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Entries By lauren macklin


Denali Expedition: Champion & Team Make the Move to 14,000ft Camp

Wednesday, May 24, 2023 - 11:03 pm PT

Another big day in the books. After waking up to snow lightly falling at our 11,000ft camp, we had a quick breakfast and began breaking down camp. Around 10:30AM we finally began our way up Motorcycle Hill. At the top of Squirrel Hill we were met by some brutal winds and blowing snow. We worked across the Polo field, adding layers to combat the wind and blowing snow and worked our way through Windy Corner. After Windy Corner, luckily the winds died down and we were able to roll into 14,000' Camp in slightly better conditions. We joined the other RMI teams, and built our camp before making a rewarding dinner of ramen. Weather looks a bit moody tomorrow, good thing we've got a rest day on the docket.

RMI Guide Nikki Champion

Leave a Comment For the Team (2)

Eric…Checking in with dad and Jill and cheering you on. Looks and sounds amazing!

Posted by: Addie Lyden on 5/27/2023 at 11:30 pm

Eric…Checking in with dad and Jill and cheering you on. Looks and sounds amazing! From Portland, Oregon

Posted by: Addie Lyden on 5/27/2023 at 11:29 pm


Denali Expedition: Champion & Team Rest, Prepare to Move Up

Tuesday, May 23, 2023 - 9:05 pm PT

Another mellow day in the books. We woke up late to rest after our big carry yesterday. We made a big breakfast of bagels and smoked salmon before returning to our tents to rest, and prepare to move tomorrow. After spending the day reading, sleeping and preparing gear to leave we had another dinner of quesadillas and crawled into our sleeping bags for an early night.

We hope to check in from 14,000 Camp tomorrow!

RMI Guide Nikki Champion

Leave a Comment For the Team (2)

Hey Kevin! Sending best wishes for Great rest followed up by Strong Climbing!!

Posted by: Dave Kestel on 5/25/2023 at 3:31 am

Reading blogs daily. Glad to know all going well, Matt !!

Posted by: Peter J George on 5/24/2023 at 6:01 pm


Denali Expedition: Champion & Team Carry Gear to 14,000ft, Return to 11,000ft Camp

Monday, May 22, 2023 - 10:50 pm PT

We set an early alarm, and peaked our heads out the tent to see what the weather was doing. Surprised to find clear skies above us, we blasted the stoves and got every up for a quick breakfast of oatmeal. After eating a quick breakfast, we loaded up our packs with the group gear, and personal food we wanted to cache and began the first stretch of the climb requiring crampons. Up until now, we have been on a long rope interval, and primarily in snowshoes. From here on out we will be climbing in crampons, and using an ice axe. Just as sun hit camp, we began our way up the steep Motorcycle Hill, around the corner up Motorcycle Hill, through the broken up Polo Field and around Windy Corner. The morning was cold, the wind was howling for the first few stretches but by the time we got to the corner, the wind had died down and we were warming up. We passed the common cache site at 13,500' and made our way up to 14,000 Camp, where we were greeted by other RMI teams. We buried our cache, and then headed back downhill to 11,000' Camp for the night. We made a big dinner of Annie's Mac and Cheese and bacon, and then promptly crawled into our sleeping bags after a long day. The team did great today, setting us up well. We are looking forward to another slow morning, and rest before fully moving to 14 Camp.

RMI Guide Nikki Champion

Leave a Comment For the Team (2)

Sounds amazing!. Hope you are having fun, Kevin!

Posted by: Jim Boerger on 5/27/2023 at 3:50 pm

Way to go!! Rest up!!! Cheering from Houston. Go Dawny! Go Robin!! And go team!!

Posted by: tiff on 5/24/2023 at 11:27 am


Denali Expedition: Champion & Team Focus on Rest, Recovery & Reading

Sunday, May 21, 2023 - 9:47 pm PDT


Today was a big day! Our first official rest day of the trip. After a few long hard pushes, we decided to sleep in and take the entire day to recover, and prep for the big carry tomorrow. We woke with the sun, and had a few rounds of breakfast burritos. After a leisurely breakfast, the remainder of the day was spent resting, recovering, reading and napping. Just before dinner we reviewed a bit of cramponing and ice axe techniques to prepare for the terrain above 11k Camp, and then rolled into an early dinner. Tomorrow we'll make our way towards 14k Camp to cache some food, and gear before returning to 11k Camp. 

RMI Guide Nikki Champion and Team
 

Leave a Comment For the Team (2)

Wow!  Amazing view!
Glad you got some rest time Kevin and team

Posted by: Karie Seubert on 5/23/2023 at 6:37 am

Climb Strong Kevin and team and rest strong too!!! Spectacular!!!

Posted by: Dave Kestel on 5/23/2023 at 3:27 am


Denali Expedition: Champion & Team Retrieve Cache, Return to 11 Camp

Saturday, May 20, 2023 - 11:18 am PT

We woke up to snow lightly falling at camp this morning, and slow rolled into a warm breakfast of toasted bagels and bacon. After enjoying a second cup of coffee, we rigged the empty sleds to our backpacks, roped up and headed out from 11,000' Camp down to our cache at 9,900'. Making quick work with empty packs, we arrived at the cache in just under a half hour. We dug up the cache, divvied up the group gear, re-rigged our sleds and traced our steps from yesterday back to 11,000' Camp. It was short, but hard stretch to roll back into 11 Camp. We spent the rest of the afternoon in and out of snow storms, and enjoying the afternoon to recover. After a few hours of down time, we had a festive dinner of beef burritos with salsa verde and then prepared to potentially carry tomorrow. We will see what the morning brings, check in tomorrow!

RMI Guide Nikki Champion

Leave a Comment For the Team (2)

Keep us updated!! Climb Strong Kevin!!!

Posted by: Dave Kestel on 5/22/2023 at 3:33 am

Love the updates! Such an epic adventure!! Cheering you all on from Seattle!

Posted by: Mary Upton on 5/21/2023 at 10:34 pm


Denali Expedition: Champion and Team Move to 11,000’ Camp

Friday, May 19, 2023 10:22pm PDT

After a long night’s rest, we woke up to clear skies, and warm temperatures. We had a quick breakfast of pop-tarts and grits as the sun began to shine onto ski hill. After our quick breakfast, we worked to tear down camp and begin our journey towards 11,000’ camp. We strapped into the snowshoes, and made our way up ski hill, through the 9,500’ camps, past our cache and finally up the final hill into our final destination for the night.

After a short break, we found a nice spot to call home for the next few days and spent the next few hours building camp and moving in before a warm dinner of ramen. Looks like a little bit of weather is coming in, but we are hoping to wake up with the sun and go get our cache tomorrow morning. Looking forward to a mellower day tomorrow! Check back in after the back carry.

RMI Guides Nikki, Leif, Lauren & Team

Leave a Comment For the Team (1)

Hey Kevin! Great Job!! Climb Strong!!!

Posted by: Dave Kestel on 5/21/2023 at 3:29 am


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

Thursday, May 18, 2023 10:36pm PDT

After a late night and long day yesterday, we woke up around the time the sun hit our tents. After a quick breakfast of frosted mini wheats, we put together the group loads to cache and begin our climb up ski hill. After 4.5 long hours we pulled into our cache site, dug a hole, and tossed our group food, and personal caches in. After attaching the sleds to our packs, we began the descent back to camp. A bit earlier this evening than last, we made some reindeer sausage jambalaya and prepped for our big move to 11 camp tomorrow.

The weather looks good, hopefully we'll touch base from 11k tomorrow!

RMI Guides Nikki Champion, Leif Bergstrom, and Lauren Macklin

Leave a Comment For the Team (2)

KC is cheering you on Scott! So proud of you!

Posted by: Deb Eldridge on 5/20/2023 at 9:31 pm

Bravo to all!
Gonna Fly now…
Feeling strong now…
(Rocky)

Posted by: ERIC PETERSON on 5/20/2023 at 5:28 pm


Denali Expedition: Champion & Team Depart Talkeetna, Land at Kahiltna Glacier

Wednesday, May 17, 2023 - 11:46 pm PT

We woke up to an early call from K2 that said chances looked good to fly, so after a quick cup of coffee we rushed over to the hangar. After a few hours of hurry up and waiting, we were able to get out on a flight and land on the Kahiltna glacier in beautiful conditions. We unloaded all the group gear, organized everything for moving, and made our way to our first camp for the night. After six long hours, we finally pulled into the base of Ski Hill. Set up camp, and made a quick dinner of Mac and cheese under the clear skies. We are set up to carry tomorrow, but might sleep in a little bit first.

Check in tomorrow,

RMI Guide Nikki Champion

Leave a Comment For the Team (2)

Get it done Dawny!!! Watching you!!!

Posted by: Tiff on 5/19/2023 at 9:47 am

You got this Dawn!  We are all thinking about you down here and cheering you on!!

Posted by: Kendyl and James on 5/19/2023 at 5:18 am


Denali Expedition: Champion & Team Arrive Talkeetna, Wait for Weather Window to Fly On

Monday, May 15, 2023 - 8:02 pm PT

The May 14th Denali has officially begun!

After a long day of travel yesterday, the entire team made their way to Talkeetna and spent the day packing, organizing, weighing, repacking, and finally getting all the gear weighed, set up and ready to fly.   

While the weather doesn’t look promising, the entire team is primed and ready to go as soon as a weather window opens. We will wake up tomorrow morning with the goal of flying and see what the skies bring. 

Until we fly, we will continue to eat warm food, drink cold beer, and enjoy all the amenities we will soon miss.

RMI Guide Nikki Champion

Leave a Comment For the Team (2)

Dramatic pics with lots of smiles. Best of luck to all.

Posted by: Marcia Mikolaj on 5/18/2023 at 7:31 am

Hi, I wish You good luck, perfect wether, a safe tour. Return healthy! Enjoy each moment.
Elisabeth

Posted by: Elisabeth on 5/18/2023 at 5:00 am


Mt. Rainier: Five Day Team Reaches Summit!

The Five Day Climb May 4 - 8, 2023 reached the summit of Mt. Rainier yesterday afternoon led by RMI Guides Ben Ammon and Dominic Cifelli. The team had a nice day with the clouds below until they reached about 13,500', then they were enveloped by a cloud cap but were able to push through to the summit.  They did quick high fives, hugs and quickly started their descent. They returned to Camp Muir for a well deserved rest.  The team began their descent from Camp Muir at 9am.  We look forward to their return to BaseCamp this afternoon.

Congratutions to the team!

Leave a Comment For the Team (1)

Yay, Darius! ❤️

Posted by: Jenn on 5/8/2023 at 10:27 pm

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