Get 'er Done - Day 15 - Friday, July 3rd - Coming Home.

Spoke w/ Todd via cell phone from Talkeetna, Alaska at 1PM – Denver.

Day 15 – Friday, July 3rd – After retrieving their cache and a short rest the team left 11,000 ft. about 2AM - Denali time.  With the lower temperatures on the higher mountain Dave said it was 'HOT' at 11,000.  Traveling in the early hours this morning  snow conditions on the lower Kahiltna Glacier were firm.  The recent volcanic activity from the Redoubt Volcano on the Alaskan, Cook Inlet has deposited a layer of ash on the lower Kahiltna Glacier resulting in an unlevel undulating surface which made pulling the sleds a bit more difficult.  As the team climbed the final Heart Break Hill into Base Camp at 7,200 ft they were filmed by an NBC affiliate from Anchorage and Todd was then interviewed – very cool.  Shortly after arriving at Base Camp the entire team and gear were able to load onto a TAT plane and fly back to Talkeetna. 

After retrieving their bags from storage at TAT, a shower [which has got to feel pretty good after 15 days] they will likely have a huge meal, organize gear and arrange for transportation back to Anchorage and..... hopefully catch the midnight Alaska Airlines flight back to Denver. 

**On any expedition the most important thing is to come home safe.  It’s also a goal of every expedition for all to come home friends.  “We entered the mountains as strangers, but we left as brothers………..”

“When men climb on a great mountain together, the rope between them is more than a mere physical aid to the ascent; it is a symbol of the spirit of the enterprise. It is a symbol of men banded together in a common effort of will and strength – not against this or that imagined foeman of the instant, but against their only true enemies:  inertia, cowardice, greed, ignorance, and all weaknesses of the spirit.”  - The Savage Mountain - k2 by Charles Houston & Robert Bates

That’s it folks – thanks for your interest, comments and support - what an adventure!  The timing, the weather and climb to the summit by Todd, Dave & Fred – Team Get ‘er Done is just about as good as it gets on Denali!!  Vern Bass [As for me 'Wait until next summer – Denali here I come']

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Get 'er Done - Day 14 - Thursday, July 2nd - Descend from High Camp.

Day 14 – Thursday, July 2nd – The team plans on leaving High Camp later today descending initially to 14,200 and on to 11,000 ft.  They will retrieve their caches, at 11,000 ft camp they will switch back to snowshoes and rest until late this evening.  By stopping at the 11,000 ft camp the team gets a chance to rest and allows the lower glacier snow / ice conditions to firm for safer travel across the Kahiltna Glacier.  When the team leaves the 11,000 camp they plan on going all the way back to the Kahiltna Glacier Base Camp at 7,200 ft.  It’s a long trip with all their gear but at least it’s down hill.  The team will likely fly out of Base Camp tomorrow Friday, July 3^rd and back to Talkeetna. 

In addition to the congratulations due Todd, Dave and Fred it’s also time to thank Ana, Susan and Joan their wife’s, their families and all the friends who have supported the weeks and months of training and preparation that were part of any expedition.  Thank you all……….

**More information & updates as I receive them.  VEB.........

 

 

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Get 'er Done - Day13 - Wednesday, July 1st - SUCCESS & CONGRATULATIONS - THE TEAM SUMITTED DENALI 6PM Alaska.....

Talked w/ Todd via. Satellite phone 10:30AM - Denver this morning confirming that Todd, Dave and Fred, Team Get ‘er Done – GOT IT DONE - Summiting Denali - The Highest Peak in North America at 6PM - Denali time! 

 

Day 13, July 1st - Todd, Dave & Fred - Team Get ‘er Done all made the summit at aprx 6:10PM Denali time. If you followed the SPOT updates the team left High Camp / 17,200 at 11:23AM – were at the top of Denali Pass / 18,200 at 2PM, on the Football Field / 19,600 at 3:46PM and the top of Pig Hill just below the Kahiltna Horn / 20,100 at 5:19PM.  And after carefully negating the summit ridge, delayed by a descending team the team arrived at the summit of Denali – at 6:10PM – Denali time.   Todd indicated that the Summit Ridge was challenging but protected with pickets and the team used a running belay all the way to the summit.  From High Camp at 17,200 ft. to the summit of Denali 20,320 ft. in 6 1/2 hrs. - the team arrived safely back at High Camp / 17,200 at 10:32PM - Denali.  Round trip time aprx 11 hrs.  *Again congratulations to the entire team - GREAT JOB - CONGRATULATIONS.

 

 

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