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Posted by: Tyler Jones, JM Gorum, Bryan Mazaika
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 14,000'
On The Map
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Good luck!! You all have worked hard and are almost home from an incredible experience. Keep on keepin’ on…you’ll be there soon!
Posted by: Carrie, Brook, Finn and Reid on 6/7/2015 at 10:32 am
Way to go Team Knoff. Warm beds and showers await Mark and Bob in Anchorage.
Great accomplishment!
Posted by: Wayne and Barb Pichon on 6/6/2015 at 2:53 pm
WOW!! You will soon be on the summit!!! YAY! Patty, thinking of you as you soon ascend to the top of Africa! It looks AMAZING! Wish I were there! Eat well…Stay strong… and enjoy your summit climb! God Bless you and your team! Love ya
Posted by: Sally on 1/31/2015 at 1:34 pm
Very soon now & you will be Summit bound. So exciting! May the sunshine and clear skies crown your BIG accomplishment! Go Team! Go Carrie! Xoxo
Posted by: Mom & Dad on 1/31/2015 at 10:18 am
Posted by: Zeb Blais, Mike King
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Congratulations to the entire team!
Posted by: Christine on 1/15/2015 at 9:35 pm
RMI Guide Leon Davis checks in from the North Cascades.
Eric,
You’ve spent too much time on the Rio Grande and in Texas, obviously. Now you’re trying to talk like a Texan: “ya’ll”?!
Have fun.
Eric
Posted by: Eric Yollick on 7/3/2014 at 9:05 pm
Glad to get Mike’s call. Sounds like it’s God’s country. Go for it Hobbits! Via con Dios! - Pam
Posted by: Pam Proctor on 7/3/2014 at 5:56 pm
Dad, heard about your summit, congrats! Hope the trip down goes well, thinking about you as always.
Posted by: Nick Marini on 7/8/2011 at 8:45 pm
For Frank - Praying for the good weather to continue for the team. Can’t wait to see the photos you bring back!
Posted by: Michelle M on 7/7/2011 at 4:23 pm
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Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro
Posted by: Dominic Cifelli, Seth Burns, Nicole De Petris
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 9,800'
The jagged, monolithic peaks of the lower Kalithna begin to make themselves visible again.
We have just torn down camp. The anticipation of this moment has been building even greater since our departure was delayed by yesterday’s fog. The midnight sunshine just beyond the horizon still illuminates us deep into the night making the time of 1:55am seem wildly incorrect. We begin to move.
It’s now 3:12am. We’ve descended the hazy 600ft from base camp and sit just beyond the danger of the house-sized seracs looming off the side of Mt. Frances. Directly in front of us as we sit and replenish ourselves with food and drink is Mt. Crosson. Just left of it looms the beautiful Mt. Foraker, its upper half hidden just hidden behind a small cloud system. Our rest comes to an end. It’s time to begin the ever so slightly increasing grade up towards our next camp.
As we move the air is light and serene. Other than the sound of our snowshoes crunching the snow beneath our feet and our sleds sliding, there is no other noise for miles around us. In my left earbud plays Fryslan by Phil Cook. The pattern of our movement becomes hypnotic. My world becomes managing my pace to avoid stepping on the rope in front of me, interspersed with seconds of beholding the ether that surrounds me. To our right, an orange and magenta hue begins to materialize in the Alaskan sky as the sun begins to return from its brief absence beyond the horizon. Looking upward towards it presents our desired destination, veiled in a partially transparent fog, like a bride on her wedding day, Denali appears. It beams with a beauty matched by very few other things in this world.
We continue forward entranced by the sight. The weight of our heavy packs and sleds begin to melt away as we gaze upon the peak. A solemnity fills the moment that feels religious in nature. There is no more music playing in my earbuds. It is just the rhythmic beating of our snowshoes that fills my ears, and this epic sight that fills my eyes. I am totally absorbed. Quickly as this moment came, so it did depart, as again the mountain would hide itself behind an immense fog, abruptly returning us to the physical realm.
Enriched by this experience, we press forward, climbing steeper terrain before reaching a plateau which will lead us to our next camp site. The going is slow and heavy. Chilling cold air pockets move through our path at times. We break one final time before making the final mile push to camp. Upon arrival our guides probe the area upon which we will be building our living quarters for the next couple days (hopefully). We finish just before 9am. Crawling into our sleeping bags for “night,” we adorn the proper attire of sleeping masks to block out the now powerfully shining rays of the sun to spend the day resting for the journey which is set to continue early tomorrow morning once again.
As I now lay in my sleeping bag, my tent mates asleep beside me, I sense a number of emotions within me: satisfaction, anxiety, excitement, connectedness, all of which seem to stem from the same place: a determination to succeed at this challenge as a team. I close my eyes as gentle folk music softly plays in my earbuds once again. “One thing at a time,” I remind myself.
For now, all there is to do is to rest.
RMI Climber Thomas Goossen
New Post Alerts:
Denali Expedition June 9, 2024
Seeing this team out there and tackling such challenging terrain is inspiring. We would love to know what drives your every step. I’m sure all will have great stories to share when they return. Can’t wait to hear them. Get them ready.
Posted by: Matt and Maria on 6/18/2024 at 6:25 pm
Beautifully written Thomas!! Your words not only provide a visual but you can almost feel the emotion!! So proud of you!! Wishing you and your mates a safe journey to the top!!
Posted by: Aunty Gwen on 6/17/2024 at 9:08 pm
Posted by: Dustin Wittmier, Daniel May, Lacie Smith
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 14,200'
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After a long and heavy day, the team made it all the way to 14,000' Camp with a warm greeting from some fellow RMI teams. We’ve settled into camp, retrieving our gear from below during our back carry. Now being fully set up at 14,000', we are taking advantage of the bluebird skies to rest, practice fixed line travel and walk to the Edge of the World for the beautiful views and photo ops.
Life may be colder up at 14,000' as opposed to 11,000', but no one here seems to be complaining. Life is good.
RMI Guides Dustin, Lacie, Dan, and Team
New Post Alerts:
Denali Expedition, May 12, 2024
Sarah: What a view! What an adventurous niece! Talked to your Dad this evening and caught up
on his adventurous family. Beautiful weather down here for one day. Wishing you the very best.
Posted by: Coreen on 5/26/2024 at 8:43 pm
Sarah. Of course the summit is the ultimate goal, but the real goal is to enjoy the climb.
We are. Hope you are too. Bob and Pat
Posted by: Bob Brandt on 5/26/2024 at 9:32 am
Tym, Tyler, and Team,
Looks like some well-deserved sun will end your wait and hopefully allow you to safely reach your goal. Best wishes as you move ahead for this highly anticipated day. I think I am as excited as you are! Anxious for your success and for your return to sea level. Thanks for the great pictures and daily updates.
Warriors took the championship tonight with a win over the Cavs. And Satoshi says, $2664.00.
Love Mom and Zeppelin
Posted by: Kristi Kennelly on 6/12/2017 at 9:03 pm
Babe,
Great news that the sun is out! Hope that means you will be able to move forward. Keeping my fingers and my toes crossed for you and the team!!! Miss you and love you so much!!!
xoxo
Mo
Posted by: Amanda Gunn on 6/12/2017 at 9:41 am
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