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On The Map
RMI Guide Jake Beren checks in from the summit of Pico de Orizaba
That’s an awesome job ... safe travels home!
Posted by: Jon McHenry on 2/20/2011 at 9:03 am
Congratulations on a brilliant climb! Now y’all get right down from there immediately…
Posted by: Christina Doren on 2/19/2011 at 1:27 pm
Posted by: Dominic Cifelli, Seth Burns, Daniel May
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 17,200'
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Friday, June 30, 2023 11:47 pm PDT
The gods of Denali blessed the team with the weather window needed to begin the hardest three days of our lives. We began our assault up The Wall and eventually the fixed lines. The sun was surprisingly warm and persistent. The black rocks jutting from the frozen snow reminded me constantly of the Oreo McFlurry I will no doubt consume when I get off here. We are thinking of you all as we attempt to summit tomorrow.
RMI Climber Travis and Team
Lisa and Blair wishing you luck!!!
Posted by: Blair Johnson on 7/2/2023 at 7:16 am
Peace, gratitude and mental toughness…you’ve got it!!!
Posted by: Kim on 7/1/2023 at 9:35 pm
Posted by: Pete Van Deventer, Zeb Blais
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
Hopefully this is my son CJ group. Congrats to you all.
Posted by: Maureen Walsh on 8/20/2013 at 5:55 am
Posted by: Jake Beren, Leon Davis, Josh Maggard
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 14,200'
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On The Map
Galen,
I wait eagerly everyday for updates, checking the blog multiple times (despite the fact that I have subscribed to notifications). I have also read the blogs of the team you saw come down after their summit as well as the other team who’s also at 14k but started before your team. Reading all of these incredible stories and lush descriptions makes me jelly :( and reminds me of when I camped on top of tajumulco. Looks like there’s a bit of very cold and fierce wind and you may have to wait before climbing to 17k and/or to the top. By my calculations, you have 2/3 days of buffer time so hopefully the winds will die down a bit. Or “if you can hold on. If you can hold on, hold on.” Today I found myself thinking and brainstorming about our travel and it made me happy. I hope to see you soon R
Posted by: Alice on 6/14/2013 at 1:04 am
Keep up the great work everyone!I miss you Michael, have fun and be safe. Love Vien.
Posted by: Vien Vail on 6/13/2013 at 5:22 pm
Posted by: Mike Walter, Pete Van Deventer
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 348'
Congrats to the team and Mike for another well lead expedition. A little quicker than last year :)
Posted by: Jeff Rapp on 5/31/2012 at 2:40 pm
Nicely done folks! Welcome back Rich!
Posted by: Erik on 5/31/2012 at 9:06 am
Posted by: Mike Walter, Avery Parrinello, Luke Wilhelm
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Alaska Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 14,000'
Saturday, May 29, 2021 - 2:54pm PT
Strong winds and lots of blowing snow have us tent bound today. The fortresses of snow walls we built yesterday are paying huge dividends, protecting the thin pieces of nylon between us and the elements. We can hear the winds roaring over the West Buttress above us, a sound that evokes images of violent ocean waves crashing onshore.
Fortunately life in our tents is relatively serene and warm.
We’re hoping for better weather in the wake of this storm; we’ll figure out our next move then. When will ‘then’ be ‘now’? Soon.
RMI Guide Mike Walter & Team
Gearing up for some good stories :) Sending good vibes for some calmer skies!
Posted by: Margaret on 5/30/2021 at 5:50 pm
Theme song for today:
WHATEVER IT TAKES!
Falling too fast to prepare for this
Tripping in the world could be dangerous
Everybody circling, it’s vulturous
Negative, nepotist
Everybody waiting for the fall of man
Everybody praying for the end of times
Everybody hoping they could be the one
I was born to run, I was born for this
Whip, whip
Run me like a racehorse
Pull me like a ripcord
Break me down and build me up
I wanna be the slip, slip
Word upon your lip, lip
Letter that you rip, rip
Break me down and build me up
Whatever it takes
‘Cause I love the adrenaline in my veins
I do whatever it takes
‘Cause I love how it feels when I break the chains
Whatever it takes
Yeah, take me to the top I’m ready for
Whatever it takes
‘Cause I love the adrenaline in my veins
I do what it takes
Always had a fear of being typical
Looking at my body feeling miserable
Always hanging on to the visual
I wanna be invisible
Looking at my years like a martyrdom
Everybody needs to be a part of ‘em
Never be enough, I’m the prodigal son
I was born to run, I was born for this
Whip, whip
Run me like a racehorse
Pull me like a ripcord
Break me down and build me up
I wanna be the slip, slip
Word upon your lip, lip
Letter that you rip, rip
Break me down and build me up
Whatever it takes
‘Cause I love the adrenaline in my veins
I do whatever it takes
‘Cause I love how it feels when I break the chains
Whatever it takes
Yeah, take me to the top, I’m ready for
Whatever it takes
‘Cause I love the adrenaline in my veins
I do what it takes
Hypocritical, egotistical
Don’t wanna be the parenthetical, hypothetical
Working onto something that I’m proud of, out of the box
An epoxy to the world and the vision we’ve lost
I’m an apostrophe
I’m just a symbol to remind you that there’s more to see
I’m just a product of the system, a catastrophe
And yet a masterpiece, and yet I’m half-diseased
And when I am deceased
At least I go down to the grave and die happily
Leave the body and my soul to be a part of thee
I do what it takes
Whatever it takes
‘Cause I love the adrenaline in my veins
I do whatever it takes
‘Cause I love how it feels when I break the chains
Whatever it takes
Yeah, take me to the top, I’m ready for
Whatever it takes
‘Cause I love the adrenaline in my veins
I do what it takes
~ Imagine Dragons
Posted by: Julie Morris on 5/30/2021 at 10:37 am
Posted by: Jake Beren, Steve Gately, Mike King
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Elevation: 18,000'
Just got 15 inches of snow over night. Temps in the low teens. Probably much better where you are.
Scenery looks beautiful up top there. Hope the weather cooperates for a good summit attempt.
Hike well and be safe.
Posted by: Bill Gately on 1/3/2014 at 10:10 am
George,
Glad to hear that all is well. We head to Asheville tomorrow to eat dinner with Barry and the family. After dinner, we are off to a Charlotte hotel to get a little sleep before an early flight to Pasadena. With a little luck, we will have a double celebration on Monday—Your triumphal summit and a BCS trophy with Auburn’s name on it. War Eagle!
Posted by: Carolyn Crandell on 1/2/2014 at 11:26 pm
On The Map
Wow, what a vista! Love this blog! Chris and Jeff, keep breathing!!
Posted by: Joan on 9/20/2013 at 7:16 am
Awesome descriptions of the climb. I can really visualize it. Sorry you’re getting rained on!
Posted by: Mara on 9/19/2013 at 11:48 am
“May the trail rise to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face.
May the snow fall soft after your decent.
And until we meet again may the mountain spirits hold you in the palm of their hand.”
-Slightly modified Irish Blessing
Carpe Diem Montañeros :)
Posted by: Saint Patrick on 1/14/2013 at 12:29 pm
Isn’t Morning a Great Thing?!! Have Fun!!!! Our spirits are with you All!
Posted by: Deb on 1/14/2013 at 9:02 am
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