Mt. McKinley Expedition: Luedtke & Team Summit!
Posted by: Ben Luedtke, Avery Stolte, Will Ambler
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Alaska Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 20,320'
1/11 Denali Team 7 dispatch.
Friday June 26, 2026 11:45pm PST
To those who visit the slopes of Denali: Be ready. Be prepared. Be patient. Climbing a mountain can mean a lot of different things for every single one of us. A mountain like Denali can draw us in by sight, it can draw us in with curiosity, or it can draw us in by the challenge it represents. What it won't tell you, however, is why. That is on our own to figure out or understand. Some things to consider:
1. Who will you meet? Whether arriving alone or with friends, we are sure to leave this place with a bond that will never fade. We need each other out here just to survive.
2. What will you learn? No matter your skill set, Denali will become your teacher. You will develop a whole new set of understanding of what it means to be a mountaineer.
3. How will I make it?! Well, that will take a lot of MDeal, a sprinkle of Farkle, cooking on high heat (always), some light yoga, a few walks down Main Street at 14k, and probably a dash of good luck when it comes to the weather.
4. What will I tell others? Tell them the truth. It is f-ing hard climbing this mountain. Right out of the gate, we drag sleds loaded with 22 days of food, fuel, and gear to live in an inhospitable place. We climb everything from 8,000 feet to 16,200 feet twice to make it all happen. All this, and then we wait. Sometimes longer than we want to, but we wait for the mountain to say "OK." It's a roller coaster of emotions. You freeze or fry; there's no in between. You worry. You wonder. You pace. You run through every possible scenario in your head. And then, if Denali says "go," you push yourself to a limit you never thought existed. If all goes well, finally, you stand at the highest point in North America.
And that's what we did. A HUGE congratulations to this team for sticking it out, working their asses off, and standing on top of Denali. We will walk away from this climb knowing that we did something extremely difficult. We are grateful. Grateful for the opportunity. And best of all, a Twinkie never tasted so good over 20,000 feet, but only one of us got to see what the inside of a glacier looks like up close.
RMI Guides Ben, Mike, Avery, and Team.
Comments (7)
Outstanding achievement, Team! We are so proud of you! You will remember what you gave and endured and overcame and the people you did it with for the rest of your lives. Stay safe and keep your wits about you on the descent. To paraphrase my mother’s adage, you gave ‘em heck, now come home soon.
Posted by: John Morrison on
Congrats guys!!! Very curious who saw the inside of a glacier. So proud of yall and can’t wait to hear the war stories!
Posted by: Pattie on
So incredible!!!! Congratulations to all. Sending Amanda and Allison a big hug! In awe of you two always.
Posted by: Nina on
Devon and Team,
You trusted the process, respected the mountain, and persevered through every challenge it placed before you. What you’ve accomplished is extraordinary! Congratulations on standing atop Denali and proving to yourselves what you’re truly capable of. Come home safely and celebrate every step of this incredible journey.
Love you Dev!
Momma Bear
Posted by: Amy-Louise Greenhalgh on
Simply amazing! You all survived that storm and hauled up to the summit! Congratulations!!!! Epic climbing and huge accomplishment.
Posted by: Ed DaPra on
So proud of you all. So excited to hear the stories and so glad for the life long learning this journey will impart.
Posted by: Darla & Jerry on
A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS! We cant wait to see all the pictures and hear your stories! You all accomplished so much - in your mind, body and spirit! The team bond will be there forever - memories will be forever forged in your being! Mother Nature is the BOSS and she let you all see her in diverse ways! Safe travels down and to your “homes.” We love you and are so proud!
Posted by: Aunt Sandy & Sas on