Colin Stapp
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On July 4th at 9:30 a.m., our Climb to Fight Breast Cancer team stood atop Mt Rainier. It was quite the trip of a lifetime and a great adventure. I raised over $5,000 and our team total exceeded $53,000. Not only did I get to help a very worthy cause, but I also got to scale a mountain I had wanted to climb since I was a kid.
Our team was comprised of nine people from all over the US and three guides from Alpine Ascents International (AAI). We left Seattle for the White River campground and trailhead at 4,300 feet on the east side of the mountain. We climbed for over eight hours on our way up to the Inter Glacier at 8,500 feet and made our first camp there. The views from camp were breathtaking, and it was a great day for everyone to get to know each other.
The 2nd day we were up early again and made a short move past Camp Schurman and set up camp at Emmons Flats (about 9,500 feet). We had our camp set up by noon, ate dinner at 2 p.m. and were all sleeping, or trying to sleep, until our 10 p.m. wake-up call. Around 3 a.m. at 12,500 feet, we had to wait out lightening and a snowstorm before continuing. The few moments that I got tired triggered the thought of all the names on the banner I was carrying. I recalled names of women who face a daily journey that is painful, all consuming and daunting. It was then I realized I wasn't really as tired as I thought and that my fatigue was nothing compared to what others are going through.
We were in the clouds most of the climb, but as we neared the summit it started to clear and we had a stellar 360-degree view our entire time on top. Not long after we left the summit, the clouds moved back in and closed off the top of the mountain from our view. We literally had a window of opportunity and got to enjoy it – a great way to spend the 4th of July! On our descent, we got to do some "glissading," sliding on your "bum." There was a great glissade path and we got to descend about 1,500 feet in about five minutes! Breast cancer has had an effect on many people close to you and me, and even perhaps to you personally, so please join me in continuing to support breast cancer research at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.
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