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Posted by: Leon Davis, Mike King, Katrina Bloemsma
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Posted by: Jess Wedel, Matt Kelly, Matt Tucker
Categories: Expedition Dispatches North Cascades
Elevation: 10,781'
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Early this morning, RMI Guide Jess Wedel led her team to the summit of Mt. Baker via the Easton Glacier route. After taking in the stunning views from the top, the team descended safely back to Sandy Camp. They'll spend one more night there before making their final descent to the trailhead tomorrow morning, wrapping up a successful and rewarding climb.
Nice work team!
Posted by: Dave Hahn, Sam Hoffman, Calvin Jiricko, Bailey Servais
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Alaska
Elevation: 14,000'
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Tuesday, June 24, 2025 - 10:24 pm PT
As soon as we poked our heads out of tents this morning at 6 AM we knew we were going to be able to make the big jump to 14,000'. Still, it took until a little after nine to get on the trail… or, more correctly, onto where the trail should have been. The new snow was boot deep and there wasn’t a single track left on Motorcycle Hill so we had some good hard work to drag sleds up it. Things got a little better on Squirrel Hill as there was less snow and a team coming down the mountain left tracks that we were able to make occasional use of. There was only a 3 mph breeze at windy corner, so we were able to get around without too much trouble. Then we pushed on up into sun drenched Genet Basin to find a wonderful and welcome surprise.
Dom Cifelli’s RMI team was in the process of flattening out an excellent camp sight for us. They built us a deluxe latrine and even gave us water to get our kitchen started. Before long we were set up and good to go. They saved us a ton of work. We had a nice dinner and crawled in to the tents while the sun was still high in the sky. It is going behind the West Buttress now -at 9 PM- and we expect some of our first cold temps of the trip. Just as it should be way up here in our new home.
- RMI Guide Dave Hahn
New Post Alerts:
Mt. McKinley Expedition, June 14, 2025
Congratulations on what you’ve accomplished so far! Keep up the good work.
Julie and Mike Baron
Posted by: Julie Baron on 6/26/2025 at 5:15 am
Tell Tony R. We are thinking of him! Have a great journey! Karl and Diane Ring
Posted by: Karl Ring on 6/25/2025 at 4:42 pm
RMI Guide Dave Hahn calls to report reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro.
On The Map
Well done!! Jeff Tracy, we willl celebrate at Boma at WDW in your honor tonight!-Team Falls
Posted by: Team Falls on 8/12/2019 at 4:57 am
Congratulations, Mike, to you, your team, your RMI guide, and the staff on reaching the summit!
Posted by: Pat Winiarski on 8/11/2019 at 2:12 pm
Posted by: Casey Grom, Billy Nugent
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 13,300'
Sorry you did not make it to the Summit. We hope the experience was still worth the challenge!
Good job to all the climbers!
Posted by: Beth n Tyler on 9/26/2015 at 7:23 pm
An amazing feat, inspiring and beautiful. Congratulations on your ambitious drive!
Posted by: E J FIsher on 9/26/2015 at 8:37 am
Posted by: JJ Justman
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Elbrus Southside
Bravo!
Posted by: Wally Young on 8/5/2015 at 4:05 am
The biggest day of the trip was enormous. We were up at 11 last night and walking uphill from our 15,200 ft camp just after midnight. Conditions were perfect. It was cold but dead calm. And we had most of the moon shining, so headlights were helpful but not essential. We targeted an ascent lasting about seven hours but as it turned out we were a little faster than that -unintentionally. We stopped for rest a few times, naturally, but the cold and the traffic on the route (all teams were basically on the same schedule) meant our breaks needed to be darn quick. The team was up to the task. Our guides threaded us through the “crowds” and helped us in a million ways, singing to entertain us as we trudged up endless, steep paths through the rock and scree. It was still dark when we hit the crater rim at Stella Point but a cold wind with a wisp of cloud made us skip the normal rest break there. We just marched along the rim -the roof of Africa- as the light and colors came up in a magical display. The entire team hit Uhuru -the summit- at 6:50 AM. 19,341 ft never felt so good. We loved it… and we loved that the sun was starting to warm things up. Our descent to high camp was completed at 10 AM and we tried to wrap our heads around the idea that we still had to climb all the way down to 10,000 ft to finish the day. Tosha and Michael, our world class chefs made it all possible by serving us pizza for brunch and fortifying us for the four hour journey. Clouds had come in to Barafu Camp and at noon, we were eager to get walking as it had gotten quite cold. We ducked out of those clouds in the first hour and by the time we reached Mweka Camp it was sunshine and blue sky again. We’re breathing thick air again and relaxing… and still a little amazed that we reached the highest point in Africa this morning.
Best Regards
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
New Post Alerts:
Kilimanjaro Climb and Safari August 5, 2025
Posted by: Joe Hoch, Ben Luedtke, Ben Thorneycroft, Mac Nolde, Simon Kearns, Jack Ritterson, Ben Porter, Oliver Shapiro
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 11,200'
We had high hopes as we left Camp Muir for our summit attempt. But as we crossed the Cowlitz Glacier, a misty rain started, which turned into a stout blizzard at Ingraham Flats.
The team climbed well through the weather, but we started losing the fight to stay dry. We returned to Camp Muir safely.
We will be leaving Camp Muir around 9:30 am for our final walk down to Paradise.
RMI Guide Joe Hoch
PC: Joe Hoch
Posted by: Dominic Cifelli, Seth Burns, Nicole De Petris
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 11,000'
Monday, June 17, 2024 - 12:50 am PT
We got to sleep in! At least what we consider… The day started with wake up at 6:30am and leave camp by 8am. The route today was 11,000' Camp up Motorcycle hill, up Squirrel hill, across/up the Polo Field, around Windy Corner and stop at 13,500 to bury food and other items that we won’t need until 14,000' Camp and higher. Then head back to 11k camp We got moving with a little chill in the air and some slight wind. Enough to make us all continue to question what layers of clothing should we wear? It’s a constant struggle in the mountains. I literally wore three different types of gloves today as the temps changed. We’re now wearing crampons and carrying our ice axes, so it feels like the climb has officially started! We started right off with a long steep uphill - Motorcycle Hill, which alone took an hour! It was certainly a good way to warm up! Since it is Father’s Day, I took the time during the climb to think about my dad. He and I came out a week before the climb and took a small tour of Alaska between Seward and Talkeetna. It was a blast to hang with him. I thought a lot about him telling me how proud he is of me for climbing Mt McKinley. After all, we carry the same former name as the mountain! Aside from today, I’ve spent the past few days reflecting on the encouragement from friends and family. The mental game of the mountains can be tough. We know it’s physically tough, but mentally it can take a toll on you as well. Self doubt, anxiety, overthinking can set in bad. What’s helped me the most is encouragement like this: “I am so incredibly proud of you and excited for you to have this opportunity. You are going to be great. Be safe, show ‘em what you got, stay tough like I know you can, and help others.” I’ve reflected a lot on that one piece of encouragement. That’s the kind of stuff that can drown out the doubt and keep me moving forward. If you’re reading this blog you’re probably one of those people, helping to push all of us along and suppress the negative thoughts that can come in this environment. We all can’t thank you enough for your support and love. And letting us leave for a month...
The sun came out and we moved at a gentle pace. We buried food and such and then made our way back down. The best part of the day was right before dropping Squirrel hill and Motorcycle hill when Nicole, the guide on our rope team pulled me aside and asked me to take the lead and guide our team down the two remaining steep hills. I was speechless. I wasn’t sure I could do it. My other two companions on our rope team spoke up and told me that I’d be great, and that they hadn’t seen such raw mountaineering talent since reading about Ed Viesturs in “No Shortcuts To The Top”. I looked at Nicole and asked, “Do you think I can do it?” She pulled down her sunglasses, looked me straight in the eye and said “Think? No… I KNOW you can do it, and that’s the RMI difference!” Of course, none of the is true. However, I did lead our rope team down, but that’s because the guides like to lead from the back when going steep downhills. All three rope teams did this. Our guides, Dominic, Nicole and Seth are fantastic. They do so much to make this experience the best.
All in all, we had a great day and are very excited to enjoy a rest day tomorrow at the 11,000' camp.
RMI Climber Dave McKinley
New Post Alerts:
Denali Expedition June 9, 2024
Way to go David! Your CrossFit OTR Family believes in you! We’ll be waiting for you with lots of ice cream upon your return! Kill it! (fist bump)
Posted by: Christina Roll on 6/19/2024 at 6:38 am
Proud of you for pushing the limits. Keep killin’ it!!!
Posted by: Bren on 6/19/2024 at 4:43 am
That looks like such an amazing experience. Have fun and stay safe, Wendy.
Posted by: Chris Bertran on 5/22/2014 at 6:49 am
Hey Dad,
I hope you’re having a great time! It sounds like you’re doing some pretty awesome and intense stuff! We hope you and your team have a great next few days and stay safe. Love you.
Love,
Linds, Ryann, and Mom
Posted by: Lindsay H on 5/22/2014 at 5:00 am
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