Mt. McKinley: Van Deventer & Team Take a Rest Day at 11,200’
Posted by: Pete Van Deventer, Josh Maggard, Robby Young
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Denali
Elevation: 11,200'
May 20, 2015 - 12:07 am PT
We wanted to get up to 13,500' to cache today, but the weather had other plans. Clouds and snow were moving quickly over the Polo Field and West Buttress above us, and gave us all the clues we needed to guess what would be going on at Windy Corner. After watching the trend for a couple of hours and not seeing any improvement, we decided to sit tight and take a tent day. Sure enough, around noon the wind direction shifted and brought strong, gusty winds to camp, along with a fair bit of snow. The team did the tent time triathlon, competing in three events: napping (best napping and longest), spades, and sport eating lunch food. By dinner, the clouds above us started to break and the sun peaked through. We've got 6 inches of nice new fluffy snow, and the view as we crawled into our sleeping bags was sparkly and beautiful. We'll add some more sleep hours, and hope that we wake up to conducive conditions for getting our cache in tomorrow!
RMI Guides Pete, Josh, Robby, and team
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Mt. McKinley: Walter & Team Train at 14,200’ Camp
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Comments (9)
Matt sounds like you are having a lot of fun. I’m staying in touch with mom to see how you are doing. It has been raining here most of the day. Stay warm and be safe. Love you dearly. Auntie Marilyn
Posted by: Marilyn Collura on
Beautiful photos that have been posted. Hope the weather cooperates - stay safe and smart. Love you Robby (mom) :-)
Posted by: Diane Young on
I am sure u r coping with the snow well Brian P. Just like the winters back home, but a lot more beautiful and exciting. Keep enjoying and great work team and guide.
Posted by: Faisal on
Hi Jon,
Back from my Vegas trip and nice to the follow your guides’ blog. Hope that everyone continues to be in great health and spirits. It is reassuring to read that the guides are experts in “reading” the weather. Thank you guides for your wisdom. Hope that everyone enjoyed the tent day and am wishing that tomorrow brings better climbing weather.
Aunty hopes that you will continue to be safe and keep warm.
With warm thoughts and prayers.
Hugs, Mom
Posted by: Kemai on
Fingers crossed for better weather tomorrow. Good that you took another tent day with the weather changing so fast…
We are enjoying these blog updates…stay safe and we are thinking of you all…
love, Mom
Posted by: Dave & Melissa on
Hey Pete and Brian!!! I’ve been following you from day one and wish I was there with you. I remember it well. Pete, you should let the team know that they are quite safe as you do a great impression of a seeing eye dog at 23K! Send me a good pic from the top Brian. Wishing you guys the best and I look forward to the updates. Weird being on this end. FYI, I’m still trying to get $$ to Juan.
Posted by: Kevin Stitely on
Good call team PRJ on reading the skies above and sitting it out. Very professional.
So very pleased all there are having some fun and watching the mountain put on a new layer of powdery snow for you all to play in. Hoping the sun will shine for a good day ahead.
We all have our eyes peeled to the Blog for team PRJ postings.
Love you heaps darling Renee. Be safe. Mum x
Posted by: Lori on
Thank you for the update :>)’ I am very glad you all choose to err on the side of caution that is always best Great thinking Team Pete !!! 6” of new snow sounds like a lot of snow angels going on, weather here in Charlotte rain finally stopped now hot and humid.
Matt hope you are doing well, stay healthy and of course I am always thinking of you praying for better weather and safe journey. Maggie is doing much better.
I love and miss you. Till next up date all of Team Pete stay safe.
Love mom xox
Posted by: Terri on
Hello Honda!
Sounds like everyone is having fun. Glad you got to rest for a couple days, sounds like a lot of work has been done.
It is good to be able to follow you on the blog, that way we can imagine you hauling your sled up the hill.
Looks beautiful up there, can’t wait to see the pictures.
Take care, we are always thinking of you.
Becky & Tony
Posted by: Becky& Tony on