Entries from Expedition Dispatches
Posted by: Seth Burns, Jackson Breen, Raymond Holt
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Alaska Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 7,800'
Tuesday, May 20, 2025 - 12:31 pm PDT
Well, we woke up this morning to much better weather. Headed over to the cook tent for a quick bowl or two of Cinnamon Toast Crunch and coffee. Breakfast of champions! We got our sleds and packs ready to set off for our first cache of the expedition. Everybody was anxious to get going after a great rest day. Many other teams had the same idea, and we certainly didn’t mind a few of them in front of us breaking trail after we got about a foot of snow at camp in the last 24hrs. All three teams were moving great up the mountain led by our fearless leaders Seth, Jackson and Ray. They rock! We had three breaks on the way up and as we moved up the mountain, clouds and a wisp of wind and snow started to move in. We reached 10,200' and cached our gear and food. Super nice being able to walk downhill with a light pack and no sled! We made our way quickly downhill passing teams as we did on the way up. We are now snug back at our lower camp waiting for what we know will be an amazing dinner of jambalaya. Being originally from Louisiana and all…no pressure on Chef Ray. Ha!
Our team is really firing on all cylinders and feeling good. Happy for that! Hydrating, fixing feet and getting some rest are on the agenda after dinner. Oh, and the skies parted on the way back a bit giving us spectacular views when we arrived back at camp, so grateful to be in this moment.
RMI Climber Shannon and Team
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McKinley Expedition May 13, 2025
Posted by: Pete Van Deventer, Nick Sinapius, Ben Thorneycroft
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Alaska
Elevation: 14,000'
Monday, May 19, 2025 - 6:37 pm PT
We took a full and proper rest day today. It has been snowing more or less all day in camp, and the winds started to pick up a bit this afternoon. That made it easy to take a long breakfast, rest and read in tents, and take naps throughout the day. We spent a bit of time building some snow walls, which everyone got quite excited about, and some more time reviewing fixed line techniques for when we go higher. We are working on a reindeer sausage jambalaya for dinner, and we'll see if the snow and wind let up over night.
RMI Guides Pete, Nick, Ben and team
New Post Alerts:
Denali Expedition May 8, 2025
Posted by: Pete Van Deventer, Nick Sinapius, Ben Thorneycroft
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Alaska
Elevation: 14,000'
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Sunday, May 18, 2025 - 11:35 pm PT
Cache retrieval complete! It was an in and out snowy day, at time hot, at times cold, but winds stayed light so we bopped back to 13,500ft and retrieved our goodies. The rest of the day we rested and took stock. Most realized they have some work ahead to catch up on lunch food eating. Tomorrow looks snowy so we’ll take a full rest day, probably build some walls, and Ben has a short seminar called “get your fix” to get everyone ready for the fixed lines above. And though this will post tomorrow morning, Brian wants to wish Lacey a very happy anniversary (and we wish the same to them both!).
Best from 14,000' Camp to everyone at home,
RMI Guides Pete, Ben, Nick, and team
New Post Alerts:
McKinley Expedition May 13, 2025
Posted by: Sam Marjerison, Will Ambler
Categories: Expedition Dispatches North Cascades
Elevation: 7,400'
Mt. Baker Ski & Summit May 17 - 19:
Led by RMI Guide Sam Marjerison the team practice skills and did some ski touring yesterday. They arrived back to camp and settled in after turning around at 7,400 feet due to whiteout conditions. They are planning to enjoy a morning ski before making their exit around midday.
Posted by: Casey Grom, Joe Hoch, Mitch Valaitis, Joey Manship, Miles Watson, Hannah Billings, Celeste Wilson, Nina Bridges
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 11,200'
May 16–19 Four-Day Climb Update:
The climbing teams, led by RMI Guides Casey Grom and Joe Hoch, departed Camp Muir at 3:00 a.m. for their summit attempt. They reached Ingraham Flats; however, deteriorating weather conditions forced them to turn back. The teams have returned safely to Camp Muir and plan to begin their descent around 10:00 a.m., when a break in the weather is expected.
PC: Nina Bridges, Joey Manship, Joe Hoch
Posted by: Pete Van Deventer, Nick Sinapius, Ben Thorneycroft
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Alaska
Elevation: 14,000'
Sunday, May 18, 2025 - 1:41 pm PT
We woke up yesterday and though there were thick clouds above that moved in and out, it was clear that the air was incredibly calm. We packed up camp shouldered some heavy loads, and said goodbye to our camp at 11,000'. We were in those clouds nearly all the way to 14,000', but they were holding in the solar gain and it was one of the hottest days of the trip. Overall, it was quite smooth and we made it to 14,000' Camp yesterday evening, set up camp, and crashed for a night of well deserved rest. It’s great to finally be at 14,000'. This is our home away from home, where we’ll rest, acclimate, get strong, and wait for our shot at the summit. The views out over the rest of the range are stunning. We’re prepping right now for a quick trip back to 13,500' to grab our cache, and then we’ll rest the remainder of the day. It’s starting to snow lightly and the next couple of days do look snowy.
RMI Guide Pete Van Deventer
New Post Alerts:
Denali Expedition May 8, 2025
Go get it, Will! Have fun and be safe! Can’t wait to hear all about it.
Posted by: Edward Dailey on 5/19/2025 at 6:08 am
Posted by: Seth Burns, Jackson Breen, Raymond Holt
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Alaska
Elevation: 7,800'
Sunday, May 18, 2025 - 1:53 am PT
We woke up this morning with the feeling that we would fly today and in the end we were right. A little after noon we got the call we had been waiting for. And quickly got into our boots. After a circuitous and beautiful flight we landed on the Kahitna Glacier. Despite the later hour, with good weather and high stoke, we quickly left base camp and made our way to Ski Hill. The team is very happy to be on the mountain and making our way up.
RMI Guide Seth Burns and team
Be safe sweetheart you got this! i’m so proud of you and I hope you have a great time and see lots of amazing views. I love you love, mom.
Posted by: Laura Hittmann on 5/19/2025 at 5:09 am
You’ve got this Will!!! What an adventure!
We love you!! Can’t wait to hear about it and see the awesome pics!
Safety to all!
Love, Mom
Posted by: Annette Sutila on 5/18/2025 at 2:16 pm
Posted by: Dustin Wittmier, Dominic Cifelli, Calvin Jiricko, Bailey Servais, Rosie Hust, Imogen Von Mertens, CJ Rogers
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 10,700'
RMI Guides Dustin Wittmier and Dominic Cifelli led their Four Day teams May 15 - 18, on an early alpine start from Camp Muir this morning. Unfortunately, high winds forced the teams to turn around at 10,600 feet. Everyone returned safely to Camp Muir. They plan to begin their descent at 9:30 a.m. PT and are expected to arrive back at Rainier BaseCamp in Ashford by early afternoon.
Posted by: Seth Burns, Jackson Breen, Raymond Holt
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Alaska Mt. McKinley
Saturday May 17, 2025 2:07 pm PDT
Seth Burns and Team checked in from Talkeetna, they are loaded and Flying onto the Kahiltna Glacier.
Let the climbing begin!
New Post Alerts:
McKinley Expedition May 13, 2025
Godspeed out there Will. We’re excited for your journey and thinking about you every day.
Posted by: Andrew and Nicole Gonzales on 5/18/2025 at 5:30 am
Have fun out there, Juan and team! I’ll be cheering for you every step of the way.
Posted by: Jackie on 5/17/2025 at 3:17 pm
Posted by: Ben Ammon, Sam Hoffman, Hannah Blum, George Hedreen, Arianna Drechsler, Avery Stolte, Brooks Ordway-Smith, Fitz Elder
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
The Four Day Climb led by Ben Ammon and Sam Hoffman reached the summit of Mt. Rainier at 9:45 AM today. Despite some challenging walking on the route, the team made strong progress and arrived at the crater rim in just six hours. After a brief celebration on the summit, they began their descent.
Congratulations to today’s team on a successful climb!
Congratulations!!! So happy you made it to the top! I hope you have a safe descent.
Posted by: Anna Carlson on 5/17/2025 at 10:02 am
Trust you have a blast Jason and Grace! Cheering you on!
Posted by: Trevor Davies on 5/20/2025 at 4:15 pm
Hi Grace and Jason!
Gene asked me for an update on your trip and he is excited you are eating captain crunch because he also now would like me to bring CC camping. He asked me how many miles/elevation your climb is and he said he is very impressed, and that you must be so strong!
Have a blast!
Posted by: Emmie Farber on 5/20/2025 at 4:04 pm
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