Denali Expedition: Van Deventer & Team Summit!
Posted by: Pete Van Deventer, Jess Matthews, Taylor Bickford
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Denali
Elevation: 20,310'
Saturday, June 9, 2018 1:04 AM
The couple weeks of hauling massive loads, sitting through snow storms, sunburns, and eating way too much bacon culminated in that fleeting joy of standing on the summit of Denali this afternoon! Our forecasts have been a bit vague, and sometimes less than confidence inspiring, but we woke up this morning to stellar conditions. It was clear, calm as a koala with a full belly of eucalyptus, and the sun promised to warm things from the forecasted overnight temp of -25. We made our way across the autobahn, glad to see the sun part way across. We ticked off the stretches: zebra rocks, arch deacons tower, the football field, pig hill, and the iconic summit ridge. After 8.5 hours of climbing, we were standing on the summit! It was a warm, beautiful day, with an intense sky of clouds that had built at all levels, making surrounding Alaska incredibly dramatic. After our photos and some time, it was time to head home.
We are safely back in camp working on a late dinner. Tomorrow we hope to descend to the land of oxygen and warmer temps, hopefully 11,000' or 7600' camp.
RMI Guides Pete, Jess, Taylor, and Team
On The Map
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Comments (21)
Way to go Henry and Caleb! Awesome achievement. Look forward to hearing details when you get back.
Posted by: Charles Platt on
MANY congratulations to the whole TEAM!! That’s an awesome effort by one and all - look forward to hearing details from Henry and Caleb and seeing lots of pictures. Thank you to the guides!!
Gran/Mom
Posted by: Jennifer Huntington on
Congratulations to the team on standing on the roof of North America!
Best wishes for a safe descent and trip home!
Hitesh
Posted by: Hitesh on
Rich -
We always knew you would make it to the top! We won’t stop worrying until you are back down though. We are happy your dream came true!
Love Shirley, Andy, Darren and Dean
Posted by: Shirley, Andy Darren and Dean on
Hey Kieth way to go! Very proud of you for once again kicking Father Time in the teeth! You get better with age!
Love you,
auntie
Posted by: Deborah McCarty on
Congratulations to the entire team!!! Wishing you all safe a safe and speedy trip back down.
Posted by: Katherine Frost on
Congratulations for good effort!!
Hope to see you soon Magnus.
From, Johanna and Vilma:))
Posted by: Johanna och Vilma on
WOOHOO!!!! Now Rich’s parents can sleep good tonight!!! Great job…Great job::)) Love MOM and DAD
Posted by: Richard Lewis on
Raj, did you get any summit pics? Hope you didn’t forget to snap a few. -E.
Posted by: erik dietz on
Strong work everyone! Awesome to read the dispatches and follow the teams progress. All that hard work paid off! Question now is…...which mtn is next?! High five to John and Raj and all the team.
Safe return and enjoy the high.
- Erik
Posted by: erik dietz on
YEAH! Supergreat job all, and fantastic news Magnus!
So great to read! Safe trip down and see you soon.
Mikael w family
Posted by: Mikael on
Yeah Rich!
Posted by: Dora on
Wow! What an incredible accomplishment. So proud of you all. Travel back down safely.
Posted by: Sheryl Burford on
Fantastic news! We are so grateful
For great weather and thankful to God for this blessing in your life! So happy for you Danny! NOW
COME HOME AND PRAYERS FOR SAFETY!
Posted by: Ken and beckie ruggles on
Fantastic!!!! Hurray HHH! Hurray Caleb!!! Hurray Team!!! Thanks so much to the wonderful guides!! Now come back safe home. Can’t wait to see you and photos!
Love, Katya/ Mom
Posted by: Kathy on
Congratulations!! Have a safe trip down and home.
Posted by: Dar Corrigan on
Congratulation to all you crazies! Thank you guides. What an incredible accomplishment, be safe. Godspeed to all. RenaTim
Posted by: Tim on
We are celebrating with all of you! Super excited that you all made it safely and capturing amazing sights along your journey to the TOP! Everyone here is so excited for your team.
Posted by: Karen Haleen on
Oh this is the best news ever! I’m so happy to see that you all have made it! Congrats!!!!!!
Now hurry home ;)
Can’t wait to hear all about it.
Way to go Steve! Way to go Danny!!!
So proud of you!!
-Misty
Posted by: Misty on
Congratulations to the team!!! So happy for you all - you must be ecstatic right now!
Safe trip down can’t wait to see pics!
Great job Rich 3/7 summits - excited to see what’s next!
Love, susie
Posted by: Susie and the kids on
Way to go Team! Proud of you all!
Steve
Posted by: Steve D on