Denali Expedition: Walter & Team Summit
Posted by: Mike Walter, Avery Parrinello, Luke Wilhelm
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Alaska Denali
Elevation: 20,310'
RMI Guide Mike Walter and his team reached the Denali summit yesterday with Pete Van Deventer's team.
Congratulations to both teams!
Thursday, June 3, 2021 - 10:27 am PT
We've waited through wind and snow for weeks and we finally got our shot. We woke up yesterday to clear skies and relatively (for 17k feet) warm temps in camp. We had stoves firing early, before sun hit camp, and got everyone up to start prepping. With breakfast done and packs loaded we stepped out of our sunny camp into the shadow of the Autobahn. It was a chilly couple hours crossing to Denali Pass and we were all psyched to get back into the sun. A slight, but cold 10mph breeze in our face kept it chilly all day, but we kept moving past Zebra Rocks, around Archdeacons Tower, onto the Football Field, up Pig Hill, and along the summit ridge to the summit! We were standing on top just after 6pm yesterday. With photos taken, we started working our way back down, well aware of the distance still to get back to the comfort of our sleeping bags. The long hours of sun help alot and we rolled back into camp around 11pm, just as the sun left camp. Tired, chilly, sore, but excited that we managed to reach our goal!
We'll start working our way down the mountain today, back to warmer temps, more oxygen, and a flight back to Talkeetna. They tend to be long days, so dispatches might be short, but we are headed home.
RMI Guides Pete Van Deventer, Mike Walter, Avery Parrinello, Matias Francis, Chase Halbert, Luke Wilhelm, and RMI Teams 1 and 2
Comments (11)
Belated congratulations! Well done!
Posted by: Susan K. Moore on
Way to go Team Walter! Can’t wait to see you Nate and hear of your adventure! Godspeed
Posted by: Mary Glassman on
Great job Nate!!
Posted by: Matt on
YAY!! Must have been exhilarating!! Well done
Posted by: Annie on
Congratulation Mike + crew, well done. Walter
Posted by: Walter Glover on
Sorry I’m late in posting, but no less sincere - you are AMAZING PEOPLE! We are so impressed by your courage and perseverance, and equally grateful for your safety! Safe home, everyone! God bless!
Althea and Pat
Posted by: Althea Daley on
Fantastic news! Congrats to you all! We’re alll so relieved and thrilled for you. Safe trip back down and enjoy those showers.
Posted by: Tracy on
Congratulations team!
So Happy For All of You and great Cheers to Buyer’s Edges own Ben Stern!
Posted by: Stephen Carpenter-Israel on
Way to go Teams! So excited for all of you and particularly for Ben who’s living out his dream!!!!!
Posted by: Andy Stern on
Congratulations Team Walter! So happy and relieved to hear you reached the summit safely. Ben, can’t wait to see your smiling face.xxoo love, mom
Posted by: Eve Stern on
Will be popping the champagne tonight! Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Margaret on