Mt. McKinley Expedition: Champion and Team Take a Weather and Skills Review Day
Posted by: Nikki Champion, Leif Bergstrom, Hannah Blum
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Alaska Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 11,200'
Friday, June 6, 2025 - 10:37 PM PT
We could hear it before we could see it, the dreaded wind. It woke us this morning, before we saw it moving snow all across the mountain. We drank some coffee, and watched to see if the winds would die down - but they stayed elevated. Drifting snow all around camp. By 10:00 am it became obvious it was going to be a weather day here at 11 Camp for our team. We had another egg and hashbrown scramble and then spent a few hours out of the wind in our tents. By the mid-afternoon, we layered up and reviewed some of the skills that will make the next day of climbing go smoothly - from running belays, to cramponing techniques, it was nice to get a refresher. After sharpening our skills we rolled into another dinner of mac and cheese and loaded our packs with the group loads for tomorrow. Though there's a little snow in the forecast, winds look more favorable for carrying.
RMI Guide Nikki Champion and Team
Comments (6)
Greetings all the way from London to Mila, and the team! You are heroes! Vera x
Posted by: Vera on
Happy Birthday Nikki! Love you! looking like a summit in the near future hang in there. weather is shaping up!
Posted by: Alex Andrews on
James, I hope you and the expedition team are doing well! The water quality lab is rooting for you! -Hunter
Posted by: Hunter on
Happy Birthday Nikki, Love Dad.
Posted by: Robert Champion on
Hi Mila , You’ve got this! Miss you, Chris
Posted by: Chris on
Hi Mila and team. Sending good vibes for calm winds ! Eva
Posted by: Eva McDevitt on