Saturday, May 23, 2009

RE: The Fog Lifted

This should be called the "Snake Eaters' Summit", as all but one of the group are SOC personnel.  (For those unfamiliar with the term, dating back at least to the days of the Green Berets in jungles, special operators have been called "snake eaters.")
  Mark Marshall


-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Uberuaga [mailto:markuberuaga@hotmail.com]
Sent: Sat 5/23/2009 2:19 AM
To: usaf7summits blog; Marshall, Mark; cmarshallrd@mindspring.com; jetsetvet@hotmail.com; scrapadoo11@hotmail.com; abarr@ucdavis.edu; Sam Glaser; Marcel Bieg; mark.rockefeller@gmail.com; demgm79@gmail.com; helmscp@gmail.com; ferrellje@hotmail.com; courtball@earthlink.net; paqit@hotmail.com; taryn_mcdonald@hotmail.com; rmckinney@bankandoffice.com; Rob Marshall
Subject: The Fog Lifted


I heard from Rob Friday evening too and now it sounds like the weather has cleared enough for the pilots to make it up to base camp and back.  So, now they've loaded their planes and are on their way!

Below is more from Lara.

Mark

May 22, 2009  Friday
       So our group of excited mountaineers woke up at the early hour of 7:30 am, and started packing the much needed gear in Kevin and Ralph's vehicles. The Jeeps were so packed that it occurred once or twice in their minds to leave behind one of the group members, but that would be cruel, so everyone piled in as best they could. Once arriving at Talkeetna, they went straight to the NPS briefing and experienced a couple of hours of sleep-educing chatter and regulations to keep in mind. The highlight of the educational briefing was when they received The Green Bucket ,this is where the men will keep their bodily waste until the they climb back down the mountain... in June. (Mountain regulators are apparently very serious about littering!) The Team was supposed to leave on a flight to Kahiltna Glacier but due to fog, they will be stuck until the weather conditions become acceptable again. Kahiltna Glacier is the base camp where the men will be starting the expedition. To pass the time, they are going to town to eat a generous meal of pizza and burgers. After their lunch they will continue to check for updates and flight departures to see if they can leave tonight. Yesterday the men participated at a Crevasse Rescue Training, where i have been told, they enjoyed themselves very much, and ended the day with a night on the town and a nice dinner.


      I would like to add that this expedition is in memory of the fallen comrades in Afghanistan and Iraq. Two of whom, our mountain climbers are keeping close to their hearts and minds as they progress up the side of the thunderous Mt. Denali. They are Tom Maholic and Tom Valentine. Both were great outdoorsmen and amazing men. One Voice One Call is dedicating this to their memory.



Again i would like to clarify the identity of our team members:

Karim - Army Special Forces
Tim - Navy Seal
Dan - Civilian
John - Navy Seal
Rob - Airforce Special Operations - Pilot
Andrew - Army Special Forces



                          "I look up to the mountain - does my help come from there?
                           My help comes from  the Lord, who made heaven and earth!
                           He will not let you stumble ; the one who watches over you
                           will not slumber. Indeed, He who watches over Israel never
                           slumbers or sleeps. The Lord Himself watches over you! The Lord
                           stands beside you as you protective shade. The sun will not
                           harm you by day, nor the moon at night. The Lord keeps you
                           from all harm and watches over your life. The Lord keeps watch
                           over you as you come and go now and forever."  
                                                                                              -Psalm 120



                                                     - Lara <3


 

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