Denali Expedition: Jones & Team Building Walls at 14,000’ Camp

June 7, 2017

Posted by: Tyler Jones, JM Gorum, Bryan Mazaika

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 14,000'

June 6, 2017 Today we woke up to the expected winds on the upper mountain. The temperatures are creeping up slowly but the winds are keeping us low for a day, or a few. This means we acclimate by doing light activity and a bit of lifting. We started with a hot drink and traveled back to the edge of the world to outstanding views. Afterwords, the team all piled into the cook tent for a round of blueberry pancakes. Building walls around our camp, creating a mountain castle, filled the next few hours as we fortified our outpost. We now have the best walls and the best views in camp! A fellow RMI team lead by Jake, Steve, and Megan arrived at 14 today, and our group was happy to lend them a hand setting up camp. We are now surrounded by friends in a beautiful camp. Everything is in its place, and we are ready to move uphill when the mountain allows it. RMI Guide Tyler Jones

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Fingers crossed for clear weather and being able to push ahead at the soonest opportunity.

Go John and the rest of the team!

Posted by: SoCal Gunns on 6/8/2017 at 9:56 am

Hi Dear Amir and Hi to all team members,
Hope all is OK with you and you have a pleasant and safe climbing. You are just at it!! You are on a hard journey. Years ahead you look back and you enjoy remembering an unforgettable, amazing and exciting experience in fighting physically and spirituallly against hard rock stones in your way up. Your ascent is symbolising how you need to move forward and pass the barriers patiently and humbly but resolutely. Tomorrow morning I will be climbing Claun Bastami at 4300 meter height, beginning at 4 am and coming down in the afternoon.
Please take good care of yourself, preserve your skin from the intensity of sun and stay well!
Hadi, Mitra’s dad

Posted by: Hadi on 6/8/2017 at 6:51 am

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Denali Expedition: Jones & Team Take Well Deserved Rest Day

June 6, 2017

Posted by: Tyler Jones, JM Gorum, Bryan Mazaika

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 14,000'

June 5, 2017 After our cache to 17,200' Camp yesterday, our team had earned a well deserved rest day. We cooked up some breakfast burritos this morning for brunch which included eggs, bacon and hash browns. After digesting our breakfast, we stretched out our legs by walking to the Edge of the World. Each team member was belayed out to the edge which drops some 5,000 ft to the Northeast Fork and provides some great photos to bring home. The weather outlook is calling for some windy and cold days ahead so the team may be sticking it out here at 14k camp but when our time comes we will be rested and ready to climb! RMI Guide Tyler Jones

Denali Expedition: Jones & Team Carry Supplies to 17,200’ Camp

June 4, 2017

Posted by: Tyler Jones, JM Gorum, Bryan Mazaika

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 17,200'

June 4, 2017 Today was our hardest day yet! The team did another outstanding job on our climb up to High Camp at 17,200 ft. The crew also managed to return the favor to Brent's climb by bumping the last of their equipment and food from 16,600' as well as prep their arrival to high camp un-burying their caches from a few days ago. We had perfect weather and amazing views of the whole south side of the Alaska range. The descent was a bit of a traffic jam but all went well and the snow has begun as we arrived back to our tents in 14,000' Camp. Our plan for now is to rest and recover tomorrow. Then we will just wait for our summit opportunity! Fingers crossed for nice weather Tuesday and beyond! RMI Guide Tyler Jones

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Great progress John (and team). We can’t wait to hear your first hand account. Truly the adventure of a lifetime. We’re all so proud.

Posted by: SoCal Gunns on 6/6/2017 at 7:30 am

Amir: René told me about this latest adventure. Wow, this must be such an amazing experience (but, reading about the mountain a bit, I’m glad it’s you on the mountain and not me)! You never cease to amaze me with the goals you set and your tenacity in pursuing them. I wish you and the team a successful completion of the expedition and look forward to hearing all about it when you return! You make us proud! All the best! Martin

Posted by: Martin Fischer on 6/6/2017 at 1:04 am

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Denali Expedition: Jones & Team Recover, Rest & Acclimate

June 4, 2017

Posted by: Tyler Jones, JM Gorum, Bryan Mazaika

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 14,200'

June 3, 2017 Today was yet again another sunny day. We woke up with the sun warming our tents. A rest day and sleeping in, not bad for a Saturday morning. Bagels and cream cheese with bacon filled us up for a round of napping, organizing our high camp equipment, and snacking of course. The mid afternoon heat was kept at bay with a bit of fog allowing us to train more technical skills that we will use to climb the fixed ropes on the headwall for our cache tomorrow. We had a nice evening and are bedding down before another big day ahead. RMI Guide Tyler Jones & Team

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Tym, Tyler, and Team (Otherwise know as the 3 T’s)

It is fun and exciting to read about your progress and plans, daily. The pictures are wonderful. Food sounds good. What an amazing adventure! Good luck as you move onward and ever upward. All my best as you have bigger days ahead. And Tym, Satoshi says: $2562.00.

Love Mom

Posted by: Kristi Kennelly on 6/4/2017 at 7:13 pm

Amir, Tyler, and Team,

We’re all thinking of you guys and the wonderful adventure you’re all having !

Can’t wait to hear the stories when you get back!

René

Posted by: René on 6/4/2017 at 3:27 pm

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Denali Expedition: Jones & Team Move to 14,000’ Camp

June 3, 2017

Posted by: Tyler Jones, JM Gorum, Bryan Mazaika

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 14,200'

June 2, 2017 Hello, The team had an amazing day moving up to 14,200 ft Camp today. This team is doing some really great work with smooth climbing and great camp setup skills. We departed our 11,200 ft camp just after 8am and we able to use the morning shade and sun to our advantage, keeping us cool while climbing and warming us during our breaks. We arrived at 14 camp just after noon and enjoyed a sunny afternoon to build our camp. The views are amazing up here and we can see some of the challenges ahead, including the fixed lines. For dinner this evening, the team enjoyed another round of Chef Tyler's chicken quesadilla's served up with some spicy guacamole and Sriracha, who knew you could eat so well on an expedition! Tomorrow we will spend the day in camp resting, reinforcing camp and practicing some skills we will need for the days ahead. RMI Guides Tyler Jones, JM Gorum and Bryan Mazaika

On The Map

Denali Expedition: Jones & Team Carry to 14,000’ Camp

June 1, 2017

Posted by: Tyler Jones, JM Gorum, Bryan Mazaika

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 14,000'

June 1, 2017 The team continues to do well and make further progress up the mountain! This morning we woke up early to chilly temperatures at 11 Camp before we began to warm up on Motorcycle Hill. We were then greeted by the morning sun on Squirrel Hill and it warmed up quickly! When we arrived at 14 camp around 1pm the heat was blistering! We were quick to dig out cache and drop our gear. Despite the heat we couldn't have asked for better weather today, blue skies and a not so "Windy Corner." We got back to camp mid afternoon, a perfect time to escape the sun to rest in our tents. The weather forecast looks good for us to move everything else to 14 Camp and make our new home up there tomorrow! RMI Guide Tyler Jones

On The Map

Leave a Comment For the Team (2)

Matt,

Sounds like you guys are doing well! I read earlier that you guys ate salmon… just know that if you eat it on the mountain you can eat it off the mountain, lol. Daisy is pushing 20lbs already at 10 weeks. Starting puppy school on Monday, so hopefully I can regain some sanity and get some sleep.

Stay cool. Good luck up there!

Posted by: Colleen on 6/2/2017 at 8:13 pm

Hello Tym and Team,

Great progress. Hard to imagine that heat is an issue. Bring on the sunscreen. Good luck with your push today for Camp 14!! Zeppelin, Zoolander, and Saxby wish everyone well, with a woof and meows.
The Golden State Warriors won the first play off game last night, 113-91. Satoshi says: $2425.00

Love Mom

Posted by: Kristi Kennelly (AKA Tym's mom) on 6/2/2017 at 9:07 am

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Denali Expedition: Jones & Team Enjoy a Rest Day

May 31, 2017

Posted by: Tyler Jones, JM Gorum, Bryan Mazaika

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 11,200'

May 31, 2017 Today has been a day of leisure! The team got some much needed rest and we had a long breakfast of chatting and relaxing. The team reviewed some technical skills that we will need for the rest of our climb above here. The guides often refer to the climb up to 11 camp as the approach. This section behind us, we'll pack our cache this evening with our goal being to take the groceries and other luggage up to 14,200 ft tomorrow morning. The heat from the days radiation is intense, and we are currently hiding from the sun. The sleeping bags are out draped over the tents drying, and also cooling the temps inside our 100 sq ft portable homes. Hydration, stretching, and sorting the gear will keep us busy until tomorrow. Hi to all our friends and family! RMI Guide Tyler Jones & Team

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Thanks for the progress updates! I’m sure Matt is wondering how the kickball team is faring without him, and we want him to be fully focused on your dangerous mission, so if you could let me know we have won the past 2 games. We are ranked 7th in the league (of 11) heading in to playoffs next week.

Stay safe & have a great time!!

Posted by: Denise on 6/1/2017 at 11:27 am

Hi John and Team!

Impressed with your progress so far… and love seeing the posts… it looks very very cold! Be safe!

Southwire Groupies

Posted by: Southwire Groupies on 6/1/2017 at 6:43 am

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Denali Expedition: Jones & Team Move to 11,000’ Camp

May 31, 2017

Posted by: Tyler Jones, JM Gorum, Bryan Mazaika

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 11,000'

May 30, 2017 The weather yesterday evening was a pleasant break in snow showers, but only for a few hours! We had heavy snow over night that wound up only stalling our progress for the time it takes to whip out 100 silver dollar pancakes with blueberries. The morning snow dissipated just as we stuffed the last few items in our packs. We began our climb today in a brisk wind which we welcomed with the hard work of trail breaking. The team did an amazing job getting to our previous high point, where we loaded our personal food and equipment in our sleds. We have "Friends in High Places". Big thanks to our other RMI team lead by Brent, Christina, and JT. They helped us by bringing some of our group food and fuel from our cache yesterday during our storm rest day at 7,800 camp. With the climbing done for the the day, we entered the second half of the work day building camp and a mighty fine job our crew has done. We finished our day with loaded quesadillas and relaxing in the cook house. We are happy to have full bellies and the kit all here ready to rest and acclimatize at camp tomorrow. With weather on our side the team will deliver groceries to 14 Camp on Thursday! RMI Guide Tyler Jones

On The Map

Denali Expedition: Jones & Team Take a Weather Day at 7,800’

May 29, 2017

Posted by: Tyler Jones, JM Gorum, Bryan Mazaika

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 7,800'

May 29, 2017 We woke up this morning to snow showers, moderate winds, and low visibility. Rather than do battle in a storm trying to move to 11,000 ft, we stayed in camp at 7,800 ft and enjoyed our first rest day. After yesterday's successful carry, the team has earned some recovery. We started the day with salmon, bagels, cream cheese, and some lively tunes. It seems like one of the team members has sealed his fate as the resident dj for the remainder of our trip. We followed breakfast with some lounging, napping, reading, and digging. Our kitchen tent is now the best looking one in camp, and maybe the whole mountain. For dinner, we will be dining on a delectable Mac and Cheese, with plenty of bacon thrown in for good measure. It has been snowing for most of the day, but accumulations have been moderate and the wind has bit of a bite. Everyone is feeling strong, and we are ready to move camp tomorrow..... Weather pending! RMI Guide Tyler Jones

On The Map

Denali Expedition: Jones & Team Fly Onto Denali

May 28, 2017

Posted by: Tyler Jones, JM Gorum, Bryan Mazaika

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 7,800'

May 28, 2017 1:32 am PST Hi from Denali! The team got a break in the weather around noon today! Big day indeed for flying! We unloaded our gear from the planes, repacked our duffel bags, loaded our sleds and heavy packs and got on the move to our first camp at 7,800ft. The trip to the mountains is finally underway. We made great time in the light cloud cover keeping the air cool in the often blistering heat of the lower Kahiltna glacier. We set up camp had a quick dinner and are now resting our bones! RMI Guide Tyler Jones & Team

Leave a Comment For the Team (2)

Sam and Mike, good luck to you and the rest of the team. Represent Colorado well and unhook the plows! Stay safe.

Posted by: Chris Hoidal on 5/29/2017 at 4:37 pm

Good luck up there. Hopefully your type 2 fun is sprinkled with some type 1 fun too. Be safe.

Posted by: Colleen Kerr on 5/29/2017 at 3:24 pm

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