“I was unnerved by the fierce howling winds last night,
worried that my tent and I might not be here this morning.
I could barely find my way back from the toilet tent here at
Patriot Hills, in the face of the blizzard. I am alone
in a tent that shakes like a leaf. That makes two of
us. Sounds like a freight train is screaming past my
tent. The winds are supposed to ease tonight, so looks
like we will be flying home soon. Someone asked me why
I do these climbs? After questioning myself as to why
I would liquidate most of the money I have left, for THIS
trip, and take out a loan for $65,000 for an upcoming
Everest attempt, I have come to the conclusion that it is to
prove to myself that I am in control of my body. The
MS scare once took that control, which we all take for
granted, from me. I have slowly reclaimed my self
worth, along with my physical and mental strength. We
all need to believe that we are in charge of our own
destiny, and this helps me to do that. Money is not
the currency we use to pay for living our
dreams…determination is. ”
Mt. Vinson journal entry:
