Anchorage, Alaska, USA

[Via e-mail. No Real Audio]

This is Eric Brown for PMA with a final dispatch to end the 1999 Everest North Ridge Expedition. This email comes to you stateside, in Alaska, safe and happy at Jacek's parent's house.

After Nepal, Talli, Jacek, and I extended our layover in Thailand to 5 days. Though our yearning for home was increasing each day, we wanted to squeeze out the last bit of desire for exploring foreign lands. So, after a night in Bangkok, we jumped a bus to Phuket (pronounced "Poo-ket"...you heathens), and island on the Indian Ocean/Andaman Sea known for its nice beaches and beautiful scenery. Patong Beach was our initial stop and we spent 2 nights there relaxing and enjoying the beach and busy tourist/entertainment strip along it.

Our knack for adventure continued, as then, we rented a 25 foot sailboat and (the three of us) explored the limestone cliffs and sea caves of the islands in the northern part of Phalong Bay for 2 nights/3 days. This is where they filmed James Bond:"The Man With the Golden Gun." The second night, stopping at a quaint beach village to explore, the engine would not start after we swam back from the beach to our anchored vessel, the "O.K. La". Although a nice anchorage, we had wanted to cruise to the other side of the island for dinner at a real restaurant. But, accepting our fate, I went in search of food (we were down to PB&J, beer, soda, and one pineapple). I was good at hunting and gathering for I returned with four fish (frypan size) and 2 coconuts, all supplied by the friendly locals. Plus, Jacek found a can of pringles... so we were set.

After a nice moonlit night on the boat, we awoke early to start our sail back to the marina. Without an engine on a sailboat, no problem YOU say... it's a sailboat, duh! Yes, but getting out of sheltered anchorages and through narrow and shallow channels requires a motor. We had a good strong wind and made excellent time to the channel entrance, then had to tack many times to work our way through it. We resembled a team from America's cup. We ran aground close to the mangrove. After weight shifting and rocking did not free us, I jumped into the zodiac, reved up the motor, and became a tugboat captain. After pushing the sailboat into deeper water, I pushed it (Jacek at its rudder) thru the channel and finally, the marina. This trip tested our boating knowledge and we have quite a few stories.

Not that we needed anymore. This expedition has provided its share, some unwanted, but stories nonetheless. Human endurance and willpower was tested, the elements weathered, health compromised (Ian lost 35 pounds), and sadly, a friend, Tadek Kudelski, lost. In no way, though, do these things dampen the excitement, awe, and adventure felt, at least by me, throughout the whole trip. I met people from all over the world, stood constantly in the shadow of the highest place on Earth, a place of stunning natural beauty and power, and followed and assisted as friends, old and new, tested themselves, and were tested.

I was asked in Kathmandu, "What have you learned?", to which I had trouble answering. For the experience was fresh, and still is, and I don't know if I'll ever be able to sum it up to a simple answer. Right now it's a jumble of memories which haven't changed who I am am, but have added to who I am. Each day we add something to our self-- a lesson, a friend, a memory, a skill, a loss, an understanding. Time affects the impact of such things, and so, with time, this jumble, this trip, will evolve into a more coherent and understood history.

This was an interesting excursion into expedition reporting. I didn't have any expectations on how the trip would go, nor the website for that matter. I hope y'all have enjoyed following our stories and if you'd like to contact me with comments, go ahead. I'm at zrubek@yahoo.com.

>From PMA and the whole expedition crew, thanks for all your support, thoughts, prayers, and wells wishes. Special thanks to all our sponsors. An extra special big "thanks" to our parents, who support us and love us, even though our adventures make them worry more than anyone should have to.

Gig'em, godspeed, adios.... see y'all.