Mt. McKinley Expedition: Cifelli & Team Move to 14,200’ Camp
Posted by: Dominic Cifelli, Ben Luedtke, Mike Bennett
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Alaska
Elevation: 14,200'
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Wednesday, June 18, 2025 - 8:49 pm PT
Cripes alfrighty we did it! We finally made it to Camp 3 at 14,200 feet. Pardon me and my french, we are just a little excited. And don't let those tabloids play tom foolery on you, we're 14,200 feet, not 14,000 feet; those silly newsfolk, they'll really get ya. Anywho, we got to tinkering with our stuff last night for the move and got up real early. You know what they say, early bird gets the cheese. So there we were at 11,000 feet, we scootered up Motorcycle Hill, squirreled our way around the next, galloped through the polo fields and then roasted our tushies off like when grandma leaves the pop tarts in the toaster for too long. See what I did there? I'm just joshing yous. Anyways, so now here we sit at 14,200 feet and you might be thinking to urself, what's so darn important about that? Well we'll tell ya. Gosh the views are something else, but ya, so, now that we're at camp 3, we're sitting pretty good to, ya know, get acclimated and stuff before we launch like a potato from a spud gun and get our bums to the summit of this thing! So ya, we're pretty excited and all that. Thanks so much for tuning in. Tomorrow we gotta walk back down and get our goodie bags we left just below camp, but gosh, it'll be a lot easier than today was. Okay, thanks for listening, tell your folks we says hi and watch out for deer. Ok, bye now.
RMI Guide Ben Luedtke and Team
Comments (11)
Yay for 14,200! So excited for y’all!
Nate and Aspen, Everyone asks about you and are always surprised that the expedition is so long! obviously they have no idea how epic this adventure really is. So proud of you both. I checked on your location and zoomed in to see your camp. Had no idea there were so many tents/people in the mountain! You’re killing it on the climb. Love and miss you. Betsy/Mom
Posted by: Betsy Brunner on
Yay for 14,200! So excited for y’all!
Nate and Aspen, Everyone asks about you and are always surprised that the expedition is so long!
Posted by: Betsy Brunner on
CONGRATS ON 14,200!! So exciting! The Hall clan is proud of you all - especially our Andrew. We love reading the posts each night. Thank you for the updates and giggles, they brighten our day.
Winn’s dad joke for the day -
“Why can’t the skeleton sky dive?”
Because he doesn’t have the guts.
Love you AHH. Glad you are having fun and we will keep sending positive vibes and prayers for good weather!
XOXO
Lauren
Posted by: Lauren Hall on
Hi Dad!
I miss you so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so (times infinity) much. I wish you were here. Drago threw up this morning but he’s doing well now. Cappy says “wow can I climb up the mountain with you?” And Mony Lou said “do you have a job?” And Ginny says “squeak”
Love Winn
And cappy, and Ginny, and Mony Lou, and Drago, and Axel, and lilolu, and the new cat in our basement
Posted by: Winn Hall on
Hi dad! It’s me, wells. I’m about to go to bed, but I wanted to leave a comment. Congratulations on 14,200 ft. That’s 4,734 cappys standing on each others backs! You’re doing really good. Today we went to cinergy and went bowling with mom and it was a lot of fun. Good night. I love you. Have safe travels.
Love Wells
Posted by: Wells Hall on
2.69 miles above sea level!! You only have about a mile left to go!!! Hell ya! Aspen and Nate, you are an inspiration to me! It makes me question what I’ve done and what I’m doing with MY life! Thank goodness we are friends so I can at least stand next to awesomeness. Hope you are taking in every part of this adventure. But try to remember that it’s really about the journey, not so much the destination. Obviously, there is a very precise destination, but soak up every moment on your way to and from that place. Suzy and I are cheering you on the whole way. Love you guys!!!
Posted by: Doug Van on
I’m so impressed with all of you. I can’t wait to see pictures! What does everyone do for their day jobs? What’s for dinner? How’s the weather besides cold?
I hope you all are in the moment and take the time to realize just how amazing this endeavor is and just how few people on this planet see what you are seeing.
Onward and upward@
Mikayla’s mom.
Posted by: Michelle DeMers on
Sending my very best vibes for Tait and Sophia Bishop! Makes me wish I was young again.
Posted by: Dean Newman on
Maverick and Nellie here to send good vibes to the team, Congratulations on 14,200’ so incredibly amazing!
Paw high-fives to everyone, esp our mom.
Stay safe!
Love The pups
Maverick and Nellie Wellie
Posted by: Christina Trombley on
Ya! 14200ft! Go, Nate, Go Aspen! Well the rest of you can go too. Make it to the top!
Posted by: Earl Brunner on
So you guys dig your toilets, right? Does the waste just freeze? When you dig toilets, do you ever find someone else’s old toilet?
Posted by: McKay on