Entries from Mt. McKinley

Mt. McKinley: Van Deventer & Team Making Good Progress on Their Descent After Summit

May 31, 2015

Posted by: Pete Van Deventer, Robby Young, Josh Maggard

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 14,200'

Sunday, May 31st 1:54pm PDT This afternoon our team descended to 14,200 feet. Once evening hits, we will continue our descent to either the McKinley camp at 11,200' or 7,800'. If we stay on schedule and pending the weather, we will be at the airstrip and ready for our flight back to Talkeetna by tomorrow afternoon. We will be home soon! RMI Guide Pete Van Deventer

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Go Naie Naie! Enjoy the final climb down the mountain with team PJR! So happy for you all. You truly are an inspiration Renee. Tell Jord to buy you a nice beer and enjoy a hot shower.
Thinking of you always you bobby dazzler.
Love ya,
Sarah xxx

Posted by: Sarah on 6/1/2015 at 9:28 pm

Wooohooo the final countdown is on team PJR!!!
You are such a champion Renee, can’t wait to see your smiling face back in Melbourne again :) Bet you can’t wait for that cold beer, hot shower and a warm bed for a well earned snooze !!! You really rock the world little one :) xxxx Love you a bit ;)

Posted by: Paul on 6/1/2015 at 9:03 pm

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Mt. McKinley: Walter & Team Descend to 14K Camp, Airstrip by Morning

May 31, 2015

Posted by: Mike Walter, Solveig Waterfall, Billy Haas

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 14,200'

Sunday, May 31st 1:54pm PDT Mike Walter called from 14K Camp on Mt. McKinley. Both his team and RMI Guide Pete Van Deventer team will be heading down to 11,000’ Camp or 7800’ Camp tonight. Their plan is to be at the airstrip in the morning. If the weather cooperates, they will be in Talkeetna by tomorrow afternoon. RMI Guide Mike Walter

Mt. McKinley: Upper West Rib Team Flies onto the Mountain

May 31, 2015

Posted by: Geoff Schellens, Eric Frank

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 7,800'

Sunday, May 31st 11:17 a.m. PDT The Upper West Rib team covered some serious mileage today. We had a casual morning in Talkeetna with a big Roadhouse breakfast and then strolled to the hangar to put the final touches on our packing and preparations before flying into the range. With such warm temperatures (Talkeetna was as warm as 77 degrees) we pushed our fly time back to the afternoon to accommodate our night schedule on the lower Kahiltna Glacier. We loaded our DH Otter at 3:00 PM and shortly thereafter were flying. The flight into the Great Alaska Range is one of the most spectacular mountain flights I have ever experienced. As our small plane maneuvered through the peaks and up the the glaciers, everyone's eyes were glued to the windows. After landing at base camp we began rigging our sleds and getting ready to move. With such good weather we wanted to take advantage of the cooler temperatures in the evening for our move to 7,800' camp. We left BC just after 8:00 PM and soon found ourselves walking past beautiful peaks like Mt Francis, Foraker, and Crossen. Despite the heavy packs and sleds, the team moved very well . We arrived just before 1:00 AM and set camp, had some dinner and racked out. Everyone is climbing very well and excited to have the expedition underway. That's all for now. Thanks for following along with us as we make our first steps toward Denali. RMI Guide Geoff Schellens

Leave a Comment For the Team (2)

Have a great climb

Posted by: Marilyn Frank on 6/1/2015 at 4:02 pm

Best wishes for an outstanding trip!

Posted by: Leia Simmons on 6/1/2015 at 7:07 am

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Mt. McKinley: Knoff & Team at High Camp Gearing Up for Summit Push

May 31, 2015

Posted by: Adam Knoff, Nick Hunt

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 17,200'

Sunday, May 31st 9:45 am PDT Hi there. This is Adam Knoff calling from high camp on Mount McKinley. Yesterday we packed up on a beautiful day at 14,000' and moved to high camp at 17,200'. The team certainly decided that yesterday's move was physically the hardest day of the trip with heavy packs and moving to a new altitude record for a lot of our climbers. We are taking a rest day here at camp today in beautiful sunny weather as we watch a lot of climbers head up the mountain towards the summit. We will be organizing gear and getting ready for our summit attempt tomorrow. The team is feeling great and happy to be at high camp preparing for their shot at the top of North America tomorrow. Wish us well, can't wait to report back. We will talk to you tomorrow. Bye. RMI Guide Adam Knoff

RMI Guide Adam Knoff calls in from high camp on Mount McKinley.

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Good luck and stay strong!

Posted by: Patty on 6/1/2015 at 7:57 am

Good luck Team Knoff on reaching the summit tomorrow. Proud of you , Shannon Long, for your drive and determination. Indiana will be anxiously waiting for a full report. Safe climbing and Godspeed!

Posted by: Mark fisher on 6/1/2015 at 6:13 am

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Mt. McKinley: Jones & Team Move to 11,000’ Camp

May 31, 2015

Posted by: Tyler Jones, Lindsay Mann, Chase Nelson

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 11,200'

May 31, 2015 - 2:39 am PT Good evening from 11,000 feet! We woke this morning to more sunny skies and warm temperatures. After a casual start to the day and a nice breakfast, we ducked into the tents for a couple hours to get out of the heat. By late afternoon things cooled for more comfortable hiking conditions, so we broke down camp and got on the move! Even though it's been just a few days on the glacier, the team has adjusted well to mountain life and is traveling efficiently. So after a few hours of moving we arrived at camp, quickly put up our tents, and enjoyed a late dinner. Now we're all settled in for the night and it's time to get some sleep! RMI Guide Tyler Jones

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DG and Tyler,

Hope you guys are able to enjoy the mountain without me there haha. You dont know how bad I miss that mountain. Play some gigantic twos, find a new friend to eat all your leftovers, build a new Taj Ma-stahl and make sure you get a good rap session in. Wishing you guys great weather and safe travels. PS i hope the other guides arent making tyler read these off.
-Lad (aka Jake Wander)

Posted by: Jake Wander on 5/31/2015 at 8:39 pm

hi Brenda looks like the weather and conditions are all in your favor. Enjoy the journey lol R

Posted by: Richard Larscheid on 5/31/2015 at 11:59 am

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Mt. McKinley: Van Deventer & Team Summit!

May 30, 2015

Posted by: Pete Van Deventer, Robby Young, Josh Maggard

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 20,320'

Update Saturday, May 30th 8:30 pm PDT Summit day! We decided to do something a bit unorthodox and wake up and leave early without the sunshine. Usually it would make for a really cold couple of hours, but the temperatures have been unseasonably balmy. It had the added advantage of getting us out ahead of several other teams that were heading for the summit also. The deviation worked out perfectly and we had a nice warm morning to walk, with no other teams in front of us. The skies stayed crystal blue all day, and 6 1/2 hours or so later, we were standing on the highest thing around! We had a good half hour on the summit, snapping pictures and taking it all in, before chilly breeze convinced us to head back for camp. We are back with plenty of time to brew up dinner and watch the later teams on their descent. It was a special day and everyone's really excited. It was especially great to have the whole team make it to the top. Tomorrow we turn our sights downhill and start the journey home! Pete, Robby, Josh and team Saturday, May 30th 3:32 pm PDT This is RMI Guide Pete Van Deventer calling in from the top of Mount McKinley in Alaska. We just touched the summit; it's just past after 2 o'clock in the afternoon. Our group and Mike Walter's group summited today in short order. It's a really, really nice day up here--sunny, light winds, and relatively warm as far as Alaska goes. The whole team made it up. It was awesome, Really great day and everybody is excited. [cheers] We'll give a shout when we're back at 17k Camp safely and soon we'll be back in Talkeetna before we know it, heading downhill. Alright, talk to everybody later.

RMI Guide Pete Van Deventer calls from the summit of Mt. McKinley.

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Awesome news - congratulations and I look forward to seeing some great summit pictures! Anna.

Posted by: Anna on 6/1/2015 at 5:20 am

Congrats, Brian! All of us back home are very proud of you. xoxo, Karen

Posted by: Karen on 5/31/2015 at 8:17 pm

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Mt. McKinley: Walter & Team on Summit!

May 30, 2015

Posted by: Mike Walter, Solveig Waterfall, Billy Haas

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 20,320'

Update Saturday, May 30th 8:30 pm PDT Mike Walter & team were safely back at camp by 6 pm PDT. They will begin their descent to Basecamp tomorrow. Saturday, May 30th 2:40 pm PDT RMI Guide Mike Walter and team are standing on the summit of Mt. McKinley! Mike reported a strong team and and short-sleeve weather on top. The team will begin making their descent shortly and will send a dispatch when they are back at camp. Way to go team!

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Totally awesome .....congratulations To RickyBobby and Ericquito!! We are so proud of you! Can’t wait to tell you in person. Perseverance pays off in a big way. Looking forward to catching up at the lake.
XOXOXO your aunts and uncles in Chicago

Posted by: Maca-Mangan-Surpless on 5/31/2015 at 6:16 pm

Congratulations Solveig! I can’t wait to see you back in Seattle. Love you lots
TS

Posted by: sigrid on 5/31/2015 at 12:12 pm

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Mt. McKinley: Jones & Team Cache Some Gear Higher on the Mountain

May 30, 2015

Posted by: Tyler Jones, Lindsay Mann, Chase Nelson

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 9,600'

Saturday, May 30th 2:45 am PDT Hello all! We have our gear and groceries moved up to 10,000 feet. Life is good out on the glacier for our team. Today the high pressure over the area made for very hot conditions in the low altitudes so we delayed our departure until the heat subsided late this afternoon. We are doing our best to save energy and avoid getting cooked like lobsters from the sun. Our plan worked great and after a number of hours working our way to the cache site, we quickly dug a large hole to store our gear until after we move the camp up to 11,000 feet. On our descent we enjoyed fabulous evening light while carrying our sled like a turtle shell strapped on our backs. Hot soup and a meal warmed our souls as we settle in for the night. Tomorrow evening if the hot and blue-bird weather continues, we will try to move up to our second camp and gain some acclimatization over the next few days. Stay tuned and we'll have a report when more progress has been made! RMI Guide Tyler Jones

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Mt. McKinley: Knoff & Team Check Out the Edge of the World

May 30, 2015

Posted by: Adam Knoff, Nick Hunt

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 14,000'

Friday, May 29th 11:00 pm PDT Expedition life lends itself to improvisation and today gave us the perfect opportunity to think on our feet. Our original plan was to carry a load of group gear to the top of the fixed lines at 16,500' and rest a full day tomorrow. However, a strong high pressure system moved over the mountain, opening the gates to the upper mountain for all of the other teams that have been stuck at 14,000' for days. As a result, camp was extremely active today as well over a hundred climbers woke up early and began a move to high camp. The fixed lines were jammed up all day with climbers, and rather than wait in that line ourselves, our team formulated a new plan. Today became our rest day. We relaxed in the beautiful weather at camp and took an afternoon stroll to the Edge of the World. Guides Adam and Andy, studs that they are, completed the high cache on their own in the evening once the fixed lines cleared up from the folks that were moving up. Our goal tomorrow is to pack up camp early, and move ahead to high camp, putting ourselves in the perfect position to attempt a summit bid in the next few days while the good weather lasts. The team is in high spirits and feeling strong! Goodnight! RMI Guide Nick Hunt and the rest of the team

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Booyah - a high pressure system! Thinking of you all scrambling up those fixed lines. G Barber, you have these dialed! Hats off to the guides for putting your team in a good summit position. Enjoy the amazing views to high camp! xoxo, Ker

Posted by: Kerry on 5/31/2015 at 11:26 am

Wow! You have amazing guides! Looks like the weather is perfect for you guys! Go for it!! Good luck at high camp and on summit day. We’re thinking of you. Take care!

Posted by: Joyce Tocher on 5/30/2015 at 2:47 pm

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Mt. McKinley: Pete Van Deventer & Team Ready for Summit Bid

May 30, 2015

Posted by: Pete Van Deventer, Robby Young, Josh Maggard

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 17,200'

Friday, May 29th 10:30 pm PDT All according to plan! We woke up early this morning, packed everything up, left a bit of food and fuel in a hole at 14K, and headed up the fixed lines. We had another brilliant, sunny, calm day on the West Buttress, and were in camp at 17K by mid afternoon. A couple of hours of work leveling tent sites and building walls got us set to be here. The forecast looks good for tomorrow, so we intend to head for the summit in the morning. We'll hope to be reporting success tomorrow evening! But now, to bed so that we're ready to go. RMI Guides Pete Van Deventer, Robby Young, Josh Maggard, and team

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Great photos and updates. Very exciting to read. Cannot imagine what the team is experiencing. So much fun. Brian… would love to hear all about the experience once you get back. Best of luck for the next phase. Send photos from the summit.

Posted by: Faisal M on 5/30/2015 at 3:39 pm

THIS IS SO EXCITING.
GOOD LUCK TO ALL AND RENEE FOR SUMMIT DAY.
YOU ALL DESERVE THIS SUCCESS.
JORDY WILL BE FLYING OVER YOU RENEE SO HOW GOOD IS THAT HEY!!
LOVE AND LUCK TO YOU MY DARLING DAUGHTER.
ALL MY LOVE MAMA XX

Posted by: Lori on 5/30/2015 at 3:31 pm

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Entries from Mt. McKinley

Mt. McKinley: Van Deventer & Team Making Good Progress on Their Descent After Summit

On The Map

Mt. McKinley: Walter & Team Descend to 14K Camp, Airstrip by Morning

Mt. McKinley: Upper West Rib Team Flies onto the Mountain

Mt. McKinley: Knoff & Team at High Camp Gearing Up for Summit Push

On The Map

Mt. McKinley: Jones & Team Move to 11,000’ Camp

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Mt. McKinley: Van Deventer & Team Summit!

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Mt. McKinley: Walter & Team on Summit!

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Mt. McKinley: Jones & Team Cache Some Gear Higher on the Mountain

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Mt. McKinley: Knoff & Team Check Out the Edge of the World

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Mt. McKinley: Pete Van Deventer & Team Ready for Summit Bid

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