Paul Portner, August 15, 2008:
"Hey Jay, Hope all is well with you'alls back east. Late congrats on the big wedding. I know the family is gearing up for another nuptial event (Kate's) in September. Too bad I won't be able to make it. I would love to be there.
I thought you might be interested in knowing that the Yosemite web site may be needing a bit of updating these days. The Portner gang made a 2008 excursion to the great park in July, and it seems that a few Half Dome ascents were completed.
I'm afraid your own 54 years nine months mark has been eclipsed. --Not just from my own recent climb (56 years 6 months), but more remarkably--and perhaps foolishly--Mike went up to the top of Half Dome at age 58 years 6 months. I imagine the trip didn't help his bad hip, but nobody could talk him out of the idea, and he did succeed, returning to home base at 10 pm, in the dark, alone.
I believe there is also a new youngest girl--David's daughter Beth--who finished the trip at age 13.
There were three different excursions with various groups, and several first-timers, including some of Jeanne's kids, Patrick Portner and his new wife, and John's daughter Sara.
Sorry to disappoint the late-night fans, but my group made it back easily in the daylight hours. Though we did have the added entertainment of hiking down during a thunderstorm.
Hope you're having a great summer. Hello to Kathleen!
Adios for now, Paul"

Paul (8/17/05):
“I think rather than “slowest” as a category we need ‘best use of a single day for leisurely sightseeing’”

Jeanne (8/17/05):
“Yes, yes, I agree... how about this category: Night Descent.”

Jim (8/17/05):
“As to the question of when that occurred for John and I (together with our buds Mark Marasco, Curtis McBride and Mike O'Shea) it could have been either 1983 or 1984...we smoked a lot of dope back then.”

John (8/18/05):
“1984 sounds right.”

John (8/17/05):
“In case anyone doubts my claim that the 1974 trip was in June, remember we had to wait for it to stop raining (and lightning) before we mounted the cables.. This was the concern that led to Paul tying me to him and to Jeanne and Jim not going up. I distinctly remember the sign at the bottom that said 'Do not ascend if there is lightning in the area’. Paul’s response was, ‘It's all gone.’”

Jeanne (8/17/05):
“My memories of that trip [1974] are mainly of me and Jim chickening out at the bottom of the cables.”

Jim (8/17/05):
“Jeanne suggests I "chickened out" with her in 1974. What actually occurred is that I stayed behind to comfort and protect my beloved sister knowing full well that I'd be back another day.”

Jeanne (8/17/05):
“Yep, Jim's right... I spooked first, thereby supporting his inner chicken.”

Jeanne (8/17/05):
“Here's what I have to say about that... the 1974 climb was most definitely completed before June... I believe we went in early May or late April. I know for certain it was before June because National Geographic came out with their article highlighting the Half Dome climb in their June 1974 issue (I have the June 1974 issue of that magazine). I know the magazine article came out after our climb because I recall Fred's dad (a subscriber at the time) giving the magazine to us as a memento of our (or Fred's) accomplishment.”
[So… Jeanne is saying that she believes the gift occurred very soon after the magazine arrived in the Keeler Sr. household, and magazines are usually post-dated. --Jay]

Paul (8/17/05):
“You are correct about that Jeanne Anne. Because I clearly recall that this climb was a weekend trip. We hiked down late in the afternoon, delayed by the rainstorm that John accurately recalls. By the time we reached the valley darkness was setting in, and I had to drive the group home immediately in the old station wagon, so I could go to work that next day. Can we have a category of people who hiked up and down, drove home, and went to work all in a twenty-four hour period?

“Still, John Portner [1974] is the youngest to summit half dome "in a rain storm and after slipping and falling half a dozen or so times on the trail" if we want to add that category. Apparently Mark Portner [1964] takes the prize in broad daylight (i.e.: in reality).”

Chris (8/17/05):
“In 1964, Eugene Portner took Mike, Chris, Paul, Mark and Tom Atkinson on the 2-day excursion to the top of Half Dome. I don't recall if it was July or August.

“We hiked to Nevada Falls and spent the night in sleeping bags on piles of long soft pine needles. In the morning, after a leisurely breakfast, we proceeded to the base of the Dome.

“In all the excitement I don't remember exactly who went first (I think it was me), Mark was apprehensive and young (younger than Paul, as he still is), so when our encouragement failed we left him at the bottom to watch our stuff. Lo and behold, about ten minutes after we were sitting atop that big rock and taking in the majesty of our accomplishment, Mark appeared at the top of the cables.

“We were very proud of him and showered him with praise, it was a very fulfilling moment, almost a defining moment of Portner determination.

“Mark was the star of the show for about 15 minutes. The whole trip would have been tainted by having to tell everyone that Mark didn't make it to the top. Instead we had an uplifting story to tell, and Mark's inner strength and courage will always be remembered.

“In conclusion, if you put your list in chronological order, Eugene, Mike, Chris, Paul, Tom Atkinson (he is in the pictures I gave Paul this year) and the bravest of them all, Mark Portner, were the first in our clan to conquer Half Dome.”