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Posted by: Mike Walter, Abby Westling, Emma Lyddan
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 14,000'
Friday 5/26/2023 3:15 PM PT
Clouds and light snow are making a perfect atmosphere for a lazy rest day here at 14k.
Strong winds high on the mountain are occasionally visible through breaks in the clouds. The warmth of our tents is conducive to lazing, reading, listening to music, and occasionally drifting off into a dreamy state of consciousness.
Meanwhile, we're hoping that favorable weather allows us an opportunity to climb higher and push for the summit soon.
Until then, we're embracing the tranquility of the mountains.
Mike
Posted by: Pete Van Deventer, Matias Francis, Chase Halbert
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 14,000'
Wednesday, May 26, 2021 - 12:36 am PT
It's been a wild day. Things were perfect this morning to move. We didn't rush out of camp, instead letting sun start to dry the frost from our tents before we packed them. The climb to 14,000' was pleasant all the way. There were some periods where a mild breeze cooled us, but in a way e were thankful for some respite from the heat of the sun. Once we got to 14,000' Camp, it got exciting. Just as we started to set up the first tents, we got hit with a blast of wind that was probably pushing 40 mph. Another was quick on its heels. And that was how it went - sudden strong blasts that weren't tied to hitting us from any one particular direction. It was a magnificent display of teamwork, as everybody came together to get tents up and then a wall built to provide some shelter from the gusts. We got a hot meal and are now deep in sleeping bags staying warm and drifting off to sleep. All in all, it was a great day and a great illustration of how Denali keeps you on your toes.
RMI Guides Pete, Chase, Matias, and team
Sending positive thoughts to Cram from the CZ. You got this!
Posted by: Z on 5/29/2021 at 6:37 pm
Glad you got up there Marc! Wishing you calm and less freezing weather along the way! Felix has been learning a lot about Denali and always has questions about how big it is.
Love, Little Sis
Posted by: Sandi on 5/26/2021 at 2:56 pm
Hola from 16,000 ft on the northern flanks of Ecuador’s most famous mountain, Cotopaxi. We apologize for not sending a dispatch yesterday because we were so excited to get here, we simply forgot. I assure all of you faithful followers the effects of altitude on memory are minimal, I just forget things naturally.
Once moved in last night we endured a very restless evening because apparently the workers knew we were coming and couldn’t stop painting, pounding, dragging and talking well into the night. So this morning we drank our coffee, packed our bags and headed to the glacier for some skills training unrelated to our climb. The weather is a vast improvement over the weather on Cayambe and all the teams that climbed last night made it to the top.
Not it is 4:30 pm and the hut is busting with tourists and climbers hoping to attempt tonight as well. Everyone is in good spirits and excited to climb! We all feel our chances are good.
Stay tuned for tomorrow’s dispatch.
Wishing the best climb to the Knoff led team. Mom
Posted by: Jane Knoff on 1/16/2020 at 12:30 pm
Team Knoff -
You are in the best of hands with your guide team!
Keep the “rest step” in sync and you’ll be on the summit in no time! And remember to breathe… Ahhhhh….
Most importantly, support each other and make it a trip of a lifetime, because it’s exactly that!
Cheers-
Tom
PS - Adam, I’ll be with Davis on Orizaba in a few days. RMI is the best!
Posted by: Tom Mulvey on 1/15/2020 at 10:20 pm
Posted by: Jake Beren, Leon Davis
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Amazing, we can now follow you in your journey without the effort. Enjoy!!
Nadine and Jules
Posted by: Nadine on 6/9/2014 at 5:06 pm
Dawn,
Wish you the best! Have a Great experience in the nature. Love you, mom.
Posted by: hye kim on 6/8/2014 at 2:20 pm
RMI Guide Mark Tucker calls in from Karanga Camp, 13,160 ft, on Mt. Kilimanjaro
On The Map
On The Map
Hi everybody,
Congratulations to a job well done. I’m very happy for all of you and look forward to hearing all about it when I see you in person. Until then enjoy the triumphant feeling because you all very much deserve it.
PS Sorry this message is a little late, I got the news a little late
Posted by: Jim on 7/6/2012 at 7:22 pm
Glad you are down safe and sound. Can’t wait to hear all the details. Good luck getting off tomorrow.
Missy
Posted by: missy prudden on 7/4/2012 at 8:21 pm
Sending positive vibes for the weather to cooperate to make your decent to the airstrip. Will have longer to plan the homecoming celebrations. love Dinah and Sue
Posted by: dinah rogers on 7/18/2011 at 11:21 am
RMI Guide Billy Nugent checks in from 18,000' on Aconcagua
Wow!! Watching your progress is inspiring. I almost wish I could be there too.
Posted by: mary doyle on 2/13/2011 at 4:04 pm
Bulls, Bulls, Bulls, Bears, Bears…
Ditka…
Polish Sausage…
Posted by: Dan on 2/13/2011 at 1:11 am
Posted by: Dustin Wittmier, Henry Coppolillo
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Ecuador
Elevation: 9,350'
Hello friends, families, Farmer Dave and anyone else out there who might be following our blog. We have just kicked off the first Ecuador Expedition of 2023. It started with a rainy travel day and a rainy day for our Quito city tour (although a few of us still managed minor sunburns). Today, we took our first acclimatization hike and were surprised/delighted to wake up to partially sunny skies!
The hike up Rucu Pichincha is really quite scenic. I think it’s my favorite day hike in the world that is more or less in a major metropolitan area. A gondola takes us to 13,000’ where we begin our ascent to the summit of Rucu Pichincha (13,354’). Along the way there are a variety of wildflowers and the final push to the summit is engaging, involving a short section of class 3 scrambling.
I should also mention that the team is in good health, especially thanks to the newly renovated penthouse spa here at the Hotel Mercure. Many of us have used this opportunity to cycle cold plunges and wet sauna or cold plunges and hot tubbing. Henry, the ultimate masochist, prefers cold plunge only, first thing in the morning.
Tomorrow we will depart Quito early to head north. The itinerary of this trip has us working our way from north to south, making attempts on Cayambe, Antisana and Chimborazo. These are the 3rd, 4th and 1st highest mountains in Ecuador, respectively. We also hope to capture a glimpse of Cotopaxi, which is normally on the itinerary but was scratched this time due to recent eruptions and a moratorium on summit bids. Better to witness that from a safe distance.
Two adventurous young women! Wishing them and all of you the best on both continents.
How great to stay in touch and be able to go along on your climb laptop-wise.
Posted by: Coreen on 1/13/2023 at 11:25 pm
It’s got to be Sarah that has a sunburn in the cloudy weather :-D That’s a Hillebrand special! Wishing you all a safe journey and glad for the blog updates!
Posted by: Hannah on 1/13/2023 at 12:32 pm
Posted by: Seth Waterfall, Solveig Waterfall
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mexico
Elevation: 14,636'
On The Map
You’ve all worked hard for this. You guys can do it!!!
Posted by: Julie Grooms on 2/12/2013 at 1:05 pm
Good luck guys. Take it all in!
Posted by: Jamie McShane on 2/11/2013 at 7:01 pm
Go Team! Make it happen! It’s going to be epic!!! You got this!!!! Perseverance and Patience….goal in sight! Hoping for some solid blue sky and perfect climate!!! Cheers from Talkeetna!!! Susan
Posted by: Susan on 5/27/2023 at 9:39 am
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