Entries from Expedition Dispatches

Denali Expedition: Walter & Team Climb Ski Hill

May 14, 2019

Posted by: Mike Walter, Alan Davis, Alex Halliday

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier

Elevation: 7,800'

The weather seems to have changed its tune as of late and is cooperating with us nicely. Today was mostly cloudy with an occasion light snow shower and a light breeze. It was perfect for climbing up Ski Hill and continuing up the Kahiltna to 10,000' where we made a cache of food and fuel and gear. The glacier is in excellent condition and the traveling was smooth. Our team all did well today and we're now in position to move camp to 11,200', hopefully tomorrow. We'll let you know what shakes out, RMI Guide Mike Walter

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Denali Expedition: Walter & Team Fly on the Mountain!

May 14, 2019

Posted by: Mike Walter, Alan Davis, Alex Halliday

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Alaska

Elevation: 7,800'

Three times is a charm, I guess. On our third flight trying to get to Basecamp over the past few days, we had good clear skies and smooth sailing and finally made it in. After a few hours of repacking our gear, rigging our sleds, and digging a cache hole, we set off for our first camp at the Base of Ski Hill. The Kahiltna Glacier was in great condition and the weather was nearly ideal; mostly cloudy with the occasional snow shower - which kept temperatures from getting too hot. We made it to camp with full packs and sleds in tow in just under six hours. Today we'll carry a cache of supplies up a couple thousand feet and then return to camp. We'll keep you posted. RMI Guide Mike Walter

On The Map

Mt. Rainier: Four Day Summit Climb Teams on Summit!

May 13, 2019

Posted by: Mike King, JT Schmitt

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier

Elevation: 14,410'

RMI Guides Mike King & JT Schmitt led their summit climb teams to the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning. Mike reported cold temps and wind at the summit. The team descended from the crater rim at 8:00 am. They will continue their descent to Paradise today. We look forward to seeing them at Rainier BaseCamp this afternoon. Congratulations to today's Summit Climb teams!

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Denali Expedition: Walter & Team Get Oh-so-Close, Return to Talkeetna

May 12, 2019

Posted by: Mike Walter, Alan Davis, Alex Halliday

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier

Elevation: 348'

Sunday, May 12, 2019 Well, it was another day of waiting in Talkeetna for the weather to improve enough to fly into Kahiltna Base Camp. The FAA webcams looked socked in all day, but every once in a while some clearings would emerge. Finally, around 3 pm, we decided to round up the troops and don our climbing clothes and boots to be ready to board if a flight was possible. After a recon report from another K2 airplane on a scenic flight confirmed that it looked like we could land at Base Camp, we boarded the two Turbo Prop Otters and launched for the Alaska Range. A beautiful flight with partly cloudy skies took us all the way to Base Camp …but a small but thick cloud hung over the landing strip. We held in a waiting pattern for as long as we could and the conditions did not improve. Finally we regained our elevation and pointed back south for Talkeetna. An awesome flight, and oh-so-close. We’ll try again early tomorrow, with a more promising forecast. RMI Guide Mike Walter

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Mt. Baker: Waterfall & Team Reach Summit with 100%

May 12, 2019

Posted by: Solveig Waterfall, Nikki Champion

Categories: Expedition Dispatches North Cascades

Elevation: 10,781'

RMI Guide Solveig Waterfall checked in this morning to let us know the entire Mt. Baker Summit & Ski team reached the summit around 9 am today. All is well and they will descend to camp. Once back at camp they will pack up and continue down to the trail head. Congratulations to today's climbers!

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Denali Expedition: Walter & Team Continue to Wait in Talkeenta

May 12, 2019

Posted by: Mike Walter, Alan Davis, Alex Halliday

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 348'

Sunday, May 11, 2019 Today was another day spent on standby in Talkeetna, waiting to fly into Basecamp on the Southeast Fork of the Kahiltna Glacier. The weather didn’t seem to notice that we were waiting on it, as it rained in town and snowed in the mountains all day. The team is in great spirits, enjoying some unusual down time from our hectic lives, and busy packing in the calories. We will see what tomorrow brings; the snowy weather looks to continue throughout the day, but lighter than the past two days. Monday will bring high pressure with relief from the precipitation for at least a few days. Today's photos are courtesy of the FAA webcam for the Kahiltna Glacier Air Strip, current conditions and view on a clear day. We’ll keep you posted with any changes in the status. Cheers, RMI Guide Mike Walter

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Mt. Rainier: Four Day Summit Climbs Descend from Crater Rim

May 12, 2019

Posted by: Brent Okita, JM Gorum

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier

Elevation: 14,410'

The Four Day Summit Climb Teams May 9 - 12, 2019 reached the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning. RMI Guide Brent Okita reported a windy and cold morning but with sunshine and clear skies. The teams began their descent from the crater rim around 7 AM. They will return to Camp Muir for a short break and to repack, then continue down to Paradise. We look forward to seeing them at Rainier BaseCamp later today. Congratulations to today's Summit Climb teams!

Leave a Comment For the Team (2)

So excited for Anna and Eli!

Posted by: Lapuyade Reid Joan on 5/20/2019 at 8:50 am

Congratulations to the entire team and especially to our son, Danny.

A wonderful accomplishment that will stay with you for the rest of your lives. Proud of our son and all the young people like those in the team. I applaud you!

Posted by: Mac on 5/13/2019 at 11:49 am

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Denali Expedition: Walter & Team Attempt to Fly

May 11, 2019

Posted by: Mike Walter, Alan Davis, Alex Halliday

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 348'

We loaded our on two de Haviland Otter turbo prop single engine airplanes this morning and took off for Kahiltna Base Camp. The flight over the tundra was beautiful as we soared beneath a low ceiling of clouds. As we approached the range it became apparent that our normal access points of One Shot and Second Shot Passes were not options due to the low clouds. So the pilots opted to try "the long way", which means accessing the Kahiltna glacier at its toe and following it up toward Base Camp. The problem was that as we gained elevation on the glacier the cloud did not, and eventually we were flying in the cloud, a thick pea soup, with very little visibility. So the team of K2 pilots made the prudent decision to turn around and head back for Talkeetna. We spent the rest of the day on stand by to see if weather would improve. It did not, and in fact it deteriorated a little. We'll play the same game tomorrow, with a less than ideal forecast. The good news is that high pressure looks to be moving our way soon! RMI Guide Mike Walter

On The Map

Leave a Comment For the Team (2)

Good prudent decision of the K2 pilots. Thanks for keeping it safe. Hope the high pressure comes in with better weather.

Posted by: Susan Royce on 5/11/2019 at 6:31 pm

Clouds be gone!

Posted by: Mike Watt on 5/11/2019 at 12:57 pm

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Mt. Rainier: Four Day Summit Climb Teams Reach Summit

May 11, 2019

Posted by: Robby Young, Ben Liken

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier

Elevation: 14,410'

RMI Guides Robby Young and Ben Liken led the May 8 - 11 Four Day Climb teams to the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning. Climbing conditions were good with lots of climbers on the mountain. The weather is beautiful with warm temperatures and clear skies. Once back at Camp Muir the teams will continue down to Paradise and return to Rainier BaseCamp. Congratulations to today's climbers!

Leave a Comment For the Team (2)

This was a great experience for me and my two boys, that we will never forget. Our team of climbers was made up of a great mix of people who all came together to get to the top. I’m proud have climbed with you guys and you’ve inspired me to be better.

On the guides; A thing I learned very early in my Marine Corps career was how to spot professionalism and raw, unfiltered competence. This is especially important when serving in a combat zone. You learn quick to spot people who know what the hell they are talking about because lives and mission rest on it. From the very first meeting it was very obvious to me that Rob, Josh and Chad had this talent in abundance and it became even more evident on the mountain. Thanks guys, you humbled this old Jarhead (not easy, lol), with your knowledge, physical ability and spot on climbing guidance.

I hope we get to climb together again soon

Semper Fi

Paul

PS: Tell Josh I’m working on my walking skills and hope to cut my future descent trip/falling to less than 10 per mile. ;).

Posted by: Paul Roarke on 5/14/2019 at 6:36 am

Incredible experience!! So proud to climb alongside such an awesome team and couldn’t have asked for better guides. Miss everyone already :) Thanks for everything!!

Posted by: Anna Dooner on 5/13/2019 at 7:51 pm

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Denali Expedition: Walter & Team Kicking Off The 2019 Alaska Season

May 10, 2019

Posted by: Mike Walter, Alan Davis, Alex Halliday

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 348'

The 2019 Denali climbing season is getting under way. Our team met this morning for breakfast at the historic Talkeetna Roadhouse for heaping servings of eggs and sourdough hotcakes. After breakfast we strolled down to the Susitna River where chunks of recently broken up ice flowed out from the direction of the Alaska Range. On a clear day we would be able to see Denali from here, but our view was obscured by clouds. Next up was a trip the National Park Service office for a pre-trip orientation. We went over specifics of the route as well as safety issues and environmental stewardship responsibilities we climbers have in keeping the mountain clean. The rest of the day was the meat and potatoes, where we headed to the K2 Aviation hangar to sort our gear and food to be prepared to fly into the range, hopefully tomorrow. We'll keep you posted with our status... RMI Guide Mike Walter

On The Map

Leave a Comment For the Team (2)

Go get’em Kelby!

Posted by: Mike Potter on 5/13/2019 at 9:28 am

Wishing the first team of the season an awesome weather and an unforgettable experience! I’ll follow your footprints in a few weeks!!!

Posted by: Anna on 5/11/2019 at 10:10 am

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Entries from Expedition Dispatches

Denali Expedition: Walter & Team Climb Ski Hill

On The Map

Denali Expedition: Walter & Team Fly on the Mountain!

On The Map

Mt. Rainier: Four Day Summit Climb Teams on Summit!

Denali Expedition: Walter & Team Get Oh-so-Close, Return to Talkeetna

Mt. Baker: Waterfall & Team Reach Summit with 100%

Denali Expedition: Walter & Team Continue to Wait in Talkeenta

Mt. Rainier: Four Day Summit Climbs Descend from Crater Rim

Denali Expedition: Walter & Team Attempt to Fly

On The Map

Mt. Rainier: Four Day Summit Climb Teams Reach Summit

Denali Expedition: Walter & Team Kicking Off The 2019 Alaska Season

On The Map

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