Entries By drew obrien
Posted by: Daniel May, Mac Nolde, Drew O’Brien
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Alaska
Elevation: 348'
May & team land back in Talkeetna with big smiles!
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McKinley Expedition, June 2, 2026
Posted by: Daniel May, Drew O’Brien, Mac Nolde
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Alaska
Elevation: 7,600'
June 19th - 6:20AM PST
After a hard fought summit day 100% of the team made it to the tallest point in North America! The following day we descended all the way from 17,000 ft to our very first camp: ski hill at 7,600 ft. We got a quick nap in and now are beating the heat and walking into the early morning cold to the airstrip to return back to Talkeetna!
-RMI Guide Team
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McKinley Expedition, June 2, 2026
Posted by: Daniel May, Drew O’Brien, Mac Nolde
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Alaska Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 20,310'
Great News!
Dan May and 100% of the team reached the summit of Denali!
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McKinley Expedition, June 2, 2026
Posted by: Daniel May, Drew O’Brien, Mac Nolde
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Alaska
Elevation: 17,000'
Tuesday, June 16, 2026 - 10:58 pm PT
6/16 after a long, hard, and heavy day the team arrived to 17,000' Camp. Despite the arduous day, the team got to work making camp and prepping for our summit push tomorrow! Stay tuned!
RMI Guide Dan May
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McKinley Expedition, June 2, 2026
Posted by: Daniel May, Drew O’Brien, Mac Nolde
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Alaska
Elevation: 14,000'
Monday, June 15th, 2026 - 11:08 pm PT
Today turned out to be a sunny albeit cold and beautiful rest day at 14k Camp. We spent the day crossing our Ts and dotting our Is as we packed and prepared for our move up to 17,000' Camp the following day. With some good weather on the horizon the team is ready to make our summit bid, wish us luck!
RMI Guide Dan May
New Post Alerts:
McKinley Expedition, June 2, 2026
Good luck to all, I hope you have perfect weather for the summit and get back down safely to warm weather!
Posted by: Beth Alberts on 6/16/2026 at 10:35 am
Chris Roberts… Give me this MOUNTAIN! Suck it up buttercup.
Posted by: Arivs on 6/16/2026 at 9:52 am
Posted by: Daniel May, Drew O’Brien, Mac Nolde
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Alaska
Elevation: 14,000
Sunday, June 14th - 11:15PM PST
Greetings from team DDM at 14k! We started our morning with some high winds that almost flattened our cook tent. Once we reset our anchors, we enjoyed a nice rest day full of naps and snacks. Thank you to Seth and Jackson for leaving all of their cookies for us to enjoy. Our dear climber Zack sang us a song about camp DDM at 14k to the tune of Pink Pony Club. We will enjoy another rest day tomorrow full of more snacks, prep for our move to 17k, and more singing.
Cheers!
-RMI Gudie Mac
New Post Alerts:
McKinley Expedition, June 2, 2026
Posted by: Daniel May, Drew O’Brien, Mac Nolde
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Alaska
Elevation: 14,000'
6/13 1. Guest dispatcher Zach checking in with the DDM team here at 14k camp.
The day began with another cold morning easily battled by bellies filled of hot beverages and CTC (Cinnamon Toast Crunch). The team looked incredibly strong and efficient today as we made an acclimatization push up the fixed lines.
The entire way up was gifted with incredibly clear views in every direction. Once at the ridgeline we got out first glimpse of the entire northern side of the range and beyond into the endless expanse of Alaskan tundra. From there we made our way back down to camp for a relaxing afternoon just as a storm closed in behind us. The afternoon was a combined mix of snow and sunshine making for a wonderful ambiance.
The status que around the team is consistently being upheld as the world's best #1 rope team continues to stealthily slide under the radar and avoid demerits. Team Erik and the Squatters aka the New Mexico Allstars continue to excel at every aspect of Denali life- something all of us common folk can only dream to achieve.
Finally Team Hoarding Marmots including yours truly, continue to evolve our domicile. What began as the chateau marmot, then the fortress of demerits and finally the marmot chalet has again evolved through the course of the trek. The warm, sunny afternoons have turned the tents into a sauna like relaxation pods and with the addition of hours of spa music on loop the Marmot Spa has opened for business... until the speaker dies. While actively attempting to bribe our wonderful guides to help add the finishing touch to the Marmot Spa by providing facial massages, they have respectfully turned us down citing a lack of fresh cucumber slices and thawed facial cream.
Tomorrow is another scheduled rest day just in time for the next storm system to flow through. After that we wait for the next 3 day weather window to begin our summit push
Mia and Beckett, I hope you get to experience places like this when you get a bit older. Hi mom!
Hoarding marmot,
Signing out
- RMI Climber Zack
New Post Alerts:
McKinley Expedition, June 2, 2026
Great going team and thank you guides for keeping our New Mexico loved one safe and all the other climbers. Enjoy the rest of your climb to the summit and good luck.
Posted by: Haskel Wright on 6/14/2026 at 5:24 pm
Worlds Best #1 rope teams biggest fans are sending love!
Posted by: Netty Roberts on 6/14/2026 at 9:09 am
Posted by: Daniel May, Drew O’Brien, Mac Nolde
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Alaska
Elevation: 14,000'
Friday, June 12th - 11:30PM PST
Sorry forgot to post yesterdays dispatch. Here is today’s:
The team had a good active rest day today. After sleeping in, we enjoyed a good hot breakfast. We then hiked over to the edge of the world to enjoy the beautiful vista, and to get our legs good and warmed up for tomorrow. This afternoon, we practiced rope skills for tomorrow's anticipated acclimatization trip up the fixed lines. With bellies full from dinner, we are ready for another good night of sleep at 14,000 feet.
- RMI Climber Paxton
Junior Assistant Dispatcher (In training)
New Post Alerts:
McKinley Expedition, June 2, 2026
Posted by: Daniel May, Drew O’Brien, Mac Nolde
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Alaska
Elevation: 14,000'
Wed 6/10/2026 11:09 PM PST
Hot, heavy, and beautiful describes our day today. We awoke with the sun, broke down camp, and began our journey to move our home to 14k camp. The team arrived in style and had a full dinner of burritos. We are going to bed, happy, full and ready to enjoy some beach days in this beautiful place!
- RMI Guide Dan May & Team
New Post Alerts:
McKinley Expedition, June 2, 2026
Hello Chris Roberts!
Posted by: Jim Marsico on 6/11/2026 at 5:29 pm
Posted by: Daniel May, Drew O’Brien, Mac Nolde
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Alaska
Elevation: 11,000'
Wednesday, June 10, 2026 - 12:07 am PT
Another lovely day of near perfect weather. We awoke to cold temps and clear skies with our sights set on caching just below 14,000' Camp
After a long day in the sun, we made it back to camp just in time to lounge and view the splendors of 11,000' Camp before our move tomorrow!
RMI Guides Dan May, Drew O’Brien, Mac Nolde and the team
New Post Alerts:
McKinley Expedition, June 2, 2026
Let’s go Jimmy! One day closer to the summit!
Posted by: Braxton Hurst on 6/10/2026 at 6:46 pm
Awesome Supreme!
Congratulations to all
Posted by: Netty Roberts on 6/18/2026 at 5:01 pm
Congratulations to all - Amazing achievement!
Posted by: Dave Thompson on 6/18/2026 at 1:44 pm
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