April Update

Buy your airline tickets...we have reservations! Permit 37539 for 7/28-8/1 at Muir for 9, but only 6 climb beyond Muir. We have two 3 person rope teams#1 is Veru, Brad, and Jakub, #2 is Tim, Jim, and Rob. Steve is also going to be there, and will either take someone's spot or will make his own reservations. Denise, Nate, and Dean will not go above Muir.

I also made reservations in Cougar Rock Campground at the base. Site E14 7/27-8/2 in case Denise and the boys want to come down, and E16 just for 7/27 so that everyone is accommodated the night before climbing to Muir. E14 has one 10x10 foot tent pad and E16 gas two smaller pads. For the base, we'll probably have one big tent that sleeps 6, and two small tents that sleep 2. For Muir, we'll need small tents or bivys.

Our plan is to fly into Seattle Sat, spend the night, and head down to Cougar on Sun. Everyone should plan to be there early afternoon, and we'll discuss plans for the next day. At this point, the plan is heading up to Muir Mon, resting Tues, and trying for the summit Weds with a night at Muir Weds night on the way down. Thurs is a backup day. Either way, we should be down by Friday and can accommodate 6 in Cougar that night.

I'm going to see if I can tour some potential job sites on Friday, which would work out well if we summit Weds, come down Thurs AM, and have one car head up to Seattle Thurs night. This is still tentative, and obviously takes out the backup day for those heading to Seattle Thurs. Let me know if you are interested in that option when you're making flight arrangements.

Also try and coordinate (preferably with your rope teams) your flights and car rentals. The sites accommodate one care each. We'll have to stash at least one car, as Steve will have his, but the two rope teams should each try to come down in one car. We'll probably have one car for Denise, Veru, Nate, Jakub, and Brad. If Tim, Dean, Rob, and Jim can coordinate another car, that would be great.

As far as the workouts go - please post something!? Veru is in the Himalayas and Brad did his training. We expect good pictures from both. I'm currently in Mali for 3 weeks, so the workouts in 104 degree weather are preparing me for the desert more than Rainier. Nonetheless I go to the gym the local paratroopers use and plan to continue the climbing training when I return.

Jakub