Mt. McKinley Expedition: Cifelli & Team Wait for a Window
Posted by: Dominic Cifelli, Ben Luedtke, Mike Bennett
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Alaska
Elevation: 14,000'
Monday, June 23, 2025 - 10:21 pm PT
I have this idea for an experiment. All type- A individuals are eligible for sign up. I’ll entice them with the allure of a once in a lifetime challenge that will test their physical and mental aptitude. Maybe a tall mountain or something. Now, we’ll observe as we keep these folks in one spot, with 2 rooms, and one hall as we wait….and wait…. and wait. While they once filled their time with stair steppers, tire pulls, and long hikes. We’ll fill their time with overfilling meals, books they wish had more words, card games, and time. Lots of it.
Climbing books, movies, stories always glaze over the reality. The waiting. What most think is filled with lung searing, adrenaline pumping climbing is often times just half the tale. The part that everyone skips is the patience of it all. Expedition climbing forces you to slow down and take it one step at a time. While the climbing has you honing in on the next step, the next breath, the next stretch. The waiting has you broadening your appreciation for the little things. A meal with good conversation, quality time with friends loved ones, a good snuggle with a pet, or… a flushing toilet and a good shower. All of it’s important in its own way and it’s why this style of climbing is like no other. We don’t do this to just have the experience of climbing a peak, but also to show us all what we have at home and appreciate those reading this blog more and more.
Last night it snowed half a foot on us and we awoke to a winter wonderland. Our first real storm day. Boots full of snow, belly’s full of salmon and bagels, and competitive tendencies satiated with games. We will continue to wait. Just like the days before. But that’s ok. I fricken love both sides of this coin. And there’s no game like the game of strategy that expedition climbing provides. When to move, when to wait, when to launch. Best game in the whole world.
So thank you to those who let us step away, to train for hours and climb for weeks. Your patience with our masochistic hobby does not go unnoticed. Now it’s time to have our 14 Camp trivia night courtesy of my lovely wife Emily. Thanks to all the questions!!
RMI Senior Guide,
Dominic Cifelli
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Comments (3)
Hoping you guys catch a break soon—I’m sure the waiting is tough, but y’all are absolute badasses. Big shoutout to my buddy Mikayla—so damn proud of you man! Hoping that mountain shows you kindness for the rest of the journey. - Love you,
– TarMac ;)
Posted by: Mack Thompson on
Mikayla and team,
I know the waiting game must be very hard but you all wouldn’t be there if you weren’t meant to be there.
Reading the daily blogs are truly inspirational!
Keep it up!
Christina (Mikayla’s friend)
Posted by: Christina Trombley on
Hello Etienne
Bonne St-Jean du Québec! 34C avec ressenti de 46C! Very hot! I Hope the whether will be better for your group progresses toward the summit.
Denise et Philippe
We follow your journey every Day!
Posted by: Denise on