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This was a seriously unforgettable experience! Walter, Gilbert and Sean were great!
Posted by: Matthew Smith on 7/7/2012 at 1:40 pm
Posted by: Seth Waterfall
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro
Posted by: Nikki Champion, Leif Bergstrom, Lauren Macklin
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 14,200'
May 27, 2023 10:29PM PT
Today we woke up to brutal cold, and clear skies. We blasted the stoves and rolled into a late morning of granola.
After watching Mike and Pete's teams roll out of camp, we followed suite and began our way up the steep corridor to the base of the fixed lines. We shortened up the rope internals, set up our ascenders, and made our way up the final 700' vertical feet of blue ice to the saddle on the west buttress. Right around 16,100, we crested the buttress and made our way up to our cache site near 16,300'.
After digging a cache hole in the world’s firmest snow, we turned around and made our way back to 14 camp for a late dinner of ramen.
Everyone worked hard and is looking forward to a well-deserved rest day tomorrow.
Nikki, Leif, Lauren and Team
Onward and upward! You’ve got this Kevin!
Posted by: Karie Seubert on 5/29/2023 at 5:37 am
WOW!!! Way to go Kevin and Team! The fixed lines that I have heard so much about and you got to experience it. I know it is tough work but it has to be an incredible reward and experience!!! Climb Strong!!!
Posted by: Dave Kestel on 5/29/2023 at 3:18 am
Posted by: Nikki Champion, Leif Bergstrom, Hannah Blum
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Alaska
Elevation: 20,310'
June 14th
The teams made it to the top! We've got a lot to say, but for now it's a late night and we are trying to eat dinner and get some sleep. Everyone pushed hard, and it was a beautiful summit day! About 11-12 hours round trip, primarily filled with sunshine.
RMI Guide Nikki Champion
New Post Alerts:
Mt. McKinley Expedition May 27, 2025
Job well done Mila and team! Glad to see everyone made it safe and sound. Welcome back to “civilization”. Can’t wait to hear all about your adventure and experience.
Kim
Posted by: Kim on 6/17/2025 at 11:57 am
Congratulations all, you did it - what an accomplishment!!! Jarmila, I agree with Tanya’s message - we can’t wait to hear about about the expedition, see all of your photos and celebrate with you upon your safe return back to the bay! WOW!
Posted by: Sarah on 6/16/2025 at 4:34 pm
Posted by: Andy Bond, Grayson Swingle, Ben Luedtke
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 11,200'
Tuesday, June 21, 2022 - 8:49 pm PT
The weather couldn’t make up its mind today- it was cold, it was hot, it was sunny, it was cloudy, it was clear, it was snowy, it was windy, and it was still. It literally couldn’t make up its mind from minute to minute. This of course necessitated putting on and taking off layers, putting on sunscreen, and opening and closing the vestibules. Our heads are still spinning.
Today was what we called a reverse carry day which means we headed down hill to retrieve our cache from 10,000' and hoofed it back up the hill to camp. Andy called this a rest day. His idea of a rest day is a little demented in my opinion. On the Appalachian trail, we would have called this a Nero day (translation- nearly a zero day).
We also prepped for tomorrow by deciding what we are going to carry up to 14,000' Camp for caching. The strategy is to split our load so no one day is heavier than the other.
Camp life today involved consuming large volumes of food while we still have an appetite which also means we don’t have to carry it. Many of us are finding out that we packed way too much food and are excited when anybody is willing to eat some of it. We also tossed around some deep questions like -if you could go back in any period of history when would it be? My answer was the future, specifically the day we summit this massive mountain. You may have also heard that one member of our team is carrying a hula hoop up the mountain. After a little research project from our followers, we learned that if our team member is successful in hula hooping for 30 seconds on the summit, they will break the record for the highest hula hooping. The current record is on Kilimanjaro at 19,300'. Stayed tuned.
RMI Climber Mary-Beth
David & Mary Marker you two continue to become some of my favorite humans after that research (no surprise since you are the reason why one of my absolute favorite human’s exists).
Steve - of course YOU would take something that could lead to you breaking a world record (which I’m certain you’ll succeed at doing). So go get that summit then celebrate with your hula hoop and then continue onto goal #1. :)
Posted by: Melanee Strootman on 6/23/2022 at 8:26 am
Keep it rolling Hydeco!
Posted by: Clyde on 6/22/2022 at 9:54 am
Posted by: Andy Bond, Grayson Swingle, Ben Luedtke
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Alaska Mt. McKinley
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It is a beautiful, sunny day in Talkeetna. The team is hard at work organizing and packing in preparation to fly into Basecamp tomorrow. Everyone is excited and making last minute decisions on oreos vs. famous amos and apple cider vs. hot chocolate. Decisions, decisions...
RMI Guides Andy, Grayson, Ben and Team
Remember Hyde, no brains…no headaches
Posted by: Josh Wimberley on 6/19/2022 at 10:42 am
Good luck with the climb. Keep us posted!
Posted by: Tomas and Kat on 6/19/2022 at 5:51 am
Posted by: Elias de Andres Martos, Jake Beren, Geoff Schellens
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Guide News
Elevation: 15,584'
RMI Guide Elias de Andres Martos calls in from Dhaulagiri Base Camp.
Please be wise and safe as you make your decisions. You are loved down here at sea level.
Posted by: nsb on 4/23/2014 at 11:52 am
Posted by: Dave Hahn, Dustin Wittmier, Sam Marjerison, Michael Murray
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 348'
Tuesday, June 13, 2023 - 11:11 pm PT
All present and accounted for in Talkeetna, Alaska. Most of us came together in the Anchorage airport this afternoon. Some traveled today, others in the proceeding days. We joined forces for the van ride up to Talkeetna under overcast and sometimes rainy skies. We busted up the three hour drive with a pause in Wasilla to round out provisions. All of this got us in to Talkeetna by about 7 PM. We did an easy evening of pizza downtown and came back for a rest at the Swiss Alaska Inn. The real business of the expedition starts tomorrow morning.
Best Regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
Just keep climbing.
Posted by: Shannon on 6/16/2023 at 10:17 am
Posted by: Alex Van Steen, Mark Tucker
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Carstensz Pyramid
Elevation: 11'000'
Mark Tucker checks in from Putigapa
On The Map
When your on that mountain, all you gotta do is give ahundred puhcent. You know me and my boyz dwade and chris all we do is get the rings. If you ever make a big desicion call me up (1-800-got-ring)
Posted by: Lebron (The King Who Got His Ring) James on 6/30/2012 at 8:54 pm
Hey Team!!!! Hope you all are not too worn out so far! You are in our prayers! Keep having fun p.s. Katie I hope you are not using as much chapstick as you did on kili or else you will be out by now….
Posted by: Billy (Bmeister) Mcgahan on 6/30/2012 at 8:49 pm
So happy you and the team made this trek! Looking forward to your stories and photos.
Posted by: Cindy and Ken on 7/16/2014 at 4:24 pm
Great work Rees! Scenery looks stunning. Janet and Murray.
Posted by: Janet Pascoe on 7/16/2014 at 1:54 pm
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