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Entries By blake votilla


Denali Expedition: Jones & Team on the Glacier and on the Move

May 26, 2016 - 10:04 p.m. PDT After lots of anticipation we are here on the mountain!! This morning we had our final meal at the roadhouse, followed by good weather news from the pilots at the K2 hangar. The team changed from our street clothes to our action suits and before we knew it we were in the air flying to the glacier. We landed and assembled our mountain of gear in to individual loads. With a nice cloud cover and cool temps we made the decision to get the train moving! Travel was pleasant, though a bit hot when the sun started to peek through near our first camp. We have a strong team and everyone did a fabulous job. We made a tasty meal and are bedding down after a very productive day. Will keep you updated! RMI Guide Tyler Jones
Leave a Comment For the Team (2)

Godspeed to the top!

Many prayers going up from Virginia for the team.

Michael we cannot wait to hear about the Denali adventure.

Mom and I think about you everyday.

It looks amazing form the pictures and we know you are loving it.

Love,
Mom and Dad

Posted by: Carter And Kay Adams on 5/28/2016 at 3:29 pm

Andy,

Hope you are all having a great and Safe time, look for your return tonight 5/28/16 and hearing all about it.

Mom and Dad

Posted by: Bert on 5/28/2016 at 10:19 am


Denali Expedition: Jones & Team Sort Gear in Talkeetna

May 25, 2016 - 8:59 p.m. PDT Hello from Talkeetna! Today was spent sorting through our gear in the K2 Aviation airplane hangar. We're all getting to know each other and we're beginning to feel like a team. The luggage is lined up and we're hoping for nice weather to fly into base camp in the morning. In the meantime, we'll fill our stomachs and stay hydrated for the days ahead. RMI Guide Tyler Jones and team
Leave a Comment For the Team (1)

Good luck for the summit Bob!
Hope to see more great pics from there. Quite a contrast to the 100 degree heat in Portland now.

Posted by: Dede and Andrew Vetterlein on 6/5/2016 at 9:13 am


Denali Expedition: Walter & Team Return to Talkeetna

The May 3rd Denali Expedition led by RMI Guides Mike Walter, Billy Haas and Blake Votilla made the difficult decision to end their waiting game at 14,000' on Denali and start their descent. On Monday they packed up camp and began heading for Kahiltna Base Camp. On Tuesday afternoon K2 Aviation was able to land on the glacier and load up the team. Mike checked in from Talkeetna yesterday afternoon. We are glad they are back safely and hope they all enjoyed their Denali adventure.
Leave a Comment For the Team (2)

The weather was not with you, but your energy and spirit to summit was.  Well done team! 
Congratulations brother Dave - Love Jules

Posted by: Julie Beckner on 5/26/2016 at 8:18 am

Well Rogan is back home, I’m so sorry that you guys were not able to continue. But what you did,  was not to be sneezed at, so congrats for getting so far up anyway. What a unique experience you all had never to be forgotten. Best wishes, Rogans Mom.

Posted by: Daphne carew on 5/26/2016 at 3:35 am


Denali Expedition: Walter & Team Check in from 14,000 ft Camp

May 22, 2016 - 1:54 pm PT Once again we're checking in from 14k on Denali. There is not much new to report here. The winds up high remain strong, and the National Weather Service has issued a special high wind warning for this storm. We are all comfortable and safe at camp and we'll just have to see how this one plays out. Today is day 18 on the the mountain for our team, and high winds are forecast through at least Thursday. We'll keep you up to date with the latest news. RMI Guide Mike Walter

On The Map

Leave a Comment For the Team (2)

Thinking alot about you Blake !!
Love you !!

Mom

Posted by: Maria Votilla on 5/24/2016 at 12:58 pm

Team Walter, you guys are already my heroes coming so close to the summit. Respect storm Daryl! No gut or glory stuff! Come home in one piece, Lei. Love you. Hao

Posted by: Hao on 5/23/2016 at 7:31 pm


Denali Expedition: Walter & Team Watching High Winds Blow Above the West Buttress

May 21, 2016 - 7:25 pm PT We spent another day here at 14k. Today the weather at camp was quite pleasant, with periods of sun and just some light wind. Up above on the West Buttress, where we are hoping to climb, the strong winds persisted today. We'll see what tomorrow brings, as the weather forecast is still calling for high winds the next few days. We'll keep you posted. RMI Guide Mike Walter

On The Map

Leave a Comment For the Team

Denali Expedition: Walter & Team Waiting Out the Weather

May 20, 2016 - 5:36 pm PT We're hunkered down in our tents today as a significant storm rages outside. Fortunately the snow walls we constructed are taking the brunt if the winds. It's been snowing all day, and visibility is near zero. We're all safe and relatively comfortable in our camp between our tents and our cook tent. High above our camp you can hear the winds crashing over the West Buttress like waves on a rocky coastline. The winds up at that altitude are forecast to reach 85 mph. This storm will hopefully start to taper off tomorrow and give us a chance to move up to high camp for a summit bid. We'll keep you posted, but for now we're in a holding pattern. RMI Guide Mike Walter

On The Map

Leave a Comment For the Team (2)

Hi Della, dis rof besig hier met die winter konserte en Kaela was siek met Tonsilites. Ons mis jou baie. Die koppie klimery moet nou klaarkom. Anyway, for those who did not understand. Get to the top in double quick time and get your buds of the mountain. Your family’ s need you..
Cherio…

Posted by: jaco on 5/21/2016 at 1:54 pm

Hey Rob!, So excited to hear from you! Stay strong and stay well.  We are praying for good weather so you and the team can go for the summit. Love to you. Mom, Dad and Katie

Posted by: Robert & Toni Caldwell on 5/21/2016 at 5:27 am


Denali Expedition: Walter & Team Sit Tight at 14,000’

May 19, 2016 - 10:28 pm PT We hung out around camp again today, as the current weather nor the forecast for Denali are conducive to going higher right now. We spent a large part of the day building snow walls around our camp at 14,000' to protect against wind. Our plan for tomorrow is similar to today, as we ride out this storm and hope for better weather in a few days. We'll check in again tomorrow. RMI Guide Mike Walter

On The Map

Leave a Comment For the Team

Denali Expedition: Walter & Team Explore the Edge of the World

May 18, 2016 - 5:07 p.m. PDT Howdy from 14,200' Denali! We are lounging in the sun at camp, waiting for the winds up high to decrease so that we can move to our high camp and get in position to take a crack at the summit. We're comfy here at camp but eager to club higher. After breakfast this morning, we headed over to the Edge of the World, a viewpoint 15 minutes from camp that looks down some 7,000' into the Northeast Fork of the Kahiltna Glacier and across to Mt. Foraker. Amazing. If anyone could pull some strings with the weather deities, that'd be swell. Thanks! That's it for now, RMI Guides Mike Walter, Billy Haas, and Blake Votilla

On The Map

Leave a Comment For the Team (2)

Hi adelle.  Sitting at Fego having a cuppa and watching the water.  It is two in the morning in your valley…sorry ...mountain.  and i suppose you are nice and warm and cosy in your sleeping bag.  NOT…  thinking about you all the time.  Your brother wants to join you when you do Everest.  Then i have two to pray for.  (I wonder if God has a special file labelled Mountaineers? To which he pays special attention)  Hope so….      Well,;enough of my rambling. I will leave you and your group to do some rambling of your own.  Love.  ME.

Posted by: Maureen on 5/20/2016 at 2:14 am

Holy smokes…what a view!  I am so glad you all got to see such beauty!  May the weather be calm, clear and ready for you all to reach the top!  Stay healthy brother Dave.  Love, Jules

Posted by: Julie Beckner on 5/19/2016 at 9:59 am


Denali Expedition: Walter & Team Take a Rest Day

May 17, 2016 - 10:49 p.m. PDT We slept in until the sun hit our tents this morning as we enjoyed a well deserved rest day. After a hearty brunch, we lounged around camp all day doing a lot of nothing. The weather was sunny in the morning, with strong winds up high on the West Buttress above us. This afternoon a squall came through with a little snow and windy conditions at camp. The forecast is for see strong winds up high the next few days. We'll pay close attention to the changing conditions as we get ready for our final push to high camp and a chance at a summit bid. We'll touch base again tomorrow to let you know the latest. RMI Guide Mike Walter & Team

On The Map

Leave a Comment For the Team (2)

Justin,

I spotted you in one of the blog post photos! You are the one with the thumb up!

The final push - wow! I hope the winds die down and weather conditions are optimal. You are doing something mind-blowing. I’m scared for you and proud at the same time.

Love,

Mom:)

Posted by: Leanne Fosbre on 5/18/2016 at 5:21 pm

Go Rogan and crew. Watching the blogs and photos in awe!
God Speed!

Posted by: Sean O'Keeffe (and son Cianan) on 5/18/2016 at 12:18 pm


Denali Expedition: Walter & Team Cache Supplies above Fixed Lines

May 17, 2016 - 12:29 a.m. PDT I woke up at the chilly hour of 5:00 a.m. to start the stoves. It was a perfectly clear morning with barely a breath of wind. After a hearty breakfast we packed our backpacks with supplies to cache up above the fixed ropes. We started climbing in the shade, as the sun still had not poked out around the West Rib. The cold temps were perfect for climbing and we warmed up quickly. After an hour and a thousand feet of vertical gain, the sun welcomed us at our first break. We continued climbing and employed our mechanical ascenders to aid us up the fixed ropes. A couple hours later we were on top of the West Buttress proper. The team climbed hard today and we accomplished our goals, with one team putting a cache in below Washburn's Thumb (16,700'), and the other team pushing on to high camp (17,200') to establish a cache. We're all back at camp and in our sleeping bags now after a long day of climbing. A much deserved rest day awaits us tomorrow. RMI Guide Mike Walter & Team
Leave a Comment For the Team (2)

This is for all of you…......


” In a sense everything that is exists to climb.  All evolution is a climbing towards a higher form.
  Climbing for life as it reaches towards the consciousness, towards the spirit.  We have always
  honored the high places because we sense them to be homes of gods.  In the mountains there
  is the promise of… something unexplainable.  A higher place of awareness, a spirit that soars.
  So we climb… and in climbing there is more than a metaphor;  there is a means of discovery.”

                                                              —Anonymous

(Love you Blake!)

Posted by: Maria Votilla on 5/18/2016 at 8:01 am

Hello Rob.. Unbelievable accomplishment! So excited and proud for you and the team! You all have accomplished so much and looking forward to pictures from the summit!! Enjoy the much deserved rest.  Continue to be strong! We are all cheering you and the team on to the summit! Take care! Be safe, Love, Mom, Dad and Katie

Posted by: Robert & Toni Caldwell on 5/18/2016 at 4:36 am

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