Guides: Andrew Yasso, Mary Harlan, Paul Rosser
Climbers: Geoff Strommer (Oregon), Jennifer Logan (UK), Paul Davies (UK), Steven Hart (Florida), David Chambers (Texas), Brian Roark (Texas), Virginia Cross (Australia), Swati Olebe (New York), Selina Dicker (UK)
Andrew called at 4:00 pm Pacific time with the following dispatch:
"Well, we woke up today to a bit of sunshine and a radio call from Paul, Mary, Ginny and Jeoff at basecamp telling us they were on their way back up to meet us. They arrived back at about 12:30 and we welcomed them with a big brunch of pancakes and bacon and special pop-tart pancakes fried in lots of butter.
"We are now calling this 'Three Quarters Camp' -- and we're also calling ourselves 'Team Three Quarters' -- because we're three quarters of the way to Camp 1... we've had to tell so many people, 'no, you're not there yet, keep going'. Anyway, we've dedicated this camp to Swati ... we're so sorry to see her go and glad to hear that she's on her way safely home.
"The self-rescue went really well ... the plan to build a double-length sled worked perfectly. Paul, Mary, Ginny and Geoff pulled her to the bottom of Heartbreak Hill -- that's the hill that leads up from the main stream of the Kahiltna Glacier up into the Southeast Fork, where the airstrip and basecamp lie. At the base of the hill they were met by a team of two Park Rangers and four climber volunteers who pitched in pulling the sled to get Swati to where she could catch the plane back to Talkeetna.
"So that is done, and we are super thankful to everyone, the whole rescue team ... the Rangers and volunteers, Paul and Mary and Ginny and Geoff. Great job everyone.
"So the rest of us here at Camp Three Quarters spent the day caching some gear, lightening the loads a bit. Also rested ... some people played 'glacier horseshoes'. We're resetting the expedition ... this is now our Camp 1 and tomorrow we'll go up and cache at Kahiltna Pass, around 10K or so. The next day, if things go well, we'll move up to Camp 2 at 11,200 ft."
Your Humble Editor says: Great job team. That was truly an effort to call home about.
5 comments:
Great work everyone! Super P, you especially rock! Ya'll have fun and be safe, & toss a lucky glacier horse shoe for the vicarious lowlanders. BTW - Camp Three Quarters is so yesterday! Make haste and attack Camp 2! Love you P!
Hi Paul - hope you received messages sent while you were assisting Swati. I miss you and your texts a lot too. Hope to hear from you soon. Be safe. Love you. Jeanne
Happy Birthday Momma (Mary)!
We miss you!
Sending a message to cousin Steven Hart: Enjoy this amazing experience. Chris & I've seen Denali at a distance, from a plane, but will never observe on foot! What a rare & unique adventure ~ take lots of photos.
With love from Sea Level, Cousin Carol Hart Giovannoni
Brian,
Hope you are having a great time. Need the vet's name for shot records for pups so we can board them. Love you, enjoy!
Mom & Kris Ann
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