A TEENAGER from Northampton who is hoping to be the youngest British woman to climb the seven tallest peaks, one in each continent, has returned from her first challenge after battling storms, blizzards and gale-force winds.
Ailsa Wright, aged 18, returned to the UK this week from Tanzania, where she climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, the first of her seven climbs in the Seven Peak Challenge.
The A level student from Collingtree completed the 19,340ft climb in the worst weath
er conditions in recent years around Kilimanjaro. Just three hours into her summit attempt, Ailsa had to wrap herself in surgical tape to keep out the cold after the zip on her wind and rain stopper coat broke.
She said: “Getting up in the darkness and starting the climb was a daunting experience, especially as we were all feeling the cold despite our layers of thermals and coats. From the top, one of the best views was the ability to see the curvature of the earth below you, and the sky becoming space going from light baby blue to dark blue and almost purple.
“I was incredibly lucky to be immune to the effects of altitude sickness, which is something that I was dreading. It definitely helped me to get all the way to the top and I just got a euphoric feeling that’s like being a bit drunk.
“Visiting Tanzania and climbing Kilimanjaro was the best thing I have ever done so far.
“Getting to the summit was amazing; the incredible feeling of achieving something you wanted to achieve so much and knowing I am one step closer to making my dream of climbing the seven summits come true.”
Ailsa sets off on her next challenge on December 15 to South America, where she will climb Mount Aconcagua.
Along the way, Ailsa is collecting sponsorship for the Make-A-Wish foundation, which grants wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses.
More information about sponsoring Ailsa is available online at www.justgiving.com/missioneverest2009.
donna.bowater@northantsnews.co.uk
The full article contains 347 words and appears in Northampton Chron & Echo newspaper.
