11/16/2017 - You Are Not Forgotten

"It is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose. That is not a weakness, that is life." -Jean-Luc Picard

Lee Helzer will lead "You Are Not Forgotten" with an estimated duration of 3 hours.

Jesse and Eliseo will lead on my behalf.

Meet at 6:15pm in the parking area at the start of Eklutna Lake road.  Due to limited space we will carpool to a 3 car gravel pullout at about mile 4.5 on Eklutna Lake Road by electric pole 74.  We will then hike up the road to electric pole 85 where we will depart the road and head up to the monument, pay homage, and return.  Micro-spikes recommended.    Please allow extra time for traffic delays.

See 11/12/2015 – We Remember11/20/2014 – You Are Not Forgotten or 11/14/2013 – You Are Not Forgotten for additional info.

United States POW-MIA flag

United States POW-MIA flag

Post Report

In what has become something of a Veteran’s Day Epic tradition, three mortal souls disappeared into the forests off of Eklutna road on a cold, snowy Thursday night.  We slipped and slid our way up brushy slopes, through alder filled ravines, and icy crags to emerge winded and sweating on the summit ridge.  A disorienting ice fog briefly confused our route as we plunged through thigh deep snow drifts in the narrow valley of the shadows below the true summit.  Finally we emerge into inky, cloudless darkness, the brilliance of the heavens guiding us to our destination.  As we peer down into the shining city 4,314 feet below our feet, each of us, alone on this mountain, reflects on those who have gone before, those still alone in some dark jungle, empty desert, or eternal sea.  A flag, missing from its makeshift monument, seems a fitting tribute at this moment…YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN…

Eklutna

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