9:21am: Chris Stensland calls back out of breath ands says the teams are flying. They have already crossed the icefall and are onto the penitentes section below. He estimates they will be back in BC within the hour.

9:55am: The Team is 10 minutes from the top of "the Strip".

10:05am: The moving group of helpers, carrying Don, streams though each camp site stopping and starting with people coming out of their tents to give heartfelt welcomes.

10:10am: Chris, Bruce and Don arrive with all the helpers. By the end, the transport team has grown to 37 people. It is about 35 degrees Fahrenheit outside and still the amount of warmth was overwhelming among the countless hugs, smiles and affection. Once Don got off the stretcher, Didar and Javed began immediately stripping the 12 poles that formed the stretcher, so they could be returned to their proper place holding up the mess tent. The climbers escape the light rainy snow in the tent for a well-deserved rest.

We have reached our goal-we have returned safely.

Note: all times are local, UMT/GMT+5)