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Posted by: Jake Beren, Leon Davis, Zeb Blais
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
On The Map
Jess and team,
Mother nature will cooperate, she is just having one of those days. Weather down here not much better. Keep up the spirits, it will get better.
Jess, miss you here! Keep up the great work.
Love, Hector
Posted by: Hector Valle on 6/13/2013 at 4:35 pm
Robin and Team!
Kudos to all of you for staying put and being safe! I have faith that conditions will be much better tomorrow and you will be able to move to your high camp.
Stay safe and stay warm and lots of prayers for your safe successful climb tomorrow. As the lyrics go “movin on up!” Look forward to your next blog from high camp!
Love DAD
Posted by: Matt Prosser on 6/13/2013 at 6:18 am
Posted by: Dominic Cifelli, Sam Hoffman, Erika Birkeland, Cal Seeley, Ellison Boord, Trevor Katz
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
The Five Day Climb led by RMI Guides Dominic Cifelli and Sam Hoffman reached the summit of Mt. Rainier on Friday Morning. The team took advantage of the cooler temperatures which made for good climbing on the route. They spent the night at Camp Muir sharing stories and soaking in their success and all the views. The team will descend to Paradise in the early afternoon today.
Congratulations team!
You guys rocked this trip. Side messages.. Cal thanks for the bottle of water. Can I please get an invite to the google pics/vids sharing of the group of 8 I wasn’t in? I know some team members had some cool stuff to share. Thanks!
Posted by: Jimmy on 8/27/2023 at 1:18 am
Posted by: Dominic Cifelli, Jack Delaney, Jess Wedel
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Elevation: 18,000'
Our hearts are heavy tonight and the dinner conversation a bit more somber. Some of our party went down with a guide to head for base camp early. All for different reasons, their decision to descend is the most respected choice in mountaineering, one that takes strength, maturity, and courage. Climbing tall peaks is never about how far we can push ourselves, but about respecting our limits and knowing when, for the sake of our team, to call this day our summit. And that is why our hearts are heavy.
Since we began this trek two weeks ago, we have come to deeply care for one another. Conversation has flowed beyond the biographies of our lives to the maps of our souls and the gentle silence reserved for only the most familiar friends. We do not climb to reach summits alone but to plumb the depths of our inner lives as well.
That’s why this note is to our group six months from now, when everyday life feels routine, and the memories of this trek will have faded:
Dear Friends,
By the time we read this on August 2nd much will have happened since our cold nights and card games on the mountain. Mary Beth and Jess will have summited Everest and brought needed attention and funding to Ovarian Cancer. We’ll all have read Tim’s book, Jack will have a fresh harvest of greenhouse tomatoes, Dom might finally have a sunburn from his beach vacation, David will be signed up for Denali, Cameron will have spent the better part of the summer in Costa Rica, and Gator will be a legend on Mount Rainier. The infrequent emails we share will take us back to this moment and our memories together. But we won’t remember the hard parts, for that tends to fade.
Instead, we’ll remember the early dinners, deep laughs, nicknames, and lessons that brought us home different people from when we left. We’ll remember our gratefulness for those who spent their careers serving our country and the allure of Alaska. We’ll remember the basics of geology 101 and the majesty of how the Andes first reached for the stars. We’ll remember trying to avoid sunburn and yet yearning for the first kiss of morning sun on our tents before breakfast. We’ll remember going to bed at seven pm, rationing batteries, forgetting if we filtered our water, and the magic of a Garmin inReach. We’ll remember the Argentines who sacrificed months from home to make this climb possible, and we’ll remember the loved ones back in the states who picked up the slack so we could chase our alpine dream.
Deeper still than these moments are truths that will form who we become. For together, we’ve learned how to rest and seen that empty days have a joy all their own. When obligations, activities, and emails stack up we’ll remember our slow days as much as our climbs. And lastly, we’ll remember that a group of eleven strangers - folks with little reason to cross paths in our ordinary routines - became friends by sharing our stories and a common goal. We’ll remember that it’s true for most strangers we pass (yes, even that group) and hold a moment’s more space for the serendipity and friendship still ahead on our future climbs and ordinary days. We’ll remember each other and what we shared together with deep affection - and that’s what will matter most.
Climber Hudson Baird & Team
We have held you in our hearts and prayers daily. Blessed to have a seat in the balcony for all of you as your climbing and blogging inspire and instruct us.
Dad and Darla
Posted by: Jerry and Darla on 2/3/2023 at 10:55 am
We’re so proud and excited for you Dada! We miss you and hope you are able summit. Just remember it’s about learning, living, and coming home safely. Hugs and kisses - we can’t wait to see you and get some snuggles!
Mama, Teddy and Everett
Posted by: Jessica Sowinski on 2/3/2023 at 10:40 am
Posted by: Dominic Cifelli, Jack Delaney, Jess Wedel
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Elevation: 13,800'
Base Camp : Rest Day Before Moving to Camp 1
We spent the first true “rest day” since leaving the trailhead 5 days ago. Yesterday’s carry to Camp 1 was challenging. This was and will be the most elevation gain in a single day aside from Summit Day. Combine the gain with the continued challenges that come with acclimatization and it was tough. The downtime on the legs and lungs has been greatly appreciated by all.
Whether it was reading, visiting with new friends, playing Kings in the Corner and Farkle, hiking, or just taking some time for self care, we each found something to enjoy and make the most of our time together on this Mountain.
Climbing forces one to be in the “now”. Focusing on each step to sure our footing. Employing the rest step to sustain and finish a long, steep ascent. The kind that has you praying for a “long” traverse. Pressure breathing to best utilize the oxygen available to you. You focus on what you can control. Not what happened yesterday, or possibly what greater challenges await tomorrow. You tend to the now. Conversely, you “let go” of what you can’t control and you practice trusting others to handle those things. As such, each day the bond of the team grows stronger.
Tomorrow we move to Camp 1 and “really” begin to climb this mountain. We will Largely be out of touch except for text messages from a satellite device. We will have minimal creature comforts like the ones we enjoyed on the trek in and at Base Camp. We embrace the challenge however.
We will do this one step at a time … together!
PS . Molly - Give Hadley Bear a huge hug and kiss from Daddy!!
Climber Cameron Presley
Go go go! Rest, you are strong!. You got this! I am so proud of you. You are the best!! Move forward with confidence you have done the work to be ready!
Hugging you from afar!
Teri
Posted by: Teri Derr on 1/30/2023 at 4:14 pm
Tim, I am amazed and inspired by your incredible drive to win! Love you! Teri
Posted by: Teri Derr on 1/28/2023 at 7:55 am
Posted by: Dave Hahn, Dominic Cifelli, Tatum Whatford, Seth Burns
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Alaska Mt. McKinley
Saturday June 18th - 11:52pm PT
The Denali team formed up in Anchorage this afternoon. We flew from Seattle and Frankfurt and Johannesburg and a few other places. Not every single piece of luggage made it through, but we have high hopes for getting it all together soon.
It was cloudy in central Alaska today, but we could see hints of mountains as we drove up toward Talkeetna. We made the traditional stop in Wasilla to round out our expedition food supplies, and then got on board the Denali Overland van once again for the final 90 minutes into Talkeetna. A brief stop at K2 Aviation around 6 PM allowed us to offload gear, and then we checked into our rooms at the Swiss Alaska Inn. The team made the short walk into town to relax with outside beers and pizzas. Town was busy and bustling on this endless summer evening. We went to the banks of the mighty Susitna River to see if Denali was visible, but the clouds stayed put and made us guess at what we were missing.
Tomorrow morning, we’ll meet over breakfast and dive into the details of packing and prepping for our Denali West Buttress Expedition.
Best Regards,
Dave Hahn and Team
Good luck to all team members!
Stay safe everyone!
An adventure of a lifetime!
Margaret Nolan
Posted by: Margaret Nolan on 6/20/2022 at 2:04 pm
You Go Jim!
Posted by: Gary Gustafson on 6/20/2022 at 4:36 am
On The Map
Way to go gentlemen! I hope Seth didn’t mind short-roping Alden. Smirnoff all around!
Posted by: Tom Power on 7/1/2016 at 9:22 am
Bravo Gordy and Team! Well done! Ill let Sunnyside know asap.
Posted by: Ron Bobman on 6/30/2016 at 7:43 am
On The Map
Happy Father’s Day , Justin! Anxiously awaiting to hear that you and team have summited. As one of the guides alluded to in a previous blog, this experience is about more than just climbing a snowy mountain!!!! Can’t wait to hear all the details and “meet” your new friends. Be safe! Love you——Mom and Dad
Posted by: Vicki Hersh on 6/15/2013 at 3:10 pm
Safe and happy travels. Cheers to grandpa! mwha!
Posted by: Sharon on 6/15/2013 at 12:35 pm
Posted by: Adam Knoff, Pete Van Deventer, Walter Hailes, Robby Young
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
It was great climbing with you all and thanks to all of our guides.
Posted by: Josh on 5/22/2013 at 7:22 pm
YAY good job daddy!!! and happy birthday!!! Keith Hutchinson!!!!!
Posted by: Nate Hutchinson on 5/19/2013 at 4:45 pm
So happy for your safe journey and for this safe return. It is just amazing!!! Gives me goose bumps…..not just the temperature but the feat by all!!!
See you this summer, Dawn. Be safe.
Ann
Posted by: ann on 1/5/2013 at 6:54 pm
CONGRATULATIONS, Rockacongua!! Knew you guys would crush it!
Posted by: Madhu on 1/5/2013 at 3:39 pm
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