Here are my Vail memories:

Kemp swimming in the pristine lake at the top of hanging lake hike. Nobody read any of the warning signs not to swim due to sensitive nature of
the environment. We actually have photos of Tarzan in the middle of the 40 degree water. I sent them to Colorado Fish and game.

Mike Heff's never-ending 40th birthday party including two buddies coming in to celebrate and bringing in the much needed chapstick.

Pete Kohn was in great form taking at least 25 rolls of film. I will always remember his halftime impromptu motivational performances. The
Colorado guys are still wondering who the guy was doing the Patton imitation.

Erin was totally awesome coaching us. The proper tone (unlike our friend Pete) just enough X and O's and plenty of anecdotes about the championship
season.

Schife played out of his mind in the cage including the game ball in the victory over Pepsi. He was seeing the ball, stepping with quickness, great
clearing the ball. He was really into it for the guy who after graduation would never step in the cage again. His improvement indicates we may never
get him out of the cage. He still needs to get his ass down on the bounce shot.

The young buck-a-roos Seymour and Storkerson were great additions and added not only great field presences but a connection with more eras of
Midd lacrosse. The best part of the experience is this combo of still playing with my best buddies yet the bridging generations of the program.

We had the huge bonus of not one player losing any playing time to injury.

Kemp was in fact trying to injure someone like he used to in the old days. Luckily he missed in his projectile launches. Rod Fox did some ankle
biting in his effort to win the low man contact battle.

One night Bobo arranged for the group to eat 30 dollar a piece burgers.

The lyrics of the Park School song was still hidden at the Mexican food place where we left them however the restaurant renovation painted over
the sheet of paper.

We are still proud to put on the Blue and White. We are by far the best looking team in terms of uniform.

Everyone out there in Vail knew that The 2000 Panthers were National Champs.

There are many of you that have to make this trip next year. We have done it for four years and the system is wrinkle-free thanks to the efforts of
Bobo and others.

Here is my advice to those worried about conditioning... you can't breath at 8000 not matter what shape you’re in, so everyone is equal from that
standpoint.

This was the best trip yet and.... let me commit to next year right now.

Love, Duane