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Posted by: Tatum Whatford, Eric Frank
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
We’re excited to share that the Four-Day Climb led by Tatum Whatford and Eric Frank reached the summit early this morning! The team reported encountering some wind but otherwise enjoyed a beautiful morning high on the mountain.
After taking in the views from the summit, the climbers began their descent and are currently en route back to Camp Muir. They’re expected to return to Basecamp in Ashford, Washington, later this afternoon.
Congratulations to the entire team on a successful climb and summit!
Posted by: Henry Coppolillo, Dominic Cifelli
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 12,500'




Our first Expedition Skills Seminar – Muir of the season wrapped up a productive and rewarding week on Mt. Rainier. Led by RMI Guides Henry Coppolillo and Dominic Cifelli, the team came together on Saturday for a comprehensive gear check and began their foundational skills training at Rainier Base Camp.
With full packs and high spirits, they made the ascent to Camp Muir the following day. Throughout the week, the group focused on essential mountaineering techniques, including glacier travel, ice axe arrest, and cramponing. They also practiced crevasse rescue skills, learned how to set up tents in alpine conditions, and took a windy acclimatization hike to Ingraham Flats.
Today, the team set out for their summit attempt and reached an elevation of 12,500 feet before making the decision to turn back due to potential avalanche hazards. They returned safely to Camp Muir and will continue their final 4,500-foot descent to Paradise.
It’s been a great start to the seminar season, with valuable experience gained and strong teamwork throughout.
Posted by: Dominic Cifelli, Ben Luedtke, Mike Bennett
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Alaska
Elevation: 14,000'
Wednesday, June 25, 2025 - 8:51 pm PT
It’s been 8 days since my last dispatch. Eight days since those heady times at 11,000' Camp, when our pounds and pounds of food seemed excessive, when trading for extra toilet paper and coffee were moments of mirth; now we covet our remaining pounds of food, and those trades seem like masterstrokes of genius.
Our first week at 14,000' is coming to a close, our team has experienced wind, snow, and searing heat. Being simultaneously as hot and cold as we have ever been in our lives. While the recent weather has not been as amenable to a quick summit as we would have liked, this past week has still been an incredible and hard to describe experience. The views (when they are available) are breathtaking, reminding us of how lucky we are to be here at all, and how thankful we are for our family, friends, and coworkers supporting us back in the real world allowing us to stay focused on our goal.
The team’s morale remains high, supported by our amazing guiding team of Dom, Ben, and Mike, who keep us active, both physically and mentally, every day. Special shoutout to Dominic’s wife for providing the team a rousing trivia night via satellite messaging a few days back.
As we enter our second week at 14,000', the team is a coiled spring, ready to launch as our hopeful weather window approaches, but until then thank you for all the love and support as we wait out the weather (but god save us if the hot sauce runs out).
RMI Climber Tate Bishop
New Post Alerts:
Mt. McKinley Expedition June 9, 2025
Posted by: Dave Hahn, Bailey Servais, Sam Hoffman, Calvin Jiricko
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 14,200'
It snowed continuously through the night and all day. Finally, at six in the evening, it stopped, and we could see a bit more than a hundred feet in any direction. There was never a possibility of climbing today, so we made the best of a storm/rest day by enjoying a slow, leisurely breakfast in our dining tent. Afterward, we dug out the camp, took naps, and read books.
We managed to squeeze in a little training for the “fixed ropes” we hope to climb next. We practiced as the last snow fell and the clouds began to clear. That put us in a good position to witness the event of the day—a big avalanche roaring out of the Messner Couloir on the South Peak. We knew we weren’t in any danger from that particular couloir, but it was still sobering to be engulfed by the powder cloud thrown up by the slide. We’d heard several avalanches over the past 24 hours, but it was thrilling to actually watch one.
As we ate dinner, the clouds continued to melt away, and it was wonderful to be in actual sunshine again. Many of us found it hard to take our eyes off the mountain and all the fresh scars from sliding snow. We hope to climb the West Buttress in the morning, but that will depend on whether the new snow has had enough time to settle.
— RMI Guide Dave Hahn & Team
New Post Alerts:
Mt. McKinley Expedition, June 14, 2025
I can’t imagine how intense it must have been to witness something as powerful as an avalanche! Great to hear the trip has been so amazing!
Posted by: Lawrence Chan on 6/27/2025 at 3:27 pm
The majestic beauty of it all must be breathtaking. I have confidence that you’re in good hands and you’ll proceed only if it’s safe to do so. Sending positive vibes.
Posted by: Kari Servais on 6/27/2025 at 9:50 am
Posted by: Dave Hahn, Sam Hoffman, Bailey Servais, Calvin Jiricko
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 14,200'
Friday, June 27, 2025 10:38 pm PDT
Dispatch 14.2 – Storm Day 2
As forecasted, today was a better day. It was sunny and calm… and we didn’t go climbing. The guide team felt that the recent snowfall needed at least one good sunny day to settle and reduce the avalanche hazard. As it turned out, all other teams on the mountain came to a similar conclusion—no teams moved today.
We ended up making pretty good use of the day, though. We roped up and took a field trip to the Edge of the World! Since we are camped in the middle of a large glacial basin, it’s easy to forget just how high we’ve already climbed. A short walk to the edge is a quick reminder. It was thrilling today to climb a rock at the edge and look down a few thousand feet to the Kahiltna Glacier—where we camped a while back.
Back at camp, Calvin gave a well-received instructional session on avalanche beacons, and Sam put all his culinary skill into boiling water for our freeze-dried dinner.
We hope to carry up onto the Buttress tomorrow.
– RMI Guide Dave Hahn & Team
New Post Alerts:
Mt. McKinley Expedition, June 14, 2025
Stay safe y’all and glad you got to look down at how far you’ve already come. Here’s for clear climbing and good weather!
Posted by: jen ostrich on 6/28/2025 at 1:28 pm
Glad about the weather. Keep smiling.
Posted by: Richard Harmetz on 6/28/2025 at 11:47 am
Posted by: Dominic Cifelli, Ben Luedtke, Mike Bennett
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Alaska
Elevation: 348'

The Team is Packed and Ready for the Flight in!
Welll we did it. We packed. We’re ready….. we hope.
Today is quite the bear of a day. What starts as a nice leisurely breakfast at the Swiss Alaska quickly turns into a packing, sorting, repacking, resorting conundrum. We have to pack for a 3 week trip with all of our food, gear, and shelters for the trip. It’s a task. BUT, we did it in style.
The team worked through the maze of duffels, carabiners, and a million ziplocks to finally weigh in and separate our gear for the flight tomorrow. We’ll be eating up and soaking in the last bit of creature comforts that Talkeetna has to offer. We’re excited to let the gun go off and the trip to officially start. Once we’re on the mountain, the jitters fade and the fun begins. Wish us luck and be sure to look for your climbers name at the bottom of these dispatches. We’ll pass this blog around the team so that you can hear about the journey from your loved ones.
Be on the lookout and talk to you all following along from Kahiltna Basecamp!
RMI Guide Dominic Cifelli
New Post Alerts:
Mt. McKinley Expedition June 9, 2025
Good luck Tait and Sophia!
Posted by: Joy on 6/12/2025 at 2:48 pm
Prayers and God Speed to the team and to Mikayla, I’ll be up tomorrow to snuggle w Mav & Nellie! You all rock that mountain!
Posted by: Christina Trombley on 6/11/2025 at 6:54 pm
Posted by: Seth Burns, Jackson Breen, Raymond Holt
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 17,200'
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Saturday, May 31, 2025 9:20pm PDT
After 8 days in the comfort of 14,000' camp we went climbing today. The team packed up and we made our way once again up the fixed lines. The west buttress did not disappoint, delivering panoramic views. The weather could not have been better with only the slightest of breezes and the occasional cloud. While tired, the team is ready to hopefully take advantage of a small weather window. Send good weather vibes our way!
RMI Guide Seth and Team
New Post Alerts:
McKinley Expedition May 13, 2025
Posted by: Daniel May, Joey Manship
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Alaska
Monday, May 5, 2025 - 10:50 pm PT
Another day of unsettled weather and our fair share of snow. We hunkered down at our camp with the intent to fortify in lue of the impending snow storms. We boned up on our technical skills under the presence of the awe inspiring granite sentinels around us. Good lessons are being learned. It’s easy to make plans prior to entering a place such as the Alaska range but quickly we learned our plans are nothing compared to the mountains indifference. Our fingers are crossed for the high pressure lurking in the forecast. Until then we will continue to explore around us while learning the finer points of alpine climbing and mountaineering. In our downtime we etched a friendly ephemeral snowman to greet any passerby’s of our basecamp. Talk soon
RMI Guide Day May & the Ruth Glacier Seminar
New Post Alerts:
Ruth Glacier Seminar May 2, 2025
Posted by: Dave Hahn, Sam Hoffman, Calvin Jiricko, Bailey Servais
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Alaska
Elevation: 17,200'
Tuesday, July 1, 2025 - 10:04 pm PT
Today was windy from start to finish, which we weren't quite expecting from the forecasts. There was plenty of sunshine though and so it wasn't uncomfortable. But we mostly hung in the tents, just coming out occasionally to look at the world stretched out below. And to look at the route to Denali Pass, over and over. The avalanche hazard still exists and we can't will it away by staring at the slope. The team is agreed that we'll look at it one more time -tomorrow morning- but then, without some dramatic change, we'll descend, as the teams around us have done. The forecasts are calling for strong winds up high now in any case.
It is a tough situation. Luckily we are climbing with tough people.
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
New Post Alerts:
Mt. McKinley Expedition, June 14, 2025
Hope tomorrow morning brings good news! Best of Luck to All!
Posted by: Mike Baron on 7/2/2025 at 9:29 pm
Holding out hope for a clearing—stay safe!
Posted by: jen ostrich on 7/2/2025 at 9:16 am
Posted by: Nikki Champion, Leif Bergstrom, Hannah Blum
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 9,800'
Tuesday, June 3, 2025 8:44pm PDT
If we thought yesterday was weathery, today topped it. After we went to bed last night, we were lulled to sleep by the sound of blowing winds and drifting snow — a soundtrack that carried on through the morning and well into the day.
We had a slow roll into the morning, enjoying eggs and hashbrowns before spending some time shoveling and fixing up the bathroom tent. The rest of the day followed a familiar rhythm: a bit of sport eating, followed by rounds of napping.
Around 5 PM, some familiar faces rolled through camp — another RMI team guided by Seth, Jackson, and Ray. We welcomed them into our cook tent for some hot water and shelter while they thawed out. Once everyone was warmed up, we whipped up a big batch of mac and cheese with bacon bits, then tucked in for the night.
We’re prepping our gear and feeling optimistic about making the move to 11,000 feet tomorrow.
— RMI Guide Nikki Champion & Team
New Post Alerts:
Mt. McKinley Expedition May 27, 2025
Lots of folks tracking your progress here. No doubt you’re all anxious and chomping at the bit to climb. We’re all wishing you clear skies and God’s speed in the days ahead.
The meals sound great… if you don’t get moving soon you may get too fat to climb!
Posted by: Larry Lytle on 6/5/2025 at 8:35 am
Hoping you all get better weather the rest of the trip! So proud of James and the team! Thank you for the updates! Sending love from Colorado!
“Good luck, Daddy!” - Olivia
“Watch out for Polar Bears!” - Henry
Posted by: Kayleen Senado on 6/5/2025 at 6:50 am
Hi Mikayla, I sent you a message yesterday, however it didn’t post properly. Anyways, I think of you and your teams struggles everyday. I sending you warm wishes and huge cyber hugs. Bloom where you are planted and keep your eye on the prize. I’m praying for you and the team. We love you!! Papa the Bear
Posted by: Dan DeMers on 6/26/2025 at 4:02 pm
It sounds like it’s time to dig deep Denali climbers! How exciting! Stay safe, Onward and upward!
Love you Cakes!
Posted by: Michelle DeMers on 6/26/2025 at 3:42 pm
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