Day 6

By the morning of Day 6 the weather had cleared up. We all woke up with a few feet of new snow packed up against our tents. I woke up with my neck feeling much better, but I still took some more Ibuprofen to prepare for the decent from 9,400 feet back to 4,400 feet. I knew I had to carry down a fully loaded 55-pound pack, so I was delighted to find out that there was a high possibility we would be able to glissade down the Inner Glacier.

Once we reached the Inner Glacier, it was time to take off the crampons and get ready to glissade down. I was curious how this would work in groups of three, but it was an absolute blast. To my surprise our guides informed us we had glissaded down 2000 vertical feet! Once leaving the Inner Glacier, we were able to take off our helmets, harnesses, and ropes. It was a swift trek down to Glacier Basin. By 2 p.m., we were back in the parking lot, feeling a little strange to be on solid ground. All in this entire trip was amazing and I was blessed with an awesome team and guides.

Onto Mt. Elbrus

Rainier was the boost of confidence I needed to prepare for Elbrus next month. This trip just reiterated that fact that mountaineering is just as much about mental stamina as it is about physical stamina. It also enforced the principle that going up is only half the journey. This trip was not about getting to the top - it was about experiencing the journey there and back and sharpening our skills.

For me especially, this trip was the final prep for my campaign to help women and children in the Congo and Uganda, which was, without a doubt, my underlying motivation. Not only do I feel ready for Mt. Elbrus, but I also feel more prepared to continue encouraging others to take action for women in the Congo and Uganda through some kind of personal challenge.

Representing more than 80 percent the world’s refugees, women and children suffer most in emergencies, while they hold the key to a healthy, peaceful future through their resilience and determination. Both the Congo and Uganda, 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. These climbs are for them.

For more information on Climb Take Action — 7 Summits Challenge or to feature your next challenge for a great cause visit: www.climbtakeaction.com and georginamiranda.blogspot.com