School Before the Climb

Today was snow school. This is the day we prepare for our climb, learn how to use the equipment, walk with trekking poles and an ice ax, self arrest and of course, glissading (this is pretty fun... It's sledding down the hill on a plastic sheet/sled or just on your butt). We practiced and prepared.

On Mt.Hood... Yup, you read correctly, I returned to the mountain that started it all... And it was grand!

Our guide, Doug, shared some insights with us on what to expect on St. Helens and what the pace and timing would be like. And also why we were doing snow school on Hood rather than Helens.

We begin our trek at 4:30 am Pacific Time on Sunday and in all, the climb will take us about 12 hours from start to finish. But when we're done, we'll have been up to the top of one of the world's most famous (active) volcanos.

I am so excited about this climb. I can not wait to reach the summit. I can not wait to embrace the entire journey from the first step to the last.

And I can not wait to share it through stories and pictures when we succeed.

Tomorrow's almost here, time to get a few hours of sleep!