Iris, my friend of many years, invited me to join her on a segment of a training hike as she prepared to climb Mt. McKinley, Alaska, the highest peak in North America. Iris and her team made their assault on McKinley in June of 1998, their goal being to raise breast cancer awareness. Iris and her fellow breast cancer survivor teammates were joined by other climbers in this multi-year effort. Sponsored by The Breast Cancer Fund, the amazing story of the "Climb Against The Odds" is featured on segments of ABC TV's 20/20, and a feature length special on PBS. Here are some pictures of our own "assault" on the trail from Ohiopyle, Pennsylvania toward Seven Springs. I only hiked the first day and a half, and was "relieved" by her next companion along the way.
We've just started, almost up the first big hill, and I'm already near done-in...
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Iris & her 60 lb. pack--easy for her!
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Me and my 30 lb. pack--can I collapse now?
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I think we're all the way up now... |
Take just one more step back, Rick... |
