click here. Every cent of your donation will go to International Medical Corps and VDAY, two organizations providing humanitarian relief in the Congo.

Camp 1 in Just a Few Days!!

2011-04-16T20:47:00.000-07:00

April 16

Time is flying here on the mountain! It is hard to believe we arrived on the 8th at Base Camp. Everest is so different to any other climb I have done, as it is a waiting and prepping game. Most of our time spent on the mountain is spent, acclimitizing, perfecting our skills, trying to stay healthly, and waiting for that perfect moment when we can go up. It is important to rest as well. We are headed up Kalapatar today to sleep at 5800m, this is all in preparation to help us get up to camp 1 next week in a reasonable amount of time.

Yesterday we had a much needed rest day at BC, where I was able to reorganize my tent, shower, practice knot tying, read, journal, and eat. It flew by though.
The day before that we got to go up on the glacier and get one forth of the way to camp 1. Our aim was to practice walking through the ice fall and also get used to crossing over the ladders. Luckily it was less scary than I thought it would be : ) The glacier did kick my butt though and it was a strenuous 3 hour climb up and about 1.5 hour climb down. The sun was on us on the glacier, which meant I was baking!! That is the thing about Everest, as quickly as it can freeze you, it can bake you too! Needless to say it was a good taste as to what lies ahead next week as we try to approach camp 1. We will go through about 3 rotations on the mountain, meaning I will go to camp 1 about 3 times, camp 2 about 3 times, camp 3 about 3 times, and camp 4 hopefully only once the nighte before our summit push sometime in late May.

My cold is much better, but I honestly it is hard to feel one hundred percent at 17,500 feet. I got rid of my cold, but then have caught some kind of stomach bug? Who knows, but not so fun and is really slowing me down : ( It should clear up in a few days as it has for others on the team. I am normally pretty healthy at home, so just hard to adjust. I am ok though and will keep pushing on : )
Mountaineering comes with its suffering...it is a continuous mental game and sometimes about how much you are willing to endure. With that said, you have to be smart and as our guides have been coaching us, knowing when your body is telling you it needs your care and attention.

On the flip side, it is beautiful up here...walking through the little of the ice fall we did kinda felt like I was in a dream. You really get an appreciation as to just how massive this mountain really is. She has been kind to us so far and I hope she will continue to do so :) I have 'pinch me moments" all the time, where I ask myself "are you really here?!? are you really doing this?!?" Maybe they will go away once I am all done.

So the next few days is about getting ready for camp 1 next week and it should take us anywhere from 7-10 hours to get up there. There are many different fitness levels on the team-some faster than others. Bottom line is you have to focus on you and what YOU can do, not what everyone else is doing. I have been taking my time on all the hikes and climbs we have done, as that is what has gotten me up all of the other mountains I have summitted. One foot in front of the other, one step at a time. Mountaineering is not a race, so slow and steady is your best bet :)

We met our personal Sherpas yesterday and I look forward to getting to know mine better over the next month or so. I have a lot to learn from him :) Again I cannot stress how incredible the Sherpas are...what they do is inspiration on its own.
As I am up here, I can't help but think about the future and what role this incredible journey will play in it :)

Big hugs and more to come soon. If you would like to support our efforts, please visit: www.climbtakeaction.com

A HUGE THANK YOU for all of your loving messages of encouragement and support...it keeps me going!!

Ciao!
G

Namaste from Gorakshep :)

2011-04-10T23:56:00.000-07:00

April 10th

We have had two nights at Base Camp (17,500 feet) and it has been chilly with on and off again snow. Our first night we shared tents and yesterday we were all able to set up our own tents we had brought. So I now have my temporary 2 month home built : ) It is a two man tent- 3 season with my sleeping bag, a foam pad, thermarest pad, and a little mattress like thing they gave us. I am warm enough in my -40 F sleeping bag, but getting up in the middle of the night to go potty is still a process and chilly! Today most of the team went to Kalapatar for an acclimitization hike, but I am still fighting my cold and only hiked to Gorakshep and writing you all (about a 1.5 hours walk from camp). It is good for me to get excercise, but I also need to get rid of this cold ASAP, so rest is crucial. I am on a 5 day course of antibiotics and the docs at Base Camp think with a little rest and meds and hydration, I will be good to go soon.

Listening to your body is soooo important and knowing when to let it heal and recover is also important. So that is what I am doing and eating nd drinking lots of fluid. It is also normal for people to come in with little bugs and colds at the start...better now than later. I want to stress that I am OK though, don’t want anyone to worry : ) (mom, that means you, I AM FINE and HAPPY)!!
We should be able to go to the ice fall in a week or so. We will go back up to Kalapatar and spend a night up there beforehand to acclimate. Base Camp has transformed in just the two days we have been there, with new tents popping up left and right as the teams arrive...all very exciting and I love meeting memebers of other expeditions. Over the next few days will be resting, training, and acclimitizing. I will try to post pics of my little home and us training next week :)

We had our Puja ceremony the morning after arriving in Base Camp. This is where the Lama blesses our climbing gear, the climbers, Sherpas, and overall expedition. It was very interesting and it made me feel more connected to the mountain. I was so glad the trekkers were able to participate in it with us, especially my dad. It is custom for them to serve Change and other treats during the ceremony, but I only had a half a cup of Chang to be polite, as it tastes like cold sake and it was a bit early for that at 9 AM lol. Yesterday, the trekkers left and it was bittersweet to say bye to my dad, Melanie, Mylene, and Steve. I was soooo proud of them making it to Base Camp and will miss them over the next couple of months as it was great having them here. I look forward to our next reunion...wonder where it will be?! I would like to thank them all for joining me on this adventure and journey, it meant a lot!!
Well more to come soon, it is freezing in this little internet cafe and my little fingers feel like they are going to fall off...lol. I can’t type with gloves. I may have someone post blogs on my behalf as Internet is non existant at base camp, although we all bought NCELL cards for our laptops : ( It may be resolved later in the season, but we shall see. For now I think I can hike down here about once a week to check in and read emails : )

I am still in disbelief I am here, 3 years in the planning and here we are...I am really blessed and hope I can make it! I feel like this is where I am supposed to be though, so that is a good sign. I get up every morning and give thanks for the possibility to pursue my dream! People on the trail have been stopping me to ask about my patch that says “Everest 2011-Congo Women” so it has been nice to share a little bit about the campaign with fellow trekkers and climbers :) Thanks to Kathy for making those and climbing for our efforts!!

Big hugs and if you want to support our efforts, you can do so on www.climbtakeaction.com and click on Donate now. All is tax deductible and supports VDAY and International Medical Corps efforts for women in Congo.

Thanks for all of your love and support!!!!

Ciao!
G

Everest Base Camp Baby!!!!

2011-04-08T23:54:00.000-07:00

April 8

We made it to Base Camp today!! Now it feels like the adventure is just about to begin. The leisurely week we had has come to an end and we are now in our tents and our warm clothes are our best friends :) Today I felt like I was going to climb Everest...why...well I was weaker, had a headache, upset tummy. Basically the effects of altitude have set in. They are very minor and completely normal and after a couple of days acclimitizing here I will feel much better. This will be my home for the next 2 months, my safe zone, mi little casa :) It was a bit emotional coming into camp and I felt like wow, I am living the dream-I made it : ) Now I have to really make it and summit and return safely down, but that is a long time away....maybe May 21stish or so...really all weather dependant...so too soon to tell. It is all about one step at a time and patience!

Yesterday (April 7) was a bit of a sad day, as Tristan had to head back down to Premuche due to altitude effects. She was ok, but it was not safe for her to continue and she would feel better at lower altitude. We would have loved to have her here with us at Base Camp, but we rather her be healthy. The trekkers will reunite with her in 3 days at Namche and they will continue their journey down to Kathmandu. It was also a wake up call for all of us to watch our bodies and hydrate and eat well to help with those possible effects. Last night we stayed at Lubuche and thank goodness it was only for one night! Not my favorite place on earth , but functional. I didn't get much sleep as my back was bugging me and I had a headache, but I felt better in the morning. It was also a cold night! I think my tent tonight will definetley be warmer, especially with Pam in there :)

Today (April 8) was a tough day in the sense that I just had to go nice and steady to balance my body adjusting to the altitude, as we are now at 17,500 feet. To put things in perspective our high camp at Denali before our summit push was a little lower than that.

Ciao for now!

G

Off to our next stop! (we hit 5100 m today)

2011-04-06T04:06:00.000-07:00

Namaste from Dingboche!!

Well I spoke too soon about the great weather as on Monday we woke up to a snow covered Namche! I woke up Sunday night in the middle of the night and saw a lightening storm and thought, "oh great, it's going to be pouring on our long hike!" Instead, it was snow!! So it ended up being a very special day as Tristan, from Singapore, saw snow for the very first time!! It was super cute to see her expression as the snow started to fall and she couldn't stop taking photos :) After lunch on Monday we had very long hike uphill in the snow. I was actually grateful as that hill would have been a bear in the heat....so cold was good. Monday was one of those days where you just put your head down and hike...it was a long 7 hours and I was happy to pull out my 'mountain mix' on my IPOD and have some fun dance tunes to get me up the hill to Prembuche. We left the trekkers at Debouche, where they visited the oldest monastery in the valley and we continued 2 hours to Prembuche. The hike did have some amazing sights and we got to trek through the forest. Part of the last couple of hours were a muddy slip and slide adventure partially down hill, as the melted snow had caused quite a mess on the trail. My backpack was not my best friend that day, as the adjustments had gotten messed up and it hit my tailbone the whole way :( Backpack adjustments are extremely important and I will now check them every morning before I hit the trail. I did not sleep that great at Prembuche, mainly cuz I felt like there were little creepy crawlers all over me :( We had little cots with foam pads to throw our sleeping bags on top of, but honestly I would have preferred a wooden board with no fabric, as it is just cleanlier. I cannot wait to be in my tent on the glacier in my own little clean environment :) I now have a little bit of a rash on my back, but I am sure it will clear up. I used A LOT of wet wipes..LOL!!

Yesterday was a short hiking day. We first went to Pangpoche to visit Lama Geshe and receive our blessing for the climb. He also gave us another kata and synge, as well as a blessed card for us to take a picture with at the summit of Everest. It was a very special and spiritual morning. Lama Geshe is the second highest ranking Lama in the world and it is tradition for climbers to receive his blessing before a climb. He personalized our cards as well and it was funny because when he asked my name he could not pronounce it, so I told him to just put "G". He thought that was pretty comical and chuckled as he wrote my card :) He didn't get Pam's name either, so she became 'Pim' when she told him it was like Tim, but with a 'P'...haha. We had a nice lunch afterward and then hiked up to Dingboche...so it was only about 3 hours of hiking and we only went up about a 1000 feet. The hike was again beautiful with views of Ama Dablam and a rushing river below. It was a day of dodging Yaks though, as the trail was busy with two-way Yak traffic!! As we get higher the Yaks get bigger, but also cuter and more decorated with bells and cords :) A lot of us decided to just let Yaks take over the trail versus trying to pass them. Once we got to Dingboche we had some tea, went for a hike up the local hill, went to the Internet cafe, and then Mama's Bakery!! Oh the bakery was YUMMY- we had fresh made chocolate cake, cinnamon rolls, cheese sticks, and french press coffee :) Melanie, Mylene, Tristan, and I thoroughly enjoyed our experience :) Who would of thought all of these goodies in the middle of the Himalaya's!! Dinner last night was all cheese-cheese balls, macaroni and cheese, and some fries. We also had tomato soup, popcorn, and some fruit cocktail. Oh my...so much food!!!! But we ate it all and we need to if we want to keep going.

Today we had breakfast and then headed to hike up about 3000 feet to Nangkar Tshang 5100 m, as an acclimatization hike. It took us about 3 hours to get up, we stayed up there for about an hour and had lunch and then about an hour or so hike down. The team did excellent and all made it. Special props to Tristan who made it considering her altitude sickness :( She had done great the last couple of days with Diamox, but today was a big day, especially for a girl that has never gone above sea level. The views from the top were impressive and we could see Makalu, Peak 38, and Ama Dablam....absolutely breathtaking!! The weather was good to us again, but chilly! We had some interesting conversations with Angel, our guide about general climbing physiology, climbing books, life and death, and about how great adventures can be. It made the hike up fly by. Today was about watching your own body closely and seeing what made it tick. Key things to look for was your breathing, pace, stamina, thirst, etc. I was a little nauseous and so I knew to drink more water and I felt better.

The last couple of days have been great though, and it's nice getting to know the climbing team better and learn more about why we are all here! The popular question I have gotten is what is next after the 7 summits...let's just say I have some ideas, but one step at a time. I need to get through this bad boy first. Everyone is doing really great though, pushing through, and with smiles at the end. Some of us are having funcky dreams, not good ones per say, but not bad either, just weird. I forgot the weird dreams you have up at altitude...lol. My dad is still having fun, but definitely getting a workout everyday :)

Well I have three more nights with the trekking group then I stay at Base Camp. I am going to miss Melanie, Mylene, Tristan, Steve, and my Dad A LOT! I really thank them for supporting the campaign and coming all the way here!! My little support crew will be heading back soon and it will be me and the climbing team, our guides, and Sherpa crew along with 500 others or so at Base Camp.

As we have been walking long distances the last few days with weight on our backs, I can't help but think about how much of an effort it is for us, but how normal it is for others. Not only in countries like Nepal or Democratic Republic of Congo, but most third world countries where you walk for miles and miles for food, water, and medical care. We are so lucky and blessed!

On a final note, I just want to say how amazing the Sherpas are and how amazing what they do is. So many of us Westerners would never even have a shot at these mountains if it wasn’t for them. What they do and the loads they carry is extraordinary. They are extremely humble and do so much with their limited resources. We are blessed for them!

More later and Ciao for now! Technology has been a bit spotty so we shall see how it progresses up the valley.

Remember, if you would like to support our efforts, you can make a tax-deductible donation to V-DAY and International Medical Corps on our website www.climbtakeaction.com

Hugs all around!

G

P.S. I am told our next stop is not so great...lol...just tonight and tomorrow night then it’s Base Camp!!!

Here is the latest from the Peak Freaks blog:

April 5, 2011- 08:45hrs: In DINGBOCHE - Winter is still here!

Trekker Craig Law checks in: "Yesterday was a long day. We started with a 2am thunder snow. Woke up to an inch of snow on the ground and cold. Turns out it stayed below freezing the whole rest of the day. Our hike started in flurries and as we got down the path, it continued to get heavier and heavier. By the time we were heading down to the river we could barely see across the valley. With trail muddy, I managed to take a spill and although I’ll be taking a few Advil for the bruised spine, it was my ego that took the beating. We enjoyed lunch near the river (Had authentic Dahl Bhat...sherpa food of potatoes and veggies, flavoured with rice), then crossed another suspension bridge….(this one with hand rails way out to the side so they were useless for those of us who need Zanax to cross these things) and while talking to myself and hyperventilating, managed to get across…only to find the trip leader (Tim) right behind me….busted. So I turn to him and casually say “bet you cant tell that is one of my phobias, can you”. He was kind and said I did fine. Not fine would have been to crumple into a fetal position." It was very cold but warmed up to the high 30s by midday with the sun. Wind was strong so a layer change was necessary for the last hour or so of the trip.

Lama Geshe was in fine form. There was no evidence of him having had a stroke this past year. This is a busy time for him and we shuffled off early to accommodate the crowds waiting for his blessing. No time for small talk or to catch up. There was a group waiting at the door and another one outside. Too bad as we usually have time to sit back and shoot the breeze with our climbers and tells stories of days gone by.

There's a bit of chaos I'm told in Kathmandu trying to get flights in and out of Lukla due to the weather. Happy to not be in that line-up. There are a couple of expeditions on the same schedule as us. A day or two behind or ahead so everyone is spaced nicely. Tomorrow we will go for an acclimatization climb above Dingboche and return back here to the lodge.

Communications: A shout out to family members at home to let you know you won't be getting a call on the new 3G service from your loved ones for a couple days as we are in a dark zone. The tower at Tengboche is not in line with where we are right now and we won't get the next signal till we get in the sights of Gorak Shep, the place where the highest tower is installed. Here is the schedule of where we are now and when you might expect a phone call again.

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April 5: In Dingboche
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April 6: In Dingboche (acclimatization day)
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April 7: In Lobuche
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April 8: Arrival base camp - Ncell coverage day, possibly in Lobuche but can't promise anything.

Weather: I got a call from Ang Karsung who is at base camp and he said they had a very cold night last night up there. Unusually cold spring this year. Tonight it's clear skies which is making it pretty chilly. It's expected to be around -15c tonight warming up above freezing in the morning and then another cold night. Winter is still be here.

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Elevation and Distance Chart
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SPOT- check to see where they are now. Everyone is transmitting except for Angel, he's still in Argentina, je je :)
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FACEBOOK- for more photos
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3D GOOGLE EARTH: This will be real fun when they start climbing. Download the plug-in on your computer and play with it.

April 4, 2011- 7:30hrs Nepal Time- YAK PRESS: Climbers in Pangboche (3901m-13,000ft)- Trekkers are sleeping in a lovely village below Tengboche called Deboche (3734m- 12,368ft) situated in a rhododendron forest.

Tim: "When we woke this morning in Namche Becky's weather prediction had come true. It snowed! What a beautiful day for trekking. Amazing photo collection will come out of Everest this year.

Early tomorrow morning the trekkers will take a short hike back up the hill to Tengboche to join in on a chant with the resident monks in the monastery and by late afternoon will re-join with the climbers in Dingboche. Everyone is doing well. Dinner and pillow time, talk to you again tomorrow. Over and out, Tim."

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What's "boche" you ask? It means village.
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What's "Khola" and "Koshi" ? names used for rivers. The difference in names is the direction in which they run. North-South or East-West.

Pangboche is the highest year-round settlement in the valley where the Imja Khola river, coming from the right, joins the Dudh Koshi river a little above the village. It has a famous gompa (monastery) which is thought to be one of the oldest in the Khumbu region. Buddhism is believed to have been introduced in the Khumbu region towards the end of the 17th century by Lama Sange Dorjee. According to the legend, he flew over the Himalayas and landed on a rock at Pangboche and Tengboche, leaving his footprints embedded on the stone. He is thought to have been responsible for the founding of the first gompas in the Khumbu region, at Pangboche and Thami.

This is home of our good friend Lama Geshe as well the monastery here houses the famous yeti scull. I think Lama Geshi is now 83. He suffered a stroke last year and has just recently returned Pangboche. Tim is so looking forward to checking in on him. He has a special connection with this man who he believes has helped keep him and hundreds of others stay safe while climbing. It gets pretty intense with emotions during this time for the team. You will hear all about it tomorrow. Stay tuned!

Photo: Namche Bazaar this morning: Thanks Mark Mangles (Mango) for this photo.

April 3, 2011- 21:00hrs Nepal Time - First views of Everest and lots of blessing going on.
Nelson Dellis in Namche Bazaar checking in:

So we’ve been in Namche Bazaar for the past day and a half. Namche is one of the larger villages in the Everest region and sits at about 11,000 ft.

We spent most of the day yesterday just resting from our long trek in. Took a nice hot shower and slept to help let my body recover.

Today we did an acclimatization hike up to a small village called Kunde where Edmund Hillary built one of the famous hospitals in the region. We ate lunch at Ang Nima Sherpa’s home – had some wicked garlic soup, egg fried rice, and then a few glasses of Chang (the local rice beer which is known to make you dizzy, which it subsequently did, hehe).

We then trekked to the neighbouring village, Kungjung, where Hillary’s famous Sherpa school resides (he built it 50 years ago).

We really got the Sherpa lifestyle experience today. The villages we visited today were the original villages where Sherpa’s were from. We saw them planting potatoes, Sherpa kids throwing yak poop at each other, met some of our climbing Sherpas, got necklaces blessed by a Lama (not the Dalai Lama, but some Lama)….oh and we got our first (well, second really) view of Everest. So amazing! It had a huge snow plume coming off if it due to the 100mph winds that are currently hitting the summit.

Tomorrow we have a big trekking day to Tengboche Monastery to get blessed, and then on to Pangboche for the night.

WEATHER: It did not snow in Namche last night it was a prediction that didn't happen. Clear skies allowed Roger to fly into Lukla today but other flights were either cancelled or delayed due to high winds later on.

FACEBOOK Photo Album: EVEREST 2011 is now up.

SPOT: Mark and Tim's seem to working just fine. You can see where they were today and where they are now.

CRAIG LAW'S BLOG SPOT: Craig has some nice photos and descriptions on his personal blog. Have a look!

Nameste from Namche (11,300 feet)

2011-04-03T06:07:00.000-07:00

Good Evening or Namaste from Namche!!!

We are on day 3 of our trek and at 11,300 feet :) Yesterday was a great day!! We had a beautiful 5 hour hike into Namche, crossed several suspension bridges, got our first view of EVEREST, and I got a shower :) ! Pretty great day if you ask me. The hike up was mostly uphill and going through lots of little villages; it also had a lot of stairs. Thank goodness for Lyon Step training!! I am currently carrying everything I need for the trek into Base Camp, thus my pack is about 45 lbs, so I am happy I trained with weight :) We have been having some YUMMY meals and had noodle soup for lunch and homemade french fries!! Probably sounds like a strange food combo, but all that salt hits just the spot after a long day on the trail. For dinner we had French Onion Soup, Chicken Nepal Style Kebab, and a big piece of chocolate cake :) We are burning up some calories and definitely eating to make up for it-guilty free of course!

The valley here is prestine and stunning. The local Nepalese people are incredibly hospitable and kind and beautiful. The pride of ownership in all of these little villages has really left a strong impression on me and it is remarkable to see the level of work that goes into building homes and infrastructure here! For example, we saw a guy, a little one at that, carrying three plywood doors down and up the trail!! There are sources of inspiration all around us, from the local people, to the amazing beauty, to the team itself and our guides. Just when you think you might be tired or your pack is a little heavy, you see this tiny sherpa carrying 2-3 duffle bags of gear, or doors, or irrigation- 8 foot long pipes!! It is truly impressive to see their stregnth and humility.

The sounds of Nepal are also beautiful from the bells on the yaks and mules to the children playing and laughing in the villages to the sherpas singing up the trail. Then you have the sound of the wind and the birds and on occasion beautiful silence. I love it here and know this will not be my only trip to Nepal, I will be back again, there are so many mountains here- I LOVE IT!!!

On Friday we arrived in Lukla on a flight which I came to find out is one of the most dangerous in the world due to the airport landing strip that when you land you do so up hill and if things go south you hit a wall and on take off you go downhill and if things go south you just keep going :( BUT we landed safe and sound and then trekked 2-3 hours to our first camp...which was a very simple little lodge with bathrooms which was nice. Mylene and Tristan were so happy to have landed safely. Today is Sunday and we hiked to Khunde and Khumjung and had a delicious lunch at Ang Nima's house- garlic soup, fried rice, and Chang (rice beer). Along the hike we got to see magnificant sights of Ama Dablam, Everest, Lhotse, Peak 38, Sherpa Peak, and some others. In one 360 view we were surrounded by some of the world's most extreme adventures and nature's most beautiful gifts-I felt so small. Seeing Everest again I thought- she is beautiful, I hope she is kind to us, and she seems so majestic and a bit untouchable. I look forward to setting foot on her around April 8 .

At Ang Nima's house we also received Synge Necklaces which are blessed by the Llama and are not meant to be taken off unitl they fall off, like prayer flags. Then we were also presented with Kata scarfs-white scarfs that lends a positive note to the start of any enterprise or relationship and indicates the good intentions of the person offering it. It was very special and starting to make this upcoming adventure seem more and more real.

We also passed many prayer wheels in which it is custom to spin with your right hand for good luck and blessings. We also saw the Hillary School and a new monument to be dedicated to Sir Edmund Hillary. We also got to see a pretty awesome plane landing! Upon return from our acclimitization hike Melanie, Mylene, Steve, my dad, and I headed to the German Bakery in town for their famous apple struddle, apple pie, and we also got some cheese sticks and butterfly cookies :) !! We also got some yummy coffee and just relaxed. Then we headed to town to buy some local gifts like yak bells, prayer flags, prayer beads, wool hats, and wool socks.

The weather has been wonderful and sunny and overall the team is doing good! Tristan has had some altitude sickness, so we are hoping she feels better so she can make it with us to Base Camp. A couple of people of our team have had some not so pleasant yak encounters, but they are ok....the yaks are cute, but can be dangerous...we can look but can't touch. We saw a rambuctious one charging down the hill today and we got out of its way!!!

Tomorrow we have a long day of hiking ahead of us to another village...we will probably be on the trail for 7 hours or so. Trek to Tengboche, visit the monastery and the new Buddha information facility while there. Continue on to Pangboche to spend the night at Ang Pasang's house.

I am feeling a lot better and energy levels are up :) I am not used to feeling tired, so it is nice to be feeling back to normal. My leg muscles are a bit tight and Pam likes teasing me about my big bulky calves :) They will get me up the mountain though! Now that I am feeling better and starting to get a bit of a schedule down, I will start adding daily yoga stretches into the day. I did last night and it was great! Having my friends and dad here is awesome and has made this such a special experience thus far. I am so grateful for them supporting my cause for women and children in Congo. This climb/trek is for them :)

A special shout out to my McKinney Rogers team! Thank you for all of your support and encouragement and nice messages :) Hoping to get that logo to the top for all of you and make you proud!

Now we are getting ready for dinner....hmmm wonder what yummy food awaits us?

Ciao for now and big hugs to everyone!! Remember if you would like to support our efforts for women in Congo, you can visit us at www.climbtakeaction.com

xoxo-G

Here is the latest from the Peak Freaks Blog

April 2, 2011-2100hrs Nepal Time Wired in Namche Bazaar.. Everyone has arrived and are in good form. Wireless internet and 3G is certainly changing the experience this year. I asked Tim if he noticed if people were working their gadgets more than interacting with the team. He agreed and admitted especially him after my harping at him trying to encourage him to get more tech savvy. He commented "there may be a lot more people hanging in their tents playing with their toys instead of being creative in the communal tent this year". At that moment he cut me off saying say he wanted to go socialize. Tim received a comment on his Facebook from someone asking if the new 3G service will cause line-ups and accidents on the Hillary Step with climbers stopping to respond to text messages? Tim's response "I would be more concerned about frostbite and a blown away glove" He assures us that it won't be a concern because the 3G tower was installed at Gorak Shep, 4klm down the valley from camp and it only has 4klm radius coverage which would be right at base camp. At the most it shouldn't work past Camp 1. He adds "once you go around the corner on the route the 3G signal should be gone and that's when we'll revert back to satellite phone and radios." The team is enjoying the quiet space in Namche right now. Because of the current bad weather lower down the valley there haven't been a flights bringing trekkers and climbers in. They were one of (I think two) on April 1st that managed a window to get into Lukla. It's snowing tonight, the freezing level is down to 3200m, they are at 3800. Tomorrow is a visit up to Khunde and Khumjung and lunch at Ang Nima's house. Everything is working to schedule and everyone is doing well. Thanks Craig Law for Tim's tech lesson this evening. Enjoy the photos of your loved ones and friends having a ton of fun. I'd like to introduce the support trek team. Georgina has brought her personal support network with her. SUPPORT TREKKERS INCLUDE: Mylene Pelandre, Melanie O'Toole, her father Hector Miranda, Leslie Paulet, Tristan Ang and Steve Prentice and are joined with Josie Hofer and Leslie Paulet and Craig Law. Elaine Patterson is following her partner Kevin Farebrother and our friends from the past who are also following along are Paul Krsek, Roger Trinchero, Mario Trinchero and friend Carter Brookes who will be experiencing this journey for the first time and Conor Robinson who will be climbing Island Peak. Great bunch! See the team list below for the complete roster: Plus we have a team coming in May 1 to see the team off to the summit. If you are interested or know someone who would enjoy this journey, there is still space and we are looking for a few more takers. Give me a shout becky@peakfreaks.com

April 1, 2011- 21:00hrs Nepal Time Sleepy in Phakding.

Day 1 of 8 on the trail. The team is very tired. They were up around 4:30am this morning, booked on the first flight from Kathmandu to Lukla that didn't happen due to fog on the runway in Lukla. There was a very small window finally in the afternoon for them to sneak in but not till 2:30pm. They intended to trek to Monjo and stay at Chombi's house but it would have been dark before they got there. So instead that are all nestled in at Chering's house in Phakding. "I love this women" She is a good friend and wicked harmonica player. The team plans to get up really early again tomorrow and start the hike to Namche. This is one of the longest days on the trek. It will take them probably 6 hours and the last hour is straight up. They should be in Namche Bazaar around 2 or 3 in the afternoon. This photo was taken and sent with Tim's 3G cell phone. A little grainy because there's no flash but it works :) I have noted that not one of them remember to send a SPOT signal. As they days go by they will get more into the climb and eventually forget all about everyone at home, it's starting already- just kidding :) They were obviously incredibly happy to be on the trail, taking pictures and chatting up a storm. In other words having a great time. Big thanks to Mango and Angel for tech teaching Tim how to use a phone. Larger photo formats will be going up on Tim's Facebook throughout the climb so don't forget to look there for close-ups. FACEBOOK- click here to join. Over and out, Becky April 1, 2011- 09:30hrs Nepal Time Team waiting at Kathmandu airport due fog in Lukla. Stay tuned!

Kathmandu to Lukla!!

2011-03-31T19:20:00.000-07:00

We are just about to leave Kathmandu and off to Lukla. It is now Friday and we arrived Wednesday at midday. The last couple of days in Kathmandu were a blur...it was buying last minute gear, figuring out funds and how much cash to bring on the trek, final gear checks, setting up techology. The day and a half flew by!

It is so nice to have friends and fellow campaign supporters on the team! Kathy is doing the summit climb on behalf of Climb Take Action and then my dad and Steve are also trekking to BC for the campaign :) Then I have my friends Melanie, Mylene, and Tristan that have joined us from Hong Kong and of course my dear friend and climbing partner Pam! So we are one big happy family here and ready to set of on the next leg of our adventure....get us on that plane please! So for the team there are 13 climbers, about 13 trekkers, then 3 western guides, and our sherpa crews of +25. I must say it is so nice to have friends here...and am so happy to be able to share this adventure with them. It is also nice to have part of the Kili crew reunited here in Nepal.

We are told there will be about 23-26 climbing teams on the south side of the moutain, so it will be a full house at BC!

Kathmandu is organized chaos :) You can find pretty much anything you need there. I was a able to get a nice light puffy jacket for BC. You can also custom order any down product you may need for a reasonable price. You just have to be careful about the knockoff and fake gear. The food in town was YUMMY!! I had kebabs, pizza, thai, and even fajitas! I also found an Illy coffee, which hit the spot for sure.

I am still fighting my head cold and tired...we had a 3:30 am wake up call this morning to be able to make it to the airport and catch our flight. But I think with a good night rest, I should be good as new tomorrow :) We have about a 4 hour walk to our first camp once we get to Lukla.

Well I need to head out, more to come from the trail. I have got a wireless card that I am told will work with my mini-laptop and I bought a SIM card for my iphone and I have a sat-phone. So you will be getting updates from me or friends I call to post on my behalf.

Thanks for all of your love and support! Many of you have been asking where to donate to support International Medical Corps and VDAY and you can do so on our website: www.climbtakeaction.com. Ther is a DONATE NOW link on there.

Hugs to you all and javascript:void(0)think warm, healthy thoughts for us....hoping to knock out this cold before we get to BC. Overall we are all doing great though and the trip is off to an excellent start. So blessed and happy to be here! No going back now...here we go!!!!! :)

Ciao!
G

Here are the latest blog post from the Peak Freaks Website...Please check it out when I go radio silent as they will have daily updates :)http://www.peakfreaks.com/everestnews2011.htm

March 31, 2011- 09:00 Nepal Time

It was awesome!.. I spoke briefly with Liz Hawley and Tim on Skype this morning (Nepal time) and then the team in theWarren Bruce photo background gave a big shout out. I'm loving the new technology we have today. The very early 90's were much different. Tim would go away to Everest and I wouldn't here a word till I saw him on the runway again in Vancouver. I never knew if he would even be there, or if there had been an accident till that moment. Two and half months is a very long time left to wonder. Way too many rambling thoughts that haunt you. It was a long haul.

So, they are off to Lukla tomorrow morning, first flight, that's about 2 hours from now because I was late getting this post up. Everyone is stoked and bonding very well. Good team..

Roger Wright and his wife Lorraine are in Kathmandu. They were up in the Khumbu together this past week. Lorraine is not feeling so well so Roger is going to stay with her a couple days till she is better and catch up with the team in a couple days. He knows the way and the routine having been there in October with us on Pumori. He is acclimatized to Namche already so it will be an easy trip for him.

Tim said he will call and let us know when the team lands in Lukla. Fears of this runway are right up there with theWarren Bruce photo crossing of the ice-fall and I understand that, so I'll keep everyone informed.

Team personal equipment is already headed up to camp on the yaks and base camp is all built and the sherpas are awaiting everyone's arrival. The hike in will take 8 days from tomorrow. This is a special time for everyone getting acquainted with friends they will have for a lifetime.

Today most members went on a city tour of Kathmandu. They had a blast!

Over and out, Becky

March 30, 2011 - 23:00hrs Nepal Time

Just a quick report from Tim as he had a big day today and his pillow has sucked him in. Almost everyone has arrivedsomething for you sir? now. There are a couple stragglers who have late flights so he will catch up to them in the morning for a briefing then get those interested off on a morning city tour we have organized for them.

Some members were out buying new cell phones to get linked in with the new 3G technology that we will test out this season on Everest. Tim gave his a go and came in loud and clear but we still don't know how the capacity will hold out in the Khumbu. Fingers are crossed as it's a considerable savings. Example: A satellite call is $1.85 to $2.00US per minute and the rates for cell international will be just pennies per minute.

We posted yesterday on the blog that there were 3 spots left on our annual Everest Training climb on Pumori in October but no quicker than it was uploaded the spots filled. We are now waitlist only. More tomorrow, Becky

Correction: Mark Schaible and not Matt (yesterday typo).

March 29, 2011- Timalaya checks in:

"Ministry formalities today, Everest 2011 climbing permit is in hand. A full permit size is 15. Some expeditions run with several permits offering larger expeditions. We prefer small scale, easier to keep an eye on everyone and more personal. As a result we sell out early so if you are thinking 2012' you should drop Becky and email and get yourself on the roster real soon.

We also provide pre-expedition training in the eyes of Everest on Mount Pumori. There are only 3 spots left this October's and we only offer one a year.

Everest South 2012' Everest Training- Pumori 2011'

I visited with other expedition operators today to discuss some changes in how we do business for the better. Things have come along way since we first started climbing here 20 years ago.

I also met with Durga Aran, founding Director of First Steps Himalaya and friend for 20 years. I am overwhelmed by what he has accomplished. Once a waiter, a very good one at that, worked at the Potata Guest house in the early nineties. He was lucky to step outside of Nepal and come back to help the children in his country. Good man, more on these projects later.

The one thing we are learning is that some of the most effective aid projects in the Himalayas are the ones that are initiated and managed by the Nepalese themselves. Like Durga, Tsedam Sherpa, well-known by climbers and trekkers passing through Namche Bazaar has a little shop on the main drag where he sells mountaineering clothing. Over the years he has made enough money off mountaineering to build the lovely Zamling lodge. Recently he built a house next to his for homeless children of the Khumbu. He clothes them with clothing from his business, houses and feeds them. His daughter, now a teacher provides the children education. This entire project is funded by himself and his family. I am so incredibly proud to have Tsedam as my friend, honourable man.

Once homeless children of the Khumbu Tsedam, his daughter (right) and helpers (left)

New arrivals are Nelson Dellis and Mark Schaible and trekker Craig Law. The rest of us went out for dinner while Nelson and Mark headed off to their rooms to get some rest after their long international flights.

I attempted to send a signal to set SPOT, but because I am in between the buildings here in Thamel, I couldn't reach the satellite. I will try a rooftop tomorrow.

It's still pretty quiet, a few more climbers milling about the streets but definitely much quieter this year. Everyone else should be here tomorrow. We have scheduled our expedition briefing for tomorrow evening and dinner to follow. Over and out- Tim "

Farewell Hong Kong....Kathmandu See You Soon!

2011-03-29T11:25:00.000-07:00

Hong Kong oh what fun! I stopped here for a few days to meet with my friend and fellow Everest Base Camp trekker Melanie and her friends Tristan and Mylene, who will also be joining us on the trek to Base Camp. It was great to catch up with Melanie, who I had not seen since our Kilimanjaro trip in 2009! Thank you Melanie for a wonderful time and your hospitality!! :) We are all now ready for this next chapter of our adventure. As you can see from the photos, Hong Kong Rugby Sevens was the highlight of my weekend here- this is a fantastic event and highly recommended. Cheers to the champions New Zealand!! It was a great time to be in Hong Kong and the city was vibrant with celebrations galore :) I did also get to explore various parts of the city like Won Chai, Lan Kwai Fong, Central, Victoria Harbour, Victoria Peak :) The hike up Victoria Peak was lovely and it had been over 5 years since I had been there. I also got to do last minute gear and technology shopping while I was there for items I will need on the trip and finish up on some work items and more.

Well now I sit in Singapore, waiting for my dad to arrive in just another 1.5 hrs and then we fly to Kathmandu!! The others are on their way! Pam my good friend and tent mate is in India on a layover, Kathy is in route, and Melanie, Mylene, and Tristan all leave HK tonight! It's finally here :)

I am fighting a minor cold, highly due to lack of sleep from last week, but I have medication and hope to get some good sleep upon arrival in Kathmandu. We are due to arrive just before midnight local time on the 29th. Fingers crossed all the gear makes it!!

Well I will write more once I make it to Kathmandu and the entire team is there. Just a quick thank you for all the love and support coming in!! I really cannot thank everyone one enough and it feels like you are all coming on this journey with me :) When I climbed Aconcagua one of the things I remembered most was that on summit day I never felt alone...it was like all of my loved ones were right there by my side. I was so grateful and it definitely helped me keep going. So now, I just thank you all for your support and encouragement...you will all be in my thoughts and I promise to keep in touch as best as I can and I LOVE hearing from you....so keep it coming.

Here are the latest updates from Peak Freaks, you can follow their blog at (in times where I cannot blog myself, you will have the latest and greatest here): http://peakfreaks.com/everestnews2011.htm

March 28, 2011- Tim checks in: "Martijn and Nelson are now here as well as Javier and Angel." "Our Sherpa staff have successfully built base camp in our usual spot. They have been battling keeping the snow under control. It's been snowing hard dumping quite a bit on the tents and making it hard to organize tent platforms. Flights have also been a cancelled in and out of Lukla today due to the precipitation in the Himalayas. Need snow, need water, can't complain. I also checked in with Ncell the company who installed the new 3G network in Gorak Shep situated near base camp. Here are the tariffs: A Nepalese Rupee today conversion today is: 1.00USD = 71NRS. Impressive savings over the satellite phone but we will still use them as backup." Prepaid International Tariffs International Calls Price(Rs/minute) India 2.99 Bahrain 6 Bangladesh 6 Canada 6 China 6 Hong Kong 6 Saudi Arabia 6 Singapore 6 Thailand 6 USA 6 Australia 15 Japan 15 Qatar 15 UAE 15 United Kingdom 15

March 27, 2011 Tim reports from Kathmandu. He has arrived safe and sound and his skype check-in was brief. Generators are running as usual due to power conservation practices. Elizabeth Hawley keeps a close eye on Tim. Immediately upon his arrival the phone rings and they made a date. He has so far met up with Conor Robinson who is climbing Island Peak with us and BG from Sweden on the Everest team has also arrived. Several others are arriving today including guides Javier from Bolivia and Angel from Argentina. Remember you can check photos on Tim's Facebook.

March 26, 2011 Welcome to our Everest 2011 blog. The one thing we love about this business is the interesting people we ge to meet and know over the course of an expedition and this year is no exception. There are a couple of very worthwhile projects at which fund raising and awareness are driving some climbers to give Everest their best shot. We urge you to take a moment and read through some of their profiles. Other projects: Everest continues to be a place for learning. There are two studies some of our members will be participating in this spring. (1) High Altitude Cognition study and (2) a watch for the Bar Headed geese known to fly over Everest. Sherpa Culture: Our dear friend Lama Geshe is back in Pangboche. His home and the highest monastery in Nepal. Lama Geshe now in his early eighties, suffered a stroke last year. His prayers, outs and the people of the Khumbu have been answered allowing him to return to his home where he will continue to bless climbers and Sherpa families for safe passage on Everest this spring. Everest Logistics: Once again commercial teams are working together to purchase rope and finance a team of Sherpa's to fix the route to the summit jointly. The payment process will or should be in advance and shared by everyone, much like the ice-fall doctors who maintain the ice-fall ladders and ropes. The difference being the expedition leaders and guides will continue to control safety standards of fixed lines higher up by continuing to do it ourselves with a team of select Sherpas and guides. April 11-Moment of Silence: Russell Brice has initiated a moment of silence and collection for Japan this day. This date marks one month since the earth quake and tsunami. It's hard for some of us to be out continuing doing what we do when there are so many people at risk. Mountain Weather: It's been a dry cold winter. This is not exactly what we like to hear. This could mean the glaciers crevasses will be wide open. April 1st, the ice-fall doctors will start working in the Khumbu glacier and will be able to give us a report on expected conditions. Ideally we would like to see a lot more snow to help mend things and fill in the cracks. It's cold! The temperatures in Namche Bazaar are freezing, -2c and lightly snowing today. Looks like it will be holding similar trend for the next week. Sorry climbers, no T-shirts and shorts this time around. The Team: Everyone is on their way now in the next day or two. Tim is on his way arriving March 27, Angel and Javier on the 28th and everyone else should be there on or before the 30th. We will keep family and friends and readers posted. The Itinerary: On April 1st everyone, trekkers and climbers, will be flying to Lukla and this will signify the official beginning of Everest 2011'. From here it is an 8-day walk to Everest Base Camp. We will be providing daily reports as they progress up the valley. We will also have three GPS Spot trackers sending signals to watch. Over and out, our first blog this spring- Becky Rippel

Team Roster 2011 We keep our climbing team size smaller and our Sherpa team larger than most. We believe this will not only enhance our participants experience but more importantly allowing us to put priority on keeping risk factors at a minimum. We hope you enjoy following us this season- to the top- and back again. CLIMBERS:1. Matthew Wozniak, USA- Bio 2. Nelson Delis, USA/UK - Bio 3. Mark Schiable, USA- Bio 4. Jan Sinivaara, Finland/Germany- Bio 5. Kevin Farebrother, Australia - Bio 6. Laura Ross, USA - Bio 7. Georgina Miranda, USA - Bio 8. Pamela Pappas, USA - Bio 9. Kathy Setian, USA - Bio 10. Bengt-Goran Hakansson, Sweden - Bio 11. Mark (Mango) Mangles, Australia - Bio 12. Martijn Ebbing, Dutch - Bio 13. Roger Wright, Australian- Bio GUIDES Tim Rippel- Expedition Leader- Canadian Angel Armesto- (UIAGM) Mountain Guide- Argentina Javier Carvallo Contreras- (UIAGM) Mountain Guide- Bolivia SHERPA CREW Ang Namgay Sherpa, Phortse Palden Namgye Sherpa, Phortse Tashi Thundu Sherpa, Khumjung Lhakpa Sherpa, Solu Phu Tashi Sherpa, Phortse Pemba Nuru Sherpa, Solu Sonam Phinjo Sherpa, Khunde Mingmar Sherpa, Okhaldunga Lhakpa Bhote, Mahakalu Reader Lhamo Bhote, Mahakalu Dawa Chering Sherpa, Khunde Zangbu Sherpa, Godang Ang Dawa Sherpa, Khunde Tsering Namgye Sherpa, Khumjung Dawa Cheri Sherpa, Khumjung Lhakpa Tenzing Sherpa, Khumjung Minga Noru Sherpa, Khunde Chowang Karma Sherpa, Solu Dami Sherpa, Solu Thele Bhote, Mahakalu Sangye Phuri, Godanga, Tsultrim Dorgi, Khunde Shere Sherpa, Solu Karsung Sherpa, Khunde Lhakpa Gyaltsen, Khumjung Desh Kumar, Solu Sonam Dorji Sherpa, Khunde Nawang Nuru Sherpa, Solu Tsering Lopsang Sherpa, Solu Ang Nima Sherpa- Khunde TBA TBA TBA

Until next time....Hugs to all!! You can support our efforts on http://www.climbtakeaction.com/ G

The Article That Started It All...

2011-03-24T01:25:00.000-07:00

There are things that you come across in your life that will dramatically impact the direction your life is headed. In late 2007 I came across mine, an article written by Eve Ensler (http://www.glamour.com/magazine/2007/08/rape-in-the-congo), which introduced me to the daily horrors some women and girls in Congo face, which moved me to find a way to take action to raise awareness to this massive issue of sexual violence and find support to help these women in their fight for survival.

Tonight I received a very touching voicemail from Eve Ensler and was moved again to my core and reminded of why I set off on this campaign. I truly feel if things are ever to change in DRC, it will take these survivors to help drive that change. Yet, in order to do so, these women need to be healthy and empowered to continue their quest for survival and it is why it is so important that organizations such as V-DAY and International Medical Corps receive support in order for them to continue to make huge strides with these women and their communities.

Last night I was with International Medical Corps at the showing of Ruined in Berkeley and I heard the gasps and shock in the crowd during certain more graphic portions of the play, as they watch in disbelief the stories of some of the women characters. I was again reminded of how I first felt when I found out that thousands of women and girls were being raped, lives destroyed, and communities broken in DRC.

The women of DRC are survivors, fighters, symbols of strength and inspiration. I have met some of these survivors and their stories and tears and perseverance to survive will stay with me forever. I am eternally grateful to Eve for that article, as I might not be here today without it.

If something moves you so deeply at some point in your life, never ignore it, as it may set you in a journey you may have never expected and take you to where you were meant to be.

Eve-thank you for your words, your inspiration, your passionate work to help women, your bravery to speak out and educate us. Thank you for working hard to show the world that women and girls should be respected and valued and that they can be the future leaders of change.

In every community, there is work to be done.
In every nation, there are wounds to heal.
In every heart, there is the power to do it.
-Marianne Williamson

We start trekking to Everest Base Camp on April 1 and I leave the US in about 24hrs to begin my journey East!

Hugs everyone and hope you will support us in our journey and cause!

Georgina

3 days till take off!

2011-03-22T00:48:00.000-07:00

Reach out and open the door that no one thought could be opened. Life is behind it. -Kelly Ann Rothaus

Ok so the last 60 days came and went and now I fly on Thursday night...crazy!! Am I ready...umm...I have A LOT to get done and still waiting on gear :) The ‘To Do’ List is growing exponentially!! I DO know when I get on that plane...it will be ALL GOOD! Prepping to leave for two whole months is no joke!

How do I feel you may ask? Well, I am still in denial mode, as that is my coping method...lol. I am excited, nervous, hopeful, grateful, CAN’T WAIT!! I always look forward to just spend time focusing on surviving and that is it. Some crazy things have happened in the past 60 days, like travelling to over 7 different states, doing a 180 hydroplane across the I-5 fwy in Oregon, having my car reverse down a San Francisco hill while I was in it and crashing slightly into a wall (long story but I ran out of gas going up a big hill on my way to give a talk and that was the outcome...luckily the car and I were ok and I still made it on-time to speak!)

Yet, I have also been able to focus on quality not quantity these last 60 days and really enjoying my time with loved ones, beautiful parts of the city, and doing things I enjoy-Living! I am now a little stressed though with trying to wrap up details at work, keeping the training up, fundraising, raising awareness, ordering last minute gear, trying to sublet my place, setting up bill payments, scrambling on funds to finalize payments for things, oh ya still need to do my taxes, umm shall I go on? Getting my down suit was an exciting moment...and even better yet... IT FIT!! :) Sleep...what sleep? Actually I have been craving more sleep lately cuz I am TIRED...but 5 hours is about the average per night. Once I am up, I am up, because my mind starts racing as to all the things I have to get done. I have made it a point to spend time with my friends and made a visit to say family farewells, as I will miss everyone for 2 months and I wanted to make sure I saw all of my loved ones before I headed out!!

It seems a bit unbelievable that the endless days of doing the Lyon steps with my backpack are coming to an end :)I will no longer be the freak on the stairs...lol....well, at least until the next climb. My body is doing funny things, like developing muscles I never knew I could have, my left eye seems to twitch to its own drum, I want to eat everything, and if my calves get any bigger...well that would just be weird...lol. Training the last few months has consisted of doing the Lyon Stairs with my pack anywhere from 40-55lbs for 1.5 hrs or so a few times a week, running 5-6 miles a few times a week, yoga at least once a week, hiking in between when possible, or gym time on the stair mill or elliptical. I am feeling strong physically and am ready to acclimate and get some time to get ready for the big push on the mountain. Mentally, I have gone in denial mode and down played this monster climb in my head. It will be about one step at a time and one day at a time...plain and simple. I have always said climbing is 80% mental and 20% physical....which was confirmed by this quote on Peak Freaks’ website, “On Everest, when your body is no longer working for you like it used to, it is your mind that will get you there and back down again safely.” Sooo true and I couldn’t agree more.

Other physical prep has included many doctor visits! The dentist visit was a fun 3 hr visit to make sure there were no possible issues before I leave. Luckily it was pretty painless, just replaced a couple cracked fillings. Oral care is extremely important on the mountain and an oral infection could be your ticket home on a climb, so this was a must do in every way! Next, there are times I wish I were a guy...well as a woman climber there are other health issues you have to consider. Mainly for me I suffer from endometriosis, so I have to make sure I do not get a menstrual cycle for the entire time I am on the mountain, otherwise this could be my ticket home as severe cramping and bleeding are key symptoms of endometriosis and at that altitude and with the physical requirements involved, it could just be too much to bear up there. Thus, I have become my doctor’s guinea pig in terms of finding the right combo of hormones to stop my cycle for two months. We finally found a solution and if that fails, she has given me these awesome new trial pills that stop bleeding of any kind. I just have to be careful as hormones in birth control pills-which are part of the medication prescribed, can lead to blood clots, which would be very bad at high altitude, especially since good circulation is key in order to prevent frostbite. So needless to say I love my doctor and she has been awesome the last 6 months in helping my body get ready for this endeavour. Sorry boys if this is TMI...but it’s true and been a big challenge and concern the last 6 months. Next, was getting all the meds I would need up there like diamox, antibiotics, digestive meds, pain relievers, etc. You don’t want to get sick up there or catch a stomach bug and have zero meds...again that could be your ticket home, so you have to be prepared for the worst.

Fundraising and awareness have been full on! I have had two speaking engagements with a third on t he way! I was fortunate enough to speak to a group of young women at my Alma Mater, Immaculate Heart High School in Los Angeles. What a rewarding experience!! My friend then hosted an intimate awareness event at her home. We had a little LA Reunion/Fundraiser on March 11th, followed by an awesome Fundraiser in San Francisco on March 18th at the Ambassador. We had a great turnout in San Francisco and collected over $700 at the door and still waiting for our bar tab donation totals :) I look forward to hosting more fundraisers upon my return! Tomorrow night Margaret Aguirre from International Medical Corps and I will be speaking after the showing of Ruined at Berkeley. As for awareness, be on the lookout for us on Women’s Health’s Website, on Ning,on the radio show Project Empowerment and more to come! Also, our website will have a new look by the end of the week, so stay tuned!! We are still looking for more corporate partners to join us on this cause and major donors. All donations are tax deductible and benefit International Medical Corps and VDAY’s programs in DRC. None of the proceeds go to my climbing costs.

Well, I need to go to bed, so more to come by the end of the week. I will be posting web and contact info later this week. We will have weekly eBlasts from the mountain, so if you would like to be on the distribution list, please email me!
Can’t wait to share this incredible journey with you all as much as possible each step of the way!

Special Thanks to:

McKinney Rogers (http://www.mckinneyrogers.com/)- Global Business Consultancy where I work for their endless support and half sponsorship of the climb and paid leave of absence! I could not be more grateful and blessed to work for such an amazing and extraordinary organization.

Our donors and supporters- you are all amazing and thank you for helping us make a difference for women and children of Democratic Republic of Congo.

International Medical Corps and VDAY- thank you for your amazing work and all of your support with my endeavour.

Trisha Haakonstad- you are my bff and you stepped in to help me when I needed it most. Love you and I am so grateful and proud to call you my friend. Thank you!

Chris Donohue- You to are my forever friend regardless of many situations and stepped in to help me when I needed it most. Thank you!

Pam Pappas- my friend and tent mate. Thank you for your friendship and support these last few years and I look forward to sharing this adventure of a lifetime with you.

To all of my friends and family- for your loving support and encouragement!

To the women of DRC- you are all an inspiration with your stories of survival and strength and this climb is for you!! My life would not be the same without you.

If you would like to make a tax deductible donation to the cause and support International Medical Corps and VDAY, visit: http://www.climbtakeaction.com/

Good night and more to come very soon!!

G

Snap shot of what's to be expected on Everest!

2011-03-06T20:03:00.000-08:00

Peak Freaks Expeditions will be my guide for this trip. Here is a look at their 2008 expedition!

Peak Freaks Everest Expedition from M. Scott Mortensen on Vimeo.

Upcoming Fundraising Events in San Francisco!

2011-03-04T16:09:00.001-08:00

Please Join us for some of our upcoming events in San Francisco!

If you are interested in hosting a fundraiser or awareness event, please contact me at: gmiranda@climbtakeaction.com

Friday, March 18th @ The Ambassador 673 Geary, San Francisco from 7-10 PM.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=684243599#!/event.php?eid=181745921870248

Tuesday, March 22nd @ The Berkeley Repertory Theatre from 8-11 PM

Watch a compelling running a production of the play Ruined which is a story about conflict and rape in DRC.

Order tickets for March 22: http://tickets.berkeleyrep.org/ Enter PROMO CODE: IMC to get 20% off tickets !!

Hugs,

Georgina

Life Comes Full Circle~ Everest 60 Days Away!

2011-02-02T00:09:00.000-08:00

Have faith: Trust that circumstances in your life will align to support you on your path. When you make a commitment, life will make a commitment back. -From Yoga Journal

Happy New Year everyone! Come on 2011, let’s see what you are made of :)This year is full of hope, faith, dreams, and adventure! Everest is now only 60 days away!!

I normally use this blog to talk solely about the climbs and our efforts to raise funds and awareness for women in Congo, but I thought it was important to add a bit of a personal touch this time, as Everest is very close and preparing for it has opened up a whole new world of feelings and emotions. Training for this bad boy is not only about the physical prep, but also the mental prep and the emotional prep. I have always said climbing is 80% mental and 20% physical.

I recently came across this quote the other day in Yoga Journal, it said: Have faith: Trust that circumstances in your life will align to support you on your path. When you make a commitment, life will make a commitment back. -From Yoga Journal

The quest for the Seven Summits originated from a couple of places, but one was that ever since I was a little girl, I always dreamed of visiting the 7 continents. I used to play for hours with my godmother’s globe, plotting new adventures to embark on. Later on in life while in grad school and working full time, I discovered my love for hiking and climbing as an outlet from the textbooks and corporate life!! There was then a Eureka moment of, that’s it, I will train and climb the 7 summits and both realize my dream I had as a little girl, while also enjoying the climbing challenge. It was then just a few months later, while searching for a new hair cut in Glamour Magazine that I read Eve Ensler’s article about her visit to the Congo that educated me on the horrific situation (massive and violent rapes) women in the Congo were facing and I thought- I should climb for them and raise funds and awareness! It all sounds crazy I know, especially that at the time I set the challenge I could barely run a mile, but here we are and I have climbed 5 of the 7, run a marathon and a couple of half marathons, and there is nowhere but up to go! Mind over matter folks :)

Over Christmas this whole theme of ‘Life Coming full circle’ kept popping up in my head. A lot of it had to do with my Grandmother, and watching her battle with dementia. As I visited with her over Christmas, I thought of the strong, feisty, resilient woman that helped raised me, that taught me to be tough, stand up for myself, never take no for an answer, and always showed me unconditional love. She was always a symbol of strength for me in the sense that she was a widow at 28 with 4 girls and well figured it out; not to mention she also lost a son at a young age. She was the eldest of 4 and only got to go to school till the 8th grade when she then had to take care of her siblings back in Nicaragua. Now at Christmas, she was completely dependent on others and unable to care for herself. She had reverted back to like we were as children, needing help to eat, bath, walk around, and all I could think about was how life eventually comes full circle. She was happy to be with us-her family though and it was great to see her try to show me how she could now walk with her walker and move around on her own a bit, because at the end of the day, she wanted to show me she still ‘had it in her’ and that she wasn’t giving up. I’ll be honest it’s been tough to watch her transition, but I am so grateful for her life and her love and her endless lessons and wisdom- and well she is still tough! :)

One is never certain how life comes full circle though and you never know how what you may wish for may materialize. For me now, as I look back to my childhood and my dreams, I think of how amazingly life has come full circle for me and how this dream of visiting the 7 continents has materialized into a unexpected challenge I could have never dreamed of back then! It also ties in perfectly with the quote I found above and how when you make a commitment, then life makes a commitment back. I can honestly say when I committed to this campaign, life definitely made a commitment back. As I have said before, I had a timeline in my head to get this done in 4 years, but was not sure about many things, mainly: how I would be able to finance it all, not sure I could actually physically complete the challenge, then just after my 1st of the 7 summits I got a divorce and was then challenged to figure my ‘new life’ out, and just shortly after that I started a new job that would keep me on the road as a consultant and provide endless support for my mission of completing this campaign. Now McKinney Rogers, my employer, is generously sponsoring 50% of my climb! It all has just fallen into to place, but not without much sacrifice, dedication, and the ability to overcome some of my own personal ‘mountains’ and heartaches and losses in between. This campaign and mission has kept me strong throughout and resilient and for that too I am eternally grateful-giving up has not been an option; it has been all about ‘figure it out G’!

I am eternally grateful for coming across Eve’s article, which I say helped transform my life and set me on a mission. This mission I hope will have a positive impact on others’ lives ultimately, but it has had a tremendous positive impact on mine and helped me overcome huge personal hurdles and kept me motivated to look to the future and focus on making an impact versus focusing on the past or difficult circumstances.

With Everest so close, it has also made me think about ‘what really matters’? I do not ever want to be a pessimist, but I am a realist. The reality is that Everest does not come without risk and so mentally one needs to be prepared to not come back in one piece....meaning you could lose a part of your body due to frostbite/injury, you could lose friends up there, you yourself could not come back, etc. There are many variables out of your control up there after all. I firmly believe one needs to be ok and mentally prepared with the possibly of not coming back. Why such a sick thought you may ask? Well, it makes you firmly and 100% committed to the risk you are about to take; basically you are acknowledging that despite the potential risk, the challenge itself is worth it to you- You are committed. Also, it leaves room for zero regrets. If things were to go south up there, at no point do I want to think to myself, I should not have done this! I fully embrace the challenge and the risk and feel blessed with the opportunity to go after it regardless of the outcome. Let’s be honest, I may not summit, but in my mind as long as I gave it my best shot and prepared the best I could, and gave it my all, then that is ok and I can try again someday. Yet this thought of ‘what really matters’ has put life in further perspective, as to what matters most in my life, what brings me joy, what and who do I want to spend my time with before I go? These next 60 days are about SUBSTANCE and QUALITY, about fulfilling experiences, about spending time with loved ones and those I care about most, about doing things that make a difference, about being true to myself, about final preparations, and about enjoying my life to the fullest before I go. I am celebrating my 30th too in just a few weeks!!! I will go to Everest a happy woman willing to accept whatever Everest delivers to her in the end.

I like to use the term ‘pinch me moments’, and I have had these a lot in the mountains when I am surrounded by pristine beauty or when I have been successful on a summit. But life right now feels like a ‘pinch me moment’ at times. Over the last 3 years I have lived in 3 different cities, travelled all over the world for work, reached 5 of the 7 summits, met some of the most influential and special people who I am blessed to know, overcome some unexpected personal hurdles, been inspired to launch this campaign for women in Congo, and now about to embark on what I would like to think is going to be a journey of a life time. Who would have thought this is what 30 would be like?-someone pinch me! I am truly blessed. I look at the photo which I posted with this entry; it is me in Yosemite at about 1.5 or 2 years old, all I am missing are the hiking boots :)who would have thought...

I do feel like Life is Coming Full Circle, like I am that little girl again, playing with the globe at her godmother’s, dreaming of all of the potential adventures ahead and gitty with excitement and anticipation!!

I close with a couple of my own quotes: “Dream Big, Dream Often, and Go for It!!” and “The Extraordinary is always possible, never limit life or your potential”.

Big Hugs and I hope you will support our efforts for VDAY and International Medical Corps in the Congo!!

More to come on our efforts, the training, the climb, etc.

You can make a 100% taxable donation at https://secure3.convio.net/vday/site/Donation2?df_id=1520&1520.donation=form1

Thank you and Ciao for now!
G

Everest on the Horizon and Endless Gratitude!

2010-12-15T01:13:00.000-08:00

Keep your heart open to dreams. For as long as there is a dream, there is hope, and as long as there is hope, there is joy in living. Anonymous

In just about 3 months time I will set off for Nepal and attempt my 6th of the 7 Summits, Mt. Everest, for women in the Congo. It feels a bit like yesterday that I started the campaign and set off on this incredible journey, not truly knowing how it would all go or whether I would be successful. Today I write with a heart full of gratitude for being able to set off on this journey at all. My first summit was back in July 2008, Mt. Elbrus in Russia. At the root core, I was inspired to set off on this mission in order to raise funds and awareness for a group of women and children in a far off land that had undergone some of the most tragic experiences I had ever heard of. My hope was to bring change through awareness and relief through financial support to organizations working diligently in these areas to make sustainable health and livelihood improvements for these women. I wish I could say that magnitude of sexual gender based violence in the Congo has decreased, but it has not, as you can see from my last post. I recently read that approximately 15,000 women have been raped in Eastern Congo alone this year, and this is completely unacceptable.

On March 30 through June 5th I will attempt to climb Everest for these women and two amazing charities doing remarkable work in the Congo, International Medical Corps and VDAY. Others will also be trekking to base camp to raise funds and awareness as well, which I am so grateful for! (My Dad and Melanie included!)

I want to give special thanks and recognition to my firm, McKinney Rogers, who will be sponsoring 50% of the climb and allowing me to take 2 months off from work to set off on this journey. I am eternally grateful for their endless support to keep going and reach my goal. McKinney Rogers’ purpose is to ‘Inspire people to achieve the extraordinary,’ and we definitely do this with not only our clients, but with our own people and I am so grateful to be a part of such a remarkable organization. To learn more about McKinney Rogers visit: http://www.mckinneyrogers.com

As I think more about the climb and the women I am trying to support, I am thankful for so much more though:

• Thankful to be an independent woman that is free to make her own choices and help others along the way.
• Thankful for living in a safe place and having the freedom to live my life without fear. I cannot take this for granted after knowing how many women and girls live their life in fear not only in Congo, but around the world.
• Thankful for being respected as a woman, which sadly many women around the globe are disrespected based on the sole fact that they are a woman.
• Thankful for the moral support of my family, friends, and employer on this journey.
• Thankful for my amazing friends that have helped me through some of my most difficult life challenges over the last few years and without them, well I don’t want to think about what life without them would be like 
• Thankful for my family who raised me to go after my dreams and never give up and have always tried to be there for me.
• Thankful for being able to live a life with purpose.
• Thankful for my adventurous spirit and desire to live life to the fullest, not limiting any possibilities or experiences.
• Thankful for all of the amazing people I have met as a result of the campaign and friendships created.
• Thankful for all the amazing life experiences I have had so far and hopeful that there will be plenty more to come.
• Thankful for my health and being able to take on such endeavours as a result.
• Thankful for everyone that has supported the campaign in any way, shape, or form because every little bit makes a difference!
• Thankful for my determination and stubbornness to some degree...lol...as otherwise I might not have made it up some of these mountains.
• Thankful for my amazing climbing partner and friend Pam, who will be joining me on this climb.
• Thankful for women like Eve Ensler, who inspire me to be a better person and help fellow women ....her article set me off on this incredible journey.
• Thankful for the women I am trying to support in Congo whose drive to not only survive, but re-establish their lives is an endless source of inspiration to overcome any challenge I may face.

As I prepare for this next climb, it is important for me to keep these things I am grateful for in top of mind at all times. I cannot tell you how excited I am to head to Everest, but there is a lot of work ahead! There are many fundraisers to plan, many more letters and emails and calls to make to potential donors and company sponsors, much more training to do, and final logistical details to work out (including final gear prep).

I am doing everything I can to prepare myself to go, but I am also respectful of Mother Nature and recognize that my success up that mountain is not solely dependent on me...there will be factors out of my control. At this stage, I am willing to give it the absolute best I have got, and prepared to accept whatever the outcome may be, as long as I know I gave it my all in safe boundaries.

Here are some links to recent news about the Congo, any help you can give in raising awareness is greatly appreciated!

Huffington Post: No More Rape
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eve-ensler/no-more-rape_b_787806.html

International Medical Corps
http://www.internationalmedicalcorps.org/Page.aspx?pid=1851

I leave you with an endearing Hawaiian Parable:

A man goes out on the beach and sees that it is covered with starfish that have washed up in the tide. A little boy is walking along, picking them up and throwing them back into the water.
"What are you doing, son?" the man asks. "You see how many starfish there are? You'll never make a difference."

The boy paused thoughtfully, and picked up another starfish and threw it into the ocean.
"It sure made a difference to that one," he said.

An excerpt from the book: Half the Sky-Nicholas D. Kristof

We all have the power to make a difference no matter how big or small . . . go out there and do something :)

We would love it if you would join us in our efforts for Congo...change can come with awareness and every little bit counts.

If you would like to make a donation, please visit: www.climbtakeaction.com

Hugs,
G

Recent Attacks on Women in the Congo...Aid is Needed

2010-08-24T22:34:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

I write to you today with heavy heart thinking about the recent tragedy that has occurred in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. In case you are unaware, reports show that rebels in eastern Congo gang-raped nearly 200 women and some young boys during a four-day period between July 30 and August 3 (young boys are said to be babies aged one month, six months, a year and 18 months). International Medical Corps responded as soon as they could...please see articles below. Details of this massive attack are unimaginable and heartbreaking. Who would think that in 2010 women and children would be victimized in such a horrific manner. It is unacceptable and awareness must be raised!

Relief and aid in the Congo is needed more than ever. As I mentioned in my previous post since I started this campaign over 2 years ago, the level of need and aid has not decreased...these brutal attacks against women continue and medical and psycho-social support is still needed. Rape is still being used as a weapon of war and less expensive than a bullet, but more devastating to any society.

I am a westerner, privileged to live in a place where I can be an independent and empowered woman, self sufficient, educated, surrounded by people that I care for and care for me, with the freedom to pursue my dreams and passions. I am so blessed... as so many reading this blog are!! We have so much to be grateful for and we are also in a position to GIVE BACK! As I read more and more about these victims, I try to put myself in their shoes and when I do, all I can think about is the utter despair I would feel if any such occurrence ever happened to me. I think about how would I recover? What resources would I need? What emotional support would help me? Would I need financial assistance? Could I realistically ever recover from such a horrific experience? Most of these women have no one to turn to but non-profit organizations working diligently in the area to provide the best response support available, but they need resources. These attacks have not only terrorized the victims themselves, but also their families and communities. Many of the rapes were actually conducted in front of their children and husbands. Will they be accepted back in the community is also a concern....how do they recover from being humiliated in front of those they love most?

I wanted to include a link to the article that got me launched on this entire journey written by Eve Ensler http://www.glamour.com/magazine/2007/08/rape-in-the-congo . One day while trying to find ideas for a stylish new hair cut, I came across this article instead, and it honestly changed my life. For whatever reason I felt an instant bond to these women I had never met, merely by the fact that as a woman myself, the attacks described were my worst unimaginable nightmare. How could I, a woman, sit back and let other women be victimized in this manner without doing anything at all... I couldn’t. I have set a lofty goal of trying to raise a little over $2 Million for this cause, and I am a long ways from this target and I know I cannot do it alone, but need others to get involved and fortunately others have. We have held successful fundraising hiking events, a group Kilimanjaro climb, and others have independently volunteered to dedicate their next challenge to the campaign and help these fellow women. It has been very rewarding to help encourage and inspire others to pursue their challenges for this amazing cause....I hope more of you are inspired to join us in our efforts!! I am in the process of organizing a Stair Climb event in a high skyscraper both in San Francisco or Los Angeles and New York. My aim is to get these launched no later than February 2011. In addition, I am hoping to present fundraising slideshows on my latest climbs, most notably the Denali climb that took place this May. Lastly, I am headed to Everest in the Spring and others on the team will also dedicate their climb to the summit or trek to base camp to the campaign. The Everest Climb will have two beneficiary charities working diligently in the Congo: International Medical Corps and V-Day. Both of these organizations have made tremendous impact in the lives of women in the Congo and they need our support.

If what you read in the articles below touches your heart in some way and you would like to get involved in making a difference....PLEASE contact me! You do not need to climb any mountains to do so...unless you want to of course :) Together we can make a difference and raise awareness. If people lack the general knowledge of the crisis in the Congo, together we can educate them.

I know my journey to help these women will not end once I reach the 7 summits, as I cannot forget them after these climbs are done. I met many rape survivors in my visit to Uganda last year to a refugee settlement supported by International Medical Corps, where much of the population were Congolese refugees that had fled and been able to find refuge and support in this settlement. Their stories, their pain, their struggle to survive, and most importantly their strength and perseverance will stay with me always. They are an inspiration I feel for anyone (especially other women) to be strong and keep fighting the fight regardless of how ugly the past may be.

So in closing, please read some of these links and share this information. I hope that anyone reading this will join me in trying to raise support and awareness for these women and amazing organizations that are working hard to make their lives a little better. You can make a donation by visiting: http://climbtakeaction.com/DonateNow.html All donations are tax deductible and go 100% directly to International Medical Corps.

Latest from the Congo:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100823/ap_on_re_af/af_congo_rapes

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/23/world/africa/23congo.html

http://newsone.com/world/associatedpress4/rebels-commit-200-rapes-in-congo-despite-un-troop-presence/

http://www.peacewomen.org/news_article.php?id=1571&type=news

Thank you for reading,

Georgina

Denali Recap- Summit 5 of 7 for Women in the Congo

2010-08-09T15:25:00.000-07:00

Denali....aka 'Degnarly'... :) May 19-June 5 2010

It seems amazing that almost two months ago I stood a top North America (Denali)! Yes, on June 1, 2010 I completed my fifth of the Seven Summits for women in the Congo, benefiting International Medical Corps. Like all of my climbs thus far, it was an incredible adventure and one I will never forget, but different in the sense that this one was a true test of will every day. This journey officially began July 2008 when I completed my first summit, Mt. Elbrus in Russia, and looking back now....these last two years have flown by. I have experienced so many personal changes as well from starting a new career in management consulting, to moving to two new cities, amongst other things. Sadly, the crisis in the Congo continues and so my effort to raise funds and awareness for these women continues as well. Years after the official end of the decades-long civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), violence remains pervasive throughout eastern DRC, acts of rape against women and children continue to escalate, and over a third of the population lacks access to even the most basic health care. From the height of the conflict until today, International Medical Corps has remained in this volatile area, working with local partners to build sustainable capacity by repairing health facilities and improving the skills of medical professionals, village health workers, and community members. I hope anyone reading this will join in our efforts to help improve the lives of these women and children, as any little bit goes a long way! In case you are unaware, the sexual violence in the Congo, an area plagued by civil conflict for over a decade, has been deemed the worst in the world by John Holmes, UN Undersecretary General for Humanitarian Affairs. We are also still a long way from reaching our $2M goal...so your support is greatly appreciated. To date, I have personally financed all the climbs and all funds raised goes to the charity. These climbs are for them in hopes of having a positive impact in their lives, as no woman or child should have to undergo such atrocities. We really need your support and hope you will visit us at: http://www.climbtakeaction.com/DonateNow.html

A little about Denali:

Mount McKinley (20,320 feet) has a larger bulk and rise than Mount Everest, although the summit of Everest is higher at 29,029 feet (8,848 m). Everest's base sits on the Tibetan Plateau at about 17,000 feet (5,200 m), giving it a real vertical rise of a little more than 12,000 feet (3,700 m). The base of Mount McKinley is roughly at 2,000-foot (610 m) elevation, giving it an actual rise of 18,000 feet (5,500 m). Many climbers call the mountain by its original Native American name, Denali, meaning "great one".

McKinley is also perhaps the coldest mountain in the world outside of Antarctica. Temperatures as low as −75.5 °F (−60 °C) and wind chills as low as −118.1 °F (−83 °C) have been recorded by an automated weather station located at 18,700 feet (5,700 m).

Because of its weather and ease of access, some climbers use McKinley as a training ground for climbing the 8,000 meter peaks of the Himalaya, including Everest. I had told myself going in, “if I make McKinley, I will go for Everest in the spring.”

There is also a higher risk of altitude illness for climbers than its altitude would otherwise suggest, due to its high latitude. This is because barometric pressure decreases with increases in latitude. That is, at the equator, a mountain as high as Mount McKinley would have 47% as much oxygen available on its summit as compared to sea level, but because of McKinley's latitude, the pressure on its summit is even lower at 42%, and believe me you are sucking air hard on the last final pushes to the summit.

Here are the final statistics for the climbing season in 2010; our team was one of the lucky ones to summit. I believe there were four deaths on the mountain this year as well.

Final Statistics for the 2010 Climbing Season	Mt. McKinley
Number of Registered Climbers	1,222
Climbers Currently On Mountain	0
Completed Climbs	1,222
Number of Summits	661
Summit Percentage	54%

Some interesting facts can be found at: http://www.nps.gov/dena/planyourvisit/upload/2009%20Summary%20Again.pdf

Prepping for Denali:

I trained for Denali just after I got back from Aconcagua from February to May. It was a bit hectic, as I was trying to relocate to San Francisco from Portland, and had a pretty intensive travel schedule for work, as we were amidst of a major rollout with one of our clients and so I was on the road pretty much every week, scouting for hotel gyms or running paths to train in. I did indeed move to an amazing city with loads of stairs, hills, and trails! Thus, my trips to the Lyon Steps, runs up to Baker Beach from the city, and hikes up Mt. Diablo became far more frequent on the weekends when I was actually home. I also got a new backpack from Gregory, as they were kind enough to exchange my two year old backpack (Denali Pro) that obviously was too big for me and had made the last couple of summits pretty miserable (frame was too big for me). So training with my Gregory Diva 85 pack was indeed a lot better! The key in my training plan for this trip was to be able to train with weight and replicate as best I could the movements my body would make on the mountain with that weight. I got to celebrate with friends in San Francisco the day before I left for Anchorage, as it was the Bay to Breakers run in San Francisco where everyone dresses up in costume...needless to say it was a lot of fun and great send off for the weeks that lie ahead!!

Going into the Climb:

Denali was the first mountain, I can honestly say I was afraid going in. For starters I had heard stories of people getting blown off the summit ridge, temps dropping to -40 F +, endless crevasses, etc. In addition, I knew for the majority of the trip I would be carrying 100lbs between my sled and my backpack. Considering weight had been one of my greatest challenges on Aconcagua, when I was only carrying 50-60 lbs at a time, I was worried how I would perform with this additional weight over a 3 week period. This was not a mountain to underestimate under no circumstance. All I could do at the end of the day was train to the best of my ability, pray for good weather, and have the confidence that I would try my best to get up there.

I chose to climb with Alpine Ascents once again, as they had some of the best summit success rates on the mountain. I also had been really impressed with their guides on my previous two climbs with them to Mt. Elbrus and Mt. Aconcagua.....Vern, Seth, JP, you guys rock! This trip would be no different as I was blessed with some pretty amazing guides once again! Paul and Phil...Amazing!! Also, my two very good friends were on this trip, Pam and Jason....thus I had some comfort knowing that at the end of the day...I would be in good company no matter what. I also knew I was lucky to have an awesome tent mate, Pam....we definitely can have fun!! She is also a very strong climber and that alone pushes me to go harder :)

I had a tremendous amount of respect for the mountain going in and kept saying to friends pray for warm weather and I think my last FB post said something like “Denali, please be kind”....and kind she was indeed, as we had a successful trip.

17th nights on the mountain....The Climb...The Journey...A lesson about Humility and Test of Will

Pam, Jason, and I met in Anchorage and headed on our two hour journey to Talkeetna. The ride over was an interesting one with our shuttle driver...god love him...was eager to share every fact about Alaska he knew! For example Alaska has more than 1 million lakes over an acre! Wow didn’t know that, but also the three of us were eager to catch up...so it was a funny balance.

We finally made it to Talkeetna and met up with the rest of the team and our trusty guides....so here’s where we met Paul, Phil, Chris, Rob, and Brett. Tom and Hobs at Fireside B&B made us one last yummy dinner and we all got to ask some looming questions and then hit the hay, cuz it would be an early start the next day. I can honestly say it all still hadn’t hit me yet.

The next day, we got up, had another delicious meal ala Tom and Hobs and then headed to the Alpine Ascents hanger to sort out our gear and do some final crevasse rescue practice. Here I must admit I snuck in a few more items that were not on the gear list that made for some funny conversations later on the trip....hmmm what were those??... well here you go and if you are a purist, don’t hate me  I did sneak in and carry: 1 pink razor, 1 full deodorant, 16 pairs of underwear (although I did have 3 pair of ones you can supposedly wear for 16 days straight--I ended up cashing most at 11,000 feet...was silly to bring so many), a compact, lip-gloss, mascara, and 2 eye shadows.....you hear often on Denali... “Ounces make pounds, pounds make pain”, but I felt these ounces would be worth it and make me feel like me on the hill. I wasn’t trying to impress anyone, just knowing I feel better when I feel I look good and not like a train wreck :)
So final order of business before flying to the glacier was to get some yummy pizza at Mountain High Pizza Pie in town and then head over to the National Park Service to get our permits and listen to a presentation about safety and proper waste management on the mountain.

From there it was to Talkeetna Air Strip, for our flight to base camp, set right smack in the glacier. We took some final photos with all of our 800 lbs of gear for the team, I got to meet my friend Norma Bastidas in person :), and filled up our Nalgenes with water to reduce our efforts once we landed. We boarded our 7 passenger planes and were off! Within 20 minutes or so, all sight of green was gone and we entered a world of white and some glacial blues.....so okay here it was starting to hit me. We landed in the middle of some impressive peaks all around (Hunter, Foraker, and Denali). We quickly unloaded our gear and got if off the snow covered runway and made our way to set up our first camp. Now was the pinch me moment....the oh Sh^& I am about to climb Denali...no going back now ....wooohooo! Excitement, nervousness, inflow of energy all in one! It was also evident that on a beautiful sunny day on the glacier, it was gonna get HOT!

Climbing Highlights (in no particular order):

• Visiting one of the most beautiful places in the world! Denali is a magical... a little slice of heaven :) One of the most remote places in the US...such a treat to be able to see it and call it home for 17 nights.

• Seeing the top of North America!!!! WOW what an amazing sight and feeling to get up there...yes I did get a little teary eyed...really wasn’t sure if it was going to make it, but so happy I did.

• Pushing my body, mind, and spirit to its max....more to come in a bit, but I almost quit on summit day.

• Denali was a test of will each and every day...proof you can do anything you set your mind to.

• Nailing down summit number 5 of 7...one step closer to the goal!

• Summit Day- a day with endless personal key learnings, putting full trust in others, a day that others helped me regain my will to press on; a day I will never forget.

• Meeting world class adventurers and making new friendships-one of the best things about mountaineering is the amazing people you meet.

• Being humbled by nature and these world class adventurers....I still say to this day, I am a person that enjoys climbing, I do not consider myself a “climber”....some of the folks I met attempting to go up the Cassin or other crazy routes are the hard corps true adventures in my book....or our amazing guides that without them, there may not have been summit success.

• Experiencing endless light for the entire trip....no night time in Alaska during the summer. Also, experiencing constant white....living on a glacier for 17 days is all white...snow and ice!!

• Being able to celebrate success as a team at the Fairview in Talkeetna,...we shut it down at 4 AM I think??

• Getting to explore beautiful Alaska post the climb...an amazing place and I will have to go back so I can see the Kodiak Bears!!! No time or money for that on this trip.

• Getting to experience an overall extraordinary lifelong memorable adventure!!! Amazing and yes I would do this one again :)

• Realizing how quickly your body forgets pain....although I was some extreme pain day on day...my body would do a mental wipe each night and allow me to do it all over again the next day. ..pretty cool I think. I also wish I could have had a mental tape recorder to capture all the funny thoughts going through my mind each day and also the endless cursing in my head that every now and then did get vocalized and heard by the rest of the team...ooops :)

• My ‘Scorpion’ fall coming down from a cash from 16,200...we were almost back to 14,200...oh ya....I tripped on my crampons and caught air and even tumbled a little bit to land face first in the snow....a few people even took pictures...luckily it was in a flat spot, so I rolled over and just laughed laying there for a while...it was pretty funny and I have no problem making fun of myself when its due :)

• The weather forecast is not always accurate...had we listened to the forecast we would have missed the weather window and our summit bid...we had to listen to the ‘nowcast’, as Paul would call it....which was telling us to at least try to get to 17,200 camp and hope the weather would hold for a couple of days. (I was initially hesitant since if the weather predicted did hit, we would have to head all the way down to 14,200 and then go up again to 17,200 for a third time!-luckily this did not happen)

• A huge special thanks to Paul Koubek and Phil Marino...without them there would be no summit. They gave me the mental will on summit day to keep on going when I had lost the will to go on. I thank them forever because they saw my ability to continue when I doubted it in myself. (I thought I was moving too slow for the team due to my cold hands and effects of altitude and didn’t want to jeopardize anyone’s summit bid).

• A huge special thanks to Pam Pappas...my amazing tent mate, friend...and partner in crime ;) There was never a dull moment and endless entertainment. I know she loved it when I tried to cuddle with her in the tent...actually not and she nicknamed me Captain Crunch :) She rocked it on the mountain by the way!! Can’t wait to rock it again on EVEREST this spring with her!!

The Challenges:

• BLISTERS...oh ya...formed on the back of each heel 4 hours into the trip and grew and bled and caused endless amount of pain. My days started with a 1 hour gauze, medical tape, and duck tape process, followed by 2-3 extra strength Excedrin just so I could get my boots on! The day ended with cleaning the blisters out so they would not get infected with either Neosporin spray, hydrogen peroxide, antiseptic wipes, or alcohol....basically whatever I could get my hands on, as I had limited supply in my first aid kit and so had to borrow from others. Oh Ya let me tell you alcohol and hydrogen peroxide hurt like HELL...poor Pam got to see these gnarly things everyday and witnesses my endless cursing in the cleaning process. On certain moves these darn blisters were the cause of silent tears as every step became excruciating....most notably our move from 11,000 ft to 14,000ft (had run out of tape and didn’t put enough layers), and our move from 14,000 to 17,000 ft up the almost vertical 1000 foot fixed line (I wasn’t able to modify my stepping techniques to relieve pressure of the heels).

• Our Sleds that seem to have a mind of their own and also caused some tension on the rope teams....especially going around windy corner and up motorcycle and squirrel hill!! Imagine dragging a weighted sled uphill for 3,000 feet that is roped to you and you are also roped to two other people with their own sleds and all trying to walk at the same pace....crazy and easy to create some aggravation!

• Your hot then your freezing...it was like there was no in between somedays. On the lower glacier when the sun was out, we were cookin!!! Then when wind kicked up and sun was less prevalent...bring out the Parka! I must say we were extremely lucky with the weather overall! I would say including summit day, it never got below -15 F, which is amazing for Denali.

• Being roped up in general and having to move at the same pace as a team (4 on each team)

• Clipping into pickets with your puffy down mitts and cold hands efficiently...I really struggled with this on Summit Day and will have to practice a lot for Everest.

• Realizing the power of a team and how important teamwork is on the mountain, not only within your own team, but with other teams. For example, sharing weather conditions, medical supplies, food, keeping the morale up, etc. I was so grateful to everyone that donated medical tape, duck tape, and antiseptic wipes to me for my blisters :)

• Weight and keeping up stamina and moral....just when you think you can go no more...well you have to...true test of will every day. My hardest days were moving from 11,000 to 14,000 feet (blister day mega pain), the move from 14,000 to 17,000 with a weighted pack about 50-60 lbs (fell 3 times this day...blow to the ego and made for a very nervous day). and first half of summit day (when I almost quit due to being cold and convinced I was going too slow).

• Balance with a weighted pack on narrow, mixed terrain...I fell 3 times (on the move to 17,000)...the mental and physical recovery is important and challenging all in one. Here is when you are super grateful for your rope team! There are some very exposed sections on the upper mountain above 16,200 that definitely made me nervous! When my Nalgene fell down several thousand feet, as I was walking down the summit ridge, it definitely gave me Goosebumps seeing how far of a fall it could be for any of us!

• I gave up several times on summit day and it was only due to the pep talk of my guides, Paul and Phil and my good friend Pam that I kept going. For the first time in my life, I lost my will, and it took others to get it back...a pretty powerful experience....and I will be eternally grateful for their support. By the time we got to Pig Hill on Summit Day, my will was back and as Paul said, “I was too close not to make it” :)

• Cold- I got some slight frostnip on my right thumb and index finger and why I almost quit. My hands were really cold and I could feel the cold metal of the ice ix, although wrapped in foam. Also, didn’t wear enough layers out of camp on our summit bid morning. A silly mistake that had some performance consequences later that day. It is so important to keep your core at the right temperature.

• Forget modesty....having to go to the bathroom in a shared waste bucket for the team in dug out snow holes...my favorite was a 14,000 camp when your only option was to use one of two public outhouses with no cover really except for snow blocks people had carved up to make for some privacy, but basically everyone could see your head when you sat there. It was embarrassing for me... but part of mountaineering

• Building snow walls after long days of climbing. I never realized how much work this entailed and it was so awesome to have a team to get it done right. Basically it could take a couple of hours of carving snow blocks to build walls tall enough to protect our tents

• At the end of the trip after making it up that final Heartbreak Hill, we found out we were weathered out and so would have to wait a day or two to be able to fly out....thus this added 2 more nights on the mountains as planes could not fly into the glacier to come get us. Not really a challenge, just another little road block to getting off the hill. We also had to stomp out our runway so that the plane could land. Basically everyone at the base camp got out of their tents and put on their snowshoes and stomped the runway for a couple of hours so that the planes could attempt a landing....it was pretty comical actually...Denali didn’t let us go easily.

• Losing all of our Summit Photos  My camera fell on the snow at the summit and so the battery froze. We then took all of our photos with Pam’s camera, but on our way down from 17,200 camp, the camera fell out of her hands as she snapped a photo on the ridgeline. I was just happy it was the camera that fell and not one of us!!! It’s the memory that counts  but still sad not to have it captured.

• Adjusting to everyday life after the trip. This one hit me hard this time, as you go from focusing on survival and accomplishing a goal you have been training for months for, to just going back to your normal routine. It is a difficult transition of going from the extraordinary to the ordinary...I challenge myself with trying to make everyday the extraordinary.

What Got Me up the Mountain:

• Denali was a test of will every day, I cannot say that enough...so I thank my mental will for getting me up the hill

• Having trained...this is not a mountain to not train for...so I felt physically strong for the most part

• Prayers...lots of them :)

• Paul Koubek and Phil Marino...our trusty guides and without them there would be no summit. Thank you forever!!

• Having a goal...this has been a long time journey and as always a lot was at stake...having a larger goal of reaching the 7 definitely kept me going.

• Getting enough sleep, water, and food....so important to keep up stamina for 17 days on the mountain.

• Blessed with good weather...that could have changed everything

Lessons Learned:

• Humility- so humbled by the magnificent beauty of Denali and so humbled by the world class adventurers Denali draws in. ...both inspire me to continue to pursue more adventures in my lifetime.

• Test of Will- every day my will was tested...it failed a bit on summit day, but thanks to the help of others I was able to regain it and press on. I am still a firm believer that climbing is 80% mental and 20% physical when it boils down to it.

• Climb more in your boots before going on a 3 week trip!! I was told you could not ‘break in’ Millet boots and that’s true for the most part, but it is important to test the friction you will feel on the hill beforehand. I found out that the hard way with my blisters.

• One step at a time gets you up the mountain...there were many days when I really tried avoiding looking up :) Was better just to put one foot in front of the other and know you would eventually get to the next camp

General Info on the Climb:
• We went up the West Buttress- Although there are no technically difficult sections on the route, many stretches of “The Butt” leave very little margin for error. Furthermore, the West Buttress is just as exposed as any other route to McKinley's legendary weather.

• We had 5 camps on the way up (7300, 7900, 11500, 14200, 17200) and 3 on the way down (17200, 11,500, and 7300).

• Spent 17 nights on the mountain in total (May 19-June 5 2010)

Thank you for reading and I hope you will all please continue to support our efforts! Every dollar has a tremendous impact on a life….
http://www.climbtakeaction.com/DonateNow.html

How Your Donation Will Help Women & Children:

International Medical Corps (IMC) provides life-saving services for displaced women and children in the Congo (DRC), including: emergency medical treatment and physician training, counseling to help heal deep psychological wounds, and economic opportunities to help promote self-sufficiency.
Your donation is tax-deductible, totally secure, and will go directly to this cause. Please forward this link to others so we can help save more women and children’s lives!

Thank you so so much for all of your support and encouragement. So what is next for the campaign?? Everest April 1, 2011 is next! More to details to come soon of the next challenge in support of women in the Congo! I am very excited that others will be joining the climb in support of these women...We are going to the top of the world for them to raise awareness and support :)

Hugs,

Georgina

Top of North America for the Congo! Denali

2010-06-28T22:14:00.000-07:00

More to come, but I reached the Denali Summit (6194 m) on June 1, 2010 as part of my Climb Take Action Campaign for women in the Congo (this is my fifth of the seven summits). It was an incredible adventure indeed and a true test of will each and every day!! I feel very blessed and extremely grateful for a wonderful team, including the most amazing guides.

I will be posting pics and a full report shortly, but just wanted to give a quick update.

International Medical Corps continues to need support for their programs in the Congo, please visit our website.

Best,

Georgina

A little more about the women and organization my climbs support…..

2010-05-17T18:48:00.000-07:00

I am writing this in route to Alaska…next up is Mt. McKinley or Denali 6,194 m for International Medical Corps and the women and children of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda. I will be climbing from May19-June 8th.

Last July, I had the privilege of visiting two of the Refugee settlements that International Medical Corps supports in Uganda- Nakivale and Kyaka II. The visit still lives vivid in my mind, and I thought it was important to share with you all a little of what I experienced while in Uganda and why your support is needed for the campaign . . . .

So what is it that inspires us?

As a management consultant . . . I ask my clients this question on a daily basis. For me it was a little over 2 years ago that I was inspired to launch the Climb Take Action Campaign, after reading an article Eve Ensler wrote for Glamour magazine. The article detailed the horror women were facing in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and how rape was being used as a weapon of war by the militia. As a woman, the details in this article were so atrocious and offensive, I became consumed with the notion of trying to do something to help women like those I had read about. Their stories were my inspiration to go out and pursue my dream of reaching the highest peak on each continent in order to raise funds and awareness to their situation in hopes of making a positive impact on their lives. Well here I am two plus years down the road. . having reached the highest peak of four continents with 3 more to go . . . and now being inspired not only by these women and children, but by those working diligently on a daily basis to help them.

After summiting Kilimanjaro last summer in July, Genevieve, Brooke, and I headed to Kampala to meet Stephanie Bowen of International Medical Corps and prepare for our journey to the Nakivale and Kyaka II Refugee Settlements in Western and Southern Uganda. Both of these settlements, although in Uganda, are hosts to a large Congolese refugee population. We arrived on 19th of July and departed on the 25th of July. When I look back on my life and look for instances and sources of inspiration. . .well this week will be at the top of my list. The aim of my visit was to meet the women and children the campaign was supporting, learn more about their needs, and share their story in hopes of raising additional support and awareness for them and International Medical Corps.

A little more about the Journey to Uganda….

I really had no idea what to expect upon arrival in Kampala, Uganda. I had now been to Kenya and Tanzania, and Senegal, and quickly realized each African country if very unique in its own right… so I was in for a surprise. I arrived in the evening in Kampala and was greeting by airport staff all wearing white masks. . .I was then told I would need to fill out a health questionnaire prior to going through customs (due to swine flu scare). It was all very organized though and the airport was nothing like Dakar THANK GOD! After about an hour of this and customs I finally was able to retrieve my bags and be on my way. I found the landscape of Uganda very beautiful and it saddens me a bit to see that a beautiful country had been destroyed by years of civil conflict. Kampala, I felt was a very well organized and a somewhat modern city for Africa- you could not feel the effects of the conflict in this city. This would not be the case once we arrive at the Refugee Settlements. There was a vast difference between the “haves” and “have-nots”, but that is very common I have found in third world countries. It was easy to get around in a vehicle (as long as you are good at swerving into oncoming traffic and passing other cars : ) After spending one night in Kampala, we met with the International Medical Corp team in the morning for a briefing and then were off for our 6 hour car journey to the refugee settlements. The 6 hour drive took us far outside the city center and gave us a taste as to what life in rural Uganda was like, but more importantly as to what life was like for those displaced by civil conflict and now living in Refugee Settlements.

International Medical Corps Staff

Like I’ve mentioned I work in management consulting, thus I am exposed to various business organizations all the time, each facing various issues. All I can say is that the Uganda team for International Medical Corps is lean and mean and working miracles with the limited resources they have to work with. They also are incredibly humble and dedicated to their work, from Dr. JoJo (Clinical Director) to Claire (Program Director for SGBV) to Jennifer (Coordinator) to Betty (Psycho Social Worker) to everyone else we met . . . there is a common DNA in all of them, they love what they do, they are passionate about those they support, and experts at optimizing the use of any resources that become available in order to deploy them in a manner that will have the greatest impact. They are a team, by every definition. Their work has a tremendous impact on a daily basis and it was incredible humbling and inspirational to spend a week with them.

What was most powerful, was listening to survivors at these refugee settlements describe how International Medical Corps had impacted their lives and how grateful they were for their services. In addition, as International Medical Corps works in partnerships with various NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations) at these settlements, it was remarkable to meet with the various directors from these NGOs and governmental agencies and learn the high regard they hold International Medical Corps in. Everyone we met held the utmost respect and gratitude to International Medical Corps and their dedicated work and commitment to the communities they serve.
Their dedicated Uganda Team was indeed an inspiration of selfless individuals working hard every day, leaving their families behind in some cases for long periods of time in an effort to help others. AMAZING!

The Women and Children...

Strength, Courage, Determination, Resilience, and Inspiration . . . all words to describe the incredible women and children I met at Nakivale and Kyaka II. It’s honestly very difficult to know where to start describing our week at the Refugee Settlements, I rather not give a play by play of all that happened each day, but rather share the stories of some of the women and children we met, and tell you a little bit more about how these settlements operate and have a tremendous impact in the life of thousands. I will tell you the most challenging part of this visit was not being able to immediately help some of the survivors we met, as was leaving them behind….had I not had to go straight back to work, I would have happily spent more time there and then gone to Congo (DRC) as well….but time did not allow for that on this visit and I hope I can return sometime soon.

Let me start with telling you that these Refugee Settlements are run and operate through a series of partnerships between various NGOs (non-profit organizations). International Medical Corps played a critical role at the two settlements we visited by providing Psycho-Social services, AIDs treatment, Nutritional Programs. In the settlements they support in the Congo, they also provide direct medical support and train local health professionals to create sustainable solutions for the communities they serve.

Life at these settlements is hard no doubt and resources limited. New arrivals are given some supplies to construct a straw/adobe like hut, food rations, water rations, mosquito net (prevent Malaria). They also undergo an assessment to determine the type of care if any needed. The Office of the Prime Minister plays a vital role in the management of the two settlements we visited.

While at Nakivale and Kyaka II I encountered survivors with similar stories to the women of the article I had read about almost 2 years ago that started me on this journey.

In summary, a little snap shot of the women and girls I met:

A mother who shared her story of having to flee the Congo back in 2007 after her town was attacked by rebel militia. She recounted the story of being raped during the attack, seeing many of the men in her village shot, having two of her children murdered, and losing her husband and two other children for over a year and then reunited with them at the Refugee Settlement. Not only had she and some of her daughters been raped during the brutal attack, but she was then raped again in her transit to Uganda. She was left to survive in the bush for days at a time completely alone, and somehow managed to cross the Congolese border and enter Uganda, where kind strangers provided her with transit and referrals to churches and other NGOs that eventually helped her and her remaining family arrive at this Refugee Settlement.

International Medical Corps had played a vital role in her recovery upon arrival to the settlement, as she was suffering from abdominal injuries from the rape; she was psychologically scared and was not speaking. She confirmed how grateful she was to International Medical Corps for securing the appropriate medical care, psychological support, and linkage within the settlement community. They had helped her survive and still be able to take care of her family. Her younger daughter was then suffering of Malaria and so she was seeking support for her little girl.

We also sadly met a young little girl of 5 that had just been raped while living at this settlement …really shocking to see her innocent face and imagine why anyone would do such a thing. Again International Medical Corps’ role in training community leaders in the settlement that Sexual-Gender-Based violence is wrong is vital to stopping rape amongst the refugee communities. They also were now providing psycho-social support to the little girl and her family and ensuring appropriate care was available.

We also met a young mother whose little daughter of only a few months was HIV free thanks to the preventive care provided by International Medical Corps to help reduce the risks of HIV Positive mothers, passing on the disease to their babies. This was a heartwarming success story and the little baby girl was adorable and thriving, which would not have been the case had International Medical Corps not intervene.
Then there were other stories of women, who we did not personally meet, but which community educators or psycho-social worker told us about that were recovering still from traumatic attacks faced back in the Congo and now trying to build a life at this refugee settlement. The one that lives most vividly with me is the story of a wife and mother that was forced to kill her husband and four children with a machete by the militia when they attacked her town and raped her. International Medical Corps is helping her recover from this emotional scaring and providing her with the appropriate support. I was amazed to hear she was still alive, I could not imagine being able or wanting to survive after such an unbearable situation.

The settlements also have some schooling for the children that live there, we were able to visit one of the schools and meet with some of the children that are part of an AIDS Club. Their role is to educate other children about AIDS and how to protect yourself against it by producing songs, skits, etc. The club has been very successful and the children were kind enough to present us with some of the songs they had written to educate their fellow peers. They then had a Q&A session with us and Dr. JoJo from International Medical Corps. It was interesting to hear their questions and concerns. The question that jumped out at me the most…..”Is there AIDS in America?” As we all know, of course there is….but it was interesting to know that maybe these young children feel that only their communities have to deal with this deadly disease.
We also met many little children living in the settlement, some born there, some orphans, but all precious and still able to SMILE…still curious to see who these strange visitors were, still able to want their picture taken and immediately see the results (some may not have known what they look like), still wanting to hold your hand and be your friend. The innocence of these children considering some of their life situations is severely touching and heartfelt.
On our last day at the settlements, we visited an area of the settlement where it was a mainly Congolese population. They were kind enough to let the International Medical Corps team, Genevieve, Brooke, and I participate in some of the skits the community leaders had put together to educate the community on sexual gender based violence, they also shared with us their song and dance. All I can say is that despite all the hardships life may have handed these women, men, and children….their spirit lives strong! It was a true privilege to get a glance at what life must have been like for these people before they were forced out of their homes by war. I say this because in this small community they had been resourceful and recreated some of their instruments from available materials and together played music, sang, and DANCED! They can still smile and celebrate being alive….it was incredibly admirable. To see people with so little, having been through some very awful life circumstances, joined together as a new community and making the most of what they had.

I could write pages and pages more, as it was truly a remarkable experience to visit these refugee settlements. More importantly it confirmed that any support this campaign brings in, can and will have an impact in an individual’s life. If you can even touch the life of one person, then in my mind it was all worth it.

My week with these refugees and International Medical Corps was a whirlwind and I never expected how emotionally draining it might be. The hardest part again was meeting the survivors and not being able to immediately help them. I had never spoken or met a rape survivor before…what do you say to this woman or girl to bring comfort? How can you provide a sense of security? How can you ensure they receive the appropriate medical care in a timely fashion? These are all things International Medical Corps addresses on a daily basis and from everyone we met in Uganda….they all confirmed they are doing an amazing job!! It is incredibly hard work, especially with limited resources. Yet they are getting the job done daily!

I hope you will join me in supporting International Medical Corps’ efforts, because their work does save lives and is helping a population that has been neglected! These are amazing women and children, like our mothers, our sisters, our friends. They deserve a chance at health and happiness...wouldn’t you agree??!!

These women and children are my endless source of inspiration as is the International Medical Corp team. Anything I can do to continue to support them, I will and hope you will too!!

All the best to you all and thanks for your continued support!! Donate now if you can :)

Georgina

Climb Take Action on AOL

2010-04-06T11:13:00.000-07:00

Read a little more about our cause on AOL's That's Fit :)

http://www.thatsfit.com/2010/03/09/fit-philanthropy-climb-for-congo/

Spring is here and soon to be summer...so time for the next climb for International Medical Corps and women in the Congo and Uganda. Denali is up next! More to be posted soon.

Leave May 17th for Alaska...seems just around the corner! Life since Aconcagua has been hectic with relocating to San Francisco, prepping for the upcoming climb, fundraising, and starting to organize some additional fundraising events for the Fall! Between now and then I will be in San Francisco, Denver, Portland, Sao Paulo-Brazil, San Diego, New York, Atlanta, and maybe Arkansas! This is when life as a management consultant makes training a challenge...so I will be on the hunt for hotel gyms or good running trails to stay fit until my departure.

Thank you all for your continued support for this cause! Every little bit of help has a tremendous impact on the women and children we are trying to support!

Lots of Love!

G

Aconcagua...A Great Challenge!!

2010-02-02T22:25:00.000-08:00

Where to begin on this incredible journey of 3 weeks? For starters, it was a lot tougher than I thought and if I never have to climb on scree (lose rock and gravel) again. . . I will be a very happy girl! Yet, the climb allowed me to push myself physically and mentally to a new limit and continue to work towards a cause very dear to my heart. . . .the women and children of the Congo and nearby Uganda.

As you know I continue to raise funds and awareness for International Medical Corps that is working hard to make their lives a little better on a daily basis. I recognize there are many humanitarian needs in the world, yet in case you are unaware, the sexual violence in the Congo, an area plagued by civil conflict for over a decade, has been deemed the worst in the world by John Holmes, UN Undersecretary General for Humanitarian Affairs. In some areas of the Congo, ¾ of the women population have been raped, with victims ranging from 11 months old to 75+ years old…unimaginable offenses against women and girls have been committed. These climbs are for them in hopes of having a positive impact in their lives, as no woman or child should have to undergo such atrocities. We really need your support and hope you will visit us at: http://www.climbtakeaction.com/DonateNow.html

A little about the mountain….

When I think of Aconcagua a few words come to mind. . . SCREE. . .WIND. . .ROCK. . . .TOUGH. . .but reaching the summit on January 10, 2010 was an uplifting moment and one I will never forget :)

This mountain definitely kicked my butt!

Aconcagua, which translates as "Stone Sentinel" is 22,840 ft, making it the highest mountain in the Americas and the highest mountain outside of Asia. This spectacular mountain is surrounded by numerous peaks over 20,000 ft. and the surrounding lowlands (up to 13,000 ft.) consist of beautiful desert landscapes with a large diversity of flora and fauna. We went up via the Polish Variation Route on the East side of the mountain because it sees one fifth the amount of climbers (1,000 vs. 5,000 yearly) and is a much more aesthetic approach. . .it goes through Vacas Valley.

CLIMB HIGHLIGHTS...in no particular order :)

Conquering my hardest physical challenge to date

Being able to stand atop South America and experiencing some incredible views

Meeting other amazing adventurers and making new friends and getting to spend time with old ones.

Not feeling alone on summit day. . .I really felt the presence of my loved ones with me that day (hard to explain, but an awesome feeling!)

Being a little bit closer to reaching my goal of the 7 summits…just 3 more to go (Denali, Vinson, and Everest)!!

Visiting beautiful Mendoza and Santiago and enjoying some delicious wines (I love S. America. .can’t wait to go back!)

CLIMB CHALLENGES

Tent living for 14 nights at various elevations…not to mention no shower… that’s tough on a girl. . .lol

Trying to sleep at 20,000 feet for 2 nights. . not likely… lucky if we got 2 hours

Carrying a 50lbs backpack whose frame is too big for you! The 50lbs is bad enough!

Trying to climb up with severe winds (40+ mph- made me stumble a bit) and sleep when winds hit about 80 mph (thx God our tent held up!)

Keeping up team morale. . . this is a tough climb and at some points people were just NOT having fun. . .we all had to work hard to keep spirits up at times

Catching a cold at 13,800 feet with a fever. . .had to stay in the tent one day to recoup

Climbing up SCREE!! I think the whole team agrees . . we hate scree!!

Trying to pee in a Nalgene bottle every night-talk about precision! (had several negotiations with myself trying to convince myself I did not have to go!! Lol) That said making yourself drink a liter of water before bedtime...knowing you will just have to get up more frequently is also a challenge!!

Forcing yourself to eat when you’re not hungry. . .I tend to lose my appetite at high altitude. . .thx goodness for those GU packs! Instant calories :)

WHAT GOT ME UP THE MOUNTAIN

Prayers…lots of them! Along with my prayers, thank you to my friends and family for their prayers too.

I am hard headed. . .lol. . .I told myself I would get up that mountain unless weather or my health got in the way. . .luckily both cooperated with me. I am a firm believer that climbing is 80% mental and 20% physical when it boils down to it.

Moral support of my friends and family and my good friend Jason on the mountain. . .it was great having a friend to climb with and give me that boost when I needed it.

My iPod- thx to my “Fun Dance Mix”!! . . . .that worked wonders on summit day (I was only able to use it 2 days cuz the battery went dead)!! It really made all the difference in the world-this was the first time I ever climbed with an iPod. (it was a wide range of upbeat dance music from hip-hop to electronica to top 40 to worldly lounge mixes to some classics like ABBA and Cher. . lol. . .and everything in between )

My journal. . .a little red book titled “Keep Calm & Carry On” to vent to and share my inner most thoughts when I needed to

Our trusty guides!! Thanks JP and Seth from Alpine Ascents

GU!! Yes, I love Gu packs, although most I climb with tend to hate them. One Gu pack an hour on summit day does the trick!

LESSONS LEARNED

Your backpack needs to be your best friend, not your worst enemy. ..I will be trading in my Denali Pro pack, the frame is still much too big. . . although I already knew that from previous climbs. . . was trying to save on the climbing gear by not getting a new pack. . BAD move!!

Test all of your equipment . . .all of it!!

You cannot train enough! My training regimen will be much more disciplined for Denali. . which is coming up in MAY! Many have asked what I did to train for this climb: Cardio 1 hour at least 3-5 times a week (running outdoors as much as possible); hit the trails as much as I could, but honestly with my work/travel schedule it was nearly impossible; stairs with a weighted pack when possible or stairmill at the gym with a weighted pack; weights and core strength training (I hired a trainer 2 months before the climb).
o What I would do different: Train with my actual backpack as often as possible; do more core training; hit the trails more (was just tough with work this go around)

Something that was reinforced: The climb is just as much mental if not more than physical…it’s a matter of willpower and determination

Bring antibiotics…just in case! Thx goodness Jason had some when I got a fever!!

Bring yummy snacks. . . your favorite candy , goodies, etc (Starbursts and Gobstoppers saved my life)
One foot in front of the other. . .that’s what gets you to the summit. . .one step at a time.

Thanks to: Jason, Carina, Brendan, Adam, Davis, JP, and Seth for an amazing climb!!!!

LOOK FOR A FULL TRIP REPORT ON CLIMBING.COM. . .Coming soon and I will post a link for you all.

Please continue to support our efforts! Every dollar has a tremendous impact on a life….
http://www.climbtakeaction.com/DonateNow.html

How Your Donation Will Help Women & Children:

International Medical Corps (IMC) provides life-saving services for displaced women and children in the DRC and neighboring Uganda, including: emergency medical treatment and physician training, counseling to help heal deep psychological wounds, and economic opportunities to help promote self-sufficiency.

International Medical Corps also teaches new mothers feeding practices, provides immunizations, monitors growth, and prevents and treat the three big child-killers – acute respiratory infections, malaria and diarrhea.Please read how an International Medical Corps medical camp is helping Maria, a woman victimized in the DRC, and her child.

Your donation is tax-deductible, totally secure, and will go directly to this cause. Please forward this link to others so we can help save more women and children’s lives!

Thank you again for all of your support!!

Georgina

http://www.climbtakeaction.com/DonateNow.html

Ashley Chapman Summits Kilimanjaro January 2010!!

2010-02-02T22:11:00.000-08:00

CONGRATULATIONS TO ASHLEY CHAPMAN!!

Ashley reached the summit of Kilimanjaro in January on behalf of International Medical Corps and Climb Take Action to help women and children in the Congo and Uganda.

We are so grateful to Ashley to taking on this personal challenge for our cause!! Her bravery and dedication are truly inspiring!! She has already raised over $4000 and still going....help her reach her goal of $5000 :)

You can still sponsor Ashley by visiting https://www.imcworldwide.org/SSLPage.aspx?pid=981

I encourage anyone reading this to feature your next challenge for our cause and help us raise funds and awareness for a group of women and children living in one of the world's cruelest conflict zones. Take action today and make an impact on a life :)

International Medical Corps continues to provide life saving support on a daily basis.

Way to go Ashley and a HUGE THANK YOU!!! You ROCK!

Hugs to all-

Georgina

Reached the Summit of Aconcagua!!!

2010-01-24T21:22:00.001-08:00

Views of Aconcagua on the Trek in!

Summit Shot! Aconcagua 6962 M JAN 10, 2010

Summit Shot!! WWW.CLIMBTAKEACTION.COM

Hello Friends!!

Happy New Year to you all! I reached the summit of Aconcagua on January 10, 2010! I promise to post more details of the climb and journey shortly.

I got back to the States on Jan. 18 and was on a plane the next day for a work assignment in Mexico City and am still here at the moment. . thus life has been a bit crazy to say the least.

Aconcagua was an amazing experience and challenge on many levels and I promise to share more with you all.

For now here are some picutres and remember this climb was to support International Medical Corps and their programs for women and children in the Congo and Uganda.

I recognize there are many humanitarian needs in the world, but the in the case of the Congo, it was been deemed to have the worst sexual violence in the world by John Holmes, UN Undersecretary General for Humanitarian Affairs. I had the opportunity to meet many women survivors living in a refugee settlement in Uganda supported by International Medical Corps this summer and all I can tell you is that these women and children truly need our help. They have undergone horrific experiences most of us could never imagine. These women continue to be my source of inspiration, as they are resilient, strong, brave, and trying to make the most of what life has given them. I will be sharing more details on my visit to this settlement in a future post.

I hope you will support me in my efforts and help these women and children, please visit:

https://www.imcworldwide.org/SSLPage.aspx?pid=625

How Your Donation Will Help Women & Children:

International Medical Corps provides life-saving services for displaced women and children in the DRC and neighboring Uganda, including: emergency medical treatment and physician training, counseling to help heal deep psychological wounds, and economic opportunities to help promote self-sufficiency.

International Medical Corps also teaches new mothers feeding practices, provides immunizations, monitors growth, and prevents and treat the three big child-killers – acute respiratory infections, malaria and diarrhea.

Thank you for all of your support, encouragement, and prayers while on the mountain, it really meant so much to me....will be in touch soon!

Much Love,

Georgina

Happy Holidays!! Next Stop Aconcagua!

2009-12-23T10:28:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays from Climb Take Action!

Wishing you and your loved ones Happy Holidays!!! Thank you so so much for all of your support for Climb Take Action this year and our efforts to support International Medical Corps and their work to help women and children in the Congo and Uganda.

2009 was an exciting year for us, as our team of 9 successfully summited Mt. Kilimanjaro in July and raised over $30,000 for International Medical Corps. 3 of us (Genevieve Roth, Brooke Warburton, and I) were then blessed with the opportunity to visit the Refugee Settlements in Uganda and able to meet not only the amazing women and children we support, but also the dedicated International Medical Corps staff that is making a significant impact in the lives of thousands of women and children at these settlements on a daily basis. We also have some outstanding supporters that have decided to dedicate their next challenge to Climb Take Action for 2010 and support our efforts- we are thrilled and so grateful!! We were also featured in various media publications, thus helping us in our mission to educate others on the conflict occurring and the aid needed.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been engulfed by conflict for over a decade and remains one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. It is home to the most horrific cases of sexual and gender-based violence.

How Your Support Will Help Women & Children:

International Medical Corps (IMC) provides life-saving services for displaced women and children in the DRC and neighboring Uganda, including: emergency medical treatment and physician training, counseling to help heal deep psychological wounds, and economic opportunities to help promote self-sufficiency.International Medical Corps also teaches new mothers feeding practices, provides immunizations, monitors growth, and prevents and treat the three big child-killers – acute respiratory infections, malaria and diarrhea.

I hope you will support my efforts going into 2010, as I head of to Climb Aconcagua for International Medical Corps and Women and Children in the Congo and Uganda: Dec 27-Jan18. Aconcagua, which translates as "Stone Sentinel" is 22,840 ft, making it the highest mountain in the Americas and the highest mountain outside of Asia- one of the World’s 7 Summits and my fourth to date of the 7….3 more to go.

These women and children continue to be my source of inspiration.

Please visit us at: http://www.climbtakeaction.com/ or my blog: http://www.georginamiranda.blogspot.com/

Much Love and Happy Holidays,
Georgina

Special Thanks to the Kilimanjaro Team! Hector Miranda, Corina Quinones, Martin Zeeman, Melanie O’Toole, Genevieve Roth, Brooke Warburton, Sergio Milan, and Steve Prentice

Natural Health Magazine Features Climb Take Action

2009-12-03T06:04:00.000-08:00

Read more about Climb Take Action and our efforts for women and children in the Congo and Uganda in this month's issue of Natural Health Magazine!

All proceeds benefit International Medical Corps:

http://www.climbtakeaction.com/Natural_Health_Article.pdf

Kili Recap

2009-08-03T22:12:00.000-07:00

Greetings from Arkansas. . .yes I am here for work at the moment :)

Well I made it back to the states on the 26th of July and flew straight to my next work assignment in Chicago (I am a management consultant). . so the last week has been a bit of a blur and it almost seems unreal that just weeks ago I was on the roof of Africa!

I am super grateful for Genevieve, Brooke, Melanie, Sergio, Steve, Corina, Martin, and my dad (Hector) for signing up for the challenge not only of climbing the highest free standing mountain in the world (5896m), but also to take on the challenge of fundraising for International Medical Corps and their efforts for women and children in the Congo and Uganda!! Neither of these tasks was an easy feat by any means!! Yet they all rocked it and the entire team reached the summit at Uruhu Peak on July 16th at 7:45 AM and 8:15 AM---100% success rate, which is INCREDIBLE!! Climbing Kili set the altitude record for the entire team. . .we all went higher than we had ever gone before!

So a little bit about the mountain-Crowned by eternal snows, the mighty Kilimanjaro (19,340ft) is the highest free-standing mountain in the world and dominates its landscape unlike any other mountain. Located in Tanzania, this extinct volcano looms over five eco-systems and large game reserves and is certainly one of the world's most impressive sights. The terrain is nothing short of dramatic.

As one of the most fascinating and diverse regions on earth, Kilimanjaro has attracted both climbers and nature enthusiasts with its magnetism. The ascent up this great peak is non-technical by nature and it affords a full mountaineering experience (with all the rigors and rewards) for those in strong physical condition. Kilimanjaro at 19,340’ is an extreme, high altitude climb and is perhaps the most underestimated of the seven summits.

So here is a little run down of how the trip went:

July 8: I departed LAX on route to New York, NY, then Dakar Senegal, then off to Nairobi, Kenya. It would be a long. . long journey. Since Delta had cancelled all of our flights. . my departure and connection details had been disrupted. Thus, lucky me got to spend 12 hours in Dakar Airport. .during which I was bribed once and then almost had my bag run off with by someone else trying to get a bribe! In effort to avoid this situation I had to literally pry my 47 lb duffel bag from some man's hands in which I managed to bend my thumb completely backwards and well. . today it still hurts! Thank goodness you don't need your thumb to climb a mountain. All I could think was . .the adventure was already beginning. . lol. Needless to say I stuck tight inside the Dakar airport. . not willing to explore after this close encounter. This put a damper on my plans, as I thought I could kill time and check out the sights versus sit steady for 12 hours! Thank goodness I had a good book to read to keep me entertained. . The Shack :)

July 10: I finally arrived in Nairobi around 6 AM and it was straight to the Pan Afric hotel for a quick shower and bag drop. . then off to the McKinney Rogers Office in Kenya for my last day of work before the climb. My lovely co-workers took me out that night in Nairobi and we enjoyed the local nightlife seen until it was time for me to get ready and head to the airport once again to meet my dad, Corina, and Martin.

July 11: It was an early morning for me, as I met my dad, Corina and Martin at NBO Airport at 5:30 AM. Our 8 hour shuttle ride to Moshi would begin at 8:30 AM and we would depart to the Springlands Hotel. The only glitch at NBO was that my dad's baggage had been lost!!! Big problem, considering all of his climbing gear was in there! Well, all we could do was file a claim and pray that his bags would arrive on time for the climb! As I described in another posting. . this shuttle ride was an adventure all on its own. . something out of Mr. Toad's Wild Adventure down a dusty, rocky, paveless road for 8 hrs. It was really great to see the outskirts of Nairobi and drive by the various towns and villages and get a glimpse of what life was like here. What really struck me the most was the lack of water sources near residential establishments and watching young girls with heavy Jerry Cans. . walking probably a couple of kilometers to get water for the day. . most of them also barefoot. We saw a few Masai Villages on the way to Moshi. . .and well they were simply fascinating. It is incredible to see how well they have protected their culture and traditions and maintained a very simple way of life. My deep love and fascination for goats was beginning. . . more to come on the Uganda portion of the trip :o)

Finally around 4:30 PM we made it to the hotel. . The Springlands Hotel was modest but nice. . it had nice lush landscaping, a bar, a restaurant, a pool, a gear rental shop, a souvenir shop, and Internet room. . what more could you ask for on a climbing trip?? I was happy. . .would have loved a hot shower while I was there. . but hey you can't have it all right? :)

That night all of us with the exception of Melanie and Steve, who had not arrived, had dinner and enjoyed a couple of Kilimanjaro beers together and shared stories of our journey to Moshi and just relaxed. We were all roaring to go and supper excited to start the climb!

July 12: This was a free day for the team to just get acquainted and well in my dad's case wait for his luggage to arrive. . lol. We found out the bag had been located, yet the airline fell to fly it to Kilimanjaro Airport as promised, thus our kind shuttle driver from the day before was kind enough to arrange for a ground transfer! What a relief!!!

The entire team with the exception of Genevieve and Brooke headed into Moshi to explore, have lunch, and do some shopping. As I mentioned in a previous post. . we caused quite the stir in town and well almost formed a mini parade everywhere we went, as we were being pursued by local vendors trying to sell us their fine products and lure us into their shops. Everyone was extremely friendly. . .We ended up at a local restaurant in town and indulged in the local cuisine of sausage, chicken, ugali, plantains, and can't forget the Kilimanjaro beer. . all in all it was good. . .a bit gamey but good ;)

We headed back to the hotel after lunch and some us went for a dip in the pool. .which was quite refreshing and just relaxed . . chatting, reading, and resting for the day ahead.

Genevieve and Brooke had gone to visit a Masai Village and had a marvellous time . . they learned tons. . we invited to dress in their traditional attire and partake in a traditional dance!

That afternoon, we had our final briefing from Gap Adventures and met our guides Alfan, Stanley, and Martin.

That night the entire team had dinner together, we celebrated my dad and Corina's b-day, and met other fellow climbers about to embark on an adventure of a lifetime! I also found out that Melanie had found out about the trip while looking to participate in a 10k run for charity! Instead she found out about this trip for International Medical Corps and decided to take on this great challenge!! So glad she joined us and no the 10k run! :o)

July 13: Marangu Route Well after all the months of prepping. . the day was here and we were to depart by 8 AM. It was a busy morning around Springlands as two teams were departing for the mountain. It was about an hour and a half journey to the Marangu Gate, where we would register, organize our gear and embark on our journey. Upon arrival we say all of the porters ready to start carrying loads to our first hut, the Mandara Hut.We were told it would be about a 4-5 hour hike to the Mandara hut and that We would pass through a thick rain forest zone, then spend the night at Mandara hut (2750m). The rain forest was really beautiful with lush landscape, streams, and waterfalls. We stopped for a quick lunch and were able to get a first glimpse of the local wildlife, mainly birds and monkeys, but also this little guy that looked like a ferret and that Martin named "Peter". .lol. This large crow-like bird managed to swoop in and fly off with a bar of chocolate! The hike itself was not strenuous, especially since the porters were doing the heavy lifting. If there was one thing I would have preferred on this hike. .it would be that we all carry our own gear, but that was not allowed. Once we got the hut, we had to register once again and get our hut assignments. We would be 6 to a hut. We spent most of the late afternoon watching some monkeys nearby. . .eating a very yummy dinner. . . well watching some more monkeys. Needless to say why our team name became "Nyane Kitcha," the crazy monkeys!!! That is what we were for sure :) My dad was enjoying practicing his monkey calls. . lol. The team was really feeling strong up to this point and eager for a good night rest in prep for the day ahead. The Mandera Hut sees about 85 climbers per night. . .keep in mind you can triple that amount of people once you consider porters, cooks, guides, etc. The logistics involved in feeding all of the teams at this location, getting all the gear properly sorted is really remarkable and these guides have it down to a science and virtually seamless. I was quite impressed! This night Corina and Martin gave my dad quite the scare at about 1 AM as he was trying to make his way back to their hut from the outhouse. . lol. It was a good laugh in the morning.

July 14:Well it was an early 6:30 AM start .. .and we woke up to what would be the typical wake up call, "water for washing," in other words some warm water to get cleaned up with in the morning :) We had a quick bite and then were off by about 8 AM. I normally do not eat breakfast, so it was a treat to have eggs, toast, avocado, coffee, and tea most mornings :) I especially loved the avocados, as growing up those were a big treat in my household and here they were plentiful. We continued our ascent through the forest, before reaching the heather and moorland zone at roughly 3000m. We took our time and took in the sights and snapped away photo after photo. The trail was filled with "Jambos", "Mambos" , "Poas", and of course. . . "pole, pole". . "slow and steady".. . this phrase we would all come to love, especially on summit day :)We made it up to the Horombo Hut (3720m) about 3 PM. We all were enjoying stunning views of the mountain peaks at this altitude. Little did we know we would be waking up Above the Clouds come morning! Also, it would be my first night of taking in the amazing Africa sky with it's millions of stars at night. . simply breathtaking. After a short rest. .we went on an acclimatization hike to Zebra Rocks, which was about another 300 m or so. The rock formations were really incredible and marked with a zebra like pattern. It was a good test for the team to go up a bit higher and then come down to rest a bit lower. Dinner that night was carb loading with rice and potatoes and vegetable sauce amongst some other goodies. . .I was missing the yummy beef we had had the night before, but no more refrigeration. . so all non-perishables from this point forward. We spent the night at Horombo Hut (3720m), which lies in a valley surrounded by giant lobelia and groundsel, flora which are characteristic of this semi-alpine zone. For the most part the team was strong! Dad and I started on Diamox this day. . .the rest of the team had pretty much been on it. . except Sergio, who made it up medicine free the entire trip!! I know that about 14,000 ft. I inevitably get quite nauseous and so I was trying to be proactive. My dad was a bit exhausted and started to lose appetite. The rest of the team felt okay. . it was just evident we were about 3000m now. . .we were all moving a bit more slowly. :)

July 15:It was another early start this morning as we had to get to the Kibo Hut (4703 m) and prepare for our summit bid. We were likely on the trail about 8 AM again and made it to Kibo about 3 PM. We again stopped for lunch and enjoyed the majestic views the entire way up. Our trek ascended onto the saddle of Kilimanjaro, between the peaks of Kibo and Mwenzi. The vegetation thinned out as we entered the desert-like alpine zone (approximately 4000m) and, once we crossed the saddle, a stunning view of Kibo peak came into view. The team was still really strong this day. . but moving slower than previous days. It was quite windy in the saddle and so we had to button up with our windbreakers and gloves. The Kibo Hut area was hustling and bustling. . as those climbers on the Rongi Route were camping here as well. My dad was feeling a bit sluggish and early signs of headaches were starting in the team, so a few of us splurged and bought Cokes, which surprisingly were being sold at the Registration Hut. . about $3-4 USD per glass bottle. I thought the sugar would help my dad out and also help settle his stomach a bit. The rest of the team decided to take a nap before dinner and I decided to take my journal outside in the cold, crisp air and just reflect on the previous days and journey ahead. It was really beautiful to just sit out on the rocks and take in the views. It was quite chilly though. .and I was beginning to realize that I had likely underestimated how cold it would get on our way to the summit. Stanley, our guide, had told me that it would be the coldest about 4 AM on summit day. . .I was soon to find out he was RIGHT! We spent the night at Kibo Hut (4703m), a comfortable stone construction in a room that sleeps 13 with double bunks. This semi-desert zone receives an annual rainfall of under 250mm and few plants other than lichens and grass survive in these conditions. We would have to wake up at 11 AM for our summit bid. .so dinner was served around 5:30 PM so we would have enough time to grab some shut-eye. After dinner the guides gave us a final prep talk about what to expect on summit day. . they also warned us about signs of altitude sickness and to be smart about making them aware if we were feeling really ill. After the guides left I gave the team a quick pep talk. .with my main point being that this climb is 80% mental and 20% physical. I am really a strong believer in this. . we had all trained hard for this ascent and were pretty much strong at this point. . . the key would be in believing each of us could do it. . .that determination would get us to the summit! I also did a quick review of "pressure breathing", which I had been coached on by any other guide I had ever climbed with. It helps your body get oxygen to the brain at a faster pace while in altitude and key! Lastly, I did a Gu check. . .I love Gu and it has gotten me up many mountains, so I wanted to make sure everyone had enough fuel to get them up the mountain the next day. Surprisingly I was able to sleep well for those 4 or 5 hours. . .poor Genevieve did not get a wink! At 11 AM Karem, came in and woke us up! It was time to go. . all or nothing. We had a quick bit of biscuits, tea, and coffee and were off!

July 16:We started the ascent about 12:10 AM. Stanley had been right that it would get the coldest around 4 AM. I was warm enough when we got started, but an hour or so in I was pretty cold and about 3 hours in. .my poor little fingers were dying for the sun to come out and help warm them up! I stared out in Patagonia synthetic bottom base layer, with gortex Mountain Hardware pants on top, along with a capaline 3 Patagonia top, North Face fleece top, and Mountain Hardware Gortex Jacket. I decided to wear only 1 pair of my Smartwool mountaineering socks, which I regret not putting on the 2 pairs I had on me. . as my feet got a little cold. The gloves were where I really messed up! Having sub-zero Mountain Hardware mittens at home, I left them behind thinking they would be too warm and unnecessary considering I did not need them on Rainier, Elbrus, or Elbert! Well I could have really used them on Kili, over my heavy, water resistant pair of Mountain Hardware gloves. My hands were freezing 2-3 hours into the ascent. I tried using handwarmers, but they were taking too long to get warm. . .thus I decided to store my trekking poles in my pack and stick my hands, gloves and all into heavily insulated Patagonia Jacket, which I now had on. . .the gortex layer was not enough. How cold was it?? I will never know. . .but looking at forecast post the climb, I expect it was no warmer than 10 F if not colder with the windchill up till about 5:30 AM when the sun started to peak through. I would say we did not get full sun until about 7 AM. The Kili sunrise was breathtaking. .. I have no words to describe, but it was so profound to see the sun reflecting off the remaining bits of the glacier and exposing all of Africa below us. Watching the sunrise at high altitude has to be one of my favorite parts about moutaineering. .it just makes everything you have gone through worthwhile!. The sun came out past Gillman's Point (5685m), it is a further 3 hour round trip along the crater's edge to Uhuru Peak (5896m), the highest point in Africa. I had warned the team of this fact, particually because many people tend to want to turn around at this point from exhaustion. . again 80% mental and 20 % physical. Our team had been split into 2 about an hour and a half into the ascent. Half of us were requiring more breaks, making it difficult for the team requiring less breaks, as it was just too cold. I charged up ahead with Genevieve, Brooke, Melanie, and Sergio due to the fact I was too cold to keep stopping. My dad, Steve, Corina, and Martin became team 2. It was really tough for me to separate from my dad, as I wanted to be there for him going up. He and Corina were probably the most impacted by altitude sickness this day and so they ended up providing great moral support for one another the entire way up! I knew they could all make it, just at their own pace :) I was really glad my dad was wearing a red jacket, as our team was able to look back down and see that they were just a bit behind us, but still charging up the endless uphill. The ascent to Gillman's point really did seem endless. . . we were all glad it was dark and we could not see how much further we really had to go. I tried to keep myslef from looking up to see the headlams making their way up the mountain. Genevieve was up front and center on our team and really strong! It was awesome! I was feeling really nasiated and cold, which definetley slowed my pace up to Gillman's point. . .I was all about the "ploe, pole" . .lol. The teamwork and encouragement was really remarkable from all! Once the sun started to come out. . . I could not help but just snap away photos. . .it was so beautiful, I just hoped the pictures could capture a glimnps of what I was seeing. By the time we were pretty close to the summit. .there was great energy on the mountian, from congratulating those on their way down from the summit, to words of encouragement and "your almost there", to encouraging other exhausted climber form other teams and telling them you knew they could make it. It rocked!!! At last 5 of us reached the summit about 7:45 AM! Wow what a journey! We took a lot of time taking photos and videos. I had brought up a sign for International Medical Corps for the team to take a photo with at the summit. I just prayed that the rest of the team would make it. . .and from the looks of things they did not appear to be too far away. Just as we were about done with our photos, Alfan pointed out that my dad was just a few short steps away! We all rushed down to meet the 4 remaining members of our team and gave them a huge CONGRATS!! It was a pretty emotional moment for me to see my dad up there. . .wow!! Way to go!!! So from ther it was more photos and videos and of course signing the "Jambo Sana" song, I had come to love. We were all in good, strong, high spirits! Woooooohoooooo!!!! I gave a reallt big thank you to God up there for getting our team up safe and allowing me to embark on this journey and try to help others along the way. I just felt really blessed by the entire experience. I was rewarded for snapping some photos of one of the other climbing teams and offered a swig of brandy. . .silly me took a sip out of the flask without knowing what it was. .lol... my. . my. . brandy at almost 20,000 feet. . umm maybe not such a good idea. . lol. I was totally fine, but my little tiny sip realy hit me hard. . lol.

From the summit, it is downhill all the way to Horombo Hut where we spent our last night on the mountain. We did make a quick 1 hour nap stop at Kibo Hut, which we reached about 11:30 AM. . .it had already been almost a 12 hour day and from Kibo to Horombo it was another 3 hours down! My dad flew down to the Kibo hut and beat us all by about an hour. .lol. .he wanted down and fast. He and Corina had debated many a times about turning around on thier ascent... but they stuck it out and made it!!! The descent was tough down to Kibo because of the lose rock and sand like conditions. .it was easy to just slid down if not careful. We finally made it to Horombo Hut (3720m) around 5:30 PM and got cleaned up and rested until dinner. This hut area was quite full this night, so we were all scattered through the various huts. Genevieve, Brooke, Melanie, Sergio, and I got to share the upstairs of the dining hut with 20 other individuals. . lol. We were so tired, we did not care! We just needed some sleep and overall rest. Not everyone made it to dinner that night, as some just wanted to sleep. The next day would be our final day on the mountain and then back to Springlands Hotel.

July 17:Descent - Horombo Hut to Marangu Gate. We made our way all the way down to the Marangu gate. . with at 8 AM start time. The team had once again regained our stregnth and pace and we jetted down the mountain. Before departing Horombo, we enjoyed our last few sights of being above the clouds. Although the descent was not difficult, it did feel a bit lengthy. My dad was definelty feeling better and back to his good old self again. . . he got Melanie and Sergio pretty good by hiding in some bushes and jumping out at them on the trail when they weren't looking. .lol :)

Once we reached the bottom of the gate, we took a team "after" photo, collected our certificates, bought some souvenirs from the gift shop at the base and waited for a ride back to the hotel. What an adventure!!!!

Once back at SPringlands Hotel, we checked in, dropped gear and had a little certification ceremony with our guides. After that we all hit the showers desperately and then relaxed with a few Kilimanjaros, Safaris, and Tuskers while we waited for dinner and celebrated our hard work and success. It was a lot of fun to recount stories with our team and other teams who had also made the summit. I was so grateful that we had all made it and were now back safe and sound.

For me, Genevieve, and Brooke, our trip was only half over and the real emotional journey about to begin as on the 19th we would head to Uganda to visit Nakivale and Kyaka II Refugee Camps with International Medical Corps.

July 18: After a quick breakfast. . we said our good-byes to Melanie and Steve and the rest of us set off on a game drive at Arusha National Park for the Day. It was a great way to spend the day after the climb. . .We saw lots of monkeys, giraffs, hippos, birds, etc. It was really lovely. The terrain and lanscape were quite beautiful. After the game drive we said farewell to Sergio who was off to Ireland for work and the rest of the team headed back to the hotel.

July 19: It was a early departure from the hotel for Corina, Martin, my dad, and I. .. we had the 8 hour shuttle adventure back to Nairobi! I managed to sleep most of the way regardless of the bumpiness. . lol. I would meet Genevieve and Brooke in Kampala later that evening along with International Medical Corps. My dad and I managed to grab a quick bite at NBO before our flights took off. . we enjoyed a few more somosas. . .mmmm... so yummy.

It was a remarkable adventure shared with some really special and extraordinary individuals. . I could not have asked for a better team and am so grateful for them in joining me on this mission to help women and children in the Congo and Uganda, while also taking on a very personal physical challenge.

As I always like to close. . .if there is a dream you are after? Go after it. Life is too short, live it to the fullest. . and remember. . .Never limit yourself or life's potential. The extraordinary is always possible!!!

Thank you for all of your support and encouragement along the way. ..next will be a recount of our journey to Nakivale and Kyaka II with International Medical Corps in Uganda.

If you would like to continue to support our efforts, please visit: http://www.climbtakeaction.com/DonateNow.html

Much Love,

Georgina

Greetings from Munbende!

2009-07-22T12:37:00.000-07:00

Hello from Munbende!

I am joined here with Stephanie, Dr. JoJo, Claire, Jennifer, Moses, and Richard from International Medical Corps. This gracious team has been kind enough to introduce Genevieve, Brooke, and I to many Sexual Gender Based Survivors as well as to educate us on the impactful programs International Medical Corps is operating here in Uganda.

I am short for time, as we are on a limited Internet connection, but I wanted to give you all some updates.

First of all the team of 9 made it to the summit of Kilimanjaro on July 16th at 7:45 AM and 8:15 AM. Everyone did a fantastic job and was a true source of inspiration! It was an emotional approach reaching the summit for many reasons. . .some of the main ones. . .well we all made it. . for most of the team this was the greatest physical challenge they had ever endured. . .we were up there for an incredible cause. .. and on a personal note for me. .it was great to have my dad up there!

The team all parted ways last Saturday. . but we are all anxious to share our stories and experiences as well as photos :) SO all that to come next week!

On Sunday Genevieve, Brooke and I departed to Uganda to meet the International Medical Corps team and visit 2 refugee settlements International Medical Corps is supporting- Nakavale and KyakaII. I have so much to tell you about these visits, but it will have to come next week when I am not limited on Internet time.

All I can tell you is that my heart has been touched not only by the survivors I have met at these settlements, but by the International Medical Corps Staff. International Medical Corps is running extremely impactful and life changing programs with extremely limited resources. . they are true heroes in my book! I promise to share everything I have learned this week and how all of your support is truly making a difference in the life on many women and children.

Although most of these survivors have very sad stories and have been through hardships us Westerners could probably never fathom. . .they are women and children that are an inspiration in their fight for life and hope for a better future. They can still share a smile with us, while they share their stories of pain and sorrow, and tell us what a difference International Medical Corps has made in their life and how grateful they are.

I promise to write more when home in the States next week. I thank you all for your support and encouragement along the way and ask that you all continue to keep these women and children in your hearts and prayers. . . their stories are just remarkable, as their strength and faith. They really do need our continued help and your support makes a difference :)

Please support our efforts. . .http://www.climbtakeaction.com/DonateNow.html

Much love and more to come. . . .

Georgina

Greetings from Moshi!

2009-07-12T06:28:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!

The entire team has made it safely to Moshi! We all arrived yesterday from various parts of the world. Some of us flew to Kilimanjaro airport, while others like Hector, Corina, Martin, and myself started out with an adventurous 8 hour bus journey from Nairobi to Moshi. This bus ride was unlike any other! The 20 passenger mini bus why flying at 60-80 miles per hour down a dusty, rocky, road that amazingly did support two way traffic (believe me we all gasped a few times when oncoming trucks were headed our way). It was a bumpy ride to say the least, but it allowed us to see much of the country side and a first hand view at what real life is like outside the major city. I know we all felt truly blessed by all the comforts we have at home. It was pretty exciting to walk across the Kenyan/Tanzania border and get our passports stamped and continue on our trek in. Thus, Hector, Corina, Martin, Genevieve, Brooke, Sergio, Steve, Melanie, and myself are pumped up and ready to start making our way up Kilimanjaro tomorrow! We are all still in a bit of disbelief that after months of planning we are actually here!

Today some of us wandered into town and tried some of the local cuisine for lunch consisting of some hearty chicken, gamey sausage, cucumber, plantains, and Ugali. . along with some local refreshments of course :) We also ventured into various little shops in town, including the Moshi Market in which one could buy anything from spices, meats, dried fish, souvenirs, fabrics, electronics, and more. As there were not many tourist out today. . we caused quite the scene and were pretty much followed by a slew of vendors throughout the streets of Moshi. . it looked like we had formed a little parade. The people here are lovely and extremely friendly and inviting.

I cannot stress how grateful I personally am to be here. Tomorrow we will start our ascent. .I will write more once back down from the mountain. After the climb Genevieve, Brooke, and I will be traveling to Western Uganda to visit two refugee camps supported by International Medical Corps. To be honest, I have been looking forward to meeting the people we are supporting and the wonderful doctors and nurses working hard to give them care and support all year long. It will be a very special journey for me indeed and I hope to learn of new ways of how we can make the live of these women and children a little better in some way shape or form.

We have a truly amazing and inspiring team! I would love for all of you to get to meet them. . so here is a little tid bit about all of us.

Well farewell from Moshi! Off to meet the team for a final briefing before tomorrow! xx, Georgina

Meet The Team:

Georgina Miranda, Portland, OR ~ Management Consultant for McKinney Rogers

Why Kili? Climbing Kili as part of my quest to reach the 7 Summits. This will be summit #3 of 7.

Why Supporting International Medical Corps and Women and Children of the Congo and Uganda?

I launched this campaign in early 2008 with the aim of raising awareness to the abuse, neglect, and need women and children in these regions face and to provide support to International Medical Corps’ programs in these countries. My hope was this campaign would provide the necessary resources to help these women and children begin their road to self empowerment after all the tragedy they have experienced. I also hoped it would help raise overall awareness for the need to end violence against women and girls.

Previous Challenges or Prep for the Journey?

Mt. Rainier (WA), Mt. Elbrus (Russia), Mt. Kos, Mt. Elbert, Quandary Peak, Mt. Baldy, Mt. San Jacinto

____________________________________________________________________________________-

Genevieve Roth, New York, NY~ Articles Editor

Why Kili?

This July, I am going to use all of my vacation time (and way more than all of my vacation savings) to travel to Tanzania and climb Mt. Kilimanjaro to raise money and awareness for victims of sexual violence in the Congo and Uganda.

Why you are supporting Climb Take Action's Efforts and IMC?

Unthinkable things happen to the women in these countries every day. Because of my work at Glamour, I have to think about these atrocities--write about them, meet women who have lived through them--every day. I can't do this job effectively if I don't know I'm doing something, however small, to help.

Previous Challenges or Prep for the Journey?

Spinning, stair master, running, and wearing my Asolo Hiking Boots while walking to work in business attire J

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Melanie O'Toole, Hong Kong ~Associate Director for an insurance brokerage

Why Kili? I like to push my boundaries every once in a while and having been fascinated by Africa since I was small, Kilimanjaro is the perfect spot to test my mettle.

Why you are supporting Climb Take Action's Efforts and IMC?

I've known about the atrocities in Africa for some time, but always felt so far removed and powerless to do anything that would really add any value. Taking on a big task like hiking Kili has helped me to see that lots of small efforts make a huge difference!

Previous Challenges or Prep for the Journey?

Certified sailing skipper and amateur fencer. Has been hitting up the stair master and hiking up Hong Kong Peak J

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Brooke Warburton, Washington, DC~Visual Merchandising/Event Planning

Why Kili? I am always up for a challenge and I love travel and the outdoors!

Why you are supporting Climb Take Action's Efforts and IMC?

I was inspired by an article written by playwright, performer, and activist Eve Ensler - http://www.glamour.com/magazine/2007/08/rape-in-the-congo and Georgina Miranda's dedication to this cause. IMC is truly an amazing organization and I am proud to be a part of it!

Previous Challenges or Prep for the Journey?

I love hiking in the Rocky Mountains and Zion National Park, mountain biking, yoga and traveling to Central America.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Sergio Millan, Chino, CA~ Mechanical Engineer

Why Kili? Traveling and trekking is what I enjoy the most and Kili offers both activities

Why you are supporting Climb Take Action's Efforts and IMC?

In support of bringing awareness to Climb Take Action and IMC through an activity hikers and backpackers already love doing.

Previous Challenges or Prep for the Journey?

Hiked the Eastern Sierras over the memorial holiday weekend and many hikes to Mt. Baldy, San Jacinto, Mt. Whitney, etc.

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Hector Miranda, Burbank, CA~ Ops Manager Bank of America

Why Kili? I really enjoy hiking and have always wanted to go to Africa. . so now was the perfect time.

Why you are supporting Climb Take Action's Efforts and IMC?

I am supporting my daughter in her efforts to make a difference in the lives of women and children in the Congo and Uganda.

Previous Challenges or Prep for the Journey?

Avid cyclist, many hikes to Mt. Baldy , San Jacinto, and Mt. Wilson.

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Corina Quinones and Martin Zeeman, Glendale, CA~ RN and Med Student @ Ross Medical School

Why Kili?

We have been given an opportunity to combine our common passions for helping others & adventuring. We will be climbing Mt.Kilimanjaro, the roof of Africa (5895m) starting the 11th of July. This climb is not just about getting to the top of a mountain. We feel compelled by a great love in our lives, Christ's love, to help the women and children who are suffering and barely surviving in a war that is increasingly destroying and ending so many lives.

Why you are supporting Climb Take Action's Efforts and IMC?

It's horrifying to know that rape, many times in multiples, could be used as a weapon by intimidation. We know that we can't change all the world's hardships in one day, but we hope to impact in small ways and plant seeds wherever we can, however we can.

Previous Challenges or Prep for the Journey?

Running, many hikes to Brand Park Mountain, Mt. Baldy and Mt. San Jacinto

______________________________________________________________________________

Steven -Prentice, Murrieta, CA~

***More to Come, he just joined our team :)

We do know this is Steve's first big International Trip and he is supper excited to be here for a good cause!

More to come soon! :)

Kilimanjaro Here We Come!!!

2009-06-30T00:00:00.000-07:00

Well after months of planning our team of 9 is headed to Kilimanjaro next week! We have all been feverishly training, getting our Visas, shots, malaria pills, gear, and most importantly fundraising for International Medical Corps!

You can still show your support by donating at either http://www.climbtakeaction.com/ or http://www.firstgiving.com/hike2empower . Each team member has their own donating page or you can make a general donation.

We are all very anxious now to get to Moshi. . some of faced quite a few logistical hiccups this last month, as Delta canceled all of our flights!! Long story. . we managed to get it all sorted. . but wow. .glad that is behind us.

Right now I feel truly blessed for having the opportunity to embark on this adventure, but also to be joined by an amazing group of individuals who are compelled to make a difference in the lives of others. It will be an experience of a lifetime regardless of summit success or not. Our main objective is to raise support and awareness for International Medical Corps and women and children in the Congo and Uganda.

I will head to Mt. Whitney (14,505 ft) in California this weekend for some last minute training. . .earlier this month I met up with some of the Elbrus crew and hit up Mt. Elbert 14,440 feet (summit reached) and Quandary Peak 14,265 (lightening got in the way of the summit :( ) in Colorado. I know the rest of the team has been busy training in CA, Hong Kong, and New York on mountains, stairs, trails, whatever they can squeeze in :o) We are all committed to pushing ourselves to the limit and hopefully making it to the Roof of Africa by the 18th!

For those of you who may be wondering. . . below is our proposed itinerary. . . if there are any last minute adventurers out there. .contact me and come along with us and make a difference for an extraordinary humanitarian organization and group of women and children!

Our Itinerary: July 12-18

July 12:
Arrive Moshi- Meet the team

July 13:
Marangu Gate to Mandara Hut Our climb will officially commence with a 4 hour walk to the Mandara encampment. We will pass through a thick rainforest zone, then spend the night at Mandara hut (2750m).

July 14:
Mandara Hut to Horombo Hut
We continue our ascent through the forest, before reaching the heather and moorland zone at roughly 3000m. Enjoy stunning views of the mountain peaks at this altitude. We spend the night at Horombo Hut (3720m), which lies in a valley surrounded by giant lobelia and groundsel, flora which are characteristic of this semi-alpine zone.

July 15:
Horombo Hut to Kibo Hut
Our trek ascends onto the saddle of Kilimanjaro, between the peaks of Kibo and Mwenzi. The vegetation thins out as we enter the desert-like alpine zone (approximately 4000m) and, once we cross the saddle, a stunning view of Kibo peak comes into view. Spend the night at Kibo Hut (4703m), a comfortable stone construction. This semi-desert zone receives an annual rainfall of under 250mm and few plants other than lichens and grass survive in these conditions.

July 16:
Kibo Hut to Summit to Horombo Hut Around midnight, we commence the climb towards the summit of Kilimanjaro. An early start time improves our chances of reaching the summit in time for the famous Kili sunrise. From Gillman's Point (5685m), it is a further 3 hour round trip along the crater's edge to Uhuru Peak (5896m), the highest point in Africa. From the summit, it is downhill all the way to Horombo Hut where we spend our last night on the mountain.

July 17:
Descent - Horombo Hut to Marangu Gate
Todays descent continues past the Mandara encampment to the bottom of the mountain, where each hiker will receive a well-earned certificate. Take a swim, have a congratulatory beverage, and enjoy a good night's sleep in the comfort of our hotel in Moshi.

July 18:
Depart Moshi – Some of our team will stay and enjoy Arusha National Park for a Day.

July 19-26:
Genevieve, Brooke, and I have the wonderful opportunity to Volunteer at International Medical Corps' refugee camp, Nakivale, on the Congolese/Ugandan border. We look forward to meeting the women and children we are supporting and sharing their stories with you and how all of your donations are making their lives better upon our return.

Follow my blog to keep track of our progress on this adventure of a lifetime that saves lives!

And if you can, please support our cause, any little bit has an impact in someone's life. If we can help just 1 person, we have made a difference.

Cheers and Many Thanks,

Georgina

Join us for Kilimanjaro July 2009!!!

2009-04-01T12:16:00.000-07:00

A team and I are headed to Kilimanjaro July 12-18 and we want you to join us!

Join us and reach the roof of Africa in order to raise funds and awareness for International Medical Corps and their efforts for women and children in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. The trip costs $1399 USD (if more than 16 participate then only $1275). The climb will be guided by GAP ADVENTURES. We currently have about 35 spaces available, so we really hope you will join us on an Adventure of a Lifetime that Saves Lives! You have until May 11 to sign up!

All the trip details can be found on this link: http://go.gapadventures.com/GeorginasMtKilimanjaro

You can learn more on Facebook as well: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/event.php?eid=42351129282

Climbers are asked to raise $3,000 in sponsorships to support International Medical Corps’ gender-based violence prevention, nutritional, and mental health care programs benefiting the women and children in these two war-torn countries. With this challenge, empower yourself by empowering others!One of the programs you will support through this climb is the construction of a new reproductive health center in the Congo that will train physicians and nurse anesthetists in complicated gynecological procedures and improve women’s access to quality medical services. Currently, there is only one hospital in the country that specializes in helping victims of sexual violence, leaving many women at risk of not receiving any care at all. In a country where as many as two-thirds of women have been raped, the new reproductive health center is a critical addition that will protect the health of thousands of women and children who otherwise may never have received care.

If you are ready to sign up, please contact me at: info@climbtakeaction.com

Thinking of going, but still not sure? To join our Facebook group and receive the latest updates!http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=31591444468

Look forward to hearing from you!!

Georgina :)

Summit Number 2 and Fundraising Update!!!

2009-01-15T21:06:00.001-08:00

On December 30, 2008 one of my best friends, Trisha Haakonstad, and I made it to the summit of Mt. Kosciuszko, 2228m, Australia, to benefit International Medical Corps!

So we are 2 summits down and 5 more to go! I will be posting more details to the hike itself, but it was a cold, cold day in Thredbo with temperatures of 0 Celcius and a -5 to -10 windchill at the top. It was again amazing to make it up there with one of my closest friends all to benefit International Medical Corps and women in the Congo and Uganda. Mt. Kos is a 5 hour drive from Sydney and located near Thredbo Village in Kosciuszko National Park. It is by far the easiest of the 7 summits to reach, yet it was a long journey to Australia from Portland, and we were hit with some pretty foul weather that day :o) We were fortunate enough to bring in the New Year in Sydney the following day after reaching the summit.

View our photos:

A want to give a VERY BIG THANK YOU to all of our supporters!!!!!!!! All you have done has had a tremendous impact! All funds raised in 2008 are being utilized to support a new reproductive health 'Center of Excellence' in South Kivu, Congo, that will train physicians and nurse anesthetists in complicated gynecologicalprocedures and improve women's access to quality health services. One of the most critical procedures that IMC will focus on in the Center is first and second-degree fistula repair, a rupture that can occur during birth and violent cases of rape. If leftuntreated, fistulas can lead to very serious health complications, even death.

In Democratic Republic of Congo, there is only hospital in the country that specializes in helping victims of sexual violence, Panzi Hospital, which receives anastonishing caseload of 400 patients per month. This new center will help lower their burden and improve the care for victims of sexual violence.

A BIG BIG THANK YOU!!! Your support has and will continue to make a difference! To continue supporting our efforts, please visit: http://www.climbtakeaction.com/ . Uganda needs additional health facilities as well.

Our next climb is Kilimanjaro July 2009! Join us for this amazing trek and help us raise funds and awareness for women in the Congo and Uganda and help International Medical Corps continue their amazing work!

For more details visit: http://m.facebook.com/event.php?r6f8a5452=&eid=42351129282&refid=25

Warmest wishes and many thanks!!!!!

Georgina

Summit Number 2 Almost Here

2008-12-20T15:59:00.000-08:00

Greetings from New Zealand.. .

I arrived in New Zealand today and will be here for a week before heading to Australia to hike up Mount Kosciuszko on December 30, 2008. It was quite a long trip to from Portland, so I tried to make the most of it by visiting NZ and will be hiking the Milford Track starting tomorrow. Queenstown is absolutely beautiful and am so grateful to be here.

As some of you may know Mount Kosciuszko @ 2228 m will be summit number 2 as part of the Climb Take Action campaign for women and children in the Congo and Uganda benefiting International Medical Corps. www.imcworldwide.org This is by far the easiest of the 7, but one of them none the less and I am very excited to say that one of my best friends, Trisha Haakonstad, will be joining me in Australia and do the hike with me for the campaign.

So more news to come once we make it to the top! A couple of updates though. . . for starters the situation in the Congo has worsened severely over the past few months and help is needed now more than ever. IMC is working hard to keep providing humanitarian assistance. In July a team of us will be heading to Mt. Kilimanjaro to climb for IMC. . .we can have up to a group of 50, but spaces are filling up. We will be asking that everyone that participates raise $3000 for IMC (tax deductible). The trip details can be found at http://go.gapadventures.com/GeorginasMtKilimanjaro . The trip will be guided by Gap Adventures and promises to be an amazing experience and allow us to help others along the way. I will be headed to Africa the week prior to the climb to visit and volunteer at IMC's camps and meet some of the individuals we are working hard to support.

Here are links to the latest news from the Congo :

LATEST NEWS FROM THE CONGO

http://imcworldwide.org/content/article/detail/2010
http://www.imcworldwide.org/content/media/detail/1974/

Wishing you all a very merry holiday season! Thank you for your continued support and encouragement!

Warm wishes,

Georgina

Others Committed to Take Action

2008-12-01T07:06:00.000-08:00

I would like to thank and highlight Bianca Roman, from San Diego, who trekked Machu Picchu, Peru on November 21st on behalf of International Medical Corps and the women of the Congo and Uganda. Bianca successfully raised $500 is less than one month! After reading about the campaign and crisis in an article she contacted me to see how she could become involved and make an impact.

As Bianca says, "This is my opportunity to help women and children in the Congo and Uganda and also fortify my mind, body, and spirit." I hope Bianca's story will inspire and encourage others to get involved in Climb Take Action, as she chose to feature her upcoming challenge and help others along the way.

At the root core, the ability to empower yourself by empowering others is a fantastic thing and I encourage anyone reading this blog to learn more about the crisis in the Congo and Uganda on our website and dedicate your next challenge to the cause, whether that be a long trek, a marathon run, a climb, a cycling race, whatever the challenge may be. Help us raise awareness and gain support for a group of women and children whose suffering has been kept silent for far too long.

I am extremely grateful to Bianca for stepping up and taking action and joining us in our efforts to make an impact! We all have the power to make a difference in the lives of others no matter how big or small.

Representing more than 80% the world’s refugees, women and children suffer most in emergencies, yet they hold the key to a healthy, peaceful future because of their resilience and determination. Both Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, neighboring countries in central Africa, have suffered more than two decades of civil wars that have left millions dead and even greater numbers homeless. None have suffered more than the women and children.

Tens of thousands of women have been neglected, murdered, abducted, brutally raped, tortured, and overall forgotten. Congo Wars have claimed more lives than any conflict since the end of World War II, yet the crisis has received little attention outside of central Africa. Help us in our efforts to raise support and awareness that will that will bring the physical, emotional, and financial resources necessary to help women in Congo and Uganda empower themselves.

All proceeds will directly support U.S. based humanitarian aid organization, International Medical Corps' (IMC), improve the health and well-being of thousands of women and children affected by war and chronic poverty in Congo and Uganda. All donations are tax deductible. Sponsored programs currently include, but are not limited to: gender-based violence prevention, nutritional and mental health care programs.

From Relief to Self-Reliance, International Medical Corps is empowering women to rebuild their lives and create a brighter future for their children.
Some of the world’s worst acts against humanity have taken place here, especially against women and children. Peace, change, and stability can only come to these regions with a vested interest from the global community.

To learn more or Donate, visit http://www.climbtakeaction.com

Warmest Regards,

Georgina

Hike 2 Empower Event a Success!

2008-09-30T22:46:00.000-07:00

On September 27th a hundred hikers joined me in hiking 5k at Paramount Ranch in Los Angeles for the women in the Congo and Uganda at our 1st Annual Hike 2 Empower Event!

The energy and enthusiasm to make a difference in the lives of these women and children was amazing amongst our participants. I can't tell you how great it felt to get the community involved, see everyone enjoying the outdoors, and making an impact in the lives of others all at the same time! Our motto for this event: Empower yourself by empowering others!

The event was held at beautiful Paramount Ranch in the Santa Monica Mountains, where many classic westerns were filmed and shows like "Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman." The event kicked off with Yoga Stretch Warm-up led by Georgina Purple from Purple Tree Yoga. Everyone did a great job at testing out their flexibility :o)

There is something to be said about being fit, exercising, being outdoors, doing yoga :o), you get my point. . .it can be very empowering for an individual. I know it is for me. Thus our goal at this event was to empower yourself by taking action for others. . . and that we did. I hope to expand this event to other cities in the upcoming year. . . but will need help! So any of you out there reading this, dying to jump in and take action, reach out to me and lets see how we can work together for this great cause.

Here are some pictures of the event

Special Thanks to: lululemon athletica (The Commons~Calabasas, CA), Vitamin Water, and Clif Bar. These companies rock and were a great support to our event! A HUGH THANK YOU to all of our participants. . .you are all leaders of change and congrats for taking action in your community and for others! Thank you!

Hope all that participated had a great time and looking forward to next year!

As for Climb Take Action. . . Australia here I come in December! Also, we are in the final stages of organizing our Kilimanjaro July 2009 Climb. If you are interested in participating let me know. We hope to have a team of 10-15 all climbing for the women of the Congo and Uganda and benefiting International Medical Corps.

Until next time. . . happy trails. . . remember we all have the power to make a difference in the lives of others.

Many Thanks,

Georgina

~Never limit yourself or life's potential. The extraordinary is always possible!~ G.M.

Watch us at the top of Elbrus!

2008-08-05T14:08:00.000-07:00

It is unbelievable that just 2 weeks ago we were standing on the top of Europe (5642m) on Mt. Elbrus! Time flies. I wanted to share some moments from the summit with all of you. Again it was an absolutely amazing experience I will treasure for a lifetime. My work is not done though, the women of the Congo and Uganda still need a tremendous amount of support and we are still trying to reach our fundraising goal of $282,100. Again all proceeds go directly to International Medical Corps. I have sponsorship packages available for download on the Climb Take Action Site. You can also make an online donation at http://www.climbtakeaction.com/ . It is super easy to do and every little bit counts and will make a great impact in the life of a fellow woman or child.

I am back on the training wagon again. . . I gave myself a week off and got caught up on some comfort food. I must say I will not be eating soup for a VERY long time. I must have had 25+ bowls of soup on the trip! Pizza was what I was craving the most along with some Chinese food and Cuban food. Yummy! Now back to work and prepping for my next summit! Mt. Kosciuszko (2228m) here I come this December. . . then off to Kilimanjaro (5895 m) Summer 2009. Stay tuned for more news on Kilimanjaro and we are trying to organize a Climb Take Action Team trek! If anyone reading this would like to join us in our climbing efforts. . . the more the merrier and we would love to have you. Please contact me for more details.

We also have some great events coming up in LA area and hope you will join us!

August 14th at lululemon athletica- Calabasas
"Empower Yourself by Empowering Others"
HIKE 2 EMPOWER KICK-OFF PARTY!

**food, drinks, music, fun**

For more info visit: http://www.hike2empower.org or you can RSVP to: calabasas-community@lululemon.com

September 27th 5k Hike 2 Empower Event Paramount Ranch

Register today and start fundraising! http://www.hike2empower.org

We hope to see you at these events! If you would like to make a general donation please visit: http://www.climbtakeaction.com

Now Enjoy the Show! Top of Europe~ Mt. Elbrus, Russia 5642 m July 22, 2008

Have a great day and remember we all have the power to make a difference!

Georgina

One Down. . .7 More to Go!

2008-07-28T05:35:00.000-07:00

Back from Moscow and a successful summit of Mt. Elbrus (5642 m)!

Whooooohooo! It feels amazing to have made it to the top of Europe and know that it has made a small impact in the lives of women in Uganda and the Congo. We are still behind our fundraising goal of $282,100, so please visit our website and donate www.climbtakeaction.com, every little bit counts. There are also some really great company sponsorship opportunities for additional product and marketing placement.

The trip in all was just better than anything I could have ever imagined. As if the climb was not enough, I had the honor and privilege of climbing along side some true mountaineering heroes like Nicholi, our 69 year old Russian guide, or Vern Tejas, an 8 time 7 Summiteer; along with meeting Vlado. Watching and learning from them and their experiences was just truly priceless. I am still is some disbelief that the entire team was successful and now we are all back home. . . it is just a "pinch me moment" as I call them. I did get a little emotional at the top, it was just such a beautiful experience and we had all worked so hard to make it up there, our summit push was an 11 hour ordeal, yet we were blessed with beautiful weather. Making it up as an entire team was exceptional!

I just feel truly blessed to have been able to undergo this experience. I saw so many beautiful places that I could never have dreamed of. Being in the mountains is an extraordinary experience that everyone should try (maybe not the highest peak in Europe, but you get my point). What I love best about being in the mountains is that you are able to learn something new about yourself every time. I know I did on this trip and gave me a whole new perspective on life.

I was again blessed with an amazing team of individuals who I will hopefully keep in touch with for future adventures. You meet truly remarkable people in the mountains with great hearts, minds, and spirits. In addition, a few of us were climbing for a cause so to speak. . . myself for the women of Congo and Uganda, Jason, for an orphanage in Nepal and Mohamed for the Fred Hutchinson Foundation. Being able to combine one's passion for the mountains and helping others along the way is truly rewarding experience.

I hope some of you reading this out there will want to feature your next challenge, whatever that may be for the women of the Congo and Uganda, please visit: www.climbtakeaction.com.

My main take away from this trip is to live life to experience the extraordinary, anything is possible if you put your whole heart, mind, and spirit behind what you believe in. Will there be obstacles. . .yes for sure. . . but those that have the ultimate determination and belief in oneself will accomplish great things. Living testimony is Nicholi. . . 69 years old and still the strongest climber out there and a very happy man. We all have the power to do the extraordinary and make an impact in the world. . . the question is how bad do you want it.

So to all of you reading this. . . if there is a big dream in your life you have always wanted to pursue. . . start taking the steps today to make it a reality. You have the power to make it real, just have faith in yourself and never give up when the going gets tough, because it will. Good things in life usually never come easily.

For trip photos visit:

and

I will also be uploading some videos shortly of the climb itself. Also, stay tuned for our full Blog on climbing.com. I will post a link once it is published.

Thanks to everyone for all of your support along the way! More info on our next summit scheduled for December to come!

Cheers!

Georgina

Back in Los Angeles

Mt. Elbrus July 13-27

2008-07-14T19:52:00.000-07:00

The quest for Mt. Elbrus is about to begin! We made it to Saint Petersburg! It is a beautiful city from what I have seen so far and very excited to explore it today. Tomorrow we head to Mineral Vody and to the valley of where our journey to Mt. Elbrus will begin.

To stay up to date with our climb, visit: http://www.alpineascents.com/cybercasts.asp
Cybercast should be up and running in a couple of days.

Our Alpine Ascents team is led by Vern Tejas, 8 time Seven Summits Summiteer. It is going to be an honor and privilege to climb along side him! We have an amazing team of 12 lined up with varying climbing experience, but all here excited to get on the mountain and get to work. We are all just praying for good weather. There are 3 of us climbing for a cause, one for fighting breast cancer, another for an orphanage in Nepal, and me of course for the women of Congo and Uganda benefiting International Medical Corps.

For all of you that have supported our campaign for women in the Congo and Uganda thus far, THANK YOU! It will make a strong impact in the life of a women or child in dire need of assistance. For those of you just learning about the Climb Take Action campaign, visit our website: http://www.climbtakeaction.com/ for more information and help us meet our goal of $50 for every meter climbed at Mt. Elbrus 5642M. Please donate, anything you are comfortable with, does not have to be $50 and all proceeds go directly to International Medical Corps.

To learn more about the crisis watch these videos:

Ben Affleck at International Medical Corps in the Congo

The Greatest Silence- Victims in the Congo

Life in IDP camp in Uganda

I will write more soon, but I would like to thank our supporters, family, and friends for all of your love and prayers. I feel very blessed and grateful to be here and have the opportunity to pursue a life long dream and help others along the way. Let's make a difference for women and children in Congo and Uganda! We have the ability to start the change and make an impact in someone's life!

Spread the word about the crisis, make a donation, join one of our events, or just get informed.

Talk to you all soon! The difference starts with you. . .empower yourself by empowering others and join us today! Visit: http://www.climbtakeaction.com/ to get involved.

We have also been fortunate to be recognized in the media: http://climbtakeaction.com/Press.html This will help us raise awareness to the crisis at hand and how everyone can help!

Georgina
From Saint Petersburg'

Mt. Elbrus Less Than 1 Month Away!

2008-06-17T18:13:00.001-07:00

Climb Take Action

It's hard to imagine that only 2 weeks ago I was still at high camp at Mt. Rainier (9400 ft). We made it about 600 feet from the summit before having to descend due to high avalanche hazard. It was a great lesson to be placed in a situation where one had to make the smart and responsible decision to turn around. Don't get me wrong. . . it would have been amazing to see the top, yet our team did our best and we all knew we could have made it had the weather cooperated. It was by far my top physical challenge to date.

To see pictures from the trip visit: http://picasaweb.google.com/georgina.miranda1/MtRainierViaEmmonsGlacier?authkey=vPmfEFc2hVM

To read our article on Climbing.com:
http://www.climbing.com/exclusive/above/climb_take_action_seven_summits_-_entry_1_mt_rainier/

I was blessed with an amazing team and have a absolutely marvelous time. I called it "blissful torture," as I was a bit beat up upon our descent, but couldn't wait to do it again. So now only 26 days away from heading to Russia to attempt a summit bid on Mt. Elbrus, I can hardly wait.

The Climb Take Action campaign is well underway. We need support though. Our goal is to raise $282,100 by the time I return from Mt. Elbrus on July 27th. Women and children continue to suffer from the conflict plagued environment in Congo and Uganda. They need support, as does International Medical Corps to continue running their programs and helping improve the health and well-being of thousands of women and children affected by war and chronic poverty in these areas.

The conflict continues to be extremely underreported, yet here are some links to provide you with the latest information on the crisis. My heart goes out to these women and children and their endless suffering. They are the driving force behind this campaign.

Please join us in our efforts to combat violence against women and children and bring the much needed relief. Empower yourself by empowering others and support our cause which will have a tremendous impact!

I hope reaching the tallest peak in Europe will give me a voice to speak out on their behalf.

Read these articles, get informed, share the news:

http://www.imcworldwide.org/content/media/detail/1778/
http://www.imcworldwide.org/content/article/detail/1688/
http://www.ugandacan.org/
http://www.imcworldwide.org/microsites/uganda/uganda.html

Best,

Georgina

The Greatest Silence

2008-04-15T08:49:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,

If you have not seen the film, "The Greatest Silence," I encourage all of you to see it. It is currently on HBO. If you have cable you can use the On Demand feature to watch it. The film documents the story of various rape victims in Congo and the story of the rapist themselves. Lisa Jackson does an amazing job connecting with these women and communicating their stories.

As you know I am climbing to raise funds and awareness for women in Congo and Uganda who have been victims of sexual violence and abuse by supporting International Medical Corps (www.imcworldwide.org), which is working on the ground with these victims.

The film is living proof that there is a war against women in Congo and that it is destroying the future of the Congolese society. Women and their children are the future in any society. Yet when women and children are tortured and traumatized, what future are they left to dream of and hope for?

These rape victims are often left incapacitated, with HIV, or with an unwanted pregnancy. Worse of all they become outcast within their communities.

Yet these women are strong! Regardless of all of the torture and trauma they have endured, they still have spirit and fight to live for their children. They want what any mother would want, a better life for their children and those of their fellow women.

I urge you to watch the film, get informed, share their story! You can help, we all can, by supporting organizations that are on the ground providing not only treatment to rape victims, but also initiating prevention programs to educate and stop the violence against women.

I hope you will all join me on this mission to help these women, and empower them. The world needs to let them know they are not alone. This crisis can only end with the help of the global community!

Please visit my website to learn more about my campaign and how to donate: www.climbtakeaction.com

If you are a woman, put yourself in their shoes. . . what would you do and what would you want the world to do for you?

Join Us to Kick-off Our Efforts!

2008-02-28T08:32:00.000-08:00

Join us to kick-off the Climb Take Action~7 Summits Challenge initiative!

Want to help women in Congo and Uganda or learn more about the crisis? Then come to our event hosted by TAG Gallery.

When: March 13th 6:30 PM-8:00 PM

Where: TAG Gallery, Santa Monica

RSVP by: March 10th to info@climbtakeaction.com

For more information visit: http://www.climbtakeaction.com/

Why Help Women Congo and Uganda

2008-02-04T00:00:00.000-08:00

International Medical Corps. Copyright 2006. All Rights Reserved.

I continue to say that Congo found me, not the other way around. I was reading a magazine one day looking for a new haircut and came across an article that changed my life. It motivated me to pursue a life long dream of climbing the Seven Summits and finding a way to help the women whose stories of horror were depicted. Through my research of looking for organizations I could partner with to help these women, I found International Medical Corps who had been providing relief in Congo since 1999.

IMC then went on to educate me about the hardships of women in Uganda and the need for program support. I then decided to form a joint campaign for both countries and help women in both regions. I truly felt ignorant and amazed that the situation in both countries was not more publicized.

Why am I doing this you may ask. . . why Congolese Women. . . why Ugandan Women? The answer is simple, I have been informed about their unimaginable struggles and circumstances and about the lack of resources being deployed to help them due to lack of funding and awareness. After learning about the horror and terror, I cannot forget and go about my daily life knowing that every month possibly thousands of women and their children are being attacked, are hungry, and are alone. This situation has been present for over a decade, the civil conflict in both regions is surpassing the twenty year mark; yet it does not mean this terror and injustice should continue. I continue to say. . .if you knew. . . you would help. . .how could you not?

What is happening in Congo and Uganda is a war and attack against women. Women like you, me, our mothers, our sisters, our friends. Women that deserve a chance for life, peace, happiness, and empowerment. The situation in Congo and Uganda is severe not only due to the severity of the attacks against women and children, but due to the lack of respect for the life of a woman or child. There is no respect when a baby girl of 11 months old is being raped and a grandmother of 75 years of age is being raped. There is no respect when a woman is gang raped and then mutilated or tortured in front of her entire family or village. There is no respect when a rape victim is exiled from her home and family because she is viewed as a disgrace and embarrassment to her people. She is left with nothing but pain and need for basic survival. There is no respect when a young girl or woman must engage in sexual activity in hope of receiving food or shelter. Beside the need for immediate relief to these victims of war, there is a need for prevention. Organizations such as International Medical Corps are launching campaigns to promote prevention against sexual based violence attacks and raise the level of respect for women.

The more I learn the more I want to help. I hope everyone that visits this site feels the same way. There is something all of us can do to help. Women are being attacked everyday, and the more resources available to treat victims, the higher the chance of them being able to LIVE. These women have lost everything in most cases, whether they become outcast as a result of their attack or whether their entire family has been murdered, they need someone to help them pick up the pieces of what is left of them.
I encourage anyone that visits this site to read all of the articles posted. This is true, this is happening, these women need our help, and we can help them. Watch this video http://www.imcworldwide.org/content/media/detail/1270/

If you knew. . . you would help. . .how could you not?

Now you know. . . you can help. . .why would you not?

Help Today

https://secure2.convio.net/imc/site/Donation2?df_id=1700&1700.donation=form1

http://www.climbtakeaction.com/

Climb Take Action- Seven Summits Challenge

2008-01-31T00:00:00.000-08:00

In late 2007, I began to pursue a life long dream of climbing the world’s Seven Summits, while raising funds and awareness for the women of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda. To date only 26 women have succeeded in this challenge, and I hope to become on of them. The Climb Take Action campaign is a grassroots initiative created to help women in Congo and Uganda get the necessary support in order for them to empower themselves. It will encourage others to participate in their own climb or challenge in order to raise funds and awareness for the cause as well.

I am a firm believer that actions speak louder than words. Thus, after coming across an article that depicted the horrific situation in the Congo, I knew I had to take action and not sit on the side lines. I immediately starting researching which organizations were already established in this region and providing humanitarian relief for these women. This is how I came to know of International Medical Corps (IMC), which has been working in Congo since 1999 (www.imcworldwide.com). I was really impressed with the work IMC was doing in Congo and I knew I had to reach out to them to see if there was a way I could help with their efforts. After meeting with the most amazing group of women at IMC and learning more about the crisis not only in Congo but also in Uganda, I was fully committed to creating a campaign to raise funds for their organization as I attempted to climb the Seven Summits.

Coming across that article was a real turning point for me. It motivated me to get started on my dream of attempting the Seven Summits because I knew it would be a great fundraising vehicle for this cause. Women in Congo and Uganda have been faced with civil conflict for over 21 years. Tens of thousands have been torn away from their families, murdered, adducted, brutally raped, tortured, and overall forgotten. After all that I have learned about these women, I feel a personal connection to them and view them as an image of strength. It is truly remarkable what some of these women have endured and yet survive and continue to fight to live and support their families. That is a true image and symbol of strength. They motivate me to be a woman of strength and make me want to conquer or at least try to conquer just about anything. Thus, I need to do something to help them. I think many women around the country will join me in that vision.

My goal is to raise both funds and awareness that will bring the physical, emotional, and financial resources necessary to help these women empower themselves. IMC’s mission is “From Relief to Self-Reliance,” and that is what we are hoping to achieve. Reaching the Seven Summits is a journey that develops and requires strength, confidence, and determination. I currently plan to raise $50 for every meter of each of the Seven Summits I plan to climb, which is approximately 43,324 meters, which equates to a $2,166,200. Every dollar raised can make a tremendous impact in the lives of these women and their children.

As, you may be wondering by now, I am not a professional climber by any means. I am currently Director of Development at a Los Angeles based residential real estate development firm and have a corporate background. Although I have always loved experiencing the outdoors, I got the hiking and climbing bug soon after starting my MBA program at LMU. Hiking was my mental escape from the corporate world, the text books, and got me immersed into nature. I definitely consider myself an amateur climber that has A LOT of training to do. Thus, in early 2008 I will be taking ice climbing lessons, joining an introductory winter mountaineering expedition, and climbing Mt. Rainer in late May prior to attempting my first summit. How long this journey will take is still to be determined, yet Summit number one is on the calendar and I will be heading to Russia in July. Mt. Elbrus Here I Come!

If you would like to learn more about my Climb Take Action~Seven Summits Challenge initiative or make a donation, please visit www.ClimbTakeAction.com. All donations are tax deductible and directly benefit International Medical Corps women’s programs in Congo and Uganda. For more information on International Medical Corps and the situation in Congo and Uganda please visit www.imcworldwide.org. Together we can make a difference!

I am currently seeking corporate sponsorships for this initiative and welcome any ideas, assistance, and support. I will keep you posted on my progress and on local fundraising events scheduled later this year. A Hike to Empower event is tentatively scheduled in Los Angeles for September 13, 2008. For more information please visit my website and join the mailing list.