Entries from Mt. McKinley
Posted by: Mike Walter, Avery Parrinello, Luke Wilhelm
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Alaska Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 11,200'
Friday May 21, 2021 - 9:56 pm PT
Winds had calmed by 5am, and I got my hopes up as I fired the stoves in the cold Alaskan dawn. But it turned out to be a brief lull instead of a pattern change. Persistently strong winds and snow returned and we were dealt another weather day.
We’re optimistic that the weather pattern is changing; we saw the sun this evening for the first time in four days. We’re all in good spirits, ready and rested for the move to 14k.
RMI Guide Mike Walter and Team
Posted by: Pete Van Deventer, Matias Francis, Chase Nelson
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 11,000'
Thursday, May 20, 2021 - 11:09 pm PT
Today was a bit of a groundhog day, though if anything, the weather made itself pretty clear as far as its intentions. Intermittently gusty winds and consistent snow made it an easy day to hang in the tents reading, watching movies, playing cards, and sawing logs. We're currently cooking a dinner of a curried rice and miso soup. We'll welcome the sleeping bags for another good night of sleep and see what tomorrow brings.
RMI Guides Pete, Chase, Matias, and team
Great to read the blog and get your messages, Hank! Prayers and fingers crossed for improved weather to move forward for safety and success!
Posted by: Nancy Thoenes on 5/22/2021 at 4:11 am
Bummer… Waiting is good for Jason’s back, I think??? Hopefully tomorrow will work out and you can cache!
Posted by: Mandy Powell on 5/21/2021 at 5:43 pm
Posted by: Mike Walter, Avery Parrinello, Luke Wilhelm
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 11,000'
Thursday, May 20, 2021 - 9:30 pm PT
We spent another day sitting out the wind and snow at 11,000' Camp. We killed time playing trivia for hours in the cook tent. We will continue to patiently wait for the best weather window to move up to our 14,000' Camp. Thanks for following along!
Best of luck to you all!
Happy Birthday Tom!
Posted by: Dennis Kinsey on 5/22/2021 at 7:24 am
Give Saint Rainier my love!!
Posted by: Tk Ito on 5/21/2021 at 10:00 pm
Posted by: Eric Frank, James Bealer, Jack Delaney
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 7,300'
Wednesday, May 19, 2021 - 11:20 pm PT
Blue skies greeted us this morning in Talkeetna. With potentially stormy weather approaching, we decided to make an expeditious attempt to fly onto the glacier this evening. We lucked out and got a flight and landed at Base Camp. Now the adventure begins! Tomorrow we plan to move to Camp 1 at 7,800 feet.
Elliot
Loving the updates, thinking good thoughts for you and the rest of your team. Enjoy the adventure, stay strong and tap into your tenacious spirit to keep moving.
Cheers and Love
Mom and Dad
Posted by: Susan Campos on 5/21/2021 at 7:09 pm
Go Auntie Heidi!!!
From Wilson
We hope you make it safely, watch out for spider badgers!!! (8-legged badger) ((Breckin made it up and tries to convince people it’s a real thing))
From Breckin
Posted by: Jason Kay on 5/21/2021 at 4:55 pm
Wednesday, May 19, 2021 - 10:15 pm PT
Last night gave us a taste of what the weather can be like on a big mountain when it doesn't want to play nice. We listened to the tents shake with gusty winds that also carried a fair bit of snow on their icy breathe, packing it into the tent vestibules and any other crevices it could reach. Our tents are stout though and we weathered it in comfort. Come morning, the skies were blue, but the wind persisted, lifting tall plumes of snow into the air above us and making it an easy decision to stay in camp and take a rest day. We'll look to cache the first opportunity we get once the wind relents. That might be tomorrow or it might take a bit longer. We're cozy in camp for now, so we'll practice patience.
RMI Guides Pete, Chase, Matias, and team
Posted by: Mike Walter, Avery Parrinello, Luke Wilhelm
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Alaska Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 11,200'
Wednesday, May 19, 2021 - 5:54 pm PT
The winds ramped up last night and the temps dropped. The trend persisted into the morning as we had breakfast and coffee. Our decision to stay put today was justified, as winds continued all day today, which would have made travel difficult at best and dangerous at worst.
Instead of packing up camp, we enjoyed another rest day. We had little to gain to attempt to move camp in such conditions, as our team is acclimatizing to the altitude and recovering from the past week's work here on Denali at 11,200'.
Reading, snacking, stretching, snoozing, listening to music, and shooting the breeze were the main activities for our team today. We're on standby for the winds to abate so that we can make the move up around Windy Corner to Genet Basin at 14,200'.
We'll check in again tomorrow to keep you apprised of our progress.
Glad the climb is going well, and that you were able to rest yesterday, instead of climbing in rough conditions. While you prepared for the trip up to 14K, Corey Kluber pitched a no hitter, the second in the MLB in 2 days (6th overall), LeBron and the Lakers came from way back to beat GS in the 7/8 play-in game, the PGA golf championship prepared to start, the Bruins took a 2-1 lead on the Capitals, and Juventus won the Coppa Italia. Just thought you might enjoy a short sports report.
Be safe and have fun.
Posted by: Bruce on 5/20/2021 at 4:22 am
Posted by: Pete Van Deventer, Matias Francis, Chase Halbert
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 11,000'
Tuesday, May 18, 2021 - 11:53 pm PT
Things are so far wiring well in our favor. The Glacier below us was in a cloud and snow today, the elevations above chilly and windy, but our zone was perfect for a short return to our cache to grab all our food and fuel and move them up to our camp. Mission accomplished, we spent the afternoon resting in the tents reading, playing cards, and snacking. It was a well deserved break after three hard days of moving. We'll see what the weather brings us tomorrow. We might rest again, or we might move a cache uphill to 13,500'.
RMI Guides Pete, Matias, Chase, and team
Pops/Jason - Hey it’s ari. i hope you’re enjoying your time up on the mountain. i can’t wait to hear about it when u go back home. proud of you. <3
~ ari
Posted by: Ari Barnett on 5/20/2021 at 3:32 pm
Dad/Hank- Keep up the great work and sounds pretty awesome so far! Glad to hear you are doing well and you got this!! Sean’s still pushing for skiing down it, ha! Love you - Katie and Sean
Posted by: Katie Baskin on 5/19/2021 at 7:33 pm
Posted by: Mike Walter, Avery Parrinello, Luke Wilhelm
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Alaska Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 11,200'
Tuesday, May 18, 2021 - 6:21 pm
Our team enjoyed a well-deserved rest day today. The timing was perfect, as our team was ready for it and the weather was a bit squirrelly today; the colder temps, breezy conditions and light snow didn't bother us at all as we lounged in our tents, reading, listening to music, snoozing and snacking.
The weather forecasts indicate improving conditions tomorrow and warming temps by Thursday. Our next mission will be to move camp up to Genet Basin, at 14,200'. We hope to tackle that tomorrow if the weather is good in the morning. If not, Thursday looks promising, and another day of rest and acclimatization at 11,200' will only help us.
We'll let you know either way tomorrow. Stay tuned.
Posted by: Pete Van Deventer, Matias Francis, Chase Halbert
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 11,000'
Monday, May 17, 2021 - 11:40 pm
We had one more big day before we get a reprieve. This morning we found a light coating of snow in everything when we looked out of the tents, but blue skies and perfect conditions to pack up camp and move to 11,000' Camp. We were packed and moving by 9.45, and 6.5 hours later, we rolled into 11,000' Camp comfortably, though happy to be more or less done with our sleds.
We're settled in to a great camp now, with our cook tent much improved from last camp's. We'll be here for several days, so it's nice to be comfortable. We'll duck down just a little bit and grab our cache tomorrow, but otherwise the program is rest, after a couple big days. We'll check in tomorrow.
RMI Guides Pete, Chase, Matias, and team
Great to see you out in your element, Jason!
Great pics. Sending good-weather, best-health vibes!
Posted by: Terry Scalia on 5/28/2021 at 6:31 am
The inner pride you gain is so good, but impossible to share. Only you and those with you, or who have done it before, truly understand. Bill Bussey
Posted by: Bill Bussey on 5/19/2021 at 6:40 am
Posted by: Mike Walter, Avery Parrinello, Luke Wilhelm
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Alaska Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 11,200'
Monday, May 17, 2021 - 6:17 pm PT
We took advantage of a beautiful day today and kept pushing that pesky rock up the mountain. This time we donned crampons and traded trekking poles for ice axes. We had an amazing climb up Motorcycle and Squirrel Hills, across the Polo Fields, and up around Windy Corner, leaving a cache of food and fuel at around 13,800'. The weather and climbing conditions were perfect, and we were afforded spectacular views of the upper mountain.
We were back at camp by 4pm with plenty of time to lounge in the sun before dinner. Tomorrow we will take our first full day out of boots and get some rest. We'll check in again tomorrow.
"Some come to laugh the past away.
Some come to make it just one more day.
Whichever way your pleasure tends,
if you plant ice your gonna harvest wind." -Robert Hunter
Be safe
Posted by: Jim powell on 5/18/2021 at 4:27 pm
Keep up the great work everyone!!! Sounds like a day of rest was needed. Be safe and have fun!!!
Your work family misses you John Jezak!!!!
Posted by: Danielle Taylor on 5/18/2021 at 1:06 pm
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Good luck to Luke and the whole team!
Posted by: Matthew Byars on 5/25/2021 at 9:19 am
The Bemis’s and Wilhelm’s wish you all well from the shores of Cayuga lake for chuck’s graduation! Hope you’re all not going too stir crazy and that you haven’t consumed all your snacks. Stay safe and thanks for the daily updates- much appreciated!
Posted by: Tracy on 5/23/2021 at 5:21 am
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