She became the first solo woman to reach the top of the nation’s highest peak – Mount Logan.

She then endured storms and communications problems on the descent before finally being rescued and leaving behind $10,000 worth of gear.

And now, 43-year-old Monique Richard of Montreal will take some time to reflect on her journey before deciding on her next adventure.

After being flown off the mountain by helicopter last weekend, Richard was off to Dawson City on Monday to visit the Klondike before heading home to Quebec and back to work for Canada Post.

Despite the rescue and leaving thousands of dollars’ worth of gear behind, Richard said she remains passionate about climbing and is “very happy about my expedition” in achieving her goal to climb the 5,959-metre mountain in Kluane National Park.

At the same time, Richard told the Star Monday afternoon, she recognizes she was “very lucky” that she has come away with just some wind burn from the gruelling expedition.

She began her ascent on May 15 and soon came to realize just how alone she would be.

Unlike other mountains she has climbed, including Mount Everest, there was no one else ascending in the same area at the same time.

“Logan is a very different mountain for the mind,” she said.

That meant dealing with the perils of weather and determining on her own when it was safe to continue the acsent and when it was safer to stay where she was.

At one point, that meant being at camp for a week as a storm with winds of up to 150 km/h whipped through.

At another point, Richard was on her own to get herself out of a deep crevasse she had fallen into.

She was able to use her skis to pull herself up and out of the crevasse and continue her lone journey, eventually reaching the summit after 16 days.

“I feel very free,” Richard said of summitting the mountain last Wednesday.

It was a moment that was hers alone, a time when she could take in a view very few ever see, while also proudly holding up her Canadian flag, thrilled with her accomplishment. It was an intense, emotional time for the climber.

It was during the days that followed the descent that severe fatigue struck, along with a major storm as well as communication issues, and Richard realized she would have to call for help.

As she noted, she had no energy, and it was just too dangerous to be on her own.

After finally getting out the call for help, it took two days for the rescue to happen, given the weather conditions.

That meant enduring those two days in an extremely small tent and getting next to no sleep due to the wind before help arrived.

Even then, Richard had to leave her $10,000 worth of gear on the mountain.

She pointed out, however, that making it out alive and with all her fingers and toes became much more important than keeping her equipment.

Richard has insurance coverage to deal with any costs of Saturday evening’s helicopter rescue. With paperwork still being drawn up, the cost is not yet known.

While she acknowledged there was some time when her passion for climbing dwindled during the ordeal, she said there is definitely more climbing in her future.

Making a solo climb as she did is not for everyone, she said, noting anyone attempting a solo endeavour needs “big motivation and big determination.”

Her experience on many other expeditions was a major asset on this journey.

For Richard, though, “I like freedom in my life,” and it’s in climbing that she experiences that liberty.

Before she makes any decisions on future expeditions, Richard said she will take some time to reflect on her experience. She is pondering the possibility of writing a book about it.

For now, though, she will enjoy a week in Dawson.

As she commented, “it was love at first sight” when she first came to the Yukon. She did so with a friend on an earlier Logan expedition, where they had to turn back before reaching the top.

Richard said she’s grateful for the hospitality she’s experienced in the territory.