Mt. McKinley Expedition: Cifelli & Team Retrieve Gear from 10,000ft
Posted by: Dominic Cifelli, Ben Luedtke, Mike Bennett
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Alaska
Elevation: 11,000'
June 15, 2025 - 8:38 pm PT
Gooooood evening Denali blog followers and welcome back to your personal tell all of mountain news, gossip, and glory. Today, just like the itsy bitsy spider we climbed that spout again. We were gently awoken by our guides at 5:30 and left for a 6:45 start back down the mountain to our cache below. At 10,000 feet we… and by we I mean our relentless guides… dug out our cache filled with snacks, solar panels, clean clothes, and summit gear. And thank god I was reunited with my cheese. ‘Twas a short jaunt back up to 11,000' Camp where we enjoyed bagels with bacon and honey jalapeño cream cheese. Contrary to yesterday’s blog, the American Canadian peace balance now falls in the hands of the Oilers and Panthers.
We then got a quick refresher course on how moving up the rest of the mountain will go as we ditch our snow shoes and move into crampons. A few of us gathered in a big circle and traded cheeses of all kinds until we made certain none of us would ever poop again.
Tomorrow we await to see what the weather brings in hope of moving more gear up to the next cache.
I continue to think about and question why a person takes on an effort such as this. Perhaps there’s answers we think the mountain holds, perhaps a bottomless pit of an ego we are trying to fill, the need for contrast from our everyday lives, or maybe it’s just the love of mountains and pushing ourselves to the jagged edge of our capabilities. No matter the reason, it’s an honor to be here with such talented and kind human beings. Sitting here at 11,000 ft our team has no idea what the future holds, to that I raise a toast to my fellow climbers at all stages on Denali… To the mountains we are meant to summit, and the ones we are not, may we enjoy the company, the views, and the climb either way.
I want to say thank you to my parents, I wouldn’t be here without you, and a special shout out to Moose Hockey Alaska, and the 525 bulldogs, YBYSA!
Love,
RMI Climber Mikayla
Comments (4)
You’re a beast and an inspiration. I hope all the trips carrying dog food up Baldy are paying off. I don’t know how I’m going to keep up with you. All my tiny little hills in the Alps can’t be the same as the Great One. This weekend I clawed my way up the Lagginhorn at 13,156ft and you’ve probably passed that altitude without even thinking twice about it. I seriously can’t wait to hear about your journey. Praying for your strength and safety. Ciao bella!
Matt
Posted by: Matt Reiland on
Wishing you clear skies, strong legs, and good company all the way up. so proud of you Mikayla, you’ve got a lot of folks rooting hard for you. - Love Mack!
Posted by: Mack on
You all amaze and inspire me. Not to climb mountains, that’s crazy.
Seriously though, I hope you are enjoying the beauty, camaraderie, and daily accomplishments. Upward and onward!
Mikayla’s mom
P.S. Mikayla, we love you! I’m happy to see Nellie and Maverick are keeping in touch.
Posted by: Michelle DeMers on
Yah Mom GO,GO, GO!! Nellie and I miss you so much but don’t worry we are getting affection and cuddles, don’t worry about us. We cant wait to see what this trip holds for you. Treats for us when you’re back, okay?
Love always,
Maverick and Nellie
Posted by: Christina Trombley on