Entries By Andy Bond
June 13, 2023
Posted by: Andy Bond, Jack Delaney, Joey Manship
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Denali
Elevation: 11,000'
Monday, June 12, 2023 - 10:06 pm PT
Day ???
As a kid I remember snow days being a little more fun than this. The team emerged from hibernation and were greeted by less wind, but a lot more snow - both key ingredients to our second straight rest day. We spent most of the morning uncovering and digging our tents out while Chef Joey cooked up some delicious breakfast burritos - a fair trade if you ask me. The team passed the time lounging in the posh, playing games, and learning that some are much worse at spelling than others. The weather finally cleared (kinda) in the afternoon, and we crawled out of our cocooned tents to soak in the sun. Days like this are what the Bond Girls prepared for.
Hoping the sunshine continues to hold so we can venture out of our little camp tomorrow and push toward 14k.
- RMI Guide Andy Bond aka Sled Dog
June 12, 2023
Posted by: Andy Bond, Jack Delaney, Joey Manship
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Denali
Elevation: 11,000'
A new chapter in the adventures of the newly named RMI Denali team - The Bond Girls - The flapping sound of our tent walls in the winds acted as our alarm clock this morning. We awoke to a freshly snowy and wind drifted camp. Egads! After shoveling off / out our various camp structures including the kitchen, living room, bedrooms and bathroom, we set about to enjoy a slow morning. Hot drinks were casually sipped and topics with no answer were discussed. Is Texas just a terrible place or just an awful place? Whatever happened to David Hasselhoff? Or Oprah for that matter? At some point smoked salmon and cream cheese bagels were devoured. It became clear as morning went on that we would not be granted a break in the weather to head uphill to cache supplies. So with the plans for the day settled the team got ready for another weather day. Snacks were devoured and stories were told, all while the wind and snow raged on. We dug trenches through the snow that would have made a French WW1 general proud. Hopefully in the night the storm will break and the wind will cease. I know I would love myself some sunshine right now. Or perhaps a beer in a Bavarian town. If the weather persists, you’ll find us here again, same place, same time. Doing battle with The Great One.
Signing out from,
Camp 2 (11,000 feet) - Denali, Alaska
RMI Guide Jack Delaney and the Team
June 11, 2023
Posted by: Andy Bond, Jack Delaney, Joey Manship
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Denali
Elevation: 11,200'
Today was our promised “easy day” by our guides and the jury is still out. We climbed down to 10K to grab our previously buried cache and climbed back up to camp 2. The day was and still is snowy and windy, but we got to spend a lot of it in our tents eating our newly uncovered snacks.
Tomorrow - should Denali allow, we will climb to 14,000, to bury another cache.
Happy adoption day to my dog Mav and early birthday to my best girl Alex, and lastly to my mom, we are giving it hell! I love you.
Ps I wrote a really great dispatch yesterday, but the German guy stole my blog.
Thanks Mikayla! I love checking the blog and you wrote this one. You all are a crazy, dedicated bunch. I hope Denali allows. I love you Capt., Cakes, Baby girl.
Posted by: Michelle DeMers on 6/12/2023 at 5:41 pm
Y’all are absolutely amazing, hoping all the best to the whole team for the rest of your journey!
To Mikayla- be safe homie, I read every new blog post to kumar and the production team, they all think y’all are crazy, but also are all rooting for you all the way from South Korea…I love you and I promise we will make a cake for Mav once you get back to celebrate his adoption day, be safe Mikayla.
Posted by: Mack Thompson on 6/12/2023 at 2:34 am
June 9, 2023
Posted by: Andy Bond, Jack Delaney, Joey Manship
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Alaska Denali
Elevation: 7,800'
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Thursday, June 8, 2023, 9:52 pm PDT
This morning we woke up to Joey the Guide’s scrumptious pancakes. Does he moonlight at Benihana’s? Conditions weren’t favorable so we made it a rest day. We ended the day with dinner and optimism for a move to Camp Two tomorrow. And now, a poem:
All day we were stuck at Camp One
Blueberry chocolate chip pancakes are fun
Tomorrow we’ll try for 10 And if this happens again
Call our team the cloistered nuns
- Lenhardt Stevens and the June 4 Denali Expedition Team
--
Scott, hopefully the weather clears quickly so your third attempt proceeds safely!
Posted by: Roger Coffey on 6/10/2023 at 11:28 am
Hopefully today the weather is more favorable. We are all rooting for you Mikayla and your team! One may walk over the highest mountain one step at a time. -Barbara Walters
Posted by: Larisa Corbett on 6/9/2023 at 9:37 am
June 8, 2023
Posted by: Andy Bond, Jack Delaney, Joey Manship
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Denali
Elevation: 7,800'
Cache and carry was the theme of the day; or more appropriately the reverse. We carried loads up Ski Hill to the Kahiltna pass and buried them in a cache, to be dug up on a later day. We did this to acclimate and make moving camp easier. The weather was hot, cold and windy; so typical for the mountains. We then loaded our sleds in our backpacks and looking like characters in a Mardi Gras parade tromped back down hill to some of Jack’s spicy Jambalaya. Check back tomorrow to see what kind of adventure or mischief we get into - same time, same channel. -
RMI Climber Scott Coffey
Hope the weather cooperates today! We are all rooting for you Mikayla!
Posted by: Larisa Corbett on 6/9/2023 at 9:34 am
Glad all is going well, team! Hope the adventure continues to go well, Katie. Cheering you on from 716!
Love,
Kate
Posted by: Kate Graham on 6/9/2023 at 8:48 am
June 7, 2023
Posted by: Andy Bond, Jack Delaney, Joey Manship
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Denali
Elevation: 7,800'
Tuesday, June 6, 2023 - 11:11 pm PT
The RMI team lead by RMI Guides Andy Bond, Jack Delaney and Joey Manship thoroughly enjoyed the K2 flight in to base camp this morning. The views were spectacular! We began our climb for a short distance down hill before beginning the arduous journey with heavy packs and full sleds up what we referred to as Blister Hill. The team made excellent time and established our camp at 7,800 feet elevation on the flats at the base of Ski Hill. As the clouds rolled in and a light snow began to fall we enjoyed delicious burritos and looked forward to a well deserved nights rest.
Climber Jeff Ebeling
Looking forward to following your progress Take lots of pictures Andy.
Steve
Posted by: Steve Kickert on 6/7/2023 at 6:25 pm
Great to hear day 1 was a success! We wish the best of luck and best of weather! -Love, Jeff’s family! ❤️
Posted by: Jill Ebeling on 6/7/2023 at 1:04 pm
June 6, 2023
Posted by: Andy Bond, Jack Delaney, Joey Manship
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Denali
Elevation: 348'
Tuesday, June 6, 2023 - 9:53 am PT
The weather is cooperating and we're taking off to the Alaska Range and landing on the Kahiltna glacier! Our next update will be via satellite messenger and the climb will have started!
Bon voyage!
RMI Guides Andy Bond, Jack Delaney and Joey Manship
Best wishes for a safe and successful team!
Posted by: KATHERINE GRAHAM on 6/7/2023 at 5:26 am
Praying for great weather, a safe climb, awesome memories, beautiful sunrises and sunsets, and a summit!
Posted by: Michelle DeMers on 6/7/2023 at 4:10 am
Monday, June 5, 2023 - 7:13 pm PT
Denali Team Assemble!
Everyone has made it to Alaska with our bags in tow. After brief introductions we loaded up the shuttle and took off for Talkeetna. The day was beautiful with clear skies and warm temps. After an hour we did a quick pit stop at the grocery store in Wasilla for last minute supplies, mostly beer and cookie dough. Another hour of driving and we arrived in the quaint town of Talkeetna. Unloading the dozens of duffels and supplies really put into perspective the sheer scale of preparing for an expedition of this size. We then relaxed for the evening, had a wonderful dinner and enjoyed the midnight sun.
Cheerio,
RMI Guides Jack, Andy, Joey and the team
To quote Calvin and Hobbes “It’s A Magical World Hobbes Ol’ Buddy….Let’s Go Exploring”
Savor all the magic this exploration holds. Stay Safe.
Posted by: Jan Morgan on 6/6/2023 at 5:41 pm
So excited for all of you! We hope for great weather and a a successful summit!
Posted by: Larisa Corbett on 6/6/2023 at 9:48 am
May 24, 2023
Posted by: Brent Okita, Andy Bond
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
Today our Expedition Skills Seminar Team led by RMI Guides Brent Okita and Andy Bond reached the summit of Mt. Rainier. It was an unexpectedly stormy climb into a big cloud cap where the rime stuck to everything and everyone. but the team crushed it! The weather finely broke as they approached their last break giving them a nice view from the top.
The team celebrated their summit back at Ingraham Flats. They will spend the remainder of the week training in and around Camp Muir.
Congratulations Team!
GREAT JOB everyone! I won’t embarrass someone by naming him but he knows who he is and how proud we are!
Posted by: Donna Medica on 5/24/2023 at 7:53 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.
Praying the weather breaks. In the meantime the Bond team will eat snacks and Bond.
Posted by: Michelle on 6/12/2023 at 5:46 pm
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