Mt. McKinley Expedition: RMI Guide Mike Walter & Team in Talkeetna
Posted by:
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Denali
Everyone (and their baggage) arrived on time in Anchorage yesterday, and we headed north to the small town of Talkeetna. We had a relaxing evening, eating dinner as a group at the famous West Rib Pub, talking about the trip, and getting to know each other. This morning we met at the the Talkeetna Roadhouse for a group breakfast to formalize our plans for packing and preparing for our upcoming expedition. Talkeetna is a small and unique town; situated on the south side of Denali National Park, it is the staging point for hundreds of climbers who venture into the Alaska Range. Town is still sleepy this time of year, just coming out of its winter hibernation; the streets are quiet, few airplanes are in the air, and patches of snow are still in the yards. When we return in a few weeks, Talkeetna will be in full swing; tourists and climbers will be walking through the streets, the air will be filled with the buzz of single engine aircraft (and mosquitoes), and all of the trees and lawns will be green.
Most of the day today was spent at the hangar of our bush pilots, K2 Aviation, packing our gear and going over all of our equipment. While we all have spent months planning this trip, today was still a very busy day making sure we had the right gear for the trip, inspecting our tents and stoves, and double and triple checking everything.
We also met with a National Park Service climbing ranger for a formal orientation to Denali, which included a slide show of our climbing route.
We plan to fly into Kahiltna Base Camp tomorrow (weather permitting) to start our adventure. We will be in touch with detailed dispatches throughout the trip. Everyone says hello to our friends and loved ones back home. Here’s to a safe and successful trip!
RMI Guide Mike Walter
×
Comments (3)
What a great adventure! I’ll bet you don’t know that Mrs. Richardson’s fifth and sixth graders in Indianapolis are traveling alongside you!
Regards,
LA
Posted by: Lee Ann Richardson on
Kenny and team-
Good luck. Excited to hear about this adventure. I hope you have fair weather conditions and a safe, fantastic climb for all. Chris Mannschreck
Minden, Nevada
Posted by: chris mannschreck on
Just a note to let you all know there are many people here in california watching yourprogress and cheering you on! Kenny Young is an inspiration to many of us… He is VERY passionate about climbing! Here’s too your success and safety!
Dave and Cindy Young
Posted by: Cindy Young on