RMI Expeditions Blog
Posted by: Mike King, Calvin Jiricko, Celeste Wilson, CJ Rogers
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
The five-day climb led my RMI Guide Mike King summitted Mt Rainier this morning around 6am PST. They reported a warm night of climbing and light winds. They are currently on their descent back to Camp Muir and will be back in Ashford tomorrow.
Great work team!
Posted by: Ben Ammon, Matt Kelly, Simon Kearns, Ben Stimson
Categories: Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
The four-day climb led my RMI Guide Ben Ammon summitted Mt Rainier this morning around 6am PST. They reported a warm night of climbing and light winds. They are currently on their descent back to Camp Muir and will be back in Ashford this afternoon.
Great work team!
Posted by: Daniel May, Drew O’Brien, Mac Nolde
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Alaska
Elevation: 14,000
Sunday, June 14th - 11:15PM PST
Greetings from team DDM at 14k! We started our morning with some high winds that almost flattened our cook tent. Once we reset our anchors, we enjoyed a nice rest day full of naps and snacks. Thank you to Seth and Jackson for leaving all of their cookies for us to enjoy. Our dear climber Zack sang us a song about camp DDM at 14k to the tune of Pink Pony Club. We will enjoy another rest day tomorrow full of more snacks, prep for our move to 17k, and more singing.
Cheers!
-RMI Gudie Mac
New Post Alerts:
McKinley Expedition, June 2, 2026
Posted by: Joe Crawford, Dustin Wittmier, Hannah Blum, Stella Johnson, Matt Tucker, Hannah Billings, Sean James, Brendan Oates
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 12,300'
RMI teams led by guides Joe Crawford and Hannah Blum set out to summit Mt Rainier this morning, but turned around at the top of the Dissapointment Cleaver due to route conditions. They are on their way back down to Camp Muir and will be back in Ashford later today.
Posted by: Daniel May, Drew O’Brien, Mac Nolde
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Alaska
Elevation: 14,000'
6/13 1. Guest dispatcher Zach checking in with the DDM team here at 14k camp.
The day began with another cold morning easily battled by bellies filled of hot beverages and CTC (Cinnamon Toast Crunch). The team looked incredibly strong and efficient today as we made an acclimatization push up the fixed lines.
The entire way up was gifted with incredibly clear views in every direction. Once at the ridgeline we got out first glimpse of the entire northern side of the range and beyond into the endless expanse of Alaskan tundra. From there we made our way back down to camp for a relaxing afternoon just as a storm closed in behind us. The afternoon was a combined mix of snow and sunshine making for a wonderful ambiance.
The status que around the team is consistently being upheld as the world's best #1 rope team continues to stealthily slide under the radar and avoid demerits. Team Erik and the Squatters aka the New Mexico Allstars continue to excel at every aspect of Denali life- something all of us common folk can only dream to achieve.
Finally Team Hoarding Marmots including yours truly, continue to evolve our domicile. What began as the chateau marmot, then the fortress of demerits and finally the marmot chalet has again evolved through the course of the trek. The warm, sunny afternoons have turned the tents into a sauna like relaxation pods and with the addition of hours of spa music on loop the Marmot Spa has opened for business... until the speaker dies. While actively attempting to bribe our wonderful guides to help add the finishing touch to the Marmot Spa by providing facial massages, they have respectfully turned us down citing a lack of fresh cucumber slices and thawed facial cream.
Tomorrow is another scheduled rest day just in time for the next storm system to flow through. After that we wait for the next 3 day weather window to begin our summit push
Mia and Beckett, I hope you get to experience places like this when you get a bit older. Hi mom!
Hoarding marmot,
Signing out
- RMI Climber Zack
New Post Alerts:
McKinley Expedition, June 2, 2026
Great going team and thank you guides for keeping our New Mexico loved one safe and all the other climbers. Enjoy the rest of your climb to the summit and good luck.
Posted by: Haskel Wright on 6/14/2026 at 5:24 pm
Worlds Best #1 rope teams biggest fans are sending love!
Posted by: Netty Roberts on 6/14/2026 at 9:09 am
Posted by: Ben Luedtke, Mike Bennett, Avery Stolte
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Alaska
Elevation: 11,000'
June 13, 2026
Today we made it to 11 camp! The team started early with a 4:30 wake up and a quick breakfast to make it up to 11 just before the clouds rolled in.
At 11 everyone quickly got to work buffing out tent platforms and creating a “cathedral” of a kitchen tent.
We are all settled in now and with cheese cake for desert and lots of monopoly go we are ready for any clouds that come our way. Now time for some well deserved we shall see what tomorrow brings!
- RMI Guide Avery Stolte
New Post Alerts:
McKinley Expedition, June 9, 2026
Jimmy and Allison and everyone- show that Mountain who is boss! You’ve got this! Stay safe and enjoy the moments!!!
Posted by: Ang on 6/14/2026 at 6:17 pm
Way to take advantage of that weather window to push up to camp 11K. Good time for a little rest and recovery as Mother Nature does her thing for a couple days. Very little known fact is Ben Koch is absolutely ruthless at Monopoly. Watch how giddy he gets when he gets Park Place.
Posted by: Ed DaPrs on 6/14/2026 at 9:12 am
The Fuhrer Finger climb led by RMI guide James Bealer pivoted to climbing the Kautz route due to unstable snow conditions in The Finger. On their summit attempt, they turned around at 12,100' due to extreme winds and unstable snow. They are on their descent from the Wilson Bench this morning and will return to Ashford later this morning.
Nice work team!
Posted by: Henry Coppolillo, Nick Sinapius, Robert Whyte, David Rathbun, Annie Chapman, Sam Traylor, Dan Harper, Oliver Sperin
Categories: Mount Rainier
Elevation: 11,500'
RMI teams led by guides Henry Coppolillo and Nick Sinapius attempted to summit Mt Rainier this morning, but turned around at 11,500', just above Ingraham Flats due to deteriorating route conditions.They returned to Camp Muir and are on their descent back to Paradise. They will be back in Ashford this afternoon.
Posted by: Daniel May, Drew O’Brien, Mac Nolde
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Alaska
Elevation: 14,000'
Friday, June 12th - 11:30PM PST
Sorry forgot to post yesterdays dispatch. Here is today’s:
The team had a good active rest day today. After sleeping in, we enjoyed a good hot breakfast. We then hiked over to the edge of the world to enjoy the beautiful vista, and to get our legs good and warmed up for tomorrow. This afternoon, we practiced rope skills for tomorrow's anticipated acclimatization trip up the fixed lines. With bellies full from dinner, we are ready for another good night of sleep at 14,000 feet.
- RMI Climber Paxton
Junior Assistant Dispatcher (In training)
New Post Alerts:
McKinley Expedition, June 2, 2026
Posted by: Ben Luedtke, Mike Bennett, Avery Stolte
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Alaska
Elevation: 7,800'
Friday, June 12th - 10PM PST
Upward progress continues as the team takes advantage of early momentum on the mountain. Conducting their first carry of the expedition, nearly half of their equipment, food, and gear was moved up to just below 11 camp at just above 10k feet. Slighter cooler temps made for a more pleasant push, and the team made the round trip effort in just over six hours. The rest of the day let way to rest and a timely dinner, finalizing with packing for the push to the next camp. All is well and stoke remains high as the team prepares to continue onward and upward.
New Post Alerts:
McKinley Expedition, June 9, 2026
Crushing it, one incredible step at a time!
Hoping today is another great one for you all!
Stay safe, stay sharp!!!!
Posted by: Kierstin Decicco on 6/14/2026 at 6:44 am
Ben K, we’re climbing with you dear Ben. Our turf is much easier and we know you’ll make it with your new friends. Hope there’s alot of laughs along the way.
PS Knicks won last night, 24 HRS of LE Mans over in 1 HR 15 minutes.
Posted by: Marion and Sandra on 6/14/2026 at 5:45 am
Well…certainly a disappointment for the climbers and the guides. But…given the conditions and everyone is back safely, not an outcome that qualifies for criticism. Thank you and best regards to all involved in this climb.
Posted by: Arthur Kuebel on 6/14/2026 at 6:34 pm
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