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Though Mount Shasta resident Laurie Bagley’s book is about her personal journey scaling the tallest peak in the world, it’s also about helping others realize their own goals and dreams.
Bagley became the sixth US woman to reach the summit of Mt. Everest via the ultra-challenging North Col route in May of 2006.
Now, after two years of hard work, she finished a book about her adventure, titled “Summit!” To celebrate its release, Bagley held a book signing at Village Books Thursday evening.
Looking around the bookstore, Bagley said she was “still in awe.”
“I got a copy of the book in my hands on Oct. 5,” she said with a wide smile.
Initially, she didn’t want to write the book herself, but the two people she asked to ghostwrite it didn’t work out.
“It fell on me to do it... I just realized if I wanted it done, I was going to have to do it myself,” Bagley said. “I didn’t see myself as a writer.”
With the help, support and encouragement of many, Bagley completed the book which was co-published by Ardenwood Books.
“My book is out and in the end I have learned some very valuable things,” said Bagley on her website. “Climbing is somewhat effortless for me as endurance has always been one of my gifts. Writing on the other hand is difficult and not one of my gifts. In some ways finishing this book has been harder than most mountains I have climbed.”
The book is about her journey, but also about helping others attain their own goals, she explained.
“Your personal Mount Everest will be different from mine, but if you continue to climb towards your dream you will see the world as if from the highest peak on earth,” writes Bagley in chapter one.
The chapter goes on to tell of Bagley’s feelings and impressions once she reached Everest’s summit, and her descent, which was made all the more harrowing because her oxygen reserves had become dangerously low.
By using relaxation and focusing skills she had practiced in preparation for the climb, Bagley safely reached Camp Two and her spare oxygen bottles.
Following each chapter is a list of exercises the reader can complete which provide direction, practice, strategies and motivation to reach their full potential.
“I was impressed with the practical tools presented for a broad range of people to support them in accomplishing their unique vision or dream,” said Mount Shasta’s Joy Von Skepsgardh, who added that she thoroughly enjoyed the book. “[Bagley] is humble, deep and personal, and that touched me. Summit! is about more than mountains.”
Though Mount Shasta resident Laurie Bagley’s book is about her personal journey scaling the tallest peak in the world, it’s also about helping others realize their own goals and dreams.
Bagley became the sixth US woman to reach the summit of Mt. Everest via the ultra-challenging North Col route in May of 2006.
Now, after two years of hard work, she finished a book about her adventure, titled “Summit!” To celebrate its release, Bagley held a book signing at Village Books Thursday evening.
Looking around the bookstore, Bagley said she was “still in awe.”
“I got a copy of the book in my hands on Oct. 5,” she said with a wide smile.
Initially, she didn’t want to write the book herself, but the two people she asked to ghostwrite it didn’t work out.
“It fell on me to do it... I just realized if I wanted it done, I was going to have to do it myself,” Bagley said. “I didn’t see myself as a writer.”
With the help, support and encouragement of many, Bagley completed the book which was co-published by Ardenwood Books.
“My book is out and in the end I have learned some very valuable things,” said Bagley on her website. “Climbing is somewhat effortless for me as endurance has always been one of my gifts. Writing on the other hand is difficult and not one of my gifts. In some ways finishing this book has been harder than most mountains I have climbed.”
The book is about her journey, but also about helping others attain their own goals, she explained.
“Your personal Mount Everest will be different from mine, but if you continue to climb towards your dream you will see the world as if from the highest peak on earth,” writes Bagley in chapter one.
The chapter goes on to tell of Bagley’s feelings and impressions once she reached Everest’s summit, and her descent, which was made all the more harrowing because her oxygen reserves had become dangerously low.
By using relaxation and focusing skills she had practiced in preparation for the climb, Bagley safely reached Camp Two and her spare oxygen bottles.
Following each chapter is a list of exercises the reader can complete which provide direction, practice, strategies and motivation to reach their full potential.
“I was impressed with the practical tools presented for a broad range of people to support them in accomplishing their unique vision or dream,” said Mount Shasta’s Joy Von Skepsgardh, who added that she thoroughly enjoyed the book. “[Bagley] is humble, deep and personal, and that touched me. Summit! is about more than mountains.”
Mary Marcina, also a Mount Shasta resident, said she’s looking forward to reading the book, and had Bagley sign a copy on Thursday. “I’ve heard Laurie speak and tell her story. She’s very perceptive,” Marcina said.
Thursday’s event was a fundraiser for KIRF, a nonprofit foundation which provides public health, medical and educational assistance for the poorest communities in India. KIRF partnered with Bagley to help her on her journey to Everest, she said.
A percentage of Summit! sales will go to KIRF, and Village Books donated a portion of the evening’s sale of desserts and coffee to the organization. To learn more about KIRF visit www.kirfindia.org
Summit! is available at Village Books, The Fifth Season and Pages in Mount Shasta, The Bookstore in Yreka, and at www.summiteverestbook.com
