Costa Mesa, California

June 24, 2019

Dear Family & Friends:

On June 22, 2019, I presented my last Everest program of the year for Olive Crest, a wonderful charity that serves at-risk children.

This 24-minute video documents my 2014 climb of Mt. Everest from the North approach, which begins in Tibet, and my 2009 climb from the South approach, which begins in Nepal. Some of the footage of my 2009 climb cannot be seen in any other Everest video. It includes dramatic video of Everest Base Camp and the Khumbu Icefall shot from a helicopter just two weeks before the 2015 earthquake that killed over 9,000 people in Nepal and India and 19 people at Everest Base Camp.

On Sunday, Sharon and I will travel to Egeland, North Dakota where we will celebrate the 4th of July, Uncle Harold’s 90th birthday and a memorial service for Beverly Smestad, who is the beloved wife of Sharon’s brother, Robin. We miss Beverly alot. Uncle Harold is a Korean War Veteran. Sharon’s Dad, and many of her Uncles, are WWII Veterans. They are all my heroes.

From Egeland, I will travel to the home of Elizabeth, who is Sharon’s cousin. Elizabeth and her family live in a beautiful lakefront home in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, just one hour from the headwaters of the Mississippi River at Lake Itaska, Minnesota. Lake Itasca is the launch point for my next grand adventure.

My canoe is being shipped from Canada to Elizabeth’s home. I will spend a few days practicing on the lake before I travel to Lake Itasca for my July 25 Big Muddy launch.

My emotions mirror the emotions I experienced on my first Everest expedition in 2007: fear, trepidation, excitement and confidence that God will be my guide and my protector.

Live Your Dream.

livelikedan.

Bill