RMI Expeditions Blog
Posted by: Pete Van Deventer, Tatum Whatford, Henry Coppolillo
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 11,000'
Sunday, May 14, 2023 - 9:49 pm PT
The mountain reminded us how strong she is today and have us a good fight. We woke to sun and warm temps in camp and the beginnings of a beautiful day. We packed up camp and started moving uphill again to 11. At first we moved with better vis, views, and a little jump in our step. But as we walked the clouds from yesterday moved back in with a stiff wind and a lot of blowing snow. Quite quickly we had little visibility and following the tracks of previous climbers became quite difficult. But the team was warm, had all the gear we needed to move in the weather, so we marched on with the help of GPS. After a good battle and a longer day than anticipated, we made it to 11,000' Camp. Tents were a welcome sight but the battle wasn't over. We still had a few hours of camp constructing to do before we would be in our shelters. The team worked really well together and rallied it out, and now we are sitting snug In tents and sleeping bags, reminiscing about the day.
RMI Guide Pete Van Deventer
Posted by: Mike Walter, Abby Westling, Emma Lyddan
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 9,400'
Sunday, May 14, 2023 - 7:40 pm PT
Today started out sunny & beautiful but it didn't turn out that way. Above Ski Hill a full blown arctic blizzard blew in fiercely. Navigating by gps in a full white out, wearing parkas and goggles, we even struggled to find our cache from yesterday. Setting camp was epic, but we did it. So we're safe in our tents now and we'll weather out the rest of the storm here if need be.
Full on Alaska!
RMI Guide Mike Walter
Greetings from Oklahoma!! A huge birthday shout out to my awesome brother, Scott Crist!! Hope you’ve had an amazing day. Prayers for a continued safe climbing adventure and journey to the summit!! Can’t wait to see pictures from the top!!
Posted by: Danna Littau on 5/15/2023 at 3:17 pm
Posted by: Mike Walter, Abby Westling, Emma Lyddan
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Sunday, May 14, 2023 - 10:13 AM PT
Just a quick note this morning to wish all of our mothers a happy day today! We'll check in again from our next camp.
RMI Guide Mike Walter
Happy birthday, Scott Crist! Best birthday, ever, on the side of a mountain! Wishing you and the team a sunshiny, beautiful day of climbing.
Posted by: Cynthia Anderson on 5/15/2023 at 5:32 am
Wish the team a great adventure. May all luck and good weather be on your side.
Posted by: Susan Losonsky on 5/15/2023 at 3:59 am
Posted by: Dave Hahn, Avery Parrinello, Nick Sinapius, Daniel May, Trevor Katz, George Hedreen
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 10,080'
RMI Guides Dave Hahn and Avery Parrinello and the Four Day Climb May 11 - 14 were unable to leave Camp Muir for their summit attempt due to high winds. Dave reported winds gusting 60-70 mph. The teams waited, ready to climb, for the winds to dissipate, but no such luck.
The teams will return to Rainier BaseCamp this afternoon to conclude their climb.
Posted by: Mike Walter, Abby Westling, Emma Lyddan
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 7,800'
Saturday, May 13, 2023 - 8:12 pm PT
We carried loads of food and fuel up above Ski Hill today, and we're now back at camp. The weather wasn't terribly friendly today, with 10-20' visibility all day. Currently we're enjoying sunshine and beautiful views as the clouds finally dissipated. We're about to eat dinner and cash out for the night. Hopefully tomorrow we'll be able to move camp higher.
We will be sure to check in again soon.
Posted by: Pete Van Deventer, Henry Coppolillo, Tatum Whatford
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 7,800'
Saturday, May 13, 2023 - 7:03 pm PT
A gentle shushhhh of snow falling on the tent woke us this morning. We were the central theme in the snow globe as snow fell quietly and windlessly down. We lingered over coffee and bagel sandwiches letting the day progress. We really couldn't see much, but it was calm, warm enough, and we had a nice camp to return to, so we finally sorted some loads out, loaded packs and sleds, and turned uphill again to go cache. We walked through a milky white world for several hours before we decided that we had done enough, and further walking was going to involve a lot of feel and not much sight. So we dug quite a large hole and left our loads there under the snow to be retrieved in a few days time. The walk down went quite quickly, and after an hour we were back at camp where the clouds were lifting and the sun was blazing at max intensity. We are currently enjoying a short siesta, before a hearty dinner of reindeer gumbo. We plan to pack up camp tomorrow and trade up to an abode at 11,000'.
We'll be in touch.
I’m with you, Mama Goltry! Looks like our daughter is the only female on the trip besides the guides. Quite an adventure but I am looking forward to the “we made the summit and are on our way down” post.
Posted by: Karlyn Sullivan on 5/14/2023 at 8:18 pm
From 94 degrees in Tucson, I am doing my best work with tequila to not think about hubby on a glacier in the freezing cold. But alas, there are not enough margaritas in the world to keep me from missing my mountain man. Reindeer gumbo is right up his alley. Keep on trekking! Enjoy the journey! Can’t wait to see the photos. Mama Goltry
Posted by: Tory Goltry on 5/13/2023 at 9:51 pm
Posted by: Mike Walter, Abby Westling, Emma Lyddan
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 7,800'
Our team is doing well, getting used to our new home on the glacier. Yesterday we moved from Basecamp to just shy of Ski Hill. It's a bit snowy this morning, but that shouldn't thwart our plans to carry a cache of supplies up to around 9,500'-10,000'.
We will keep you posted on our progress.
Thanks for checking in.
RMI Guide Mike Walter and team.
If anyone wants a good margarita while they’re up there, don’t hesitate to ask Brett!
Posted by: Brian W. on 5/13/2023 at 11:01 am
Posted by: Taylor Bickford, Seth Burns, Ellison Boord, Erika Birkeland, Nicole De Petris, Michael Murray
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
Success! The Four-Day climb led by Taylor Bickford and Seth Burns reached the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning around 7:45am. They enjoyed a good climbing route and weather during their ascent.
The team will be back at Basecamp this afternoon to celebrate their hard work!
Posted by: Pete Van Deventer, Henry Coppolillo, Tatum Whatford
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 7,800'
The team did strong work today, shouldering a load out of base camp that would have made an ox shudder. Each climber probably had north of 100lbs of gear between pack and sled. We schussed down Heart Break Hill relatively smoothly, given the load and started the long, gradual accent of the Kahiltna. The weather was beyond perfect. Blue skies, warm, probably too warm for a bit, but then a gentle kiss of breeze cooled us down.
6 hours of that steady diesel truck burn brought us to our first real camp of the climb at the Base of Ski Hill. We spent the next couple hours establishing a routine that will become quite familiar: building tent platforms, erecting tents, digging kitchens, bathrooms, melting water, making dinner, and finding time for self-care.
Tomorrow, we will look to move a load uphill and cache before returning to this same camp. We will all be happy for lighter loads.
Wish us bon voyage.
Best to Pete + crew…Look forward to following along…Wshing success…From flatlands of Indiana.
Posted by: Walter Glover on 5/14/2023 at 10:07 am
bon voyage~
and well done team!
Posted by: Lyds on 5/13/2023 at 5:23 pm
Posted by: Jack Delaney, Mike Bennett
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Alaska Seminar
Alaska certainly had a theme for the team this year and it was snow. We did not awake to clear skies, but instead 4 inches of fresh snow and more coming down! Our hopes were dashed for a flight off the glacier first thing in the morning. The team spirits remained high as we spent the day talking about life and the fragility of horses all while devouring any and all bacon that was left. Eventually the skies got a little lighter, then a little blue even and before we knew it - it was a beautiful sunny afternoon in the Alaska Range. After another few hours of hurry up and wait, a big red Otter buzzed into our life to whisk us back to civilization. Out of mountain boots, into showers and one final meal at Denali Brewing and our trip is complete. It was a great trip, with far more fun and stories than fit in this blog, until next time...
RMI Guides Jack Delaney, Mike Bennett and The Team
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Grateful for these updates. Sounds like a strong group. Sending you all lots of positivity!
Posted by: Chris's mom on 5/15/2023 at 9:28 pm
Thanks for the updates. Good to know that all is well.
Posted by: Louise Kennedy on 5/15/2023 at 6:37 pm
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