RMI Expeditions Blog
May 20, 2023
Posted by: Pete Van Deventer, Henry Coppolillo, Tatum Whatford
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Denali
Elevation: 11,200'
Friday, May 19, 2023 10:30pm PDT
We had a quite pleasant jaunt up to Windy Corner and around today to cache. It was good to make another step forward and get a load of food and fuel stashed up near 14,000’. Things are looking promising to move to 14,000’ soon, our first chance is tomorrow and hopefully we wake up and things look good to go. It's been Nice to be at 11,000', but we have seen enough of it and it's time to move on.
Our day today was calm, mostly clear, and very warm. The team was fully in sync, and we made short work of the round trip and walked back into camp looking fresh as ever. Juan chose mac and cheese for his birthday dinner, so we also had something to celebrate today.
All around, spirits are high, and life is good.
RMI Guides Pete, Henry, and Tatum
May 20, 2023
Posted by: Nikki Champion, Leif Bergstrom, Lauren Macklin
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Denali
Elevation: 11,200'
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Friday, May 19, 2023 10:22pm PDT
After a long night’s rest, we woke up to clear skies, and warm temperatures. We had a quick breakfast of pop-tarts and grits as the sun began to shine onto ski hill. After our quick breakfast, we worked to tear down camp and begin our journey towards 11,000’ camp. We strapped into the snowshoes, and made our way up ski hill, through the 9,500’ camps, past our cache and finally up the final hill into our final destination for the night.
After a short break, we found a nice spot to call home for the next few days and spent the next few hours building camp and moving in before a warm dinner of ramen. Looks like a little bit of weather is coming in, but we are hoping to wake up with the sun and go get our cache tomorrow morning. Looking forward to a mellower day tomorrow! Check back in after the back carry.
RMI Guides Nikki, Leif, Lauren & Team
May 20, 2023
Posted by: Hannah Smith, Devin Guffey, Erika Birkeland
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Denali
Elevation: 9,400'
Friday, May 19, 2023 7:50pm PDT
Day two complete!
We woke to beautiful weather for our walk uphill to cache our gear. Camp was busy early in the morning with teams packing to move or carry. The team made fast work packing, and we were walking roped up only two hours after waking. Firm snow helped the sleds pull easily. The temperatures warmed fast and before we knew it was toasty out. So far, we have not experienced the Denali cold. I’m sure it is coming but right now we might as well be in the southern states.
Once we dug our hole deep enough that no ravens could get to our food, we headed back to camp. It got a bit dire for a second with the overwhelming heat, but everyone made it in good style. A well-deserved down time was enjoyed before we rallied for dinner. During our rest we were greeted by a little bird that landed on my food, I think that is a good sign. Burritos filled our bellies, and we discussed tomorrow's plan.
As we lay in our tents resting for tomorrow a light snow makes a pitter patter on our tents. Fingers crossed it stays light and we can move to 11k camp tomorrow.
RMI Guides Hannah, Devin, Erika, and Team
Go Dawn!!!
Posted by: Matty G on 5/20/2023 at 7:52 pm
To Bethany Gray: I love you so much and am so proud of you for this exciting adventure. Today would be your grandmother, Verna’s birthday, (5/19),
It’s a good sign, so enjoy your climb. Love you, Aunt Jackie
Posted by: Jackie Gray on 5/20/2023 at 7:31 pm
May 20, 2023
Posted by: Andy Bond, Alex Halliday
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 10,080'
The Four Day Climb led by RMI Guides Andy Bond and Alex Halliday stayed at Camp Muir last night. The upper mountain was covered in a heavy cap with significant thunderstorms. Currently the weather at Camp Muir is sunny with the cap still hanging over the upper mountain and a marine layer sitting at about 5,000’. The team will enjoy the calm morning before starting their descent to Paradise.
May 19, 2023
Posted by: Hannah Smith, Devin Guffey, Erika Birkeland
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Denali
Elevation: 7400'
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Thursday, May 18, 2023 10:55pm PDT
Hello from the Kahiltna Glacier!
What a busy day it was. We loaded planes and were in the air by 9am. It was chilly morning in Talkeetna, warmed by bour last Lattes and Michael but man was it hot on our walk. I thought it was cold in May. We took off downhill on what is called heart break hill. It is not heart breaking yet but it will be on our return. But that is a way away from now. Everything is so big around us you have little idea how far everything is. Is it close or is it miles away? We walked for 5.5 hours to reach our camp at the base of ski hill. It is a tough walk with heavy sleds and heavy packs. You really enter a pain cave to push through. One stretch is your quads, the next your hip flexors, the next your calves, something is always uncomfortable. But hey that is what we signed up for!
After setting up tents and moving in we gathered for dinner. We carried in pizza from Mountain High Pizza, and it was delicious. We topped off the night with a hot drink and the crawled into our sleeping bags. It’s a marvelous feeling to lay down and release the body. Tomorrow we will carry gear to just over 10k feet and then return to our camp for the night. The lighter loads will feel a lot better going up ski hill. Weather is moving in so fingers crossed it stays at bay till we return to camp or even better till the following evening so we can get to 11k camp. The team is looking good, and morale is high.
We are all excited to keep moving uphill.
Goodnight all,
RMI Guides Hannah, Devin, Erika, and Team
Remember Corey, the only thing to fear is fear itself. That and frozen pizza. Stay warm!
Anna + Bennett
Posted by: Anna Nolan on 5/19/2023 at 8:04 pm
Go Aunt Corey, Go!
Posted by: Jack McKenzie on 5/19/2023 at 6:55 pm
May 19, 2023
Posted by: Nikki Champion, Leif Bergstrom, Lauren Macklin
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Denali
Elevation: 9,600'
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Thursday, May 18, 2023 10:36pm PDT
After a late night and long day yesterday, we woke up around the time the sun hit our tents. After a quick breakfast of frosted mini wheats, we put together the group loads to cache and begin our climb up ski hill. After 4.5 long hours we pulled into our cache site, dug a hole, and tossed our group food, and personal caches in. After attaching the sleds to our packs, we began the descent back to camp. A bit earlier this evening than last, we made some reindeer sausage jambalaya and prepped for our big move to 11 camp tomorrow.
The weather looks good, hopefully we'll touch base from 11k tomorrow!
RMI Guides Nikki Champion, Leif Bergstrom, and Lauren Macklin
KC is cheering you on Scott! So proud of you!
Posted by: Deb Eldridge on 5/20/2023 at 9:31 pm
Bravo to all!
Gonna Fly now…
Feeling strong now…
(Rocky)
Posted by: ERIC PETERSON on 5/20/2023 at 5:28 pm
May 19, 2023
Posted by: Mike Walter, Abby Westling, Emma Lyddan
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Denali
Elevation: 11,200'
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Thursday, May 18, 2023 10:40pm PDT
The weather finally cooperated with us, and we were able to make the move to 11,200'. Everyone did great pulling heavy sleds. We're currently cozy in our tents and looking forward to a good night's rest. If the weather is nice tomorrow, we're hoping to put a cache In above Windy Corner. We'll let you know what we find tomorrow.
RMI Guides Mike, Abby, Emma & Team
Yayyy!! Some progress, hope the weather is good for you all again today.
Posted by: Kim on 5/19/2023 at 12:27 pm
Great Scott, that is a lot of snow
Y’all got this !
Posted by: Kim H on 5/19/2023 at 11:07 am
May 19, 2023
Posted by: Pete Van Deventer, Henry Coppolillo, Tatum Whatford
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Denali
Elevation: 11,000'
Thursday, May 18, 2023 8:12 pm PDT
Finally, we got to stretch our legs today!
We woke to beautiful conditions in camp, the first time we haven't woken to the tents flapping and slapping. We smashed an oatmeal breakfast and coffee and grabbed backpacks, sleds, and snowshoes and beat feet back to our hole in the snow that held all our best food and treats. We made quick work of the day, three hours round trip, and came back to sunny camp, warm tents, and dry sleeping bags. It was also our last day hauling sleds until we descended for good. So, when we walked into camp there was much rejoicing.
Tomorrow we plan to carry another cache up high to Windy Corner or 14 Camp depending. That will set us up to be ready to make a big move to 14!
RMI Guides Pete, Henry, Tatum and Team
Let’s go team! I have a hard time thinking about Brian being stuck inside a tent for days and nights. Hope he has a tent mate that likes to play cards! Moving and climbing are much more fun. Miss you hubby! Jack and I are following along and wishing you well while Lou meditates silently onn your climb.
Posted by: Tory Goltry on 5/20/2023 at 8:15 am
Wonderful to hear…“sunny camp, warm tents, and dry sleeping bags” - the simple pleasures of life on a mountain.
Praying for you all, and have a special place in my heart for my niece Bailey. She is an inspiration to her friends and family.
Posted by: Uncle C on 5/20/2023 at 7:33 am
May 18, 2023
Posted by: Dustin Wittmier, Jack Delaney, Sam Marjerison
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
RMI Guide Dustin Wittmier and the Expedition Skills Seminar - Muir team put their training to the test and made it to the summit of Mt. Rainier today. Dustin reported calm, light winds and sunny skies as the team was walking out of the crater rim just after 8 am to begin their descent. The team will return to Camp Muir for their final night on the mountain. They reached Camp Muir on Monday and have spent the last several days working on alpine mountaineering skills. The team enjoyed time at Ingraham Flats working on their ice climbing and crevasse rescue skills. Tomorrow the group will pack up and descend to Paradise, completing their week of training on Mt. Rainier.
Congratulations to the Seminar team!
Wednesday, May 18, 2023 5:38 pm PDT
Hello world!
It's time for an update from the team up at Camp Muir. The cycle of sun in the morning and clouds / thunderstorms in afternoons haven't impacted our seminar in the slightest. We've been spending the days training and afternoons learning. Today is our last day of training before our summit attempt. We spent the morning ice climbing in a crevasse up at Ingraham flats, the guides even got in on the ice climbing fun! Our afternoon will be spent fine tuning our crevasse rescue skills and then heading to bed early to try to get some shut eye before our alpine start. Check back in tomorrow to hear about our summit attempt!
Cheers,
Dusty, Jack, Sam and The Team
May 18, 2023
Posted by: Mike Walter, Abby Westling, Emma Lyddan
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Denali
Elevation: 9,400'
Thursday, May 18, 2023 - 8:31 am PT
Yesterday's weather started out looking pretty decent, but it shut down pretty quickly and we were forced to remain tent bound. This morning is much nicer and we should finally be able to move to 11,200' Camp. We'll check in again soon, hopefully from up higher.
RMI Guide Mike Walter
Yayyy! Good weather God’s have arrived, hopefully for a few days
Posted by: Kim on 5/18/2023 at 9:41 am
Hey Kevin! Great Job!! Climb Strong!!!
Posted by: Dave Kestel on 5/21/2023 at 3:29 am
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