Denali Expedition: Hahn & Team Fly to Kahiltna Base Camp
Posted by: Dave Hahn, Hannah Smith, Avery Parrinello, Nikki Champion
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Denali
Elevation: 7,300'
Wednesday, June 20, 2018 - 9:52 PM PT
This is one lucky team of climbers. We woke in Talkeetna under cloudy skies... pretty much the same cloudy skies that had kept anybody else from flying during the past six days. It sprinkled rain on us as we ventured out for breakfast but by the time we’d eaten, our pilots surprised us by announcing that basecamp was in the clear and that it was time to fly.
We geared up, loaded the planes and lifted off by 9:15. The ski equipped DeHaviland Otters got us through to Kahiltna Base Camp by about 10 AM. Views while flying weren’t stupendous since there was still plenty of cloud hiding the big peaks, but as we got into the center of the range, the lower parts of the big peaks were stupendous enough in their own rite. Basecamp at 10 AM was a very busy and bustling place after a week of no-fly days. Tyler Jones and his RMI team loaded onto the planes we vacated. They’d finished a storm plagued trip and hadn’t been able to move to high camp or summit but they appeared happy and healthy just the same. We built camp and spent the day reviewing glacier travel techniques and sorting gear and supplies. The team seems pretty at home in this world already. We’re hopeful this break in the weather will last... that said, now -at 9 PM- it is snowing lightly. So much recent snow has sure been a good thing for healing up the lower glacier. Word is that open crevasses are few and far between and sketchy bridges are scarce.
Best Regards
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
On The Map
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Comments (10)
Hi sue. Watching your climb! You go girl. Jim and patty
Posted by: Patty on
Job and Margaret, everyone back home is pulling for the two of you! God speed!
Posted by: Frank Romano on
Best of luck to Tom and the whole team—You all are awesome!
Posted by: Randy Salo on
George and team you made it to camp 1 way to go!!! Hope you all have a fun and safe trip!!!
Good luck to everyone and praying for a safe a great climb.
Loving the pics
Posted by: Kaitlynn on
Jon & Margaret you made it to base camp! Hoping you have continued good weather. Hugs. ❤️
Posted by: Joy Reuter on
George, Ken, Mike, Dick and the Perfect Pint gang wish Margaret and Jon safe travels. climb high. No jumping. No pushing.
Posted by: Mike olds on
Margaret and Jon, Sending warm thoughts for a safe climb.
Posted by: Mary and Randy Henderson on
Get after it Sue! Have fun and be present, the Invictus Family is cheering you on and excited to watch your progress
Posted by: DJ Davis on
Good Luck with your climb…...May God be with you and may you experience Great weather !
Posted by: Barbara Jones on
Hopefully prayers of sunshine and good weather have been answered!!! Climb strong Tom and take it all in!!!!
Posted by: Dave Kestel on