The retired school teacher who's trying to reach the top of Mount Everest is now 26,000 feet up.

Lori Schneider of Bayfield was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1999. She’s trying to become the first person with M.S. to reach the top of Everest. The summit is a little more than 29,000 feet. She’d also be the first person with M.S. to get to the world's seven continental peaks.

Schneider says the climbing helps her prove to herself that she's still in control, despite her disability.

----------------------------------------------------
4/20/09
BAYFIELD, Wis. (AP) -- A retired school teacher from northwestern Wisconsin has reached the base camp of Mount Everest in her quest to climb the last of seven summits on each of the world's continents.

Lori Schneider says it'll take another five weeks, or so, to get to Mount Everest's pinnacle at 29,000 feet.

She began her dream to climb the world's seven continental peaks in 1993. That quest intensified in 1999 after she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

Schneider talked to Wisconsin Public Radio via satellite phone at 17,000 feet up the mountain, the first of four base camps before she and her party of 14 climbers reach the summit.

Schneider says the mountain has its own set of rules and there are no guarantees they'll make it. But, she says her team members have trained hard and are ready to give it a shot.

Lori Schneider's summit climbs: CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT LORI'S SUMMIT CLIMBS