The Road Back to Mt. Everest
Expedition Dispatches
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In 2007 and 2008, I am undertaking a challenging goal: The Road back to Mt. Everest. This is a year long journey where I will attempt to summit Everest in 2008 plus raise $100,000 for Alzheimer’s research. In preparation, I attempted Denali in June 2007, now Shishapangma in September 2007, next Orizaba in January 2008 and then Everest. In between I am climbing more of my Colorado 14ers. Using a system of a digital camera, PDA and satellite phone, I will send dispatches directly from the climbs. Register for email notifications below.

Alzheimer's is a horrible disease that impacts so many. Researchers are making great progress but more is needed. The Cure Alzheimer's Fund is a non-profit organization that raises money and funds targeted research with the highest probability of slowing, stopping or reversing Alzheimer's disease.

The Fund is supported by grants from three families that covers all of their overhead. This means 100% of your donations go directly to Alzheimer's research! None go to Alan's climbing expenses. I encourage you to read more about the Cure Alzheimer's Fund at their website and to make your tax deductible donation today to Memories are Everything through the Cure Alzheimer's Fund.
Please dontate today. Thank you. Dontate Today to Cure Alzheimer's
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August 26, 2007

Leaving This Week for Shishapangma

Later this week, I depart for Kathmandu to meet up with the rest of the team for our Shisha Pagma expedition. I am very excited about this climb for a number of reasons. First, this is the second climb of The Road Back to Mt. Everest - Memories are Everything journey. Second my health is excellent and I have checked out 100% after Denali. And third, this is a great mountain with only a couple of hundred summits thus far.

Now for some details of the climb.

Continue reading "Leaving This Week for Shishapangma" »

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July 23, 2007

Five Weeks to Shishapangma - Lessons from Denali

It has been four weeks since I became sick on Denali. A lot has happened since then. This dispatch is to update everyone on my status and plans as I continue the Road Back to Mt. Everest.

Climbing has many similarities with so many other difficult endeavors in that when something goes wrong, you must take a philosophical approach. I have never been a medical researcher but I can imagine that after you work on a theory for a long time and it does not prove out, you take a step back – consider what might have gone wrong, what you learned and than apply those lessons to the next project without pause.

I am not dwelling on what happened on Denali, I am learning from it. Since returning I have visited several specialists and have more planned in August. Here is the latest:

Continue reading "Five Weeks to Shishapangma - Lessons from Denali" »

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July 3, 2007

Denali 2007 Recap

I am now back home for a few days now and feeling better. Well, not a 100% but that is the nature of these climbs. But I am getting it together to leave for Tibet at the end of August for an attempt on Shishapangma at 26,335'.

I want to thanks Debbie L. for being the first person to donate to the Memories are Everything fund - thanks Debbie.

Denali was not what I was expecting. I was helicoptered off the mountain and taken by ambulance to an Anchorage area hospital - the first for me in almost 12 years of high altitude mountaineering.

I have written a long, detailed and graphic account of my climb along with pictures and video. You can find by clicking on this link.

Thanks again for everyone's support and compassion - it matters much more than you may think.

Climb On!

Alan

Denali2007 recap

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June 28, 2007

Alan is off Denali after

Alan is off Denali after having severe abdominal pains on the high ridge at 17,000'

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June 26, 2007

Stuck at 14,200'

I spoke to Alan earlier today. The team is still holding out at the 14,200' camp due to bad weather. Hopefully, tomorrow they will be able to move higher up the mountain to either the 16,200' or 17,200' camp. Once at one of these camps, they might not take the usual rest day and go for the summit the very next day as they are running out of time. Everyone is doing well.

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June 25, 2007

To hear this Denali 2007

To hear this Denali 2007 audio dispatch, just click on the play button. Thanks for listening and following me on Memories are Everything: The Road Back to Mt. Everest. This is about more than just climbing mountains....

Climb On!

Alan

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June 24, 2007

To hear this Denali 2007

To hear this Denali 2007 audio dispatch, just click on the play button. Thanks for listening and following me on Memories are Everything: The Road Back to Mt. Everest. This is about more than just climbing mountains....

Climb On!

Alan

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To hear this Denali 2007

To hear this Denali 2007 audio dispatch, just click on the play button. Thanks for listening and following me on Memories are Everything: The Road Back to Mt. Everest. This is about more than just climbing mountains....

Climb On!

Alan

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June 22, 2007

To hear this Denali 2007

To hear this Denali 2007 audio dispatch, just click on the play button. Thanks for listening and following me on Memories are Everything: The Road Back to Mt. Everest. This is about more than just climbing mountains....

Climb On!

Alan

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June 20, 2007

To hear this Denali 2007

To hear this Denali 2007 audio dispatch, just click on the play button. Thanks for listening and following me on Memories are Everything: The Road Back to Mt. Everest. This is about more than just climbing mountains....

Climb On!

Alan

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June 19, 2007

HipCast is "Out to Lunch"

I think HipCast, which hosts Alan's audio blogs, is down. I'm sorry that you can't listen to Alan's two latest blog entries. I am pretty sure the problem is with HipCast as the links to the previous blogs are also not working. I can't even connect to their web site.

Also, Alan has been unable to get his brand spanking new "HP" PDA to recharge. So...it looks like there will be no written dispatches and no pictures.

At least the satellite phone is still working. I talked to Alan a couple of hours ago and he and the rest of the team are doing great. They are back on schedule and moving their loads up the mountain. The last cache was close to 14,000'.

Hopefully, HipCast will be back up soon so you will be able to hear the dispatches. I'll send out another message when it is up and running.

Thanks for your patience,

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To hear this Denali 2007

To hear this Denali 2007 audio dispatch, just click on the play button. Thanks for listening and following me on Memories are Everything: The Road Back to Mt. Everest. This is about more than just climbing mountains....

Climb On!

Alan

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To hear this Denali 2007

To hear this Denali 2007 audio dispatch, just click on the play button. Thanks for listening and following me on Memories are Everything: The Road Back to Mt. Everest. This is about more than just climbing mountains....

Climb On!

Alan

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June 17, 2007

To hear this Denali 2007

To hear this Denali 2007 audio dispatch, just click on the play button. Thanks for listening and following me on Memories are Everything: The Road Back to Mt. Everest. This is about more than just climbing mountains....

Climb On!

Alan

June 15, 2007

Night Shift

Friday, June 15 we moved from base camp at 7200' to Camp1 at 7800' Not a lot of altitude given the summit is 20,320' but it was a lot of work.

Continue reading "Night Shift" »

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June 14, 2007

To hear this Denali 2007

To hear this Denali 2007 audio dispatch, just click on the play button. Thanks for listening and following me on Memories are Everything: The Road Back to Mt. Everest. This is about more than just climbing mountains....

Climb On!

Alan

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June 13, 2007

Get to the Airport Now!

Sitting at the local pizza place, we were enjoying the local High School band led by Jason, playing lead guitar and singing lead vocals. Just as the peach skinned young star finished their creative rendetion of a grateful dead hit (a real crowd pleaser according to Jason) we headed back. March saw us as we walked up and he gave the thumbs up ....

Continue reading "Get to the Airport Now!" »

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Hurry Up and Wait...

The theme of climbing. We are still in Talkeetna waiting for low clouds over the glacier to clear. While it is sunny here and also high up on Denali, the Turbo-Props can't land in poor visibility on the glacier landing strip. So we are hanging out, reviewing some basic skills in knots, rope work and crevase rescue.

We hope that the afternoon sun will clear out the clouds thus allowing flights. There are teams on the glacier waiting to get out so if I had my choice for a delay, I'll take it here in town!

Climb On!

Alan

June 11, 2007

Made it to Talkeetna

Made it to Talkeetna,a small tourist town serving as the gateway to Denali National Park. I visited the National Park Service headquarters to see how the season has gone thus far - not good news.

June 9, 2007

Memories are Everything: The Road Back to Mt. Everest

Memories are Everything: The Road Back to Mt. Everest

Welcome to the Denali dispatch page. Live updates will start around June 12th.

Continue reading "Memories are Everything: The Road Back to Mt. Everest" »

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