Mt. McKinley: Haugen & Team Full Day of Cache Day

June 18, 2015

Posted by: Mike Haugen, Mike Uchal, Pepper Dee

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 11,200'

Wednesday June 17th 10:00 pm PT We feel like we are finally on the mountain. We woke up early and left camp around 4:30 to cache some gear at 14,000' Camp. Our attempt to beat the heat worked since we pulled into camp right when the direct sun hit. The rest of the day was spent resting and preparing for the move back up to 14 Camp tomorrow. The boys of el Siete feasted on quesaritos this evening, and are going to sleep with full bellies and full hearts thinking about you all. RMI Guide Mike Haugen

On The Map

Mt. McKinley: Haugen & Team Back Carry and Reorganize Gear at 11,200’ Camp

June 16, 2015

Posted by: Mike Haugen, Mike Uchal, Pepper Dee

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 11,200'

June 16, 2015 9:32 pm PT We had another early morning today. Instead of moving uphill, we went back to 10,000' to retrieve our cache. All went according to plan and we got back to camp around 8:30 a.m. We did a bit of relaxing and reorganizing of our reunited gear. The sun was out on the glacier, which provided some intense solar radiation that we tried to stay out of. Our plan is to get up early and carry some gear up to our next camp at 14,000' and then return to 11,200' tomorrow afternoon. RMI 7 "El Siete"

On The Map

Mt. McKinley: Haugen and Team Establish Camp at 11,200’

June 16, 2015

Posted by: Mike Haugen, Mike Uchal, Pepper Dee

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 11,200'

June 15, 2015 10:20 pm PT We woke up early to beautiful weather. After a quick breakfast and packing session, we were headed up glacier towards our next camp at 11,200 ft. We made great time with our strong crew and found a partially dug out camp. We proceeded to make it an RMI quality camp. Since we arrived into camp early and had most of the day to work, we decided to go big. Instead of stairs leading down into our cook tent, we decided to make a large tunnel through the side of the hill as our entry way. It turns out you have to move a bunch of snow to make a six foot entry tunnel. RMI 7 "El Siete"

On The Map

Mt. McKinley: Haugen and Team Establish Camp 2

June 15, 2015

Posted by: Mike Haugen, Mike Uchal, Pepper Dee

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 9,600'

June 14, 2015 10:58 pm Hi friends and family! Team Haugen continues to make strong moves up here. Today we got a bright and early start, broke camp, and made short work of Ski Hill en route to Camp 2 at 9,600 feet. Upon arrival, the boys of "El Siete" enthusiastically dug what may be the burliest camp ever to grace the slopes of Denali, then harvested the fruits of their labor by way of a long half day of relaxing, napping, and eating truly preposterous quantities of Mac and cheese. We're all excited for a move up to 11 camp tomorrow. And now, for the more literary inclined followers, please enjoy a summary of the day's exploits in haiku: Bright and early start, Solid work on frozen slopes, Camp 2 chilling, FUN! RMI Guide Mike Haugen

On The Map

Mt. McKinley: Haugen & Team Half Day Cache Day

June 14, 2015

Posted by: Mike Haugen, Mike Uchal, Pepper Dee

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 7,800'

Saturday June 13th 11:15 pm PT In days of yore when men where men and battles raged across the lands and glory rose in the mountains, there came upon the mountaineering stage a great climbing team called "el siete". This fellowship of dynamic professionals hailed from all corners of the great U.S. of A. and even called on brethren from distant Norwegian lands to converge here below "Ski Hill" at Camp One on Denali (which is French for "The Nali"). The determined team worked to achieve the glory of their pursuit by trudging upward to 10,000 feet to strategically deposit in their mountain bank expedition supplies for safe keeping. Nestled in their beds the great team awaits a strong move in the wee hours of the morning to 9,600 feet. Stay tuned for more adventures of the soon to be mountaineering legends know as "el siete." Stay classy lower 48 - and Norway! RMI Guide Mike Haugen

On The Map

Mt. McKinley: Haugen & Team Reach Camp 1

June 13, 2015

Posted by: Mike Haugen, Mike Uchal, Pepper Dee

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 7,800'

Friday June 12th 11:25 pm PT Upon our late arrival at Base Camp the weather started turning nasty, so we set up tents and burrowed into our sleeping bags. Lo and behold, upon awakening the skies had cleared and the mountain beckoned! We broke camp and descended the Southeast Fork Kahiltna to the Main Fork, turned up-glacier and headed toward Camp 1. The glacier route is in prime condition and we reached our camp in several hours taking in the spectacular mountain views around us. Everyone in the team is doing great and looking forward to our next objective, Camp ll. More later! RMI Guide Mike Haugen

On The Map

Mt. McKinley: Haugen & Team Arrive at Base Camp

June 12, 2015

Posted by: Mike Haugen, Mike Uchal, Pepper Dee

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 7,300'

After some long trips from our respective homes, our crew arrived in Anchorage and formed the super team, "El Siete" (RMI Team Seven). We made the journey to Talkeetna, AK the day before yesterday and started to prepare for our flight onto the mountain. We spent yesterday packing in the hanger. The weather did not seem to be on our side and the probability of us flying into base camp on time seemed very small. We figured we would be joining all of the other teams that had been doing the "Talkeetna Wait" for days. We woke up today anticipating that we would not fly this morning and we were not wrong. After a good breakfast, lunch, and a few wanders around town, we planned on getting a pizza and watching the NBA finals. As soon as the crew started to get into the game, the flight service called and told us there was a small window for us to fly. So here we are on the glacier ready to climb the big one. If you did not get a call from us before we left, we were in a mad rush and we will get back to you after we summit! RMI Guide Mike Haugen & Team

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Mt. McKinley: Haugen & Team Full Day of Cache Day

On The Map

Mt. McKinley: Haugen & Team Back Carry and Reorganize Gear at 11,200’ Camp

On The Map

Mt. McKinley: Haugen and Team Establish Camp at 11,200’

On The Map

Mt. McKinley: Haugen and Team Establish Camp 2

On The Map

Mt. McKinley: Haugen & Team Half Day Cache Day

On The Map

Mt. McKinley: Haugen & Team Reach Camp 1

On The Map

Mt. McKinley: Haugen & Team Arrive at Base Camp

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