Monday, June 21, 2010

Denali Team 5: Dispatch #9

Denali Team 5: June 13–July 3

Guides: Paul Ivaska, Richard Riquelme, Kristen Looper
Apprentice: Andrew Yasso

Climbers: Walt, Ann, and Luke Hampton (Canton, Connecticut), Caitriona Strain (Burnfoot, Ireland), Brendan McDyer (Glenties, Ireland), Skye O'Donnell (Sydney, Australia), Colin Stalnecker (Chicago, Illinois), Ryan Derrigan (Rickmansworth, England), and Stephen Williams (Oxon, United Kingdom)

Andrew called on Sunday, June 19th, at 8:15pm Pacific time with the following update:

"Hi all! This is Andrew calling in with a dispatch from Camp at 14,000 feet. Happy Father's Day to all those dads out there! Yesterday we took a cache up around Windy Corner at about 13,000 feet. We had a yummy dinner of Thai food with spicy sauce.

Today was such a beautiful climbing day. We moved up to 14,000, and the weather couldn't have been better. It was sunny, and actually a little hot! We had to move quickly around Windy Corner to avoid rockfall that sometimes happens when things warm up. But we all made it safely to 14,000, and are just now putting the final touches on setting up the cook tent.

It is my turn to cook, and I hope everyone will be surprised by the after-dinner mints I've brought! And tomorrow, we'll pick up our cache below, and then have a rest day. This will give us some time to acclimatize. We look forward to passing along some more messages to friends and family tomorrow!"

6 comments:

DD said...

Hi Ryan,

I'm cheering for you every step of the way! It's great to know how your progressing this time around. Good luck with the rest of your climb!

DD

Rachel Royer said...

Hi Steve, is it too cold to wash? Throw a snow ball for me and maddie. Love ollie x

Anonymous said...

Hi Brendan,
Sounds like everything is going very well, thai food, sure you're eating better than us. All good at home, great to read how everything is going, keep safe, chat soon. Trisha xx

rowingmum said...

Hi Stevie, Yesterday Dad walked 13 kms horizontally along the coast - his highest peak was 71 mtrs! Think you beat him! You are doing so well - so proud of you. LOL Mum & Dad x

Julie Stalnecker said...

Colin: So good to know you alive and strong. You sounded incredibly happy, you must be traveling with a good group of people. Idaho is beautiful, sunny and no humidity. Keep the faith and stay smiling. Love ya, Mommie

Anonymous said...

Hi Caitriona

Use are doing fantastic reading your updates every day. All is quiet at home except the weather is 18-20 for past few days. One of the co-pilots in the Donegal Rally was killed at the weekend near Ramelton, he was from Co. Meath. They cancelled the Rally on Saturday afternoon. The boys are going to the Highland show at the weekend. Claire finally booked her wedding dress!!! Keep up the good work.
Brain, Maria & aoife.