Final Post from Dave Ahrens, back in Anchorage...

Back to the green grass and rich smells of spring in Alaska! The tents are drying out and the extra cheese is back in the freezer. I hope everyone is getting back into the swing of "normal" day to day life. I just want to thank everyone for a great trip and let everyone know I appreciate there effort and humor from day one to twenty.

  I'm glad everyone made there flights and I'm sorry I missed Simon and Toni. Best of luck to everyone and as I told Dave, Neil and Toni, please use me as a resource and if I can help with anything in the future from buying a rope to getting back to Alaska please let me know. I have every ones email and will be in touch, I have some of Simon's personal items, photos from the fixed lines and of course I want to know how Dave's hand is healing up. Best of luck and keep on climbing!

Base Camp!

The whole team is now in basecamp.   The weather isn't cooperating for them right now, and the planes can't fly in to pick them up, but that could change any minute.  They still hope to fly out some time today, but the hard work is done, and they are enjoying the relative warmth, and the thick Oxygen filled air of the lower elevations.

Summit!

Dave just called from High Camp after returning from the summit!   He said it was a windy difficult day, and not everyone made it to the top, but they are all back to their tents now.  We'll get the details from them when they get back down, but it's good to hear they are back in camp and doing good.  They'll plan to go down to 11,000ft tomorrow, and then to basecamp the following day.  We'll see them down in the land of green grass soon.   Congrat's

Possible Summit Day...

Still waiting for final word, but the team went for the summit today.  The reports from the mountain say that the weather was good, and they are probably going to summit.   They may not get the chance to call in until tomorrow, often they are too tired and busy on summit day to make the obligatory phone call.  I'll update if I hear tonight.

Caitlin, Simon, and Daire in Talkeetna

Caitlin, Simon, and Daire reached basecamp today, and were able to fly out to the relative civilization of Talkeetna this evening. They are probably going to spend the night in Talkeetna, as it is already 8pm, enjoy a good dinner, a cold beer, warm showers, and then head for Anchorage tomorrow.

Good to have them safely back in the world!

Another Windy Day

Dave called tonight, they had a windy day at high camp today, which kept them hiding in their tents most of the day.  The winds died a bit this evening, and are forecasted to keep settling down thru the night.   They still hope to get a chance at the summit in the morning.  

Good thoughts for tomorrow!

Windy up High

Dave called after dinner again tonight and said that they had a relatively pleasant day at high camp, but watched the winds blow up above them.  They'll try for the summit tomorrow if the weather cooperates, but it looks more promising for Friday.

Caitlin(guide) descended this afternoon with Simon and Daire.  It sounds like everyone is OK, they just had enough of high camp.  It can be a very difficult place, and if you aren't acclimating or are feeling off, it might be best to just come back down.  I didn't get details, but they should be heading to basecamp in the next few days.