Hello Mountain Zoners, this is Vernon Tejas with Alpine Ascents on the top of Europe! We're at 5,642 meters above sea level and everybody's here and what a crew it is. No headaches amongst the bunch. Well, there are a few tired people of course, but everybody is in very good spirits.

Here's the team, "Hello!" Oh my goodness, that was wonderful. It's a beautiful day, we can see from the Caspian Sea over yonder all the way to the Black Sea. Holy smokes!

It's beautiful, it's been calm, it's been clear. Everybody is so stoked to be here, you can't believe it. What a pleasure and we're glad to have you here with us on the top of Europe, Mount Elbrus. It is phenomenal. And, in efforts to actually .... asked me to read a poem and that's what I'm going to do right now. It's called 'Dreaming that I Climb the Mountain.'

Last night I dreamt
Of climbing Sung Mountain,
Striding out alone
With my rattan cane,
Past a thousand cliffs,
Over ten thousand ravines.
I enjoy them all.
In my dream
My leg was not paralyzed.
I was healthy as in youth.
But on waking, I returned to my senses,
With the same disfigured flesh and form.
Now for the first time I perceive truly
That form can be sick
And spirit healthy,
Form and spirit are both illusions;
Truth consists neither in reality nor dream.
In daytime I walk with difficulty,
In nighttime walk freely.
Since time is divided equally
Between day and night,
Nothing is lost.

This poem was by Po Chu-i and it was translated by Howard S. Levy and Henry Wells.

Thank you very much for joining us. Join us at the bottom in a few days.

Listen to team's messages to family

— Vern Tejas, Alpine Ascents International Guide and MountainZone.com Correspondent