Bayfield woman reaches top of Mount Everest

MT. EVEREST - Lori Schneider of Bayfield has reached the top of Mount Everest, according to an update posted late Friday evening on her expedition team's Web site.

Schneider was in the first group of her climbing party to reach the summit at 8:30 a.m. Nepal time. An update posted six hours later reported that "everyone is off the mountain and safe at the South Col." Continue reading this story for more on Schneider and to see how her friends in Bayfield spent Friday waiting for news on the climb. And, watch FOX 21 News at 9 on Saturday night for an update.

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Bayfield waits for word on Schneider's Everest climb

By Nicolette Helling, FOX 21 News

BAYFIELD - A Northland community is anxiously awaiting news from Mount Everest.

Lori Schneider of Bayfield began her journey from Mount Everest's Camp Four at 10 a.m. Central time Friday. She was expected to summit Friday night.

As Lori battles darkness, cold and fatigue, her friends and family in Bayfield are

Jim Ramsdell has been guarding the phone and watching the computer, hoping for news of his girlfriend, Lori.

"It's almost midnight so this will be the last report for May 22," Jim read off his computer screen from the Web site that keeps him posted on Lori's progress.

Jim is spending a lot of time wood carving these days.

He says it helps him not to worry.

He knows Lori has the strength to make it, but it's about more than physical endurance.

"Even though you're roped up to other people, it's a lot of time by yourself to think," Jim said. "It's that energy and love that's pushing her onward."

Bayfield is papered with Tibetan prayer flags, a sign that Lori is in the community's thoughts.

Everyone knows she is attempting her summit Friday, and the Inspire store in Bayfield, is all sold out of flags.

"I'm still trying to just wrap my mind around what she's doing because it's so incredible," said Inspire co-owner Beth Lowthian. "We love you Lori and we'll be there with you!"

As Lori climbs to the top of Mount Everest, some of her friends met at Mount Ashwabay to climb with her in spirit.

Lori's partner, Jim, saidshe can feel that love and support on the other side of the world.

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"Well you guys, Lori's climbing in the dark," said Dee Johnson.

Dee was committed to sharing the moment with Lori by hiking up the same hill where she used to train - Mount Ashwabay.

She says Lori spent hours a day preparing for the summit, but her friends still find it hard to imagine what she is feeling, on top of the world.

"When you get up towards the top, you take one step and you stand there and breath for awhile, then you take another step, and you breath for a while," said Dee.

She says, climbing Mount Everest is part of overcoming Lori's personal mountain.

"I want it for her so bad," said Dee. "The dream of her life... wow!"

Lori was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1999, and her friends say learning to live with the illness has been a challenge, but one she is willing to accept.

"Lori's philosophy is to just try something a little bigger than you think you are and see what happens," Dee said. "That's one of the things she hopes to do for people with MS."

Whether Lori makes it to the top of Mount Everest or not, Jim says it doesn't matter.

"Her summit is her attempt, however high she gets," said Jim.

For more information on Lori's journey, visit http://www.alpineascents.com/everest-cybercast.asp