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Posted by: Billy Nugent
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
all the best to you up there! go get em melissa!!!! be safe! :-) amy
Posted by: amy oconnell on 5/27/2011 at 9:59 pm
Posted by: Dominic Cifelli, Seth Burns, Daniel May
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 14,000'
Monday, June 26, 2023 - 10:47 pm PT
We continue to wait and be patient as less then ideal weather hangs onto Denali. Another breakfast of bagels and locks was well received by the team and has helped to keep spirits high. Waiting and being patient is an often overlooked skill necessary for expeditionary climbing. Our team is leaning wholeheartedly into this. After more rest the afternoon was filled with fixed line training In preparation for our continued ascent. Hopes are high for an opportunity to carry and climb above the fixed lines.
Posted by: Mike Walter, Abby Westling, Emma Lyddan
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 11,200'
Saturday, May 20, 2023 8:36am PDT
We kept the proverbial ball rolling yesterday and established a cache at 13,700', above Windy Corner. The weather was remarkably hot Yesterday, a marked change from the previous two weeks we've been in AK. The icy slopes of Squirrel Hill & Windy Corner were mostly Slushy by the time we descended them in the afternoon. And today we are back to some snow and wind. Bizzarro.
Anyway, we're resting and acclimating today, with hopes of moving camp up to Genet Basin at 14,200' tomorrow.
RMI Guide Mike Walter & Team
So stoked to see you all moving up and being able to make progress in your weather windows! Great work team! Climb on!
Posted by: Rae Anglen on 5/21/2023 at 6:32 am
Well done, team! Strong work! You have braved some serious conditions! Alaska! So impressive! Keep going! If you hear some noise in the distance- it’s probably me cheering for all of you from a Talkeetna! Keep climbing! You got this! Cheers! Susan!
Posted by: Susan on 5/21/2023 at 1:37 am
Posted by: Nikki Champion, Leif Bergstrom, Lauren Macklin
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 7,800'
Wednesday, May 17, 2023 - 11:46 pm PT
We woke up to an early call from K2 that said chances looked good to fly, so after a quick cup of coffee we rushed over to the hangar. After a few hours of hurry up and waiting, we were able to get out on a flight and land on the Kahiltna glacier in beautiful conditions. We unloaded all the group gear, organized everything for moving, and made our way to our first camp for the night. After six long hours, we finally pulled into the base of Ski Hill. Set up camp, and made a quick dinner of Mac and cheese under the clear skies. We are set up to carry tomorrow, but might sleep in a little bit first.
Check in tomorrow,
Get it done Dawny!!! Watching you!!!
Posted by: Tiff on 5/19/2023 at 9:47 am
You got this Dawn! We are all thinking about you down here and cheering you on!!
Posted by: Kendyl and James on 5/19/2023 at 5:18 am
On The Map
Thank you for the beautiful descriptions and for transporting us from our mid-winter storms to your snow covered valleys. We are savoring following your journey! MM
Posted by: Mirte Mallory on 3/30/2011 at 6:34 am
Hi Mark and Karen, H. and a friend and I are just back from a day in Yosemite—not quite Nepal, but quite snowy and sunny—beautiful.Love, MA
Posted by: Mary Ann & Howard Latimer on 3/28/2011 at 7:34 pm
On The Map
Watching and cheering Rachael and her team from Vero Beach, Fl. All of you are a fierce inspiration to us all.
Posted by: Gwen Fichtelman on 6/27/2012 at 8:58 am
Congrats Matt and your team mates. Have a safe climb down.
Posted by: Heidi Corboy on 6/27/2012 at 7:51 am
Posted by: Dave Hahn, Bailey Servais, Sam Hoffman, Calvin Jiricko
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 14,200'
It snowed continuously through the night and all day. Finally, at six in the evening, it stopped, and we could see a bit more than a hundred feet in any direction. There was never a possibility of climbing today, so we made the best of a storm/rest day by enjoying a slow, leisurely breakfast in our dining tent. Afterward, we dug out the camp, took naps, and read books.
We managed to squeeze in a little training for the “fixed ropes” we hope to climb next. We practiced as the last snow fell and the clouds began to clear. That put us in a good position to witness the event of the day—a big avalanche roaring out of the Messner Couloir on the South Peak. We knew we weren’t in any danger from that particular couloir, but it was still sobering to be engulfed by the powder cloud thrown up by the slide. We’d heard several avalanches over the past 24 hours, but it was thrilling to actually watch one.
As we ate dinner, the clouds continued to melt away, and it was wonderful to be in actual sunshine again. Many of us found it hard to take our eyes off the mountain and all the fresh scars from sliding snow. We hope to climb the West Buttress in the morning, but that will depend on whether the new snow has had enough time to settle.
— RMI Guide Dave Hahn & Team
New Post Alerts:
Mt. McKinley Expedition, June 14, 2025
I can’t imagine how intense it must have been to witness something as powerful as an avalanche! Great to hear the trip has been so amazing!
Posted by: Lawrence Chan on 6/27/2025 at 3:27 pm
The majestic beauty of it all must be breathtaking. I have confidence that you’re in good hands and you’ll proceed only if it’s safe to do so. Sending positive vibes.
Posted by: Kari Servais on 6/27/2025 at 9:50 am
Posted by: Drew O’Brien, Erika Birkeland, Hannah Blum, Robert Whyte
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 10,500'
Good Morning,
Last night after the move to Camp Schurman the team elected to split into a group focused on advanced climbing/crevasse rescue skills and a summit team.
The summit team woke around 10pm for their summit push. After dealing with warm nighttime temps, isothermal snow, and punching through multiple snow bridges the team decided to turn around at about 10,500.
All team members are now back in camp beginning a day of ice climbing, glacial navigation and crevasse rescue training.
RMI Guide Drew O'Brien
PC: Drew O'Brien














Woo! Hoo! Hot damn and halleluiah! Congrats to the whole team. Michael - what a way to celebrate a Bday! and Bruce - yeesch! 13 pounds - holy smokes!
Enjoy celebrating and fattening up. See you when you safely return. ~Katherine
Posted by: Katherine on 2/18/2012 at 7:44 am
Congratulations! And thanks for letting us follow along. What a terrific climb.. Enjoy Mendoza. Party!
Posted by: Sharon Clarke on 2/17/2012 at 6:09 pm
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