OCTOBER 2021
HONORING EXTORTION 17
ABOUT
Over the course of 15 days, the Mt. Everest Skydiving Expedition team conducted five jumps in the highest drop zones in the world in the Mt. Everest region, honoring the fallen warriors of Extortion 17. 2021 marks the 10th anniversary of Extortion 17, the greatest single-incident loss of US lives in Operating Enduring Freedom – Afghanistan, on August 6th, 2011. 31 Americans lost their lives when their CH-47 (callsign ‘Extortion 17’) was shot down by the Taliban.
MISSION
- Honor the 10-year anniversary of Extortion 17
- Raise funds for Special Operations Warrior Foundation
- Launch the first mission of Legacy Expeditions
OVERVIEW OF THE Expeditions
The
Team
Mike Sarraille
Founder & CEO of Legacy Expeditions, ATTA, and Talent War Group, Retired Navy SEAL and Recon Marine, Host of The Everyday Warrior Podcast
Mike Ortiz
Fred Williams
Former U.S. Navy Seal & President of Complete Parachute Solutions
Dakota Williams
Tom Short
Ryan Short
Hugh Funk
Complete Parachute Solutions Instructor
Hunter Williams
Dr. Ryan Jackson
UK Medical Physician, Aviation Medicine and Major Trauma Resuscitation Expert
Elia Saikaly
Dawa Steven Sherpa
Nepalese Sherpa, Adventurer, Entrepreneur, and Environnementaliste
The Journey
Mount Everest
September 26 – October 1: Elevation Training at Colorado
Mike flew into Colorado for 5 days to undergo an Alpine Canopy Control Course with the Complete Parachute Solutions crew to prepare for the elevations he would encounter in the expedition. Read more about his training experience on Men’s Journal.
October 12: Departing Austin, TX
Mike said goodbye to his wife and departed on his 3-week journey, excited to see what was ahead!
October 13: Arriving at Everest
The team arrived in Kathmandu, and they were greeted by the Asian Trekking team guides
October 15: The Terraces & Acclimatization
The team drove into the mountains at the edge of Kathmandu, arriving to The Terraces Resort, where they stayed the first night
October 16: Flying to the World’s Most Dangerous Airport
The team convened at 5:30 a.m. to catch a helicopter ride aboard an AS 350 B3 to Lukla, the world’s most dangerous airport, where Dawa’s Aunt gifts the team with Katas blessed by holy men – the team’s first Puja ceremony.
October 17: Preparing for the jumps at Namche
The group departs for Namche Bazaar and after about an hour and a half, we reach the entrance to Sagarmatha National Park––the home of Mt Everest. Sagarmatha (‘Goddess of the Sky’) is the Nepali name for Mt. Everest.
October 18 – 19: Puja
After breakfast, the team conducted the one-hour uphill trek to the Syangboche Airstrip, the first of three jump locations, where they will be jumping for the next three days. Following the airstrip familiarization, we hold a second Puja, this time led by Buddhist Monks, who bless our parachutes and skydiving equipment through an offering to the Mountain Gods. Read more about this here
October 20: Panorama
On day eight, the weather prevented us from moving up to Syangboche for the jumps and delayed our arrival at the Everest Sherpa Resort––a lone tea house on a hilltop that provides a 360-degree panoramic view of the Khumbu region. The day wasn’t a waste, but rather an opportunity to get to know our fellow expedition team members – to learn their ‘why’ for the trip, as well as learn about their unique paths, families, and hopes for the future.
October 22: Syanboche
At Syangboche we set up for our first jumps, the first helicopter would consist of three of the most experienced jumpers – Dr. Ryan Jackson, and Dakota and Hunter Williams. What happened next is a testament to the violent power of the Everest region. A low-level cloud layer moving at 25+ knots climbed up over the ridge of the mountain and quickly overtook the drop zone, covering the entire airstrip, leaving the jumpers with no visual reference of the drop zone or where to land. The second group––Tom Short, Mike Ortiz, and I––donned our gear and loaded into the helicopter with palpable anxiousness and nervousness. Mike Ortiz, with almost 20,000 jumps, uses hand gestures signaling us to breathe and providing reassurance that we will execute a safe jump. I close my eyes and visualize each stage of my jump as if going through a mental checklist––a skill taught to me by mentors in the SEAL Teams and Marine Recon community.
No jumper was injured, and the group learned a valuable welcome lesson from Everest herself––conditions change quickly in one of the world’s harshest environments.
October 23: Ama Dablam
Once the helicopters reach Ama Dablam, we conduct a flight brief with the pilots and the first group—Dakota, Hunter, and Dr. Jackson—who proceed to load up. Mike Ortiz, Tom Short, and I load up and fly into the mouth of the valley. As the helicopter climbs to altitude, we cross close to several peaks, a tactic used by the pilots to gain lift from the anabatic winds. We turn into the final heading and are staring right at Ama Dablam. Once the release is given, I step off the skid and pull it within six seconds. The view is even more amazing than Syangboche.
On the trek back, we come across a small lake with the clearest water we’ve ever seen. I look at one of the expedition team members, a former 75th Ranger Regiment operator, and say, “Let’s do this.” The cameras come out as we strip down to our boxers and leap into the cold, unforgiving waters. In retrospect, it was a natural ice bath that felt damn good on the joints.
October 25: Ama Dablam
For day two of jumps at Ama Dablam, Fred Williams shifts the drop zone 50 meters closer to a finger running off Ama Dablam. The small linear DZ will serve as a confidence builder for the next day’s jumps at Gorakshep (17,500-foot drop zone). The entire team completes their jumps and like the last day at Syangboche, the group tightens their landings. Fred makes the decision to progress all jumpers to Gorakshep.
October 26: Gorakshep
As dawn hits, the group understands this is the culmination jump, the last jump, for most of us—a bittersweet feeling. While the flight is scenic, Dakota and I focus on our respective mental checklists, preparing to execute a successful jump. The canopy opens and I turn towards Everest, knowing this will be my last jump. After 15 seconds of soaking in the view of Everest, feeling humble and fortunate for the opportunity, I turn and head toward the holding area. At about 15 meters from the DZ marker, I misjudge the depth of snow. My feet catch, causing me to faceplant. Despite the rough landing, the snow was soft, and I stand up laughing. Dakota and I return to Ama Dablam and help the remaining jump loads prepare. As Fred Williams returns from his jump, he realizes there’s only one jumper on the last load and offers a second jump to whoever will take it. I quickly raise my hand and he says, ‘Get it on.’ The second jump is icing on the cake, beyond how I imagined ending the day.
October 27: The West Col and our Return to Kathmandu
Elia, Tom, and I get the full benefit of a twin otter departure from Lukla, the world’s most dangerous airport. It lifts off the runway shortly before the runway ends and the cliff drops off. After an hour’s flight, we touch down at Kathmandu. Throughout the day, we text the group for updates on the West Col attempt. Dakota, Hunter, Fred Williams, Dr. Jackson, and one other jumper successfully complete the West Col jump. Tom, Elia, and I, though jealous, couldn’t be happier for our brothers.
October 28: Departing Kathmandu
After goodbyes with Tom and Elia, I depart for the airport and the long trek home. Despite the once-in-a-lifetime experience and the inspiring terrain of Everest, the greatest personal return from the trip was the lifelong relationships I built with each of the Expedition team members. I am better for the time I spent with these men.
October 29: Arriving in Austin, TX
Arriving two days ahead of my scheduled return, I land in Austin, pick up my Dutch Shepherd, Bane, and drive over to my wife’s work to surprise her. Bane led the way to confuse her but once she saw me, she ran into my arms with tears. I couldn’t think of a better way to finish my trip. I don’t think I will ever truly articulate the impact of this expedition, but maybe that’s the point. Some things can’t be explained, and some things are better left unsaid. All I can hope is that I helped keep the memory of our fallen brothers alive and will continue to do so.
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