June 18, 2017
It was overcast and gray in Talkeetna this morning when the team got in for a 7AM breakfast, but we were optimistic in any case. Things had brightened just a bit by the time we assembled in the K2 hangar, but the word was passed that fog on the glacier surface would keep planes out of Basecamp initially. We drank coffee and fidgeted with our gear for a bit. Then we loaded the planes. Then we fidgeted a bit more. Then it was time to fly and we got our boots on. We hastily texted friends and loved ones as our two big beautiful De Havilland Otters taxied out to the runway. We were off! But then the fog came back over Basecamp and we did a u turn and landed in Talkeetna. We texted, we drank more coffee and then we loaded up for real. The flight in got markedly more dramatic and spectacular as we entered the Alaska Range. Before we knew it, we were setting down perfectly on skis on the SE Fork of the Kahiltna Glacier. There were about a hundred climbers assembled, ready to fly home and so it was a busy scene. We were very pleased to shake hands and give hugs to the two RMI teams finishing their adventures with Jake Beren and Tyler Jones. Then we set to building camp and reviewing safety procedures for travel on the lower glaciers. We'd stop every now and then to stare in wide eyed wonder at massive Mt Foraker and vertical Mt Hunter, towering over us. Dinner, some story telling and some packing completed our big day. We turned in at 8 PM with the sun nowhere remotely even close to the horizon. We'll get up early -weather permitting- and make our move in the cool of morning when the glacier surface is firmer and safer.
Best Regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
Yesterday we converged at baggage carousel #1 in the Anchorage airport... having come from far and wide to form our Denali climbing team. A commute with Denali Overland and our driver Bill brought us into Talkeetna, Alaska by 9 PM. Today we got down to brass tacks and started preparing seriously to go on the mountain. It wasn't all drudgery as our first official team meeting was conducted over a fine Roadhouse breakfast with plenty of good hot coffee. Introductions were completed in time for our mandatory National Park Service Orientation Slideshow at the Talkeetna Ranger Station. We were reminded that it had been a tough season for weather on Denali, with only 30% of climbers making the summit so far. Indeed, we'd begun the day walking the streets in steady rain. By midday when we headed for the K2 Aviation hangar, things were beginning to look up. We conducted a thorough check of each climbers gear and clothing as big stretches of blue sky too over. We kept looking toward the Range as we went through sorting tents and ropes and food for the group, but the big peaks stayed well-disguised in the murk and cloud. By early evening the loads were in order and weighed for hefting into airplanes. The work done, we headed back into downtown Talkeetna for dinner at the bustling Twister Creek. It is high season for tourism in Alaska. We all relaxed a little and made final preparations for "getting on" in the morning. Getting on a plane, getting on a glacier, and getting on a climb.
With a little more improvement in the weather, we'll be on our way.
Best Regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
The Four Day Summit Climb led by Dave Hahn reached the summit of Mt. Rainier early this morning. Dave reported clear sunny skies above 7000' with winds of about 15 mph from the North. The team has started their descent and are en route to Camp Muir.
Congratulations to today's team!
The Four Day Summit Climb June 4-7 led by RMI Guide Dave Hahn and the Five Day Summit Climb led by Pepper Dee were unable to reach the summit today due to high winds and deteriorating weather. Both teams ascended to 13,500' this morning but were forced to turn around due to weather. The teams will return to Camp Muir to re-pack and take a short rest before descending to Paradise.
We look forward to seeing them at Rainier BaseCamp this afternoon.
Hello and congrats to all on the Hahn team. Outstanding “participation” on the climb and tremendous patience for putting up with the awkward sense of humor of a southern redneck. Y’all are forever in my memories! Thank you to the birthday girl Nikki, the leg model Solveig, and the man with the bed time stories Dave. Y’all took great care of us and are good folk to spend time on a mountain with! May the good Lord keep you safe on all your future expeditions!
Posted by: Keith Lineback on 6/8/2017 at 6:16 pm
The leader of a group of people have a great deal of responsibility in your case I Sincerely believesdid that You makes The right call,Hope that tomorrow will l be a better day, God bless you.
Posted by: Lauro De Leon Jr on 6/8/2017 at 2:02 pm
The Expedition Skills Seminar - Muir May 21 - 26, 2017 led by RMI Guides Dave Hahn and Steve Gately have spent the week training at Camp Muir. Today they made an alpine start for their summit attempt. The team reached the summit around 8 am and was able to enjoy the views. Dave Hahn reported a light cloud cap on the summit and otherwise good conditions. The team will return to Camp Muir today for their final night on the mountain. They will complete their program tomorrow and wrap up with a celebration at Rainier BaseCamp.
Congratulations to today's team!
The Expedition Skills Seminar - Muir May 14-19, 2017 led by RMI Guides Dave Hahn and Chase Nelson spent the week at Camp Muir. The team spent time learning mountaineering skills, knot tying and crevasse rescue. The team experienced windy and snowy conditions for a portion of the week but were rewarded today with beautiful blue sky. They reached the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning around 7:30 and spent an hour enjoying the views and celebrating their accomplishment. Today is the last day of the program so once they return to Camp Muir they will pack their gear and continue their descent to Paradise. We look forward to seeing them at Rainier BaseCamp later today.
Congratulations to today's climbers!
None of us minded getting up early today at Union Glacier. We packed our bags and knocked down our tents one more time. Then we drank a bunch of coffee and waited for the big plane to come in. We had a ringside seat for the 11 AM landing out at the Ice runway. It didn't take long for the ground crews to get it unloaded and to get us on board. We were off deck by noon and had a smooth and easy 4.5 hour ride back to Punta Arenas. Then it was time for showers and a fine dinner out with friends. We celebrated a truly enjoyable climb in an extraordinary environment. Tomorrow we'll fly some more and we'll eventually go in different directions. But we won't soon forget what we accomplished together.
Thanks for following.
Best Regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
Its been 20 years since my first season of 6 as a member of the twin otter crews. Fond memories of working with you and glad to see you’re still up to it.
Miss my days down there and hope to come back some day.
Dave
Posted by: Dave Bosma on 12/31/2016 at 4:39 pm
Dave,
Thank you for safely guiding Keith and the rest of the team for this experience. Also thank you for posting the daily blog so that I could know where the team was and to let my mother-in-law and others informed of the progress.
I wish all of you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Yuki Loritz
Posted by: Yukiko Loritz on 12/12/2016 at 11:36 am
There was optimistic talk yesterday evening of a flight to South America today. The weather didn't cooperate, but we certainly didn't mind another day in the heart of Antarctica. We ate well, we rested, we rode fat tire bikes on a 10k groomed trail, we watched clouds come and go, and we mingled with other "tourists" and staff of ALE (our logistical company). Everybody wanted to know about our big storm and just how hard the wind really blew.
Union Glacier camp feels like a major city compared to our small camps on Vinson. Ski planes come and go at all hours, snow cats and snowmobiles roam about, folks come and go from skiing and climbing, from excursions to the coast and the pole. It is a bustling crossroads in the middle of a beautiful nowhere. It is hard to interact with so many well-traveled people without hatching plans for the future. Our immediate future involves northward travel and word has it that the IL76 will be in tomorrow morning. We could be in South America tomorrow evening. One day at a time though.
Best Regards,
Dave Hahn
We started the day -as usual- in a cold cloud at high camp. We are finishing it in bright sunshine and relative warmth at Union Glacier. It was a hard day of down climbing with heavy packs, but by late afternoon we were in Vinson Base where a plane was waiting just for us. Our tents are up in a flat place tonight and the team is happily chatting with explorers, adventurers, scientists, guides, pilots and hard workers from around the world -all mixed in the comfortable ALE dining tent.
Chances are good that we'll fly to Punta Arenas tomorrow.
More as time allows.
Best Regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
Congratulations to Dave and the team! I loved following your expedition. The dispatches were so nicely written! Again Dave: WRITE A BOOK :-). Happy Holidays
Not much wind at high camp this morning, but a heck of a lot of cloud when we checked it at 7 AM. Seemed like this was to be our opportunity though. We breakfasted in fog and light snow and got ready to climb. Nothing had changed by the time we got roped up at 9:45. We set off into the murk. Not a great day for pictures... but walking in a whiteout means there are few distractions. We took a quick rest break every hour or so and went steadily higher and colder. Light winds came up with face freezing potential as we neared the top, but almost miraculously, we lost all wind and even got a touch of sun as we went out the summit ridge. We hit the tippy top at 5:30 and liked it so much we spent 30 minutes up there. It took us three hours and ten minutes, mostly in cloud, to get back to high camp. Thankfully, there we got some late night sunshine to enjoy dinner by. The team is tired, but as you can imagine, we're also pretty happy right now as we drift off to bed.
Best Regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn[Transcription of audio call from the summit]
Hey, this is the RMI 2016 Mt. Vinson Climb, We are on the summit of Mount Vinson, all of us! 100%, a team of 5 right up here on top! We climb through clouds all day, but here on the top we are looking up looking up at blue sky. It is calm on top. This team is done a great job. We'll let you know we get back to high Camp and everything is good, and that's what we expect because everybody is climbing strong.
That's all for now, high from the top of Antarctica.
Dave Hahn Calling from the Summit of Mount Vinson.
Good weather and safe travels!!!
Posted by: Christina perez on 6/19/2017 at 9:45 pm
Hi Hans, Anja, all climbers and guides,
I try to send you sunny weather from Germany!!!
Good luck and full energy for all members…
Ute
Posted by: Ute Novak on 6/19/2017 at 11:18 am
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