Monday, June 11, 2012

Denali Team 6: June 3 to June 23 - Dispatch #5


Guides: Mike Pond, Dustin Byrne, Tad McCrea

Climbers: Jim Bonadonna (New York), David Wain (UK), David Pritchett (UK), Todd Fletcher (Australia), Peter Menne (Germany), David Martin (Australia), Mark Mueller (California), Philip Mace (Bermuda), Brian Knowles (California)

Mike Pond called at 4:39pm PST June 9th with the following dispatch: Hey it's Denali Team 6. We are currently at 11 camp, David had to go down to base camp and get flown out due to a wicked toothache. Our best wishes go with him, he's a great guy and was a pleasure to have on our team. Dustin and Tad had to bring him down and should be headed back up now. So, this is our second day waiting. We're just hanging. The answer to the riddle was not peeing, get your mind out of the gutter, it was shaking hands. Brian's quite the riddle master here, we'll have another riddle for you soon. We're biding our time eating and resting and getting super psyched to get up there soon and give 'er.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

What has the weather been like these past few days? What are your plans for moving up,once the 2 guides return?

BarbieK said...

So sorry to hear David had to leave. Hope everyone makes it back safely. Onward and upward!!!

Barbara &Fred Knowles

Anonymous said...

Hi everyone, could you let us know which david had to come down (theres 3 on the team!).

Anonymous said...

Sorry to hear that one of the team had to head back down. Really unfortunate time to get toothache. Hope the rest of the team are keeping warm up there. Also hope that the winds die down and the avalanche risk is sorted so that you can head to your next camp. You are not missing much at sea level Phil so enjoy those views. jacqui

Graham Martin said...

Which David had toothache?

Jason Martin said...

It appears that David Pritchett was the person who came off the mountain.

Sorry for the confusion.

--Jason Martin

Kris Slentz said...

I can never believe you all climb up and down the huge mountain once, not to mention up and down like Tad and Dustin are doing. Way to go!
Here is wishing you all strength, stamina, and motivation for the big push to 17,000 feet and beyond!
Kris Slentz

Anonymous said...

This is Celia from California. I am Jim's cousin.
Sorry to hear one of your team had to depart.
I would like to wish Uncle James a very happy belated birthday (Monday, June 11)! We are thinking about you and following your progress. Very exciting stuff!
Keep up the good work and love you lots, The Bartholomews

Anonymous said...

Please tell what is going on with team 6, so that we don't have to guess what you are doing based on the reports of Team 5.
What are your team's plans for the next few days?
What is the weather like?
What type of weather have you encountered on Sat, Sun, Mon, Tues?
How many days were you delayed due to the 2 guides going back down? Do you have any plans of reaching the summit?
Where are you?

Jason Martin said...

The weather is bad on the mountain. We suspect that Team 6 is having a hard time making sat phone calls...

Unknown said...

Hi All:
I'm a supporter and friend of Mark Mueller. Go Mark! It would be great if there could be more specific information here about the current and forecasted conditions. We are following those from Team 5 but would prefer Team 6 info,

Be safe and keep reporting!
Thanks!
Laurie

Anonymous said...

I am a supporter and friend of Mark Mueller. Go Mark!

We would love to hear about current and forecasted conditions. We have been following the weather reports from Team 5 but would love to hear that from Team 6!

Be safe and enjoy!