Reached the peak!
Sunday, December 7, 2008 at 05:34AM The guys have just returned to camp....successful!
I am so proud and so pleased that they are not only safe but that they have managed to reach the peak and name it!
So at 10.15am this morning, after a final push that started at 4am, the three of them, Mick, Dave and Gilo reached the high point at 2239m (7000ft). it had been a nerve wracking climb along a mix of very exposed rock and ice, that took them via what they called hope col,before reaching their goal at longitude and latitude:S 71o 56.125' E 008o 24.243'....which they named Peak Levy after our main sponsor Tim Levy, CEO of Ethanol Ventures.
It has been a high tension 48hrs with great highs and lows but we have achieved our main goal now despite the cost of my injury.
Meanwhile i am pretty heavily pain killer-ed up with this shoulder bone sticking up pretty weirdly, but am doing ok all things considered.
The logistics team and Patrick are doing a great job trying to orchestrate a rescue for me but flying in a medivac to land out here in these strong winds is not proving easy.
P.S. The electric powered paragliders came into their own as well, with soaring flights out from the peaks, and the bio-ethanol stove has been firing up nicely!
Pics to follow!
Bear x
Reader Comments (21)
Hi Bear, Mick, Gilo and Dave
Bear, really sorry to hear about your shoulder - hope you are ok and get a lift out pronto. Mick and the others, big congrats on your achievement - how amazing and the pics look fantastic!
Love Lucy and Steve
Bravo guys!
Bear hang on,hope they get you out of there quick.
Pictures are great,beautiful landskape.
Be well!
Congratulations guys!! The pictures look fantastic!!
-Bear- hang in there , you will be back in no time, God speed buddy.
-C
Bear we hope and pray for your recovery. It won't be easy but you've been through tougher situations before and you can totally overcome this! Hope you and your family are well. Take care and always remember there are plenty of huge fans here in my tiny Philippine country who admire you big time! All the best!
....And congrats to Mick, Gilo and Dave!!! Viva Peak Levy!
Bear,
We are praying for you! My children have something they want to send you. What is the best way to get it to you?
Well done to Dave, Gilo and Mick !!
We are all excited about you coming home Dave.
All the best to Bear too,
lots of love,
Jane, Ella, Tess and Daisy xx
I shall pray for you in this difficult time. I hope you can get well soon.
Bear,
I am really sorry about your accident. I follow your exploits here in Bulgaria on Discovery every week. Thank you for being who you are. You are a great inspiration to millions of people such as myself. You will be in my prayers daily until I hear you are healed and back on the road again.
Bear,
Sorry to hear about your accident. You are in my prayers. Hope all goes well with the rest of the expedition. God bless.
Dear Bear,
i am so sorry about your accident.i am eight and i cant imagine your shoulder bone sticking out
and your also in the Antarctic with only your camera crew! i hope you are okay well good luck on your next adventure i'll be watching
Congratulations to the guys. You should all be very proud.
Hope you get well soon Bear. You must be gutted that you couldn't go on any further with them, but at least you are ok and safe.
Stay cool.
Jon
Wolverhampton. England
Congratulations! Great, great team!
About your accident... I can imagine what you're feeling... it's so hard!
Stay well and come back soon! God bless you and the team!
From Brazil
Bear - we're great fans and so sorry to hear of your injury. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Go eat a bug or something, maybe it will help you forget the pain! Seriously -- best wishes for a speedy recovery. From Arizona
Bear,
I am really really sorry about your accident. I hope you get well very soon!
Congratulations guys!!!
God bless you all!
Gabriela - From Brazil
I am so happy for you all! I hope you are celebrating big! Please come home soon and safe!!
Sorry to hear of your accident- wishing you a fast recovery. I'm sure you were with Mick, Dave and Gilo in spirit and your cheering them on ensured they reached the peak.
from NY in US
Bear it's hard to fathom that you are still in Antarctica awaiting your evac. I pray you get that weather window soon and get home and get the medical attention you need. I know your friends are keeping your spirits up, and looking after you. Hang in there. It's encouraging to know you are strong enough to type updates here with your good hand. Please keep us posted, as you're able, on how you are doing. Wishing that you'll get home safely to your familly and the hospital and get well soon.
Congratulations to Mick, Dave and Gilo on successfully climbing the peak. Good show guys! It must have been an added challenge with the emotional upset you must be feeling over Bear's injury. I admire your perserverence in completing the mission. I hope you'll be going home soon too.
Lynn and Becky are thinking of you.
xx
Daventry, England
Dear Bear,
there are so many of us here in the US that follow M Vs W and your other projects! Rest assured we are all praying for your safe recovery. Update that diary soon so we can know your plane landed, took off safely, got you back to civilization, and that you're going to be OK.
from TEXAS, USA
First and foremost, congratulations to the team on completing the climb! It has to take a great deal of courage to go out in such dreadfull conditions.
To Bear, I read once somewhere that" the more often you get lucky, the more you become vulnerable to making a mistake"... With all the luck you've had in your previous adventures, maybe a broken shoulder isn't that bad of a price to pay after all!
Take care and get well soon. Our thoughts are with you!