“If you have discipline, drive, and determination…nothing is impossible.” – Dana Linn Bailey. Lori has also demonstrated her strong willpower and discipline by achieving what seems impossible at first. She became the first person with multiple sclerosis to summit Mt. Everest, on May 23, 2009. She is also the first with MS to complete the Seven Summits, scaling Mt. Kilimanjaro, Mt. Elbrus, Mt. McKinley (Denali), Aconcagua, Vinson Massif, Mt. Kosciuszko, and Mt. Everest. Her talent and determination is not only limited as a mountaineer she is also an international speaker, accomplished author, teacher of 20 years, adventurer, and advocate for those living with neurological disorders and disabilities. She and her organization, Empowerment through Adventure, inspire others to take their own leap of faith, scaling life’s mountains and obstacles, and climbing beyond their own preconceived limitations.

Could you describe your emotions when you set foot onto the summit of Mt. Everest? What kind of training did you have for this expedition? What keeps you motivated when you take on these kind of challenges?L: It is hard to explain when people ask me what was it like to be on top of the world. Well for those ten surreal minutes, I could not see a thing around me. No view at all, in the middle of the clouds and storm. With no outward view, all I could see was what was inside of me. What I saw was a person who had become brave, since that terrifying day she woke up numb from multiple sclerosis, ten years earlier. I saw a person who was no longer afraid to live life passionately. I saw a person who took a leap of faith and tried something that once would have scared her to death. I saw a person with hope for the future.
Training for a peak as formidable as Mt. Everest, takes years of preparation and dedication. For many years, I trained by climbing peaks above 20,000 ft (6000 meters). When my technical climbing skills got good enough, I focused on getting my body in the best shape that I could to attempt a mountain as difficult as Everest. For me that meant spending about 4 hours a day training, every day for one year. It takes hard work to reach for your goals, but every step prepares you for a successful future.
When I take on a huge challenge like mountain climbing, the motivation is simple. If you want something bad enough, you are not afraid to work hard to get it. You are driven by an inner force that says “Keep going, you can do this!” You listen to your own voice telling you it is ok just to try, and not the voice of those who say you can’t do it.

Can you tell us more about conquering the seven summits? How long did it take you to reach each summit? Which one was the most challenging other than Mt. Everest?L: Climbing the Seven Summits means climbing the highest peak on each of the seven continents. It was a goal I set for myself when I learned I had multiple sclerosis in 1999, and thought I might lose the full use of my legs. I found that the more I trained, the stronger I got both inside and out. It is our inner strength that gets us to try things we never thought possible.
Climbing the Seven Summits varies from peak to peak and person to person. For me, I started with Kilimanjaro in Africa, which took about a week to summit. Next, I climbed Mt. Aconcagua in South America with my father. This difficult peak covered with rock and scree, took several weeks to climb. A few years later I climbed Mt. Elbrus, Europe’s highest peak in about two weeks. Next, I was off to Alaska to climb Denali. This grueling and extremely difficult climb took one month to reach the summit. My 5th of the Seven Summits was Mt. Kosciuszko in Australia, who’s simple peak can be reached in a day. Antarctica’s Vinson Massif took a month of extremely difficult climbing in sub-zero temperatures, followed by my final peak, Mt. Everest. Everest takes the longest amount of time to climb, about two months. This is due to the need to acclimatize slowly so that your body can get use to the elevation and lack of oxygen.
Mt. Everest was certainly the most difficult because the elevation is so great, at 29, 035 ft. or 8850 meters. At that elevation, simple breathing is difficult! Beyond Everest, the most physically demanding of the Seven Summits for me was Denali, once called Mt. McKinley, North America’s highest peak. We had to carry about 60 pounds (27 kilos) of gear on our back, while dragging another 60 pounds in a sled behind us. I was the only woman on this month long trip and I needed to carry the same weight that the men carried, even though my body weight was much lower. It was terribly strenuous and difficult, but extremely rewarding.

What is your take on Nepal government banning inexperienced climbers from Everest? Do you think this is good for safety reasons?L: Climbing a mountain as deadly as Everest is very serious business. Most reputable climbing companies make each client send in a detailed climbing resume listing all the peaks they have previously climbed. They have the ultimate say on whether you can join the team or not. This makes perfect sense, because experience at high elevation is crucial in climbing Everest. Safety must be a key factor, and those less experienced climbers need to get experience first, and THEN attempt Everest.

What is the goal of your organization “Empowerment Through Adventure”? Which groups of people do you hope to help with your organization?L: I set up my company, Empowerment Through Adventure, to inspire others to take their own leap of faith, scaling life’s mountains and obstacles, and climbing beyond their own preconceived limitations. Whether a person has an illness like MS, or just obstacles that they are facing in their own personal life, we all need to learn to believe and empower ourselves.

What do you like about your role as an international speaker? Do you want to share an incidence of someone being inspired by your speeches?L: As an international speaker I am able to connect with people around the world and spread the message of self-empowerment. I am also able to act as a global advocate for all those living with neurological disorders and disabilities. I work with organizations including the World Health Organization, National MS Society, World MS Day organization, Multiple Sclerosis International Federation, MS Societies around the world, and Parkinson’s organizations, to raise awareness and be a voice for those who cannot.
In 2009, I spoke at an Imax Theater in Iowa. One young girl in attendance had progressive multiple sclerosis and was very sad and depressed because of her recent diagnosis. We kept in contact after meeting at the presentation, and in 2011, I invited her to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa with our group of climbers with MS. She began training, got stronger in body and spirit, and climbed nearly to the top of that high mountain peak! We remain friends today and she has traveled to other destinations with our team from that 2011 climb. Together, we wrote a book called More Than A Mountain-Our Leap of Faith. The book contains chapters from each of our climbers, telling of their own struggles and triumphs living with a neurological disease.

What was the inspiration behind your book, “EVEREST Climbing Beyond Our Limits”?L: I enjoyed writing the book Everest-Climbing Beyond our Limits, because it contains my actual journal entries while climbing Everest. Those raw and honest thoughts and emotions, along with photos taken on my climb, remind us all that our dreams are meant to be lived. It is a lesson we can all benefit from and a reminder to never give up!

What are your other hobbies?L: My real passion in life is travel. I love experiencing new places, people, foods and cultures, reminding me that we are all one. We are each unique in our own way and we should celebrate our differences and embrace those things that make us similar. It’s a small world after all.

Who is your inspiration?L: My father has always been a source of inspiration to me. It was his idea to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa, which he mentioned to me back in my high school days. My father, who is now 83, is a man of honesty, courage and determination, and I hope to always follow in his footsteps.

Any advice to special kids who are interested in outdoor adventures?L: Each of us is made up of unique gifts. We must look at what we CAN do, and build upon those strengths. Never forget that it is ok just to TRY! I am really not very good at mountain climbing, but I am determined and I don’t quit. That is what got me to the top of Everest (that and a little good luck) and that is what helps us all live a life filled with adventure and fun. You don’t have to be the best at what you try, to succeed. Just get out there and have some fun. Forget about what you look like doing it, because it doesn’t matter. What matters is that you are brave enough to just get out there and learn. I learned how to climb mountains by reading books, then went out and practiced, practiced, practiced. You never know what you are capable of until you try! We learn so much about ourselves by getting out in nature and experiencing the challenges they present. Trust yourself and those who want to help you be successful.

Any special message for our community?L: Always believe in yourself, because your opinion is the only one that matters.People told me I couldn’t climb Everest because I was a girl, I wasn’t strong enough, and I was too old. Those opinions didn’t matter to me, because I just wanted to try. I learned that if you try hard enough and long enough, sometimes you will learn that you CAN do it. Even when my attempts weren’t quite successful, I just got out there and tried again. I learned to make trying fun. It didn’t matter how crazy my dreams and goals were, because they only needed to make sense to me. Believe in yourself too! Believe in your abilities, not the disabilities other people may see in you. You are stronger than you think, inside and out. Always remember that.

Lori on summit of Mt. Everest (May 23, 2009) holding a flag signed by family and friends: