Day 14: Total Mayhem

Today was absolute mayhem.

The kind of day where you stop trying to make things smooth and just focus on moving forward.

The Escape Plan

With Russian airspace shut down, we pivoted.

We hired a driver to take us across the border into Georgia so we could try to fly home from there instead.

What should have been a straightforward drive turned into a 12-hour experience.

Russian passport exit.
Georgian passport entry.
Traffic. Delays. Waiting.

And then the drive itself…

Narrow mountain roads.
Potholes everywhere.
Tunnel after tunnel carved through the mountains.

The MVP of the Day

Our driver’s name was Yogi.

And honestly, without him, I’m not sure we would even be here yet.

Watching him navigate those roads with calm confidence while everything around us felt uncertain was incredibly impressive.

Leadership Lesson: Calm Transfers

One steady person changes the energy of an entire situation.

That’s leadership.

Not controlling chaos.

Staying grounded inside of it.

The Georgia Shuffle

We finally made it to the airport area in Georgia and walked to a nearby hotel hoping to grab a room for the night.

No rooms.

None.

So instead, we sat down for breakfast.

Recharged. Regrouped. Reworked the plan.

The New Flight Plan

Maya and James are staying a little longer.

Tom and I were able to secure flights:

Tbilisi→ Istanbul → Denver

And then hopefully onward to Salt Lake City today, depending on customs and timing.

The irony of crossing multiple countries and time zones so quickly is that I genuinely don’t know what day or hour my body thinks it is anymore.

The Thing I’ll Remember Most

More than the mountains.
More than the chaos.

The thing that stands out most is the kindness.

People helping when they didn’t have to.
Sharing information.
Giving advice.
Trying to solve problems together.

Just… good humans in difficult circumstances.

And honestly, that’s been one of the most beautiful parts of this entire experience.

Leadership Lesson: People Remember How You Show Up Under Stress

When things are easy, kindness is convenient.

When things are complicated, uncertain, exhausting…

Kindness becomes character.

And I’ve seen so much character on this trip.

The Emotional Shift

I’m very excited to see my family.

Very excited to be home for Mother’s Day.

And at the same time… I know coming home is going to hit differently than I expected.

Because Yeti is gone.

And I think being away allowed part of that grief to stay suspended for a little while.

Coming home makes it real in a new way.

Looking Ahead

I also know I’ve stretched myself hard these last few weeks.

France. 3 kids with me, 4 at home. Russia. Border crossings. Summits. Travel chaos.

And then in three weeks…

Denali.

Part of me is wondering if I need to give myself more time before stepping back into another massive expedition.

And another part of me knows this is exactly what these mountains do.

They expand your capacity.

Leadership Lesson: Capacity Is Built at the Edge

Not in comfort.
Not in routine.

At the edge.

Where you’re tired.
Emotional.
Uncertain.

And still choosing how you respond.

Final Thought

This trip stretched me.

Not just physically.

Emotionally. Mentally. Logistically.

And honestly… relationally too.

Trying to stay patient, kind, and grounded while constantly adapting has probably been just as hard as the climbing itself.

But maybe that’s the real expedition.

Not the summit.

The person you become while trying to reach it.

And now…

Almost Home.