Wally Berg

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The team is basically split now, we're in different parts of the world. A contingent flew north. It's not quite as grim as it sounds because as we parted ways yesterday there was a great deal of certainty and commitment on everyone's part that in fact we would all make our attempt on Mt. Vinson in 1999.

So 1999 Alpine Ascents Mt. Vinson trip is now going to have two stages. I'm still here with a group that is hoping to fly south after the fuel flight goes in and conditions improve down on the ice.

There's a commitment from ANI, and obviously from Alpine Ascents, as well, to reschedule flight next year. Everyone is into this in terms of their conditioning, their commitment, financial and every other way. Time has been put into this thing and unfortunately, as is always the case with flying down onto the ice, the shots get called by the big white vastness down there rather than any of us. But there will be a trip next year, date to be announced, for the rest of the folks to use their flight down to Antarctica. It's already been arranged, rescheduled now, and to get this climb underway.

I say that it's still going to be a 1999 event because based on the post New Year experience this year, none of our group is very pleased about the prospect of trying it the same time next year. Stay tuned, but I think you'll see our second wave from this team down here next... late November or early December. We'll give you the particulars on that as we get it figured out.

So, Rob Kiessling did fly north yesterday. Rob and his son Tucker were with me on Kili [Kilimanjaro] this year, of course. I know Cord was watching Rob carefully this year; Hayden, his daughter, as well. Rob left with the look of resolve that I know well on him. He'll be back; he just decided that it would be best to head back north for the time being. Cord, I'm sure, is very intrigued. I think he was watching us close on the Internet and very intrigued to know that news. And Rob is heading home.

Bob Hempstead — I know Cord's really interested in the Iditerod — Bob Hempstead also flew north and is going to determine exactly whether he's going to follow through on his commitment to run the Iditerod next winter or postpone that to return down here with us. We'll figure that out; he'll figure that out. But Bob is heading back to the North Slope and his job with Arco.

Chuck Vaden, Federal Express pilot, Pacific Rim being his region to fly, is due back at work on a date that makes it far more prudent for him to head north now, but I know Chuck will be back down here with us in December as well.

You know, you may already have the word on Victor Vescova. He is also heading north. Navy Reservist, also busy with his career. He's a guy that spends a lot of time away and figured that he had probably put enough time into it this part of the year. I have already related an incident involving Victor and a penguino that may or may not have something to do with his trip north. But at any rate, Victor also is committing to coming back.

Scott Lefky, actually has been up north for a few days. Based on the plan of returning — getting on a plane and flying back south, with the fuel flight goes in the air and he can be reasonably considering even 36 hour, 48 hour call.

I get messages at the hotel here every day from Scott saying "give me a call when that fuel flight is in the air." So Scott's onboard, maybe when we go here later this week or maybe he'll decide to reschedule for next December, as well.

Okay, so who does that leave? That does leave four of us: Dana Isherwood being the old expedition hand that she is. You know, I could go on and on about her resume — she definitely is used to the hang, the uncertainties that get laid on you in the mountains. And our first woman's ascent of Denali in 1970 being one of the many things she's been involved with. This is a woman who has developed the patience of an expedition mountaineer. She's onboard and doing just fine down here in Punta in the white.

John Van Dyke mainly expresses to me each day his concern about losing his edge physically, but this guy is in great shape and also has a look of determination and resolve and I think he's going to stay here...well, he is going to stay here.

Joe LeRoy has this... I know from other climbs with him, has a streak of stubbornness that is not to be outdone by anything, including the uncertainties down on the ice. He just walks around looking determined and mumbling something about a little man in red who's going to be with him. And I think Joe will be the last guy to give it up for this early 1999 attempt.

Having laid all of that out, I'll have to give you the report that weather is still not very good down at Patriot Hills. Koos [the ANI pilot] and the crew after cooking dinner for us last night, they are not standing down in terms of the three hourly scheduled checks, but you know, it honestly is not looking very good to me right now. I'd love to say more... I'd love to say that there's something we could do about it, but there's not.

There was a little note scrawled on the old grease board up at A&I today, I think it may have come from Skip Horner, and with regard to that big continent down there and the unknown we're going into, this quote's a good one to leave you with:

"To be uncertain is to be uncomfortable.
But to be certain is to be ridiculous."

So we'll be down there with those guys, actually further into the interior than any of those emperor penguins, in a matter of days I hope.

I'll keep you posted as to the departure of fuel flight and our plans.

—Wally Berg, Expedition Leader

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