Entries from Expedition Dispatches

Denali Expedition: Van Deventer & Team Make Move to 14,000’ Camp

May 20, 2016

Posted by: Pete Van Deventer, Robby Young, Jess Matthews

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 14,000'

May 20, 2016 - 12:24 am PT Stupendous day here on Denali! We fought saucy winds through the aptly named Windy Corner, but the sky stayed pristinely azure, and the team ducked their heads into the chilly breeze and powered around the corner, where the winds promptly died. We rolled into 14 looking like a fresh pair of socks, and started building our own fortress next to that of Mike Walter's crew. As the temps dropped, we ate a hearty dinner and retired to the tents. We have a light day on tap tomorrow, returning to our cache to retrieve food and fuel and fully move into 14. Best from our new abode, RMI Guides Pete, Jess, Robby, and team

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Well Lisa looks like u and team r making good progress to the top and avoiding the bad conditions that can pop up in a moment , incredible journey for u and team Van Demvender keep posting ur moves , be safe and strong Climb On,

Posted by: Joe& Patty on 5/21/2016 at 3:08 am

Magnus,
Seems like you’re all doing fine in the incredibly beautiful landscape. I understand you are maintaining a physically tough trip, but as long as your packing is under control, no need to worry! Wish you a nice go with the final passage up to the top. Inger says hello too. Love, Maria.

Posted by: Maria Hedlund on 5/20/2016 at 10:58 pm

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Denali Expedition: Walter & Team Sit Tight at 14,000’

May 20, 2016

Posted by: Mike Walter, Billy Haas, Blake Votilla

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 14,000'

May 19, 2016 - 10:28 pm PT We hung out around camp again today, as the current weather nor the forecast for Denali are conducive to going higher right now. We spent a large part of the day building snow walls around our camp at 14,000' to protect against wind. Our plan for tomorrow is similar to today, as we ride out this storm and hope for better weather in a few days. We'll check in again tomorrow. RMI Guide Mike Walter

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Alaska Seminar: Having Fun with Ridge Climbing and Sled Races

May 20, 2016

Posted by: Leon Davis, Mike King, Megan Budge

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Alaska Seminar

May 19, 2016 - 9:44 pm PT Hello from Farine basin, This morning under cloudy calm skies our team ventured onto the east ridge of Farine, an old remnant of perhaps a volcano comprised of very black rock. Fun climbing on a ridge overlooking Camp 1 took us to a series of crumbling rock spires. We were stopped by bad snow in a steep gully capped by some very bad rock. As we descended in whiteout conditions to clearing clouds we got some great views of the surrounding valley. Back at camp with some time to kill, many folks grabbed some sleds to race down a slope just above our camp. Lots of belly laughing and memorable moments to behold as spectator or participant. It's getting quite cold now so we are headed back to our tents to warm up. Goodnight all. RMI Guides Leon Davis, Mike King and Megan Budge

Denali Expedition: Okita & Team Load into the Planes

May 19, 2016

Posted by: Brent Okita, Christina Dale, Chris Ebeling

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

May 19, 2016 - 2:44 p.m. PDT One plane is flying up in ten minutes, and with luck, the rest of the team will follow shortly thereafter. Here we go! The pilot gives us a 30% chance of actually getting to the mountain. I think otherwise. More like a 30% of having to return to Talkeetna, but good to have a sober expectation of our chances. RMI Guide Brent Okita

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To my husband Mike Santoni,

Happy Anniversary my love. Thanks for a wonderful 5 years. Good luck to you and your team!! We all miss you here on sunset rd!

Love,
Alexis

Posted by: Alexis Pappas on 5/21/2016 at 5:55 am

You got this Dawn and team. God speed and safe flying.

Posted by: Tom Salata on 5/20/2016 at 7:56 pm

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Denali Expedition: Okita & Team Wait for the Signal to Fly

May 19, 2016

Posted by: Brent Okita, Christina Dale, Chris Ebeling

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

May 19, 2016 - 8:25 a.m. PDT We are awaiting breakfast before heading to the airport to see if we can fly out today. The drizzle falling this morning hasn't gotten anyone's spirits down. We're all excited to get going! Update - 10:14 a.m. PDT The sun has been peeking out shyly this morning, which is a marked improvement from our earlier rain. The 'rampers' have just finished loading our gear into the two Otters that will fly the team onto the southeast fork of the Kahiltna Glacier from where we'll start our climb. Boots are at the ready for when we get the word that the weather's good enough to fly. For now we're in the good hands of K2 Aviation to make the right decision to fly. They're the experts, and share the same attitude towards safety that we do: it's our top priority. As I write sitting in the hangar, I'm watching a couple more sun breaks and hearing a plane warm up, droning out the classical music NPR is belting out on the radio. Both good signs, but not good enough yet to slip on the expedition climbing boots I'll have on for the next two - three weeks. With luck you'll soon be getting a short, curt dispatch from me announcing a move. If not, our next dispatch may be coming from from the dinner table between sips of an Ice Axe Ale. Such is the waiting game here in Talkeetna. RMI Guide Brent Okita and Team

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Denali Expedition: Van Deventer & Team Cache Gear Above Windy Corner

May 19, 2016

Posted by: Pete Van Deventer, Robby Young, Jess Matthews

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 11,200'

May 19, 2016 - 12:07 a.m. PDT Today was a beautiful day to go for a walk, so we grabbed our already packed packs from yesterday and headed up Motorcycle Hill. A thin layer of high clouds kept it from getting too hot, and we cruised across a smooth, and relatively crevasse free, Polo Field to Windy Corner, and then around to our cache site at 13,500.' After folding a shovel in half trying to dig through a surprisingly thick ice layer, we found and abandoned cache hole that had blown in and excavated that instead. With food and fuel buried, we made short work of the return trip to 11,200'. Should the weather be fair in the morning, we plan to pack up camp and head up to 14,200' to join Mike Walter's crew. With luck we'll be checking in tomorrow from our new camp! Do your favorite weather dance for us, RMI Guides Pete Van Deventer, Jess Matthews, and Robby Young, and Crew

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Any birthday cake today brother

Posted by: Mats Carlehog on 5/19/2016 at 2:57 pm

Yeah Tay!! We are all thinking about you (and in the groupchat) back in SB and how much fun you are having up there. Can’t wait to hear your stories and see your photos!

Les and DC groupchat

Posted by: Les Morales on 5/19/2016 at 1:44 pm

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Alaska Seminar: Davis & Team Establish Camp in the Farine Basin

May 19, 2016

Posted by: Leon Davis, Mike King, Megan Budge

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Alaska Seminar

May 18, 2016 - 10:22 p.m. PDT Hello all who may be reading! A beautiful morning made for a pleasant exercise in breaking down our large camp and preparing our sleds for hauling up glacier. By 11:00 a.m. the team made their way down Heartbreak Hill to the main Kahiltna Glacier and upstream we paddled in snowshoes. Veering from the main trail we split off further west into a small basin tucked between a long black ridge and a peak known as Farine. We made camp on a high snow roll overlooking the Kahiltna to the south and it is a truly awesome sight. Tomorrow we will wake early for an attempt on the west ridge. Good luck and good night! RMI Guide Leon Davis and Team

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Hi Chip! We hope you’re having an amazing time and it’s been everything you hoped it would be. We’ve enjoyed seeing the pictures posted so far, but look forward to hearing all about it. Love you! Mom and Dad

Posted by: Chris Nunan on 5/20/2016 at 2:11 pm

Chip,
We are so excited for you! I’m sure it is everything you have dreamed! We are all good at sea level…no worries!!! We miss you and can’t wait to see all the pictures and hear all the stories!
Love,
Your Family

Posted by: Alexis, Izzy, and Logan Nunan on 5/20/2016 at 4:18 am

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Denali Expedition: Okita & Team Packed and Ready to Fly

May 18, 2016

Posted by: Brent Okita, Christina Dale, Chris Ebeling

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 348'

May 18, 2016 - 8:17 pm PT Finally, all the checking and packing and repacking and a million other things that need to be done before we can fly on to the mountain are done. Cool weather kept the mosquitos at bay, and although it was overcast, word from up high on the mountain reported sunny skies. We're hopeful for a good day tomorrow so we can start our trip. Planes were taking off and landing on the mountain all day today, which is always a good sign. With luck, tonight will be our last dinner in town for a while. Talk with you soon. RMI Guides Brent Okita, Christina Dale and Chris Ebeling

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I hope the weather clears so you can start your journey to the top of North America!! Chris, your big sister will be watching each step of the way. So proud of you, and have fun!!!!!

Posted by: Karen Ebeling on 5/19/2016 at 2:43 pm

Have a great climb! Your niece and nephews will be tracking you guys. Be safe! Love, Carin, Andy, David, Brian and Jordan

Posted by: Carin on 5/19/2016 at 8:07 am

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Denali Expedition: Walter & Team Explore the Edge of the World

May 18, 2016

Posted by: Mike Walter, Billy Haas, Blake Votilla

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 14,200'

May 18, 2016 - 5:07 p.m. PDT Howdy from 14,200' Denali! We are lounging in the sun at camp, waiting for the winds up high to decrease so that we can move to our high camp and get in position to take a crack at the summit. We're comfy here at camp but eager to club higher. After breakfast this morning, we headed over to the Edge of the World, a viewpoint 15 minutes from camp that looks down some 7,000' into the Northeast Fork of the Kahiltna Glacier and across to Mt. Foraker. Amazing. If anyone could pull some strings with the weather deities, that'd be swell. Thanks! That's it for now, RMI Guides Mike Walter, Billy Haas, and Blake Votilla

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Hi adelle. Sitting at Fego having a cuppa and watching the water. It is two in the morning in your valley…sorry ...mountain. and i suppose you are nice and warm and cosy in your sleeping bag. NOT… thinking about you all the time. Your brother wants to join you when you do Everest. Then i have two to pray for. (I wonder if God has a special file labelled Mountaineers? To which he pays special attention) Hope so…. Well,;enough of my rambling. I will leave you and your group to do some rambling of your own. Love. ME.

Posted by: Maureen on 5/20/2016 at 2:14 am

Holy smokes…what a view! I am so glad you all got to see such beauty! May the weather be calm, clear and ready for you all to reach the top! Stay healthy brother Dave. Love, Jules

Posted by: Julie Beckner on 5/19/2016 at 9:59 am

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Denali Expedition: Okita & Team Arrive in Talkeetna

May 18, 2016

Posted by: Brent Okita, Christina Dale, Chris Ebeling

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

May 17, 2016 - 10:28 p.m. PDT Grey clouds greeted the team in Anchorage as we began our movement towards the mountain but the wet skies could not dampen everyone's excitement to start the trip. Finally, after all the preparation and training, we are on our way! At first glance, on this first day, I'm excited about the team. All seem fit, experienced, and fun to be around. Dinner, dessert, and drinks were a nice conclusion to our long day of travel to get here. Now for some sleep so we're fresh for a busy day of gear preparation tomorrow... Until next time, good night. RMI Guides Brent Okita, Christina Dale, and Chris Ebeling

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Shout out to Mike Probstfeld…can you hear me? Wishing you and team a hell of an adventure.
I’ll buy when you get back to my elevation

Posted by: Tom Hines on 5/25/2016 at 9:20 pm

Great looking team. Cheers to you all. I see success in your smiles.

Posted by: Lori Golding on 5/18/2016 at 10:59 am

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Entries from Expedition Dispatches

Denali Expedition: Van Deventer & Team Make Move to 14,000’ Camp

On The Map

Denali Expedition: Walter & Team Sit Tight at 14,000’

On The Map

Alaska Seminar: Having Fun with Ridge Climbing and Sled Races

Denali Expedition: Okita & Team Load into the Planes

Denali Expedition: Okita & Team Wait for the Signal to Fly

On The Map

Denali Expedition: Van Deventer & Team Cache Gear Above Windy Corner

On The Map

Alaska Seminar: Davis & Team Establish Camp in the Farine Basin

Denali Expedition: Okita & Team Packed and Ready to Fly

Denali Expedition: Walter & Team Explore the Edge of the World

On The Map

Denali Expedition: Okita & Team Arrive in Talkeetna

On The Map

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