Thanks!

Thanks everyone for following. As the previous post stated from my parents, I successfully summitted Denali - albeit solo (more on that in a future post)! After a few days of descending I have been safely flown off the mountain and am hanging in Talkeetna waiting to return to Washington, DC.

Its been a great few days in town reconnecting with climbers from the mountain, sharing stories, and eating/drinking lots of unhealthy things. It sounds like most people have lost between 10-20 pounds during their climb, so some feasting is only necessary!

Photos and video to follow later this week!

Thanks again,
Andy

Summit Reached! Goal Accomplished!

We reached the summit of Mount McKinley today Tuesday, May 25 at approximately 3:45 PM Alaska time.  It is cold, windy but what a thrill to be on the top of North America!

Thanks for all the prayers and good vibes for a safe ascent and excellent weather.  Now we just have to climb back down.

Message from Andy via satellite phone to Richmond, VA  at 8:45 pm EST Tuesday May 25, 2010 from the top of Mount McKinley.

SMS from 881631619640@msg.iridium.com

TOOK CACHE 2 16800 YESTERDAY. AWESOME CLIMBING! SNO NEXT 2 DAYS THEN 2 HIGH CAMP

Blue Sky on High!

Made it to 14,500 ft today. The weather is quite warm with blue sky and lots of sun reflecting off the snow.

 

Will rest for a couple of days at this altitude. Weather permitting we will start our trek to 17,000 ft by the weekend. So far feeling good and

acclimating to the change in altitude.

 

Your prayers and chants for good Denali weather are working well so please keep them coming.

 

Message from Andy via satellite phone to Richmond, VA  at 7:30pm EST Wednesday May 19, 2010.

 

 

Made it to 11,000 ft on Friday May 14.  Took the weekend off to rest and wait out a" white out".

 

Will be moving to 14,000 feet, weather permitting, starting Monday. 

 

Continue sending prayers for good weather as we continue our climb to the top.

 

Message from Andy via satellite phone to Richmond, VA 1:10 EST Sunday, May 16, 2010. 

Game time!

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Mind over matter: because if you don't mind, then it doesn't matter!

No flights onto the glacier today, so a mandatory rest day before we
even get going.

Time to hurry up and wait. Better luck for us tomorrow, hopefully!

--
Sent from my mobile device

To fly or not to fly?

Time to fly

We had a nice climber orientation at the ranger station here in
talkeetna this afternoon. They make it sound so easy!

Weather has been hit or miss today, and the forecast looks the same
for tomorrow. Fingers crossed there will be a weather window for
flying into basecamp on the glacier at 7000 feet...but not looking
good! This is why we budget for a few bonus days.

Cheers!

--
Sent from my mobile device

Towards talkeetna

Just passed through wasilla. Sadly, no views of Russia today!

--
Sent from my mobile device

Anchorage!

Off to a good start with a lift to the hostel in anchorage from a kind
Alaskan. Thanks John!

Now for some late night food shopping...

--
Sent from my mobile device

Locked and loaded.

Time to bust a move to anchorage by way of Minnesota, and then on to
talkeetna tomorrow.

Hoping jan was able to fly around that silly volcano I can't pronounce
in iceland.

--
Sent from my mobile device

Link to the Denali Recreational Weather Forecast

Get an idea for the weather we are experiencing on the mountain! Forecasts for 7000-14000ft and 14k to the SUMMIT!!

As we get closer to the top please pray for a cold and calm wx forecast!


http://pafg.arh.noaa.gov/wmofcst.php?wmo=SXAK49PAFG&type=public

Live webcam of the Denali range from Talkeetna

Link to a live webcam of the Denali Range as seen from Talkeetna, AK:

http://www.talkeetnaair.com/web-cam