Entries from Mt. McKinley

Mt. McKinley: Walter and Team Still Waiting

May 18, 2011

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Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 14,000'

The weather is very comfortable here at 14k- lots of sun, light winds, and reasonable temps; but the winds persist up high. Wind speeds are around 40 mph at high camp, and probably 50-60 mph at Denali Pass and the summit. We climbed to the base of the fixed lines today (a little over 1000' above camp), just to stretch the legs and get some exercise. It felt good to climb for a couple of hours. Now we're back at camp, lounging around and waiting for the winds to ease so we can move to high camp and get a crack at the summit. The team appreciates everyone's comments on the blog...keep them coming! RMI Guide Mike Walter

Leave a Comment For the Team (2)

Hey Mike and Team,

I am back in Denver. I guess Ed, Seth, Mark and I would still be sitting there with you guys. Hang in there and be safe!

Posted by: Kevin Duncan on 5/19/2011 at 12:48 pm

Hi David,

Hope you are enjoying your climbing adventure and that your team stays safe. Liam still talks about your Mt. Hood climb. Wishing you the best from a very flat Chicago suburb. Susan, Dave and Liam.

Posted by: Susan on 5/19/2011 at 7:02 am

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Mt. McKinley: Billy Nugent’s Team Carries to 13,200’

May 18, 2011

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Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 11,200'

This is Solveig checking in from Mt. McKinley. We left camp today at 11 am for our carry to 13,200’. Three hours of walking up Motorcycle Hill, Squirrel Hill, across the Polo field, and around Windy Corner to our cache site. Gusting winds and cool temperatures subsided as we approached our cache, a welcome relief. We took a nice break and buried 12 days worth of food, fuel and extra gear. Eager to be back in the shelter of camp we hustled downhill. Everyone is now relaxing after dinner and hot drinks. The forecast calls for moderate wind and continued low pressure throughout the week. So weather permitting we will make our move up to 14,000’ feet. We will check in again soon. RMI Guide Solveig Garhart

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Good to hear from the Team again. We are watching your progress. So nice to see the Weather is good and you are eating well and having fun. Miss you Michael.
Love…Mom & Dad

Posted by: Kathleen Esposito on 5/19/2011 at 6:15 pm

So happy the weather is holding up thus far for you! All is well here. I hope the experience continues to be incredible! Love and Miss you Drew!

Posted by: Janie on 5/19/2011 at 7:53 am

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Mt. McKinley Expedition: Walter & Team Waiting Patiently at 14,000’

May 17, 2011

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Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 14,000'

We awoke at Camp 4 to clouds and light wind, but winds are still strong up high on the ridge to the 17,200' camp. So we're still here at 14,000', waiting for good weather. Fortunately it's pretty pleasant down here in camp. We have plenty of food and fuel, so we'll just wait until the winds subside in order to move up higher. We're all eager to climb, but also patient for good weather to arrive. We all know this is part of expedition climbing...waiting for a good weather window, resting, and acclimating. RMI Guide Mike Walter

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Tom,

Greetings from Wilsonville! We are all wishing you luck here at work. Enough with this wind already…I told mother nature to be kinder today! Take care, Leslie

Posted by: Leslie on 5/19/2011 at 11:30 am

great picture of the climbing team! you all look ready and able to do this thing—-now if the weather cooperates. have fun ; enjoy the journey and take pleasure in the destination.

Posted by: jim dunn on 5/18/2011 at 1:33 pm

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Mt. McKinley: Walter & Team at Camp 4

May 16, 2011

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Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 14,200'

A weak low pressure system over the mountain has brought an increase in clouds today, but it's still pretty pleasant at Camp 4. More significant than the clouds, is a high pressure system to our east that has increased the winds up high. Today it looks like it is blowing in the 35 mph range at high camp, and winds are forecasted to increase to 70 mph in the next few days. So for now, we're still on standby, hoping the winds dissipate quickly so we can move up high soon. The team is in good spirits and eager to climb. Camp 4 is a good place to be waiting, as we have a very comfortable camp and we're acclimating and getting stronger each day we spend here at 14,200'. We'll keep you updated with our status and the weather outlook. RMI Guide Mike Walter

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Keep at it Jeff,
You are a continued source of inspiration! Stay safe and enjoy each moment!
Our love and thoughts,
Erik and Meredith
P.S. Got the postcard-love it. Cheers!!

Posted by: Erik on 5/18/2011 at 10:20 pm

David,

Paul and I are sending good weather vibes your way! Have a safe climb!

Laura

Posted by: Laura Piccard on 5/17/2011 at 1:44 pm

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Mt. McKinley: Nugent and Team Rest Day at Camp 3

May 16, 2011

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Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 11,200'

Hey, it's Billy again checking in for Solveig and the rest of the crew. We're enjoying a great rest day here at 11,200 feet. We're enjoying some sun, a little stand up comedy in the cook tent. Everybody's enjoying a good laugh. We had a great breakfast of smoked salmon and cream cheese on toasted bagels. We plan on spending the rest of the afternoon drying out gear, organizing and just recovering from three days of hard work, single carrying into 11,000'. So, you know, we hope to prep for our carry up around Windy Corner tomorrow morning and getting all the loads packed up and everything ready to go. So,we'll check in with you guys again tomorrow evening and let you know how that works, but all is well, everyone's in great spirits. And we're having a great time. Cheers. RMI Guide Billy Nugent

Billy checking in from a rest day at 11,200'

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Hi Drew Thinking of you and following your progress. Enjoy beautiful Alaska. Stay safe. Love D lo

Posted by: D lo on 5/17/2011 at 10:29 am

Sounds like a great time so far! Enjoying the updates so much. Stay safe and patient. I love you- Janie

Posted by: Janie on 5/17/2011 at 5:55 am

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Mt. McKinley: Viesturs & Waterfall Team Returns to Talkeetna

May 16, 2011

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Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Hi this is Seth checking in for Ed, Kevin and Mark. We’ve all returned from Denali safe and sound. We ended our trip without going to the summit which was a disappointment but was the best call for everyone. We had a great time but the unseasonably cold and windy conditions were not condusive to an enjoyable climb for us. For me climbing is all about the experience and the people you share it with and this trip was one of the most enjoyable that I have had. While we did not top out we did return safely. That is the best reward of all. RMI Guide Seth Waterfall

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Ran into this team a few times between base camp and Kahiltna Pass while I was there last week. Got sick and had to descend in a bit of bad weather, so I totally know what it was like up there. Good work all. You had a pretty tight camp.

Posted by: Charles Miske on 5/17/2011 at 1:16 pm

Way to go to all who made it as far as you did. Kevin-we look forward to hearing about the experience & glad you are safe.

Posted by: Jim Hards on 5/16/2011 at 3:44 pm

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Alaska Seminar: Moving Camp

May 16, 2011

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Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Hey this is the RMI seminar checking in from Kahiltna Glacier. Today we moved our camp closer to the base of Mt. Francis we are hoping to make a summit attempt of Mt. Francis later this week. We spent the afternoon fortifying our camp as a small storm is upon us. We also spent the afternoon reviewing and learning more about anchors. Tomorrow will be a good day of training and hopefully this weather will move on. We'll check in later.

RMI Guide Jason Thompson checks in from the Kahiltna Glacier

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Hi McKin!
Ivie, Hunter, Ray and I are cheering you on!!! We love you.

Posted by: Julie on 5/17/2011 at 12:38 pm

Hey Jitendar,

Hope the storm has passed and wasnt too bad.Post some pictures.Cant wait to see you guys dominating the mountain!!

Love,Mamta.

Posted by: Mamta on 5/16/2011 at 7:12 pm

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Mt. McKinley: Walter’s Team Resting at 14,200’

May 15, 2011

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Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 14,200'

We're resting at Camp 4 today, with beautiful weather. The forecast is for pretty high winds the next few days, so we'll likely be here through the beginning of the week. Hopefully the winds abate (or the forecast doesn't verify!), and we can move up high soon. We enjoyed a late breakfast with lots of bacon and coffee this morning, and now we're lounging around, reading and whatnot. Our spirits are high, and we're hopeful that we can move up high soon. Thanks for the posts on the blog, it's always good to hear from friends back home. RMI Guide Mike Walter

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Just wishing you a good night’s rest and letting you know your family is thinking of you and sending all our love!!! I love you….Megan

Posted by: Megan on 5/15/2011 at 10:04 pm

SEND IT, RAPPSTAR!!! Btw bacon and coffee at 14,000 feet? Sounds like pretty much the best Sunday ever! Get after it, take pics, and stay safe my friend!

Posted by: Claire on 5/15/2011 at 9:16 pm

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Mt. McKinley: Nugent and Team at Camp 3

May 15, 2011

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Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 11,200'

Hey gang, this is Billy checking in for our McKinley expedition on our fourth day on the on the mountain. We moved up from Camp 2 to at 9,600' up to our Camp 3 at 11,200'. The team moved incredibly well. We were only 2 and a half hours from camp to camp, single carry, so no back carry in the future for us. We spent a lot of time this afternoon, digging out camp and building walls and building a pretty elaborate cook tent. It's been a very low snow year up here in Alaska. So with barely a meter of snow on the glacier definitely made for some creative cook tent construction. But our walk up was really nice. It kind of alternated hot and cold. We arrived in camp with perfect, sunny weather and we're sitting pretty at this point. Tomorrow's plan calls for a rest day. So, wish us luck. It's gonna be a trying day laying around the tent tomorrow. That's about all for now, and checking out from Billy, Solveig and the rest of the crew. Have a good one. RMI Guide Billy Nugent

Alaska Seminar: Training and Climb of Radio Tower Peak

May 15, 2011

Posted by: Eric Frank

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 7,200'

Hi this is the Alaskan Mountaineering Seminar checking in for the day. This morning after we got an early start and breakfast we headed up the South East Fork of the Kahiltna Glacier. After three hours of challenging technical climbing we were rewarded with a chance to stand on top of Radio Control Tower under blue skies and perfect condition. After our time on the summit we came back to our base camp and spent some time working on building snow anchors. The weather has turned to a cloudy outlook with a little bit of snow. Everyone is tucked in for the night resting for our training day tomorrow. Take care and send your thoughts to keep us warm on the Kahiltna.

RMI Guide Eric Frank checks in after the team's climb of Radio Tower Peak.

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Entries from Mt. McKinley

Mt. McKinley: Walter and Team Still Waiting

Mt. McKinley: Billy Nugent’s Team Carries to 13,200’

On The Map

Mt. McKinley Expedition: Walter & Team Waiting Patiently at 14,000’

Mt. McKinley: Walter & Team at Camp 4

On The Map

Mt. McKinley: Nugent and Team Rest Day at Camp 3

On The Map

Mt. McKinley: Viesturs & Waterfall Team Returns to Talkeetna

Alaska Seminar: Moving Camp

Mt. McKinley: Walter’s Team Resting at 14,200’

Mt. McKinley: Nugent and Team at Camp 3

Alaska Seminar: Training and Climb of Radio Tower Peak

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