TA -- your goal has been to inspire Newfoundland and Labrador's youth -- and by doing what you have done and are doing, you achieve your goal. It is unrealistic to think that your climb would motivate our youth to really climb Everest, but rather to do what you are always promoting ... overcome your own Everest. It would have been easiest (mentally not physically) to keep on climbing, or to deny the inevitable and stay on the mountain, but that is not going to get you over your Everest when it is the wrong decision. The hardest thing any of us can do is not so much physical, but the mental and emotional choices. You have shown us all, not only the youth who stay in touch through you, that to really be strong, we have to make the right choices. You have made the right choice for your health and safety. That is so much more important than choosing to keep going when it's the wrong thing to do.

Congratulations on continuing to motivate us all to make the right choices!

Bill

While it may seem a distant thought in your mind right now TA, you must remember that it took more courage and strength to stop than it did to continue. You chose to stop in the face of great disppointment. You chose to stop when others may have pushed on. You listened to your head instead of your heart which in the best of times is an extrememly difficult thing to do. In making these choices, you have shown more courage and strength to those you wish to inspire than actually having summitted.

I spoke about this with my 10 year old daughter this morning. I explained to her how I made a map (I am a GIS analyst) in school following the path of Mallory & Irvine and how they chose to continue on even though it was a life and death decision. In their case, it was the wrong decision. It's a lesson learned for her that means she must weigh the pro's and the con's of anything and make the best decision for herself even though it may be the toughest one ever.

Thank you TA for allowing me to pass on that piece of wisdom to my daughter. It may not stick in years to come but for right now it has made an impact on her! Without you and your tough call, it would have been completely lost on her.

Congratulations! While you may not feel this way right now, you definitely deserve a great pat on the back!

Anne - A single mom in St. John's!

of where you are right now. The movement of goods and people, meeting of other trekkers ---all of your descriptions has been so wonderful and so appreciated.

As for being in a place of "not knowing" -- that can be a very powerful feeling. We're not meant to know everything. Still, what we do know about you is your incredible capacity for going beyond the ordinary. (Face it---you're just not normal, girl!)...which makes me excited about the possibilities and the amazing things yet to come---whetever they may be. You've inspired us all to dream out loud.

It's a beautiful picture you posted today, TA. Wishing you safe travels and restored health on your back home. Keep well. Hugs and love...Penny

Thanks for posting the picture today. I have always wanted to see the Western Cwm, and I never shall. However, I can still dream about trekking to the Annapurna sancturary, another all-time fantasy destination.

The weather is changeable here at 64 meters elevation. It's down to about 22 Celsius. You should come visit South Carolina, you're probably temporarily immune to sunburn! Right now we have more shades of green than the law allows --- hopefully you will have plenty of foliage and flowers when you get home.

TA, you're an inspiration. You'll be in our thoughts and prayers until you're safely home.
- Ken

Dear TA,
You are right about the grief. You have to go through the stages over and over again. Someday we will talk about grief and how to make things better so that the grief is not the only thing in your life but right now you look all cried out and like you are waking in a bit of a dream state -- knowing that you are moving forward but feeling like the rest of the world and the people in it are moving 10 times faster than you can cope with.
Enough of simple words, we will see you when you come home. Sam (7) from MQP, when told that you had to come down looked very upset and sad but then he cheered up and said "but mountains don't go away so she can try next year if she wants". Take some of his optimism-- mountains don't go away, you can decide what to do later, get healthy and well for now.
Yours, shelley