photo © Fred Hirschman
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postmarked 5/20/99 Talkeetna, Alaska
"K2 Aviation's Cessna 185 on wheel skis flying over a foggy side valley to the Kahiltna Glacier with the South Face of Mount McKinley beyond, Denali National Park, Alaska."
photo © Fred Hirschman
On the picture, Dan sketched in the proposed route up the mountain, indicating the locations of camps 2, 3, 4, and 5. He writes:
5/18/99 Base Camp
Dear Tim and Wendy,
We flew in on the 16th, a day early. Yesterday we practiced and packed. Today we made our first carry up to 7800' (5.5 miles one way). Tomorrow we'll move camp to 7800'. The following day, weather permitting, we'll carry to 11,000'. I'm able to keep up so far!
The weather has been clear and the scenery unbelievable. I hope the pictures come out.
Success rate for climbers so far is low because of low temperatures and high winds. We can hope!
Love,
postmarked June 3, Juneau, Alaska
"If you are not the lead dog the scenery never changes"
photo ©Johnny Johnson/Alaskastock Images
5/19 Camp 2
Dear Wendy, Tim, Diana, Roger + Keegan + Konrad,
The weather is still clear and hot in the sun, but ~20F in the morning.
I don't seem to be having any problem with altitude so far, but we've only been to 7800'. Tomorrow we should go to 11,000 and cache food.
Boy, is the scenery fantastic -- in all directions! A Frenchman said he thought this is a bigger treat than the ALPS!
5/21 Moved to camp 3, I'm able to keep up but just. I don't have the classic headache.
5/26 We've moved everthing to 14,200'. Very hard work. During the day it is very hot when the sun shines but very much colder when a cloud comes over.
Love,
Tim, Please mail this to Wisconsin; I don't have my address book. Thanks.
telephone call from Talkeetna, Alaska, received on the afternoon of June 8
Dan called this afternoon from Talkeetna, Alaska. He and his team are down off the mountain. He made it to high camp, but wasn't quite up to making the summit. The rest of the team did summit. They will be heading to Anchorage tomorrow or the next day to try to hook up with Nat et al., and hope to make it back to NH on the 19th. He sure hopes his slides will come out well and do justice to the scenery!
He's home, although with back problems from carrying loads on the mountain. A slide show is scheduled for Tuesday, July 20, 7:00 pm, at the Presbyterian Church in New London, NH, as a fund-raiser for Kosovar refugees.