Your coverage of Climbing season on Mt. Everest 2010 was “over the top” outstanding and I deeply appreciate your ongoing updates, editorials, compilation of the many blogs and the chart showing daily progress of the teams. It all was captivating and offered the opportunity to follow step by step many of the happenings on the mountain.

It was especially meaningful to me, as I followed the ongoing pursuit of the “other” Father-Son team on the South Side, my husband John Dahlem and son Ryan Dahlem climbing with IMG.

John and Ryan are very grateful to have attained two significant accomplishments as they stood on the summit May 24 in extreme weather conditions:

John is the second oldest American to have summited at age 66. We are from Huntington Beach, CA and live very close to the oldest American to summit, Bill Burke.

Most memorable for John and Ryan, who turned 40 on the mountain, is becoming the Oldest Father-Son Team to stand on the summit together.

John’s Sherpa, Danuru made his 12th Everest summit. Danuru related the weather this time was by far the worst, compared to the other 11. Ryan’s Sherpa, Dawa had to kick in new steps because it was snowing so hard. It was Dawa’s 8th summit of Everest.

In addition to their amazing Sherpas, John and Ryan greatly benefited from the expertise of IMG Expedition Leader Justin Merle and legendary guide Phil Ershler.

Your quest for a cure for Alzheimer’s is particularly poignant to our family, as John’s father suffered from it. Our older son Shawn followed your updates daily and has made a donation to honor his grandfather. We will also follow suit.

Thank you for all the time, effort and energy you put forth to provide an amazing array of information, which elicited much excitement and plenty of emotion, for those of us watching it all unfold from afar.

With much admiration and respect, congratulations to everyone who left a footprint on Mt. Everest in 2010.

Sioux Dahlem
Huntington Beach, CA

As one of this year’s summiters, I can tell you that my family relied on your updates during our summit days. And I, being on the mountain, found it comforting to know that they could have (at least) a basic idea of what was going on – thank you!

Climbing Mt. Everest was an amazing and wonderful experience. It was, however, difficult on many levels (i.e., being away from family for 2 months). I would like to say “congratulations” to everyone who summited and to those who tired but for whatever reason could not.

Thanks again Alan!

As someone who had to make that heart-breaking decision to turn around on the summit ridge last year, I know only too well of what life is like at the limit on Everest. It is a place where the head must rule the heart. Everest is no cake-walk to the top, despite what some might say. There are many that reach the summit yet who only survive to tell the tale by the skin of their teeth – often through the selfless dedication of the sherpas. I wholeheartedly agree with what you say about the need for more honesty and transparency, and respect must be given to Bonita Norris for being so open about the accident on her descent when it would have been so easy just to have bathed in the media glory of her success.

Having ‘been there done that’ so to speak, it’s been fascinating to follow events this year from a completely different perspective. That’s largely been down to your outstanding coverage, so thanks again Alan and long may it continue!

Cheers!

Ian
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Looking forward to next year.

All the Best for your Alzheimer’s Foundation.