Denali Expedition: Walter, Van Deventer & Teams Summit!
Posted by: Pete Van Deventer, Matias Francis, Chase Halbert, Mike Walter, Avery Parrinello, Luke Wilhelm
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Alaska Denali
Elevation: 20,310'
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
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Denali Expedition: Walter & Team Summit
June 3, 2021
Comments (24)
What an amazing accomplishment all of you have made !! Marc, I am so proud and honored to have you as my son.
Love you, Papa Bear
Posted by: David Gollob on
Congratulations all! Such a lifetime of memories. Be safe coming down so you can make more memories.
Posted by: Susan K. Moore on
Congratulation Pete + crew…Well done, Waltero
Posted by: Walter Glover on
Congrats Hank (and team) on completing #49!!! What a tough but rewarding journey!!!! We can’t wait to see pictures and hear all about it! Safe travels down!
-Blair & Doug
Posted by: Blair Schwartz on
Yoooooo!!! So much excite. Ready for all those killer pics you took with all your extra camera gear ;)
xoxox
Posted by: Z on
Congratulations on a successful summit. I look forward to hearing the stories from Heidi following you safe journey home!
Posted by: Mike Indresano on
Congratulations M. Walter & team; badass!
Safe travels back to oxygen.
Posted by: corwin dormire on
Way to go, Hank. I hope to hear about it from you someday. Congratulations!!!
Posted by: Bob Saltsman on
Woohoo…so glad you and the two teams made it to the summit, Marc. Can’t wait to hear all about it. Have an easy descent.
Posted by: Rona Gollob on
What an excellent adventure Hank and team! I have followed along every step of the way ... the next best thing to hearing all about it from your own mouth. Safe travels home to you all!! See you soon!
♥️ Lynne
Posted by: Lynne Bucciarelli on
congratulations marc and the entire team on this monumental accomplishment. be well. cheers, olga
Posted by: olga w on
Congrats Hank and team! So proud of you guys for your perseverance and strength! Praying that journey home is a safe one! Can’t wait to hear all about it!
Posted by: Brian Zawislak on
Let’s see you make it down with all your fingers and toes before lighting the cigars
Posted by: Brian hankins on
Yay!!!! Congrats on making it to the top brother! Awesome job to both teams on such a huge accomplishment.
Posted by: Sandra Gollob on
Congratulations to Patrick and the entire team. An smazing accomplishment!! I can’t wait yo see the summit pics.
Posted by: Al Holcomb on
Congrats Hank and team!! So proud you made it to the top! Yahoo!!!! Sounded like a long and tough day, but worth it in the end. What an accomplishment! Safe travels down and hope you warm back up. Can’t wait to hear all about it and see the pictures!!
Love you - Katie & Sean
Posted by: Katie Baskin on
Tremendous feat! Congratulations to all of you! Will be glad to have you home!
Posted by: Christy on
Congrats to all of you. Many times in the past few weeks, as we have been sitting on couches, playing golf on a sunny day, or hiking through the woods, I have paused to think about all of you on top of North America. Well done. What an incredible feat you have all accomplished. Be safe on the way down, as you get back to sea level. Amazing. Greg runs 3 events in the state meet on Saturday, with plenty of oxygen to go around. Take pictures.
Posted by: Bruce on
Congratulations to Marc and both teams! Very excited that you finally made it to the summit.
Posted by: Judy Rosenberg on
Congrats Ben and the whole team!! Can’t wait to hear all about it!
Alex Stern
Posted by: Alex Stern on
Summit pic?
Posted by: Nancy Thoenes on
Congratulations to Hank and all…well deserved success after an arduous day!! Rest and safe travel back down! Love
Posted by: Nancy Thoenes on
Glad you made the summit !! Great job.
Mom
Posted by: Beverly Hankins on
Congratulations to both teams! Stay safe and warm. Now come home!
Posted by: Jackie Woolley on