Muir round 2

Saturday night we met the CFCA group around 7pm at the Paradise Lodge. We were going to be learning more about working within a rope team and also doing so in the dark. With our headlamps, harnesses, and ice axes in hand we worked our way up and down the steep inclines of Paradise. Finishing up around 10pm, we parted ways with the group and back to Ashford we went. My Aunt Tana graciously welcomed us to stay at Jasmers with her that night. It was such a blessing to be able to wake up at 7am and walk next door to Whittakers to get our gear- opposed to the 4:30am wake-up calls we had been doing. Thanks Aunt Tana!

The next day, we woke up fresh and ready to take on Muir again. We have been so lucky with the weather! Another climb to Camp Muir came complete with warm sun and blue sky. Bronka, the oldest woman to have climbed Rainier at the age of 83, came along with us again. It had been just two weeks since she had spread her late husband's ashes on the mountain. I got the chance to speak more with Bronka this climb.

We told her how much of an inspiration she was to us and that we looked to her when we felt fatigued or frustrated and knew that if Bronka could do it- we could do it. I asked Bronka how she had been doing... she sighed and said,"It is my first time climbing since I lost my husband. Yesterday I was here at Paradise to have lunch with my husband- but today I am ready to climb." She is pretty incredible. We made great time and felt great while doing it. Less than a month away!

k&m