Entries from Mt. McKinley

Denali Custom Expedition: Hahn & Team Arrive in Talkeetna

June 19, 2019

Posted by: Dave Hahn, Hannah Smith, Chad Gaffigan, Luke Wilhelm

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 348'

Wednesday, June 19, 2019 - 7:22 AM PT Our expedition has begun and the hard part is done. We managed to come together in the Anchorage airport from throughout North America. As a bonus, all of our gear made it through as well. We loaded up in the traditional Denali Overland van and trailer and got out of rush hour Anchorage traffic for the three hour push to the North. We couldn’t see much of the mountains as clouds were down pretty low, so we focused on enjoying the many shades of green on the valley floor. A stop for groceries in Wasilla broke up the ride nicely and we arrived in Talkeetna by 8PM. There was a brief tour of town before the team settled for the night in the comfort of the Swiss Alaska Inn. The work begins in the morning-packing and permitting. Best Regards RMI Guide Dave Hahn

Leave a Comment For the Team (2)

hannah smith is the best

Posted by: Jaime Smith on 6/22/2019 at 11:17 am

Way to go to the King Team that just summited! You guys are next!!!! :) Keep making snow angels and stay strong!
Love,
Vicki

Posted by: Victoria Buchanan on 6/21/2019 at 7:38 am

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Denali Expedition: Walter & Team Rest Day at 11,200’

June 18, 2019

Posted by: Mike Walter, Taylor Bickford, Nikki Champion

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 11,200'

Tuesday, June 18, 2019 - 9:21 PM PT Our team enjoyed a rest day today, sleeping in and indulging in a cheesy breakfast scramble brunch. The day started out sunny and we were able to dry gear and charge electronics, but by the afternoon it was snowing lightly. Tomorrow we plan to carry a cache of food and fuel to ~13,600' around Windy Corner and then return to our current camp. That's the plan at least. Stay tuned. RMI Guide Mike Walter

On The Map

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On vacation and did the flight around Denali on this day and saw you guys as tiny dots below. So inspiring and breathtaking! Godspeed to you all and will be watching your progress now back in Texas!

Posted by: Rebecca on 6/20/2019 at 5:06 pm

Thank you for the daily updates. It’s really neat to read about your progress…I feel part of the journey! :) Hi to Casey. Enjoy your experience!

Posted by: Amanda Day on 6/19/2019 at 6:50 am

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Denali Expedition: Haugen & Team Make It on the Mountain

June 18, 2019

Posted by: Mike Haugen, Jenny Konway, Grayson Swingle

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 7,300'

Tuesday, June 18, 2019 - 9:01 PM PT Today started out much the same as yesterday. We hurried through breakfast and headed to the airstrip to see what the flying conditions were for the morning. We received an optimistic thumbs down due to fog in basecamp. The pilots told us to be on standby because the weather was on an improving trend. After hanging out for a couple of hours we got the word that we could fly. After an amazing flight over the lush green Alaska terrain and into the stark mountians of the Alaska Range, we were delivered to basecamp safe and sound. We spent the day getting everything organized and ready to move to our next camp tonight. We travel at night in the lower glacier because the crevasse bridges are more firm and the sleds drag much easier when things are frozen. Let's hope the weather keeps improving. RMI Guide Mike Haugen

On The Map

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The exciting expedition is now underway! Best wishes to all.

Posted by: Kathy Kikendall on 6/19/2019 at 6:24 pm

Wishing the entire team a safe and successful trip, and friendly skies!!

Posted by: Deborah Flinn on 6/19/2019 at 3:44 pm

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Denali Expedition: King & Team Move Up to 17,200’

June 18, 2019

Posted by: Mike King, Avery Parrinello, Dominic Cifelli

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 17,200'

Tuesday, June 18, 2019 - 8:55 PM PT Well, today we finally got out of 14 Camp. We had spent eight nights there and by an early season Denali trip that’s nothing but for us and the weather we have had, it felt like an eternity. Today proved to be no cooler temperature wise, HOT going up the fixed lines and once we gained the West Buttress proper it was some of the figurative coolest ridge walking this group has done. We didn’t get great views due to thin clouds but that’s ok, our entire trip has been good views. We don’t know what tomorrow holds and we could take a rest day if needed. High pressure is building over Denali and we are hopeful to summit tomorrow. Getting to 17 Camp can be a chore, but once you're there Camp must be built, 6 XGK stoves must be managed to make drinking water and hot water for meals. Camp is situated in a glacial depression and we can see the Autobahn which plagues climbers for the first two hours on summit day. This section gets its name from how fast you can get going if you fall and are not clipped into the running belays. Other than a long day, the Team is doing mostly well. It’s normal to not feel 100% here at 17,200’. None of us are living our best lives physiologically, but we are really excited to have a crack at 20,320’. Thanks for the support and blog comments, I’ve been saving them for an alternative pep talk tonight instead of my traditional surly high school gym coach style motivational speech. RMI Guide Mike King

On The Map

Leave a Comment For the Team (2)

Go team go! We’re rooting for you Allan and today’s possible summit!!!

Posted by: Bryan C-G on 6/20/2019 at 12:59 pm

Is so amazing what you are doing!!! Keep up the good work!!!
Please send my regards to Boris! We miss him!

Posted by: Laurent Villa on 6/19/2019 at 5:59 am

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Denali Expedition: Haugen & Team in Holding Pattern in Talkeetna

June 18, 2019

Posted by: Mike Haugen, Jenny Konway, Grayson Swingle

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 348'

Monday, June 17, 2019 - 11:43 PM PT We were excited to fly up to Denali Basecamp this morning. We hurried through breakfast and headed to the hangar where our gear was organized and ready to go. Even when we got the word that there was too much fog in basecamp to fly, we were optimistic that it would happen today. We waited into the afternoon when we finally got our chance to fly on. We got everyone and all the gear loaded up and headed to the mountain. About halfway there, the pilots could not find a way through the clouds and were not about to poke around in the big mountains without visibility. We thank them for trying and for using good judgment. We are currently in a holding pattern and definitely not flying today. Hopefully tomorrow will be our day! Fingers crossed. RMI Guide Mike Haugen & Team Siete

Denali Expedition: Walter & Team Set up at 11,200’ Camp

June 18, 2019

Posted by: Mike Walter, Taylor Bickford, Nikki Champion

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 11,200'

Monday, June 17, 2019 - 10:15 PM PT Today was very productive for our team. We woke at 1am, packed up camp, and hit the trail at 3am. By 8:30 am we had made it to the 11,200' Camp, colloquially known as Camp Three. We set our tents up, had breakfast and coffee, and a few hours of rest, and by 1 pm we were back on the trail headed back down to pick up our cache at 10,000'. By 3:30 pm we were back at camp with all of our supplies. But there was still work to do flattening tent platforms, building a kitchen, and fine tuning camp. Dinner by 6 pm and bed by 7:30 seemed appropriate for today. And tomorrow we earned a rest day. Snow is in the forecast for tomorrow, so we won't be missing anything. We'll touch base again tomorrow. RMI Guide Mike Walter

On The Map

Leave a Comment For the Team (2)

GO Brendan and Min Wo!

Posted by: Arie Rowaan, Marlene Rowaan on 6/19/2019 at 1:17 pm

We’re all excited Casey and enjoying the blogs. Go team Walter!

Posted by: Cheri Kenney on 6/19/2019 at 12:58 pm

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Denali Expedition: King & Team Weather Day at 14,200’ Camp

June 17, 2019

Posted by: Mike King, Avery Parrinello, Dominic Cifelli

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 14,200'

Monday, June 17, 2019 - 8:40 PM PT Not much to report except that due to some weather and a few extenuating circumstances we took yet another weather/rest day. The forecast is looking good for the remainder of the week. We will plan on moving up to 17,200’ tomorrow. The Team is doing well, we are all anxious to get out of this camp after eight nights. They built an igloo to stay busy and spent a lot of time chatting in the kitchen tent. That’s all from 14, hopefully you’ll hear from us after a successful move day to High Camp. RMI Guide Mike King

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Safe climbing! We’re following your blog and hoping you can get the weather move on up.

Posted by: Stephanie Smith on 6/18/2019 at 4:44 pm

Hi y’all!
EIGHT DAYS?!!! I’ve been without connectivity for 4-5 days. I thought King et al was taking new group up. Okay, weather forecast looks promising. Igloos sound fun. But, it sounds like your turning native. Climb forth and conquer! Lol! Be safe

Posted by: Susan Moore on 6/17/2019 at 9:42 pm

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Denali Expedition: Haugen and Team Prepare in Talkeetna, Ready to Fly

June 17, 2019

Posted by: Mike Haugen, Jenny Konway, Grayson Swingle

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 348'

Monday, June 17, 2019 - 1:06 AM PT After a rainy arrival in Talkeetna last night, we had a nice day to get our massive amount of gear ready to be flown on the glacier tomorrow. Our meeting with the Denali National Park rangers was great as always and we were rewarded with 20 CMC's (clean mountain cans) to make sure that all of our human waste gets removed from the mountain. Denali is a pristine mountain and the park service does an incredible job of making sure it stays that way. We are scheduled to fly into base camp tomorrow morning. The group is hopeful that the weather allows us to fly at some point tomorrow so our adventure can begin and all of our climbers' hard work and anxious packing can start to pay off. Wish us luck! RMI Guide Mike Haugen & Team Siete

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Best wishes for good weather and a safe flight. I think I am as excited for the team as you are!

Posted by: Kristi (AKA Tym's Mom) on 6/18/2019 at 5:52 pm

Mike and team,
Hope you landed safely. CMC sounds so 21st century. Lol! But hey, happy Denali is being kept clean. Everest peoples are trying so hard to clean mountain up, but it’s years worth of refuse, and the deceased. So basically, y’all have to carry your own doggie bags, I mean CMCs.

Posted by: Susan Moore on 6/17/2019 at 9:51 pm

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Denali Expedition: King & Team Send Father’s Day Wishes

June 16, 2019

Posted by: Mike King, Avery Parrinello, Dominic Cifelli

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 14,200'

Sunday, June 16, 2019 - 11:36 AM PT Happy Father’s Day to all the Dads reading this. We got a little snow and slight breeze last night. The weather from the SE continues to bring clouds and precipitation towards the mountain. We have opted to stay put today and see what Monday brings. There is a period of improving weather Wednesday to Friday. Since we have our cache in at 16,200’ we just need 36-48 hours to launch up for a summit attempt. Moral is still high in the Team. A snow couch and lounge area was built yesterday with a large snow “TV” carved out for viewing the clouds roll over Mt Foraker. Obviously we would have preferred to have been up and down by now but that’s not what Denali had planned for us. We will improve camp today, eat a big lunch and continue the 14,000' Camp hangout. Everyone is healthy and happy, fingers crossed for improving weather. RMI Guide Mike King

On The Map

Leave a Comment For the Team (2)

Summiting!!
Not flippin submitting, stoopid autocorrect ;)

Posted by: Dan Naylor on 6/17/2019 at 1:26 pm

Rogers & Gaz, keep it up lads sounds an amazing expedition.
Good luck with the weather for submitting :)
-Naylor

Posted by: Dan Naylor on 6/17/2019 at 1:25 pm

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Denali Expedition: Walter & Team Carry Gear, Ready to Move Up

June 16, 2019

Posted by: Mike Walter, Taylor Bickford, Nikki Champion

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 7,800'

Sunday, June 16, 2019 - 10:13 AM PT We let the snow surface freeze up a bit after dinner and left camp at 9pm, headed up the Kahiltna Glacier with our backpacks and sleds loaded with food and supplies we'll need a we move higher. The traveling was efficient and the views were stunning as out team enjoyed beautiful pink alpenglow on Kahiltna Dome and Foraker, two neighboring giants that are dwarfed by Denali. In three hours time we made it up to around 10,000' where we cache our gear in a hole dug deep into the snow. By 2 am, five hours after we started, we were back at our camp at the Base of Ski Hill and ready for bed. This morning we slept in and will enjoy an extended egg and bacon brunch. Then we'll have some more resting in store as we will wait for the glacier to freeze up again in order move our camp to 11,200'. RMI Guide Mike Walter

On The Map

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Happy (belated) Father’s Day to all the Dads on the climb! Hope everyone is staying warm and having a blast—views sound amazing! Since you’re having all the brunch without the mimosas, we’ll be sure to have some ready for when you return. Wishing everyone a wonderful time! :) - Savannah

Posted by: Savannah on 6/17/2019 at 2:42 pm

Glad to hear the weather cooperated for you last night. Happy Fathers Day to all the Dads up there especially Eric. We love and miss you and are having fun watching your progress. Stay safe and have fun. Love, Jack Jack, Maya, Luke, and Jill

Posted by: Jill on 6/16/2019 at 3:47 pm

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Entries from Mt. McKinley

Denali Custom Expedition: Hahn & Team Arrive in Talkeetna

Denali Expedition: Walter & Team Rest Day at 11,200’

On The Map

Denali Expedition: Haugen & Team Make It on the Mountain

On The Map

Denali Expedition: King & Team Move Up to 17,200’

On The Map

Denali Expedition: Haugen & Team in Holding Pattern in Talkeetna

Denali Expedition: Walter & Team Set up at 11,200’ Camp

On The Map

Denali Expedition: King & Team Weather Day at 14,200’ Camp

Denali Expedition: Haugen and Team Prepare in Talkeetna, Ready to Fly

Denali Expedition: King & Team Send Father’s Day Wishes

On The Map

Denali Expedition: Walter & Team Carry Gear, Ready to Move Up

On The Map

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