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Mt. McKinley: Jones & Team Wait Another Day

Posted by: Garrett Stevens, Tyler Jones | June 12, 2013
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Mount McKinley
Elevation: 14,200'

Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Today is unfortunately another out chill situation. Garrett and I woke about 6 this morning to continued strong wind from 16,000 feet and above. The nature of the climbing is steep and exposed. With wind and a very cold north east flow, the risk of frostbite and loss of balance from the wind gusts, we have chosen to stay another day and hope for less wind tomorrow.

We try to conserve our lunch food and avoid the piggy tendency that sitting and waiting in the tents provides! The weather is clear and warm in most of Alaska, but at the altitudes we want to venture into, the jet stream is on!

On a more positive note, RMI Guide Jake Beren and his crew pulled into camp this afternoon, making for a great meeting of the minds in our 14,200’ home. We are excited to spend some time with friends and climbing partners from past trips, although we do have high hopes for a move tomorrow.

Report back soon!
RMI Guide Tyler Jones

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Mt. McKinley: Beren & Team Carry to 13,500’

Posted by: Jake Beren, Josh Maggard, Leon Davis | June 11, 2013
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Mount McKinley
Elevation: 11,200'

Tuesday, June 11, 2013
All these early mornings are sure getting us dialed on working in the cold and will surely pay off up high. Today we led the way out of 11,000 ft camp by a few hours and reaped the reward of hitting the sun at a not-so Windy Corner and putting in our cache at 13,500 ft in still, warm weather. The team did a great job and collectively we avoided baking in the afternoon sun. Now back at camp, the team is relaxing and recovering so that if Mother Nature allows, we can bump camps to 14,000’ tomorrow. All we can do now is rest up and hope that Windy Corner lets us through one more time.

RMI Guides Jake Beren, Leon Davis & Josh Maggard

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Mt. McKinley: Team Jones Waiting For Calmer Winds

Posted by: Garrett Stevens, Tyler Jones | June 11, 2013
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Mount McKinley
Elevation: 14,200'

June 11, 2013
You can’t always get what you want…
Those lyrics from Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones were the first thing that went through the collective consciousness this morning. The guides woke at 6am, packed sleeping bags in preparation for departure and unzipped the tent - only to see winds whipping the ridge of the West Buttress route above.

While camp here at 14,200’ remains relatively calm, the higher reaches of the mountain are getting pummeled by ferocious northeast winds, which are sending plumes of spindrift snow off into the stratosphere. With a forecast high temperature of -15F at the 17,000’ camp today, and winds gusting well into the 30mph range, the only safe option is to wait here in camp and hope for a less windy day to make our move. That combination of wind and temperature will actually feel like -65F (approximately), which can freeze exposed flesh in one minute. Needless to say, we’re not going to venture into that kind environment.

So here we sit and wait, hoping for a break in the wind. We were treated to a bodacious air show earlier, when the contract helicopter, an A-Star B-3, came ripping around and right over our tents about three times in a row. Seems like they are doing some sort of filming up here, and we all mugged shamelessly as the ship blasted less than 40 feet above us. Good entertainment, to say the least.

While we have had more than one facetious conversation about moving in the wind storm, the group is prepared to wait for the right time and the right weather window. To channel the Stones yet again (and continue the song):

If you try sometimes, you might find you get what you need

So here’s hoping we get what we need!

RMI Guides Tyler Jones, Garrett Stevens and the patiently waiting team

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Mt. McKinley: Jones and Team Continue Rest at 14,000’

Posted by: Garrett Stevens, Tyler Jones | June 10, 2013
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Mount McKinley
Elevation: 14,200'

Monday, June 10, 2013
A windy and cold night was greeted by more wind. For our team this is no issue, as we had planned this second consecutive rest day. This will be just the ticket for a more acclimatized and rested body that we will need for summit success.

The menu for this morning was supreme. Round upon round of bagels with cream cheese topped with bacon along with hash browns covered in cheese took us once again well past noon to complete.

The places we travel in the mountains can lead one to believe we are Martians, ready to launch onto to another planet - and that is exactly what we are doing. We push ourselves both mentally and physically, taking our personal learning and discovery to a higher level. When we return from these Martian lands, after having come face to face with deep personal truths and surpassing previously held limitations…we bring a richer and more rounded person home, someone who understands more about the nature of teamwork, sacrifice, and awareness. We thank you all for the support and the opportunity to let us dig deep and take on a new understanding of our passions!

The afternoon has more smelly tent time spent pounding water, fussing over who is the best celeb of all time and growing hairier by the day! The forecast is looking to set up nicely over the next few days and we hope to move to our high camp tomorrow. Till then keep the vibe high for our push!

RMI Guides Tyler Jones, Garrett Stevens and the crew

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Mt. McKinley: Team Beren Enjoys Rest Day

Posted by: Jake Beren, Josh Maggard, Leon Davis | June 10, 2013
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Mount McKinley
Elevation: 11,200'

Monday, June 10, 2013
It did snow a little bit last night and the cold wind this morning made a camp day a welcome change of pace for this team. We are climbing very well so far, and I’m sure everyone would’ve done just fine continuing higher this morning. Patience on the big mountain is key, and the recovery day will only make us stronger for the future as we acclimatize and settle in to camp life.

After a big breakfast we reviewed some cramponing techniques and ice axe usage. After our mid-morning relaxation session we are going to have a potluck lunch and move to a little rope work and cache digging before dinner. Tomorrow if the weather is workable we will carry towards 14,000’ Camp and get a little taste of some real altitude. Everyone sends their best to family and friends back home.

Over and out,
RMI Guide Jake Beren

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Mt. McKinley: Beren & Team Arrive to 11,000 Camp

Posted by: Jake Beren, Leon Davis, Josh Maggard | June 10, 2013
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Mount McKinley
Elevation: 11,200'

Sunday, June 9, 2013
Tonight we will sleep well after three big days on the lower Kahiltna. We arrived to 11,000’ camp in the early warmth of a new day and made camp easily. A strong performance by the team gives us great confidence in our abilities the higher we move and with a full day of rest tomorrow, we should only grow stronger. 

The rest day won’t be entirely lounging about. We are going to review some tricks of the trade for motion on the upper mountain and ready loads for our carry towards our 14,000’ Camp.

So with a light snow falling onto our tents and the sound of other teams passing through camp, we say goodnight to our friends and family.

RMI Guides Jake Beren, Leon Davis & Josh Maggard

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Mt. McKinley: Jones & Team Rest at 14,000’

Posted by: Tyler Jones, Garrett Stevens | June 09, 2013
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Mount McKinley
Elevation: 14,200'

After yesterday’s carry up into the thin air of 16,000’, the team is enjoying the sun and leisurely pace of a rest day here in Genet Basin. The morning started when the sun came around the ridge, thawing the tents and prying open our closed eyes from a well-earned night of sleep.

We headed over to our posh house and spent the better part of two hours making and eating blueberry pancakes with peanut butter and bacon. Movie quotes bubbled up from the crew like water from a fountain, followed by a discussion of other vacation ideas (mostly tropical). We drank hot coffee and generally continued to bond together, enjoying the calm morning.

This afternoon, we’re planning to head over to a zone known as “the edge of the world,” which lies about 20 minutes southwest of camp. The basin in which we’re camped drops precipitously away about 5,000 vertical feet at this location, providing outlandish views of the Kahiltna Glacier, Mt Hunter, Mt Foraker, and the vast Alaskan wilderness. This light acclimatization hike will let us flush the lactic acid we accumulated yesterday, stretch sore legs, and soak up more of the beauty that surrounds us.

At day 11 on the mountain, thoughts can easily turn to the little things you miss from the lowlands - trees, birdsong, bacon cheeseburgers. But our team is still focused on the ascent, and remains mentally strong and poised to move higher yet. We’ll check back in tomorrow, so don’t change that channel!

RMI Guides Tyler Jones, Garrett Stevens and the team

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Mt. McKinley: Team Jones- Freeze or Fry! Carry to 16,400’

Posted by: Tyler Jones, Garrett Stevens | June 08, 2013
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Mount McKinley
Elevation: 14,200'

Saturday, June 8, 2013
Bonjour, from the fryer at 14 camp. The essence of climbing the great big mountains is that in the shade we freeze and in the sun we fry. Our carry to 16,400 ft went well and we are now ready for some more rest time.

Today was a long hard effort getting out of the tents around 6:45 with not a breath of wind and clear skies; the not so fuzzy part was -10 F air temp. This had us all moving quickly to eat another bowl of oatmeal and down a cup of coffee before departing camp and wiggling vigorously to keep the fingers and toes warm.

When we reached the half way mark in our second leg of the carry, the sun popped up over the West Rib route and the rays warmed us to our core. It took just a half hour for us to be climbing in our base layer, welcoming the fry portion of our day.

The fixed lines on the West Buttress Head Wall were in great condition with fabulous cramponing - the teeth biting in the snow as if we were on steep green grass. I envy green grass as the only natural colors we have observed are white, blue and the light brown of the granite ridges rising thousands of feet above.

We chopped in firm snow to create a cache hole just big enough to drop food, fuel and supplies. The team then descended down the buttress a short way before a hot and relatively easy and smooth decent off the fixed lines and a short stroll back to our 14 advanced base camp!

In the tents yet again hiding from the magnificent orange ball in the sky! The future of the day and for tomorrow is to chill, eat, drink, and rest up for our summit push hopefully next week! We miss you all! The guides are currently craving an ice cold coke, some one please have one for us! Till tomorrow be happy be chill all is well!

Ciao,
RMI Guides Tyler Jones & Garrett Stevens

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Mt. McKinley: Beren & Team Carry Higher

Posted by: Jake Beren | June 08, 2013
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Mount McKinley
Elevation: 9,800'

Saturday, June 8, 2013
Waking early this morning we shouldered out packs and made a bid to move some supplies higher on the mountain. Mild but cold enough temps kept the walking comfortable and we were able to cache at 11,000’ camp before the sun came out in force. The team did great, and we made it back to our camp at the base of Ski Hill before the heat really turned on.
Now we are hiding in whatever shade we can find before an early dinner and bed. If the weather holds or at least remains workable, we will fire for 11 Camp in the wee hours tomorrow. Wish us luck!

RMI Guide Jake Beren & Team

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Mt. McKinley Expedition: Beren & Team Camp at Ski Hill

Posted by: Jake Beren | June 07, 2013
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Mount McKinley
Elevation: 7,800'

Friday, June 7, 2013
Happy 100 Year Anniversary of the first ascent of Denali to all our friends in the lowlands!  We celebrated the occasion by leaving Basecamp for our first camp at the base of Ski Hill. On our way we ran into RMI Team 3 with Brent, Leah and Logan, fresh (generous term) from the summit. A big congratulations for a job well done.
  We travelled early this morning, making use of the cooler temps to stay on the surface of the snow instead of post holing our way into utter frustration. Our way to camp was smooth and we can only hope the melting snow doesn’t disappear too fast so that we can make our way out of here in a few weeks. I’m sure it will work out just fine.
  We plan on calling it early tonight and carrying higher early tomorrow morning while it’s still cold and then we can soak up the heat in the afternoon. The team is off to a great start, climbing strong and happy to be on the mountain.

RMI Guide Jake Beren & Team

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