Father's Day Wishes from 17.2
Sunday, June 18, 2000
DISPATCHES
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Good morning Mountain Zone, this is Vernon Tejas with Alpine Ascents "Team Larry" high on Mount McKinley — Denali that is — and we'd just like to tell you what went on today.
Today it started a little bit auspicious with a lenticular high over McKinley and with clouds rolling through and spindrift whipping our tents around. However, we had a quick breakfast, packed up, and headed up to 16.2 where we had cached food and fuel and we're thinking about staying in a snow cave. However, everyone felt so strong, and so strongly about not sleeping in a snow cave, that we pushed on, even though the winds were high, and we went all the way up to 17.2.
Fortunately for us, as the day progressed, it cleared off and we were treated by a beautiful, beautiful display of mountains with a carpet of soft, fluffy cloud spreading out below us. And right now, from where we sit out on guide rock, looking out over all creation, we can see from Sitka all the way to Siberia. Holy smokes, and it's beautiful.
And guess what? It's Father's Day today, so we'd like to do something special. Tomorrow we are going to sleep in, but right now we have a little bit of poetry that we would like to offer to you as a Father's Day special, right here on Mountain Zone. Allison, here you go. I'll hold the phone, you do the reading.
Allison
Okay this goes out to all the dads who have kids, here on Denali, here's a poem for you:
It's Father's Day and we're here on Denali
We're thinking the weather would have been better in Bali
We are traveling safely and being well fed
The guides give us hot drinks at night and tuck us in bed
We'll be thinking of you as we're crossing the passage
You are warming our hearts, though we're freezing our asses
We want to wish you the best and we send you our love
We are at 17,000, looking down from above
Happy Father's Day
Vern
Wahoo! I think we also have a couple other people who'd like to speak here as well, and maybe I should just say Ruth you are up next.
Ruth
I wanted to wish a very happy 50th wedding anniversary to Bill and Barbara. I love you guys and I'm glad you got married, and Happy Father's Day dad. See you later.
Vern
Oh, wonderful. Now that was really sweet. A 50th anniversary, can you believe that? And Chris you're next up, here's Chris.
Chris
Hi dad, just wanted to wish you a Happy Father's Day once again from the mountains. Hope you had a great day, thanks for all your support and help throughout the years and I also want to say Happy Birthday to Joe and Shelley.
Vern
Alright, and last but not least, we have a Mountain Zoner herself, it's Anya.
Anya
Hey guys, Happy Father's Day to my pops and a belated Happy Birthday to him, and a big howdy to the rest of the family and friends — miss you guys. Even though we've been wearing the same clothes for two weeks now, I still don't miss the office. Ha! Bye.
Vern
And we have one more from Allison.
Allison
Hey Dad, just wanted to say Happy Father's Day and thanks for the new Marmot shell jacket. It's keeping me nice and warm up here!
Vern
Okay, Happy Father's Day to all the fathers out there and stay with us because tomorrow we're having rest!
— Vern Tejas, Alpine Ascents International, MountainZone.com Correspondent
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Hear Vern's Call from Denali