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Posted by: Andy Bond, Jack Delaney, Joey Manship
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 7,800'
Tuesday, June 6, 2023 - 11:11 pm PT
The RMI team lead by RMI Guides Andy Bond, Jack Delaney and Joey Manship thoroughly enjoyed the K2 flight in to base camp this morning. The views were spectacular! We began our climb for a short distance down hill before beginning the arduous journey with heavy packs and full sleds up what we referred to as Blister Hill. The team made excellent time and established our camp at 7,800 feet elevation on the flats at the base of Ski Hill. As the clouds rolled in and a light snow began to fall we enjoyed delicious burritos and looked forward to a well deserved nights rest.
Climber Jeff Ebeling
Looking forward to following your progress Take lots of pictures Andy.
Steve
Posted by: Steve Kickert on 6/7/2023 at 6:25 pm
Great to hear day 1 was a success! We wish the best of luck and best of weather! -Love, Jeff’s family! ❤️
Posted by: Jill Ebeling on 6/7/2023 at 1:04 pm
Posted by: Dominic Cifelli, Jack Delaney, Jess Wedel
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Elevation: 18,000'
I thought that some of our followers at home might enjoy an insider’s view of daily camp life. So, here it is:
The evening began with a six p.m. dinner of pasta lightly tossed in olive oil with sautéed bell peppers and onions and topped with grated Parmesan cheese. You could smell the delicious aroma circling the camp. After crawling into our tents, some of us watched videos, others read books, while Pops wrote poetry. Although we were tired and the weather was good for sleeping, we are each faced with a nightly dilemma - waking up with an urge to use a bathroom (which doesn’t exist above base camp).
The thoughts running through your head include: do I really need to get out of the warm comfort of my sleeping bag? Can’t I just go back to sleep and go later? It’s too cold outside! Will I disturb my tent mate? It takes too much energy. Where’s my toilet paper? Is my pee bottle already full?
These thoughts are on an endless repeat in your head until you finally give in and stumble out of the tent to take care of business.
With a sense of relief, you crawl back into your tent and kick yourself for wasting a half hour of sleep and not just getting up at the first urge. But the night continues with lots of twisting and turning as we try to find that perfect position until our arm or leg falls asleep - necessitating another turn. We still manage to get enough rest to climb upwards and onward.
Speaking of business - choosing a place to poop.
At camp, we do have a designated poop tent; however, there are many things to consider. We are each issued a big plastic bag which we can use in the poop tent by putting it into a big plastic bucket or finding a private spot and squatting. The upside to the tent is having a seat and the privacy of a tent. The downside is trying to separate pee from poop.
The other option is walking away from camp and squatting over the bag. The downsides are missing the bag, your private spot isn’t so private, and the huffing and puffing that occurs during the search. The upsides are the beauty of nature, no smelly hot tent, and easier to separate the pee from the poo. That’s probably TMI but this is part of camp life.
This morning we were gently awoken by Dom’s door to door tent service with hot drinks. It was the coldest night so far and none of us were particularly interested in leaving the warm sanctuary of our sleeping bags. Making the tent service much appreciated.
As the sun rose, our tents began to warm and we mustered the courage to emerge and begin our day of relaxing, recovering, and acclimatizing. The day started with another amazing breakfast of hash browns scrambled with bacon, peppers, and onions. Cooking this type of breakfast is no easy feat with limited pans, scarce utensils, and camp stoves that burn like jet engines.
We ate seated on rocks arranged in a circle while wearing gloves, hats, parkas, and puffy pants, as the morning remained cold. One moment, we are putting on layers and the next, we are taking them off. It’s a constant rotation of clothing. Conversations around the circle included what it’s like to be a cowboy, crazy outhouse stories, and how delicious rocky mountain oysters can be when fried over a campfire.
During the day, we take short walks around camp, eat more food so we don’t have to carry it, nap during the heat of the day, listen to music, read books, enjoy a variety of conversations, and play cutthroat card games. This recharges our batteries as we prepare for a carry to our last camp at 19,600’ tomorrow.
Mary Beth Kempner, aka “the editor”
PS Don’t worry Floyd, I’ve only temporarily taken over your job as editor. You are the editor of my life!
PSS Angela - thanks for your encouragement.
PSSS Shout out to Hudson for taking on the role of editor tonight
Good job MBK! Our best to all of you for the summit push. Karen, Micki and Bart
Posted by: Karen Loeffler on 2/1/2023 at 3:48 pm
Thrilling you are that far. Go for it! love and light to the top! What a breathtaking experience this must be, and unforgettable. I know your tired and worn, we know climbing is more than just the summit. Your incredible courage and accomplishment will be felt for a lifetime. You GOT THIS! Love you Teri
Posted by: Teri Derr on 2/1/2023 at 7:29 am
Posted by: Brent Okita, Zeb Blais, Ben Liken, Robby Young
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 10,060'
Zeb led the way for Mariana and I out of Camp Muir on June 20, 2010. He got us up to Ingraham Glacier before returning with climbers. Mariana and I continued to the summit, led by Solveig Waterfall. I will always be grateful to Zeb for his kind and thoughtful pace out of Muir . . . I’ve not seen him since, but want to send a big hello his way and the heads up that I will be forever grateful to him for his efforts that Father’s Day. Thanks, Zeb!!!
Posted by: Josephine Johnson on 4/17/2014 at 9:58 pm
Thanks for keeping my guys safe and sound! Think warm thoughts! Hugs to Mike and Steve
Posted by: cathy on 4/16/2014 at 7:59 pm
Posted by: Billy Nugent, Geoff Schellens
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
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I’m so proud of you! Now hurry up and get some safe and sound :)
Posted by: Julia Gulia on 9/10/2012 at 2:47 pm
great job guys. i can only imagine the suffering going on in those conditions and how strong you all are to give that a go. i was really wishing you a blue bird summit, but i know you’ll have epic stories to tell from probably an even more spiritual adventure.—ethan
Posted by: ethan kutzscher on 9/10/2012 at 12:03 pm
Posted by: Dave Hahn, Solveig Waterfall
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 11,200'
On The Map
Daddy (Brian), I miss you and I want to go camping in that orange tent with you when you get home. (Direct quote from Connor)
Hope you and the team had some relaxing down time and that tomorrow brings good climbing weather. Stay safe, we love you!
Posted by: Connor Bulatao on 7/5/2012 at 6:12 am
Hello Brian! I hope that you and the team have a good climb, and I have added you and the team to the chruch prayer list for a safe trip. Love, Mom Bulatao
Posted by: Mom Bulatao on 7/4/2012 at 4:45 pm
WHAT’S YOUR PROGRESS? FAMILY IS WATCHING. SAFE TRAVELS DOWN. GODSPEED AND LOTS OF LOVE.
Posted by: FRED CHANEY on 6/28/2012 at 2:36 pm
Posted by: Andy Bond, David Price, Seth Burns, Emma Lyddan
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
The Expedition Skills Seminar - Emmons led by RM Guide Andy Bond reached the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning. The team got an early start from Camp Schurman and reached the summit around 5:30 am. They will return to Camp Schurman for their final night on the mountain. Enjoy these photos from RMI Guide David Price taken from the summit crater of Mt. Rainier this morning.
Congratulations to today's Emmons team!
Doug and Erik — you went, you saw, you conquered! Revel in it!
Rich
Posted by: Rich on 6/24/2021 at 8:20 pm
Congrats Giorgio Kulp on checking off climb one in the ole bucket list. We are proud of your determination and the accomplishment. Can’t wait to hear the story of your adventure. Congrats to the entire team!
Posted by: Debbie Snyder and the Kulprits on 6/24/2021 at 6:23 pm
On The Map
RMI Guide Mark Tucker checks in from Lobuche.
Congratulations JB and team for the strong and safe summit of Denali! Your friends here at AMC are anxious to here the details and wish you good weather for the flight off.
Posted by: Rick on 6/19/2012 at 12:42 pm
That was a fast descent.Thank you Tyler, Eric and Logan for bringing everybody back down Denali in good spirit and shape!
À bientôt Nicolas!
Posted by: louise on 6/18/2012 at 1:40 pm
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