Entries By Mike Haugen

Mt. Rainier: Four Day Summit Climbs on Top!

July 21, 2015

Posted by: Mike Haugen, Steve Gately, Bryan Mazaika

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier

Elevation: 14,410'

RMI Guide Mike Haugen and the Four Day Summit Climb team reached the crater rim of Mt. Rainier shortly after 7 am. Mike reported good conditions with a sustained 20 mph wind. The team will enjoy some time on the summit before starting their descent. They will return to Camp Muir and then continue to Paradise. We look forward to seeing the team at Rainier BaseCamp this afternoon. Congratulations to today's Summit Climb team!

Mt. Rainier: July 15th Summit!

July 15, 2015

Posted by: Seth Waterfall, Solveig Waterfall, Mike Haugen

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier

Elevation: 14,410'

On the Disappointment Cleaver route of Mt. Rainier, RMI Guides Seth and Solveig Waterfall led their Four Day Summit Climb Teams to the summit this morning. Meanwhile on the Emmons Glacier route of Mt. Rainier, RMI Guide Mike Haugen led the Expedition Skills Seminar - Emmons to the summit this morning. All teams reported light winds and warm temperatures while on the summit. The Four Day Summit Climb teams will descend back to Camp Muir before returning to Paradise this afternoon and the Expedition Skills Seminar - Emmons will descend to Camp Schurman for their final night on the mountain. Congratulations Climbers!

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Congrats to Team Healey, Hoge, Laird & Samac! Can’t wait to hear all about! Let the summer begin!

Posted by: Sheri Healey on 7/15/2015 at 11:07 am

Congratulations Climbers—especially to Mike Healey who has finally crossed this off his personal “bucket list”. He summits on the 4th attempt! Way to go team Healey, Hoge, Laird & Samac!!

Posted by: Krista Hoge on 7/15/2015 at 10:58 am

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Mt. Rainier: July 10th Summit!

July 10, 2015

Posted by: Mike Haugen, Eric Frank

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier

Elevation: 14,410'

The Four Day Summit Climb led by RMI Guide Mike Haugen and the Expedition Skills Seminar – Paradise led by RMI Guide Eric Frank reached the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning. The teams reported warm weather and a cloud cap on the upper mountain. They are currently descending back to Camp Muir to refuel and repack before continuing down to Paradise. We look forward to seeing them in Ashford this afternoon. Congratulations climbers!

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Congratulations Jess and team!!! I’m so proud of you!! Can’t wait to hear all about this adventure!! Love you Jess!
Your favorite cousin,
Shari ;)

Posted by: Shari on 7/10/2015 at 3:53 pm

Congratulations Jess, so happy for you! Job well done!

Posted by: Jan on 7/10/2015 at 1:49 pm

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Mt. McKinley: Haugen & Team Back In Talkeetna

June 28, 2015

Posted by: Mike Haugen, Mike Uchal, Pepper Dee

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Sunday, June 28, 2015 - 10:15 am PT It was touch and go at base camp. We woke up to clouds and some very wet snow. As expected, as soon as we started to fire up the stoves to make breakfast and hot drinks, the skies started to open just a bit. I still didn't think that the weather was flight worthy, but I was glad that the pilots did. We were told that we had 20 minutes to be packed and ready because the planes were already approaching. We were ready in 10! We got the first half of our team onto a plane and off the glacier before the weather started to sock back in. We had to wait for the first plane to go back to Talkeetna, drop off our first group of climbers, and then return. Luckily the weather cleared back up a bit and we squeaked out the rest of the climbers for the amazing flight back to the world of great food and pillows. After a couple of great meals and a series of showers, the now legendary "El Siete" crew is fresh, semi-recovered, and ready to be reintroduced into society. Thank you to the group for being such a great team and for all of the families and friends that have supported us. RMI 7 "El Siete"

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I want to say, once again, to Mike Haugen about these daily posts and pictures: it has meant so much to the families of these fine climbers. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Posted by: Chris on 6/28/2015 at 6:06 pm

Whoopee! So glad to have you off the mountain safe and secure at last. Doug is that you standing to the left? I can see everyone is proud and delighted to have had this grand adventure.

Posted by: Chris on 6/28/2015 at 6:03 pm

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Mt. McKinley: Haugen & Team Hoping for Clear Skies at Base Camp

June 27, 2015

Posted by: Mike Haugen, Mike Uchal, Pepper Dee

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 7,300'

Friday, June 26, 2015 - 11:40 pm PT We made it... almost. We left our camp at 11,200 feet around 4 am this morning. The group was traveling quickly in spite of heavy packs and sleds. All was well until we encountered a wet, snowy drizzle around 7,800 feet. We trudged on knowing the end was just a few hours away. When we finally reached base camp, the snow stopped, but the clouds did not permit planes to come and pick us up. The rest of the day consisted of napping, to compensate for the lack of sleep over the past few days, and hoping for clear skies tomorrow. RMI Guides Pepper and Uchal are working on their clear skies interpretive dance in the event that we wake up to clouds tomorrow. RMI 7 "El Siete"

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We can’t wait to hear from you, Dadio!!!! Love, Margaret

Posted by: Margaret on 6/27/2015 at 5:19 pm

Go Pepper and Uchal! We want you guys home so dance-away, dance-away, dance-away all and get those planes in : ). Miss you, Doug, stay safe.

Posted by: Chris on 6/27/2015 at 3:34 pm

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Mt. McKinley: Haugen & Team Decent Descent to 11K Camp

June 26, 2015

Posted by: Mike Haugen, Mike Uchal, Pepper Dee

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 11,200'

Friday June 26th 12:30 am PT We are on our way down!! After waking up when the sun hit our tents at 17,000, we packed up and headed downhill. Although sore and tired from a long summit day, we made good time down to 14,000 feet. We met up with Billy Nugent's group and had a healthy round of hugs and high fives. We picked up some cached gear and partook in the time honored tradition of fitting twice as much gear into a pack than should be possible and carrying said pack down another 3,000 feet to 11k Camp and our awaiting sleds. We are currently in a holding/napping pattern at 11k. We are going to walk early in the morning towards base camp and the landing strip in hopes of an early flight to Talkeetna. That is weather dependent of course! RMI Guide Mike Haugen

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Great news! Can’t wait to hear your stories and see your pictures. I am sure everyone on El Siete has wonderful stories
to share. I am looking forward to Doug’s!

Posted by: Chris on 6/26/2015 at 7:18 pm

Great news! Stay safe on your descent, El Siete.
Judi

Posted by: Judi on 6/26/2015 at 4:04 pm

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Mt. McKinley: Haugen & Team Summit!

June 24, 2015

Posted by: Mike Haugen, Mike Uchal, Pepper Dee

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 20,320'

Wednesday June 24th 11:45 pm PT We woke up around seven this morning to one of the warmest mornings I have ever experienced at 17,000 feet camp. We got ready slowly and departed for the top just after nine. The weather was perfect for us pretty much the entire climb. There was a little bit of cold, a little bit of hot, but mostly perfect all day. The El Siete crew walked to the summit in style a little after five this afternoon and spent a good deal of time taking pictures from the top. We had a smooth descent and pulled into camp just after 9:00 p.m. Alaska time for a twelve-hour round trip. We are getting the boys fed and put to bed so we can get up early to start our way out to basecamp and eventually back to you! RMI Guide Mike Haugen Audio transcription - Wednesday June 24th 6:30 pm PT Hi, it's Mike Haugen. I am standing with the RMI el Siete on the summit of Denali. Beautiful weather. We topped out about 5:15 in the evening and are miles above the clouds. We are saying our congratulations to the team and head on back to high camp and send the blog from there. Hope all of our families are doing well. Thank you for your support.

RMI Guide Mike Haugen calls in from the Denali summit!

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Congratulations to the hole team! Can’t wait to hear all about the climb and to see pictures! Now come home safe, Fredrik!

Posted by: May-Linn on 6/25/2015 at 3:24 pm

Congratulations to all of you, and well done to my norwegian friends Erlend and Fredrik! I was very happy to receive the news today! :-)

Posted by: Viggo Finset on 6/25/2015 at 2:26 pm

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Mt. McKinley: Haugen and Team Move to 14,000’ Ready For Summit Attempt

June 24, 2015

Posted by: Mike Haugen, Mike Uchal, Pepper Dee

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 17,000'

June 23, 2015 9:51 pm PST We had a successful move up to 17,000 foot camp on Mt. McKinley. The weather was perfect for traveling on the fixed lines and above. Climbing on the amazing ridge that crests the West Buttress of Denali is always one of my favorite parts of the climb because of the beautiful rock an the exposure. I think all of the El Siete boys had a good time weaving through the rocks and snow that provide the natural protection on the ridge. As of now, we are planning to try to summit tomorrow. The forecast looks good and the crew is ready. Wish us luck! RMI Guide Mike Haugen

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Craig,
Will be in Talkeetna to play at the Fairview Inn on Wednesday. Hope to see you then if you have not flown out already.
Bom sucesso!!!
Nick

Posted by: Nick Kantar on 6/24/2015 at 3:59 pm

Proud of you Mr. Chowdry….to the top my friend

Posted by: Tony on 6/24/2015 at 3:51 pm

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Mt. McKinley: Haugen & Team Gear Up for Move to High Camp

June 23, 2015

Posted by: Mike Haugen, Mike Uchal, Pepper Dee

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 14,000'

June 22, 2015 11:30 pm PST We spent what is hopefully our last day at 14,000 feet resting and getting geared up to move to our High Camp at 17,000 feet. It started out very sunny, but soon the clouds climbed up and whited us out. The clouds gave us a dusting of snow as well as some reprieve from the brutal solar radiation that can come with the sunny skies high on a mountain. The weather is looking good for us to move up and make a push to the top over the next couple of days. Wish us luck and do your good weather jigs for us. RMI Guide Mike Haugen

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Doug -Thinking of you Bro and following the progress closely. Sending all our good energy here to you and the team. Go get it! —Don

Posted by: Don Watson on 6/24/2015 at 7:35 am

Good luck to the whole team! Doing the good weather dance and sending good vibes across the miles to all of you. Judi

Posted by: Judi on 6/23/2015 at 2:28 pm

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Mt.McKinley: Haugen & Team Cache Above the Fixed Lines

June 22, 2015

Posted by: Mike Haugen, Mike Uchal, Pepper Dee

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 14,200'

June 21, 2015 11:09pm PST Our alarms woke us up early to a beautifully clear, but cold, morning. We had breakfast and set out around 5 a.m. to cache some gear up higher on the mountain. The route above 14,000 camp becomes very steep and we use fixed lines the gain the West Buttress at 16,200'. When we got to the top of the fixed lines, our El Siete crew had not had enough. We decided to do some more climbing and bury our cache below a huge rock feature called Washburn's Thumb at 16,500 feet. Although we had to do some delicate passing of some upward teams on our way down, we made it back to camp in good time. We are taking a rest day tomorrow and then hopefully moving up to high camp the following day. That is all weather dependent of course! Mike Haugen and RMI Team 7 "El Siete"

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Thanks for your postings, it’s impressing what you achieve up there in that beautiful mountains. And Erlend; it was so nice to speak with you this morning, made my day and the rest of the time you are away.I called your mother and Lorents, they were so glad to hear that everything is OK with you,Fredrik and the whole team. Robin came today,he’s in good mood and I think he will be staying for some time :)Wish you the best for the days that are coming,you are all fighters up there it seems :) Love you E. Hugs and kisses, Hilde

Posted by: Hilde Hestflått on 6/22/2015 at 2:04 pm

It is amazing that you had the strength to continue even past the expected drop zone. You are mountain warriors for sure! Talked to Doug last night and it was so good to hear from him!! We are very excited for his adventure up Denali.

Posted by: Chris on 6/22/2015 at 1:10 pm

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