Dispatch 13 Hard to Say Goodbye

...Tom Halvorson Departs Basecamp September 4, 2001

It was exceptionally hard for me to say goodbye to Ed and the rest of the team. I had grown very close to all of them in a short time.

Ed and I have been through a lot together over the past 17 years, but words cannot describe how hard it was to say goodbye to someone I care about who is facing a challenge of this magnitude. Although these guys are some of the best climbers in North America, it was still hard to leave friends in the hands of God, Mother Nature and the highest mountain in the world.

It was a beautiful day on the Rongbuk Glacier. It was clear, 75 degrees, and you could see the entire mountain. Everyone, even the cooks and sherpas, came to wish me a safe journey.

There were handshakes, hugs, tears and instructions as everyone gathered around the Land Cruiser.

After I had said goodbye to each of them individually I reluctantly got into the vehicle. I was sitting in the middle of the back seat between Prem, our Nepali contact, and a sick cook when Ed walked up to the window and said, “Hey I love you man.”

My heart just dropped, and there was a huge lump in my throat. I had a hard time saying anything, but I choked out, “I love you too. And you know you don’t have to stand on the top of the hill. The important thing is that you get back down safely.” Everyone waved as we drove off.

This team is made of great down-to-earth men, and I will love all of them always. My thoughts and prayers will be with them until they return safely.

--Tom Halvorson

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