Corner Brook -
It's not easy to pry out of TA Loeffler what the initials in her name mean.
The mountain climber was asked that question repeatedly during her visit to C.C. Loughlin Elementary School in Corner Brook Thursday afternoon.
Loeffler joked that it stands for "totally awesome" and then, just a smidgen more seriously, told the young students it stands for "try again."
The professor of outdoor recreation at Memorial University of Newfoundland returned from her second attempt to climb Mount Everest just two weeks ago. She had to abort her ascent 7,300 metres above sea level when she fell ill for the third time on the trek and was too weak to safely continue on to the summit at 8,850 metres above sea level.
It was 1,100 metres higher than her first attempt in 2007, which she was also forced to cease because of climb-related sickness.
The students at C.C. Loughlin were still impressed. The school has a special bond with Loeffler, who visited them twice before her latest attempt and agreed to take Flat Stanley - a cartoon cut-out character Grade 4 teacher Patricia Edwards uses to teach her class - along with her up the mountain.
During a school assembly Thursday, the students and staff were among the first people to see images from Loeffler's latest climb. All along the way, from her extensive training regiment to the perilous ascent, images of Flat Stanley were prominent, much to the students' delight.
"I think it's really great she came back and she took Stanley with her," said Sarah Graham, a student in Edwards' class. "It's been a good experience for us. I've had so much fun with it and I was surprised at how much we learned by following her."
Keeping tabs on the progress of Loeffler's preparation and subsequent Everest attempt via her website and email, the students learned lessons in geography, math, science, environmental studies and even communications and media.
Graham's classmate Grace Joyce was just happy to see Stanley make it back safe and sound.
"I kept thinking about Stanley being on Mount Everest and that was cool," said Joyce.
The most important lesson Loeffler wanted them to learn was to always dare to dream big and never be daunted to pursue that dream.
Joyce said she and her schoolmates definitely learned that.
"Just because you failed once, it doesn't mean you have to quit," said Joyce. "You can try and try again until you have success."
Loeffler will take the inspiration she gets from her young admirers and use it to fuel her third attempt, which could be as early as next spring but will more likely be in 2012.
"My original intention was to inspire the youth of our province to become more physically active and to reach for their dreams," said Loeffler.
"Just as readily, they now reach back and inspire me and that makes it all worthwhile to fundraise, push hard and train. They give to me just as I give to them."
