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CNN Live Today

Women Climbers Overcome Obstacles, Tackle Everest

Aired May 16, 2002 - 10:27   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Just a couple of minutes ago, we told about the 50 western climbers and Sherpa guides celebrating today atop the world's tallest peak. Well, you would think that overcoming the obstacles of climbing Mount Everest would be enough in itself. But a team of American women climbers, who are poised to make history, have had to overcome quite a bit just to get where they are today about 10,000 feet from the top of Mount Everest. And Our Laura Okmin has their story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LAURA OKMIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Team No Boundaries is made up of five women ranging in age from 34 to 58, but there is a common bond beyond their love of climbing. From a heart patient to a cancer survivor, each woman has overcome physical and mental adversity.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: To me, it just shows that these women are not only incredibly physically strong, but mentally strong too, to have been able to overcome each of their -- whatever it was, physical hardships. That's -- in a lot of ways, that's harder than climbing a mountain.

OKMIN: Six years ago, 36-year-old Alison Levine was going through her second heart surgery. Eighteen months after leaving the hospital, Levine started climbing. In the four years since, she has reached the highest point in every continent.

ALISON LEVINE, CAPTAIN, TEAM NO BOUNDARIES: I think that, you know, you learn from things like that, and maybe it makes you a little bit, you know, like it gives you some mental toughness too, because it's not just the physical toughness that you need in the mountains. You need to be pretty mentally tough too.

You go out there and you get to really push yourself and you get to figure out that everything you need to survive can be carried on your back, and that is kind of, you know, an empowering feeling for people.

OKMIN: And then there is Midge Cross, a 58-year-old grandmother, who also happens to be a breast cancer survivor and a diabetic.

MIDGE CROSS, TEAM NO BOUNDARIES: Five years ago, I had a trip to Nepal planned, and my husband and I were actually packing to go. We were not going to climb Everest. We were climbing several smaller peaks. But I discovered right then that I had breast cancer, and my response to my doctor was, wait a minute. You don't understand. I don't have time for this. I'm going to Nepal.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Basically, that last peak is going to be very difficult and you need to be focused physically of course, and mentally. And I think that through the struggles that we have been through in life that that is going to help us, help us get that mental drive to struggle to get to the top.

OKMIN: Only 10 percent of first-time climbers reach the top, but this team of women, the definition of success isn't reaching the summit. It's the journey.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: And that was our Laura Okmin. Team No Boundaries is set to make history sometime this weekend. We'll keep you updated on the last leg of their climb to the top.

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