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Posted by: Dave Hahn, Dominic Cifelli, Tatum Whatford, Seth Burns
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 11,000'
Tuesday, July 5, 2022 - 8:25 pm PT
We pulled out of 14,000' at 10:30 this morning. Winds were still blowing up high, it certainly wouldn’t have been a summit day, but much of the low cloud had cleared out. The couple of hours down around Windy Corner, across the Polo Field, down Squirrel and Motorcycle Hills were the usual insane sled rodeo. The sleds don’t like being heavy or on a side hill and so they flip a lot and we all just try to keep smiling and pulling. We set up camp -possibly our last- in early afternoon and dove in for naps. We’ve just eaten dinner now and we’re napping once more. The plan is to get up in three hours (at 10 PM) and to set off around midnight toward the airstrip on the Southeast Fork of the Kahiltna. We’re hoping the surface of the lower glacier freezes up hard and that our timing is just right for taking advantage of that freeze.
Best Regards
Hello again everyone,
The team had a good nights rest last night and today was just a short 3hr hike up to 15’000ft to our high camp. Everyone is excited and maybe just a touch nervous, which is very normal!
The team has just wrapped up lunch and discussed in great detail the plan for tomorrow’s climb. Everyone knows what we’ll be wearing, what will be in the pack, as well as the schedule.
Our game plan will be to wake at 10:30pm and have a quick breakfast at 11, then hopefully hit the trail around 11:30pm. It’s a bit busier then I’ve seen previously, hence the slightly early departure tonight. Hopefully that will get us out in front of the majority of the other climbers.
The team has been doing great thus far and I’m expecting us to reach the summit in 7 to 8hrs if things go according to plan.
We had another trivia challenge, and one lucky winner will get a phone call from the summit.
So, everyone back home please keep your phones handy and if you receive a call from a strange number please answer. We are 8+hrs ahead of the east coast time zone.
Casey Grom and the RMI Summit Team!
On The Map
Hey Mom and Dad,
I’m so proud of y’all. I have uploaded the pictures from the blog to facebook and there have been so many people amazed with what y’all are doing. I hope you know that you have so much support and praise from so many people. You are officially the coolest parents I know :) I’m so excited to see you in less than 2 weeks!! I love you so much! Love, Chelsea.
Posted by: Chelsea on 4/8/2011 at 11:15 am
Mark- I hope you had a great birthday! The cake looks good as does the beard~
Best to you and Karen.
Sean
Posted by: Sean W on 4/4/2011 at 9:02 am
Posted by: Dave Hahn, Dominic Cifelli, Tatum Whatford, Seth Burns
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 11,000'
Saturday, June 25, 2022 - 10:04 pm PT
We did another 5 AM wake up. It was cool in the morning shadows, but not uncomfortably so. Breakfast fortified us for a 7 AM departure up the steep Motorcycle Hill. To finally be in crampons rather than snowshoes felt great. Our first rest break -midway up Squirrel Hill- gave us brand new views of the Peters Glacier and Denali’s Northwest Buttress, in addition to ever closer views of the formidable granite forming the end of the West Buttress. We finished off Squirrel and came onto the “Polo Field” below the end of the Buttress. One more pull got us to the saddle below Windy Corner where we took a break before tackling the corner itself. The Corner is always exciting, traversing steep slopes with huge chunks of granite just above us and crevasses just below… all while trying not to stare too long at the Kahiltna Glacier far below, or at Mount Hunter and Mount Foraker in all their glory. Finishing the Corner leaves one looking straight at Denali’s South Peak for the first time. We cached food and fuel just beyond the corner, spending about 50 minutes there at 13,500 ft before starting down. We actually walked down into a layer of wildfire smoke that had moved in. Luckily the smoke didn’t stick around for too long. We were back at camp at 1:30 PM and diving into the tents shortly afterward to get out of the intense high altitude sun.
It was a good day of climbing and we’ve had a few now… so tomorrow looks good for a rest day to solidify our acclimatization before moving up.
Best Regards,
What an adventure!!! Go, team, go! Cheering each and every one of you on, especially Jim! Such an amazing experience!
Posted by: Deborah Karmozyn on 6/26/2022 at 1:26 pm
On The Map
Fantastic Li! You’re getting closer & closer! Love Dean
Posted by: Dean on 12/9/2011 at 6:11 am
The Four Day Climb of Mt. Rainier reached the 14,410' summit at 7:20 am today. James Bealer, RMI's lead guide for the climb reported a great day of climbing. The heavy marine layer that is sitting around 8,000' was no problem for the team. They climb in near perfect conditions, light winds, clear skies and warm temperatures, and everyone made it to the top!! The team started their descent from the summit at 8:27 am and are in route to Camp Muir.
Congratulations team!
Ryan;
Can’t wait to hear the stories and see the photos. What a great accomplishment!! Best regards, Clay
Posted by: Clay Renn on 7/2/2012 at 9:14 am
for Wendell & Jason…..good luck!
Posted by: brenda on 7/2/2012 at 5:35 am
Posted by: Seth Burns, Josh Geiser, Michael Murray
Categories: Expedition Dispatches North Cascades
Elevation: 10,781'
RMI Guides Seth Burns, Josh Geiser and Michael Murray reached the summit of Mt. Baker today with 100% of their team. Seth reported a nice sunrise climb this morning via the Easton Glacier. The team will return to camp for their final night on the mountain. Tomorrow they will walk out to the trailhead and conclude their program.
Congratulations to the team!
Posted by: Jeff Martin, Pete Van Deventer
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Elbrus Northside
Posted by: Hannah Smith, Kiira Antenucci, Daniel May
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Alaska Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 17,000'
Thursday, June 23, 2022 7:28 pm PDT
What a day, what a day!
The weather was a little up and down but all things considered allowed us to move to 17k camp. It is a burly move. The morning started we suspect clouds but they soon gave way to mostly clear skies. Of course by time we started to walking the clouds came back and made for some tough seeing. Buy we made it to the fix lines and were greeted by a snowy slope making for better walking. We cruised the fixed lines, dug up our cache at 16,400 and continues our journey up. More fix line bring us to Washburn's thumb and on the buttress ridge. It is an amazing walk with amazing exposure. One last snow slope dips us into our new home. Life isn't easy up here but we make strong work setting up camp and making water. Dinner is currently being served, scrumptious dehydrated Mountain House. We are working on relaxing and recovering for tomorrow. Tomorrow is going to be our big day. The weather looks good enough and is our opportunity before the winds pick up and shut the door on us.
Wish us luck!!
RMI Guide Hannah Smith and Team
Go team, go! Sending all the good vibes for a wonderful summit.
Posted by: Mama J on 6/24/2022 at 7:49 pm
Good luck to you all! You are almost there! Sending positive energy your way!!!
IngaLisa’s Mom
Posted by: Irene Wickstrom on 6/24/2022 at 6:44 pm
Keep up the good work everyone, especially my sister! Love seeing the photos.
Posted by: Molly Murawski on 9/17/2022 at 1:41 pm
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