https://www.rmiguides.com/blog RMI Expeditions Blog https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/24/mckinley_expedition_burns_and_team_set_up_camp_at_the_base_of_ski_hill https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/24/mckinley_expedition_burns_and_team_set_up_camp_at_the_base_of_ski_hill Broken skies and light snow in the morning gave way to sunshine as we made our first move of the trip.

]]> Category, Expedition Dispatches, Alaska, 2026-05-24T15:23:00-07:00 https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/24/mckinley_expedition_champion_and_team_cache_at_13500 https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/24/mckinley_expedition_champion_and_team_cache_at_13500 After 4 hours of hiking, we arrived at our cache site around 13.5k ft. After our cache, we were off, back down to camp at 11k.

]]> Category, Expedition Dispatches, Alaska, Mt. McKinley, 2026-05-24T14:58:00-07:00 https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/24/mckinley_expedition_delaney_and_team_make_it_to_14000 https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/24/mckinley_expedition_delaney_and_team_make_it_to_14000 Finally our patience paid off and the weather was ideal for moving to 14k camp.

]]> Category, Expedition Dispatches, Alaska, Mt. McKinley, 2026-05-24T14:51:00-07:00 https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/24/mt_rainier_private_four_day_climb_turns_at_12800 https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/24/mt_rainier_private_four_day_climb_turns_at_12800 The Private Four Day Climb led by RMI Guides Sam Hoffman and Nina Bridges made the cautious decision to turn at 12,800' due to high winds and poor weather conditions.

]]> Category, Expedition Dispatches, Mount Rainier, 2026-05-24T12:38:00-07:00 https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/24/mt_rainier_four_day_team_turns_at_12000 https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/24/mt_rainier_four_day_team_turns_at_12000 The Four Day Climb led by RMI Guide Dave Hahn reached a high point of 12,000' when they made the cautious decision to turn due to some tumultuous weather.

]]> Category, Expedition Dispatches, Mount Rainier, 2026-05-24T11:13:00-07:00 https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/23/bolivia_expedition_coppolillo_team_at_huayna_high_camp https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/23/bolivia_expedition_coppolillo_team_at_huayna_high_camp We're all settled in up Huayna high camp.

]]> Category, Expedition Dispatches, Bolivia, 2026-05-23T12:16:00-07:00 https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/23/mckinley_expedition_delaney_and_team_wait_out_winds_at_11000 https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/23/mckinley_expedition_delaney_and_team_wait_out_winds_at_11000 Windy Corner By: Joanie Mayer Hope, 11,000 Camp — Denali

]]> Category, Expedition Dispatches, Alaska, Mt. McKinley, 2026-05-23T10:42:00-07:00 https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/23/mckinley_expedition_champion_and_team_wait_and_watch_the_winds https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/23/mckinley_expedition_champion_and_team_wait_and_watch_the_winds This morning we woke up more optimistic, there was no snow falling from the sky, and the tents were quieter than past mornings As the stoves were rolling, we paid attention to the winds up high.

]]> Category, Expedition Dispatches, Alaska, Mt. McKinley, 2026-05-23T10:30:00-07:00 https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/23/mckinley_expedition_burns_and_team_fly_onto_glacier https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/23/mckinley_expedition_burns_and_team_fly_onto_glacier After another Talkeetna morning cursing the clouds, we distracted ourselves practicing crevasse rescue, anchor systems and running belays.

]]> Category, Expedition Dispatches, Alaska, Mt. McKinley, 2026-05-23T09:50:00-07:00 https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/22/mckinley_expedition_delaney_team_take_another_weather_day https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/22/mckinley_expedition_delaney_team_take_another_weather_day Day 10 - Strong Winds and Snow Persist, Today is another weather day, so the blog is about birds.

]]> Category, Expedition Dispatches, Alaska, Mt. McKinley, 2026-05-22T08:56:00-07:00 https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/22/mckinley_expedition_champion_and_team_check_in_from_camp https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/22/mckinley_expedition_champion_and_team_check_in_from_camp Welp, we woke up to drifting snow, heavy winds, and the sun outlook of yet another weather day. Today haiku was brought to you by Adam, because it was his favorite day ever.

]]> Category, Expedition Dispatches, Alaska, Mt. McKinley, 2026-05-22T08:45:00-07:00 https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/21/mckinley_expedition_burns_team_waiting_out_the_rain_in_talkeetna https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/21/mckinley_expedition_burns_team_waiting_out_the_rain_in_talkeetna Today is not looking like our day.

]]> Category, Expedition Dispatches, Alaska, 2026-05-21T14:57:00-07:00 https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/21/bolivia_expedition_coppolillo_team_reach_summit_of_pequeno_alpamayo https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/21/bolivia_expedition_coppolillo_team_reach_summit_of_pequeno_alpamayo We woke up to an almost shockingly warm night, and although it still got a little chilly at 17,000 at 4 am we spent most of the day in just one or two layers and thin gloves.

]]> Category, Expedition Dispatches, Bolivia, 2026-05-21T13:51:00-07:00 https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/21/mckinley_expedition_champion_team_retrieve_gear_glad_to_be_reunited_with_snacks https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/21/mckinley_expedition_champion_team_retrieve_gear_glad_to_be_reunited_with_snacks As we let the morning slow roll, we enjoyed the the second smoked salmon meal of the trip and then geared up with empty packs and sleds and started back downhill to be reunited with our snacks and group meals we have been missing.

]]> Category, Expedition Dispatches, Alaska, Mt. McKinley, 2026-05-21T08:18:00-07:00 https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/21/mckinley_expedition_delaney_team_get_good_weather_and_bump_some_gear_above_13000ft https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/21/mckinley_expedition_delaney_team_get_good_weather_and_bump_some_gear_above_13000ft We lugged extra food, some empty poop buckets, summit clothes - such as the super warm mittens (or as Jenn calls them, the oh shit mitts) and our ascenders a few thousand feet up the mountain

]]> Category, Expedition Dispatches, Alaska, 2026-05-21T07:59:00-07:00 https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/21/bolivia_expedition_coppolillo_team_reach_condoriri_basecamp https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/21/bolivia_expedition_coppolillo_team_reach_condoriri_basecamp Made it up to Condoriri basecamp today with the help of about a dozen mules.

]]> Category, Expedition Dispatches, Bolivia, 2026-05-21T07:51:00-07:00 https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/20/mckinley_expedition_burns_team_arrive_in_talkeetna_alaska https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/20/mckinley_expedition_burns_team_arrive_in_talkeetna_alaska Today will be a packed day with a meeting with the park service and then lots or organization and preparation for our expedition.

]]> Category, Expedition Dispatches, Alaska, 2026-05-20T10:21:00-07:00 https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/20/mckinley_expedition_delaney_team_check_in_with_poem https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/20/mckinley_expedition_delaney_team_check_in_with_poem sky breaks evening light

]]> Category, Expedition Dispatches, Alaska, 2026-05-20T10:16:00-07:00 https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/20/bolivia_expedition_coppolillo_team_enjoy_views_as_they_arrive_in_the_mountains https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/20/bolivia_expedition_coppolillo_team_enjoy_views_as_they_arrive_in_the_mountains The sun was just beginning to rise as we turned north on a road that seemed improbable at best in a passenger van, but our driver navigated with ease and precision while we took in breathtaking early morning views of the west face of Huayna.

]]> Category, Expedition Dispatches, Bolivia, 2026-05-20T10:08:00-07:00 https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/20/mckinley_expedition_champion_team_take_weather_day_at_11200 https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/20/mckinley_expedition_champion_team_take_weather_day_at_11200 By the time the morning rolled around, our fate was obvious. It was going to be a weather day.

]]> Category, Expedition Dispatches, Mount Rainier, 2026-05-20T08:20:00-07:00 https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/20/mt_rainier_five_day_team_reaches_ingraham_flats https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/20/mt_rainier_five_day_team_reaches_ingraham_flats The Five Day Climb led by RMI Guide Ben Ammon took a sunrise walk to Ingraham Flats this morning, reaching 11,200'. 

]]> Category, Expedition Dispatches, Mount Rainier, 2026-05-20T08:09:00-07:00 https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/19/mt_baker_summit_ski_ambler_and_team_reach_9700ft https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/19/mt_baker_summit_ski_ambler_and_team_reach_9700ft The Mt. Baker Summit & Ski Team reached 9,700, the crater on Monday and decided to call that their high point due to snow conditions and incoming weather. 

]]> Category, Expedition Dispatches, North Cascades, 2026-05-19T09:55:00-07:00 https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/19/mckinley_expedition_champion_team_move_to_11000ft_camp https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/19/mckinley_expedition_champion_team_move_to_11000ft_camp After a tough day, we finally rolled into 11 camp where we found our RMI cohorts, and set up camp right below them

]]> Category, Expedition Dispatches, Alaska, 2026-05-19T07:29:00-07:00 https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/19/mckinley_expedition_delaney_team_unable_to_make_carry_due_to_weather https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/19/mckinley_expedition_delaney_team_unable_to_make_carry_due_to_weather A des fins d entrainement nous avons montes la Motorcycle Hill et, we figured it out une fois en haut pourquoi nous n avions pas interet a poursuivre vers Squirrel Hill, Polo Fields et le fameux Windy Corner!

]]> Category, Expedition Dispatches, Alaska, 2026-05-19T07:13:00-07:00 https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/19/bolivia_expedition_coppolillo_team_explore_la_paz_sight_seeing_and_acclimatization_hike https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/19/bolivia_expedition_coppolillo_team_explore_la_paz_sight_seeing_and_acclimatization_hike We topped out at just over 16000', a new altitude record for some in the group!

]]> Category, Expedition Dispatches, Bolivia, 2026-05-19T06:55:00-07:00 https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/18/mckinley_expedition_delaney_team_adapt_to_the_mountain_on_another_rest_day https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/18/mckinley_expedition_delaney_team_adapt_to_the_mountain_on_another_rest_day Today, we found ourselves stuck yet again at 11,000 feet—far from idyllic, but the best option given our forecast and supplies.

]]> Category, Expedition Dispatches, Alaska, 2026-05-18T10:25:00-07:00 https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/18/mckinley_expedition_champion_team_take_another_weather_day https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/18/mckinley_expedition_champion_team_take_another_weather_day The waiting game begun.

]]> Category, Expedition Dispatches, Alaska, 2026-05-18T10:20:00-07:00 https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/18/mt_rainier_four_day_team_turns_at_10800 https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/18/mt_rainier_four_day_team_turns_at_10800 The Four Day Climb led by RMI Guide Joe Hoch turned at 10,800 at Cathedral Gap due to snow instability and potential avalanche danger. 

]]> Category, Expedition Dispatches, Mount Rainier, 2026-05-18T07:50:00-07:00 https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/17/bolivia_expedition_coppolillo_blum_team_arrive_in_la_paz https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/17/bolivia_expedition_coppolillo_blum_team_arrive_in_la_paz After a gear check and a delicious steak and seafood lunch we headed out to explore the city, making use of the teleferico (cable car) system that travels all over the cities of La Paz and El Alto. 

]]> Category, Expedition Dispatches, Bolivia, 2026-05-17T11:05:00-07:00 https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/17/mt_rainier_four_day_climb_led_by_hoffman_and_hedreen_remain_at_camp_muir https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/17/mt_rainier_four_day_climb_led_by_hoffman_and_hedreen_remain_at_camp_muir The Four Day Climb May 13  - 17 reached Camp Muir yesterday afternoon weathering the difficult conditions with smiles on their faces dispite the snow flakes whipping through the air.

]]> Category, Expedition Dispatches, Mount Rainier, 2026-05-17T10:37:00-07:00 https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/17/mckinley_expedition_champion_team_rest_at_camp_1 https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/17/mckinley_expedition_champion_team_rest_at_camp_1

]]> Category, Expedition Dispatches, 2026-05-17T10:22:00-07:00 https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/17/mckinley_expedition_team_delaney_rests_at_11k_camp_for_weather https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/17/mckinley_expedition_team_delaney_rests_at_11k_camp_for_weather Today we took a somewhat forced but also perfectly timed rest day.

]]> Category, Expedition Dispatches, Alaska, 2026-05-17T10:16:00-07:00 https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/16/mckinley_expedition_delaney_team_have_a_successful_4th_day https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/16/mckinley_expedition_delaney_team_have_a_successful_4th_day As for today, our goal today was to retrieve the food and supplies we cached at 9’600 feet two days ago.

]]> Category, Expedition Dispatches, Alaska, 2026-05-16T11:04:00-07:00 https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/16/mckinley_expedition_champion_team_cache_at_10100_on_a_splitter_morning https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/16/mckinley_expedition_champion_team_cache_at_10100_on_a_splitter_morning We woke up to clear skies, and the entire mountain on display.

]]> Category, Expedition Dispatches, Alaska, 2026-05-16T10:21:00-07:00 https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/15/mckinley_expedition_champion_team_enjoy_first_day_on_the_mountain https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/15/mckinley_expedition_champion_team_enjoy_first_day_on_the_mountain We woke up to the call that we could fly, so we got our last fancy coffee drinks for a long while and shuffled over to the hangar to get our soft shells on, and ready to fly.

]]> Category, Expedition Dispatches, Alaska, 2026-05-15T10:04:00-07:00 https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/15/mckinley_expedition_team_delaney_checks_in_from_camp_2_at_11000ft https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/15/mckinley_expedition_team_delaney_checks_in_from_camp_2_at_11000ft The team felt strong and enjoyed the glorious experience of only needing base layers as we made excellent time up to our next camp.

]]> Category, Expedition Dispatches, Alaska, 2026-05-15T09:50:00-07:00 https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/14/mt_rainier_the_expedition_skills_seminar_team_turns_at_11200_due_to_snow_conditions https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/14/mt_rainier_the_expedition_skills_seminar_team_turns_at_11200_due_to_snow_conditions The Expedition Skills Seminar – Muir Team, led by Dave Hahn, ascended to Ingraham Flats this morning and determined that the new snow along the route lacked sufficient stability to safely continue higher.

]]> Category, Expedition Dispatches, Mount Rainier, 2026-05-14T10:49:00-07:00 https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/14/mckinley_expedition_may_12th_team_reaches_talkeetna https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/14/mckinley_expedition_may_12th_team_reaches_talkeetna Welcome to the May 12th Denali expedition!

]]> Category, Expedition Dispatches, Mt. McKinley, 2026-05-14T10:05:00-07:00 https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/14/mckinley_expedition_delaney_team_cache_gear_above_ski_hill https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/14/mckinley_expedition_delaney_team_cache_gear_above_ski_hill Imagine the inside of a ping pong ball. Now imagine yourself inside that ping pong ball. That was us for 8 hours today.

]]> Category, Expedition Dispatches, Mt. McKinley, 2026-05-14T07:21:00-07:00 https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/13/mckinley_expedition_delaney_team_depart_talkeetna_land_on_the_glacier https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/13/mckinley_expedition_delaney_team_depart_talkeetna_land_on_the_glacier Smooth sailing took us right into Kahiltna Base Camp.

]]> Category, Expedition Dispatches, Alaska, 2026-05-13T06:49:00-07:00 https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/13/alaska_seminar_marjerison_team_do_a_bit_of_climbing_enjoy_great_views https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/13/alaska_seminar_marjerison_team_do_a_bit_of_climbing_enjoy_great_views Today, we got an early start and walked over to the base of the Root Canal Glacier and climbed a small 800 gully adjacent to the West Ridge of the Mooses Tooth.

]]> Category, Expedition Dispatches, Alaska Seminar, 2026-05-13T06:39:00-07:00 https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/12/alaska_seminar_ruth_glacier_team_sends_poem https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/12/alaska_seminar_ruth_glacier_team_sends_poem Saw the sun for five minutes

]]> Category, Expedition Dispatches, Alaska Seminar, 2026-05-12T09:42:00-07:00 https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/11/mckinley_expedition_delaney_team_hang_another_day_in_talkeetna https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/11/mckinley_expedition_delaney_team_hang_another_day_in_talkeetna With unflyable weather, the gang spent the whole day on standby.

]]> Category, Expedition Dispatches, Mt. McKinley, 2026-05-11T14:14:00-07:00 https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/11/baker_ski_hoch_and_team_ski_5_star_corn https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/11/baker_ski_hoch_and_team_ski_5_star_corn It doesn’t get much better than 20 minutes of perfect carving snow to camp. 

]]> Category, Expedition Dispatches, North Cascades, 2026-05-11T11:24:00-07:00 https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/11/mckinley_expedition_delaney_team_prep_gear_ready_to_fly https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/11/mckinley_expedition_delaney_team_prep_gear_ready_to_fly After thoroughly examining everything we had and shedding any excess weight, we began weighing our bags.

]]> Category, Expedition Dispatches, Alaska, 2026-05-11T11:01:00-07:00 https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/11/alaska_seminar_ruth_glacier_team_attempts_to_reach_747_pass https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/11/alaska_seminar_ruth_glacier_team_attempts_to_reach_747_pass Tomorrow we plan to work on skills and wait until the weather breaks!

]]> Category, Expedition Dispatches, Alaska Seminar, 2026-05-11T10:53:00-07:00 https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/10/alaska_ruth_glacier_team_spends_first_day_breaking_trail https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/10/alaska_ruth_glacier_team_spends_first_day_breaking_trail Weather moved in overnight and we hunkered down and enjoyed a mellow breakfast this morning.

]]> Category, Expedition Dispatches, Alaska, 2026-05-10T10:15:00-07:00 https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/10/mt_rainier_may_10_2026_summit https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/10/mt_rainier_may_10_2026_summit The Four Day Climb, led by RMI guide Dan May, reached the summit of Mt. Rainier early this morning.

]]> 2026-05-10T10:02:00-07:00 https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/09/mckinley_expedition_delaney_team_arrive_in_talkeetna https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/09/mckinley_expedition_delaney_team_arrive_in_talkeetna Greetings from Alaska! After a long day of travel from all over the US and Europe, we all assembled at the Ted Stevens Airport in Anchorage. We then loaded up the shuttle bus with our eccentric driver Ross and drove the two hours to Talkeetna.

]]> Category, Expedition Dispatches, Alaska, Mt. McKinley, 2026-05-09T13:31:00-07:00 https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/09/alaska_seminar_ruth_glacier_team_gets_break_in_weather_flies_to_the_ruth_glacier https://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2026/05/09/alaska_seminar_ruth_glacier_team_gets_break_in_weather_flies_to_the_ruth_glacier

]]> Category, Expedition Dispatches, Alaska, 2026-05-09T05:56:00-07:00