Nine months after my last visit, I'll be visiting the skirts of the mother goddess of the Earth. This time, though, I'll only be observing its magnitude from the bottom, and greeting old friends and comrades who'll be attempting their summit this year.

I'll be guiding three Guatemalans whom I already consider my friends, and I'm sure it'll be an intense trip on many levels. I'll be sharing my experience on my FaceBook page, so keep an eye out for that.

My goal for 2011 is to continue training to complete the seven summit challange. As part of this training, I had the chance of putting together an expedition to Kilimanjaro, the highest point in Africa (which I had already conquered back in July of 2009).

Going back, this time as an expedition leader, brought on different difficulties: My challenge was for my team to reach the summit with safety and in good health. Upon arriving at Tanzania, all of my techincal equipment was stolen. Despite these initial complications, I had the honor of reaching the summit once more on March 9, 2011 along with four of the five members of my team: Manuela, Manuel, Renato y Ayesha. Lyss was a mere 1,312 ft short of reaching the top. Best part of the trip? The wonderful company of not only my team, but also that of the joyous Tanzanians.

I had the opportunity of representing Guatemala in four different conferences in Texas. Maru Iabichela, my agent in the US, did a fantasic job in finding the perfect opportunities for me to share my experiences as a mountaineer, a woman, and a Guatemalan.

The conferences took pace in the University of Texas, Hispanic Women of North Texas, BNSF and Rathion. I was happy to have reached my goal satisfactorily and in a foreign language. In the end, I realized that there is a universal language, that which touces hearts.