JOURNAL

UPDATES FROM JOHN

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The Mountain of Mountains: July 16th (Day 27)

The Mountain of Mountains: July 16th (Day 27)

Wow, so this is happening. It feels as if it was just yesterday that I was writing to you about gearing up for an assault on Everest and Lhotse. I vividly remember the fear and anxiety that was coursing through me as I typed out each word, unsure of what lay ahead....

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On Deck: July 15 (Day 26)

As planned, I spent most of my rest day catching up on replying to comments and questions on the website, and personal emails. It took a ton of time because I have received an overwhelming amount, but it was great to finally get caught up. I was even planning on...

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Home Sweet Home: July 12-14 (Days 23-25)

Home Sweet Home: July 12-14 (Days 23-25)

Mountaineering expeditions require a lot of hard work high on the mountain but rest days at basecamp are equally valuable. The general rule of thumb is that we spend an equal number of days low (Basecamp) as we did high (climbing), before returning to climbing. Due to...

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A Trying Descent (Day 22)

A Trying Descent (Day 22)

Our plan failed out of the gate. We had tried to wake up early but with our tent getting hammered by wind, it was difficult to melt snow for water and boil it for breakfast. Geoff, one of the most proficient snow melters that I know, proceeded to spill the water out...

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Rest Day @ Camp 2 (Day 21)

Our tent worked out great, despite our original skepticism, and allowed us another good night of sleep. Geoff and I spent the entire morning watching movies and editing pictures on my iPad. Garrett popped in our tent and we ended up chatting for about an hour,...

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Move to Camp 2 (Day 20)

Move to Camp 2 (Day 20)

Two great nights of sleep in a row! Sleep is so critical in the mountains to maintain health, as well as peak physical and mental performance. I regularly check my O2 saturation and I’m currently running around 65%. This might sound alarming to most but considering...

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Rest Day @ Camp 1 (Day 19)

Rest Day @ Camp 1 (Day 19)

It’s amazing what good sleep does for your psyche. Usually, sleep when moving up in elevation can be a real challenge, especially during the first night and when making a big leap, like 4,000 vertical feet. My night’s sleep was just the opposite of difficult, I was...

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A Sobering Reminder (Day 18)

I’ve always done my best to be honest with you, regarding the events that transpire on the mountain and how they affect my psyche. What you read is my personal journal, I don’t keep any side records. The problem with this approach is that my emotions are tied to these...

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