What...Vern broke his femur...?

On Tuesday, May 19th, I received a call from Vern. He was participating in the Sante Fe Century bicycle ride and was involved in an accident on May 17th. After being evaluated at the local hospital, he learned that he had broken his femur in the accident. He had surgery to place pins in the upper part of his femur... I couldn't believe it...it's happening again, one of us would not be able to make the climb. Now we are down to three.

The history of G.E.D. - Get 'Er Done!

Welcome to G.E.D. - Get 'Er Done! Denali 2009

Vern Bass, Fred Ruess and myself met in winter of 2000-01. We have been fairly regular climbing partners ever since. In 2002, Vern and Fred climbed Mt. Rainier as part of the Colorado Mountain Club's High Altitude Mountaineering School's (HAMS) "graduation climb". Vern was the Leader and Fred was one of his Co-Leaders. In 2003, Vern, Fred and myself climbed Mt. Rainier again as part of the HAMS graduation climb. In 2004 the three of us were part of a large group of CMC member who were planning a climb of Mt. McKinley (Denali), the highest mountain in North America (20,320 ft). A few months after the planning began, Fred announced that he could not make the climb because he and his wife were expecting a baby (actually twins) about the same time as our planned climb. Then, a few months before our climb, I learned that an on-going back problem would require surgery and I would also not make the climb. Vern went on to make an attempt of the West Rib of Denali with five other climbing friends. Vern made it to over 18,000 ft, but none on the team made the summit.

In 2005, the three of us, along with five other friends, made plans to attempt Denali again in 2006. Training went well and in May we all flew to Anchorage, Alaska and drove to Talkeetna (the starting point for Denali expeditions). The day before we were scheduled to fly from Talkeetna on to the Kahiltna Glacier, Fred developed stomach pains - an illness that seemed to afflict him every few years and that doctors could not seem to diagnose. Just an hour before we flew on to the glacier, Fred said that he would not continue on the expedition. I know that Fred was devastated and Vern and I were equally saddened. Our team continued up the mountain and spent 9 days waiting at 14,000 ft. for good weather to make our summit attempt. Vern, myself and another team mate retreated down the mountain, giving our last supply of food to the remaining three team members. Vern and I did not summit Denali, but the last three team members did.

In 2008, I decided that wanted to attempt Denali again. Of course, I recruited Vern and Fred to be climbing partners. We also teamed up with Dave Pellegrini, an experienced mountaineer who made his own attempt on Denali in 2007. Together, the four of us make up the "G.E.D - Get 'Er Done!" team.

- Todd Bublitz