Mt. McKinley Expedition: Brent Okita & Team - Trip Complete!
Clouds everywhere was the order of the day. We had basically cast any hope for flying out today right out the door. The forecast was bad. Through a sat phone call to Joe Horiskey, our boss at the office, I learned that the Talkeetna web cam showed nothing but dark masses of rain clouds backed up to the mountains. And, it was crappy up on the airstrip.
Come about noon I did notice the sun barely visible above the dense clouds, and wagered we would be flying out that day. But it was a wager to boost flagging spirits as much as anything. We all took to some serious tent time to talk, read, listen or play cards.
Then...the familiar drone of a plane comes into earshot. Maile looks at me but we figure it's just a tourist overflight high above us. We look out the window and can't believe it's coming in! No warning from Lisa the Basecamp manager or anything this time.
And then...all hell breaks loose as everyone scrambles to get tents down and gear packed.
By the time K2 gets in we're ready. Flying out, the brief weather window closes and I'm afraid we'll be turning back. Maile's knuckles are turning white with the trepidation we all feel as the visibility drops. It's snowing again. We fly out the long way out to avoid the more direct, but higher passes. But Chuck, our pilot, apparently had no desire to spend the night on the glacier, and we all make it out. Just in time. No other flights get back in that day!
I'm finishing this final dispatch the next morning after devouring a huge steak dinner and drinking way too much of anything but water at the local watering hole, the Fairview Inn.
We're on our way to Anchorage now where the team will part ways to reunite with loved ones. Leon, Maile and I have other plans. We're going fishing!
See ya next year,
RMI Guides Brent, Leon and Maile
Comments (2)
Hi, this is Brent and team calling from 14,500’, it’s 10:25 p.m. Alaska time. Today started as a beautiful, beautiful day, windless and blue sky. We carried to 16,600’ and everyone did really well. Some folks were feeling so well that we took part of the team up to 17,200’ camp to place another cache. Members of the RMI Team led by Billy Nugent were at camp and we talked with them. Billy and other members of the team were making their summit attempt and were well on their way.
The weather came in on our descent, clouds built up this afternoon with some snow showers but we navigated well. We will be taking a well deserved rest day tomorrow. We will check in tomorrow night with an update on our plans. That’s all for now.
Posted by: Vern on
Hi Brent and Maile.
Sorry, I never had a chance to say “Thank you” personally for the wonderful trip. So, here it is. Thanks to you and the entire team to make it happen. I had a great time and will be looking for more climes in the future. Very happy to hear that the rest of you made it safely back to Talkeetna. Good luck with your fishing trip! - Sergey
Posted by: Sergey on