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Entries By adam knoff


Mt. McKinley: Knoff & Team Descend to 14K Camp

This is Adam calling in from 17,000’ on Denali. We woke this morning to continued snow and wind, with a major low pressure system forecast to dominate the region over the next several days. We have endured this weather at high camp since Monday and have decided to descend back to 14K camp. Even the approach route, between 14,000’ and basecamp, can be a bear to navigate in foul weather, and we need to stay strong and focused. We’ll begin our descent of the West Buttress and the infamous fixed lines to reach Advanced Base at 14,200’ where Dave Hahn’s RMI party is encamped. We’ll check in tomorrow and advise everyone of our plans and progress. RMI Guide Adam Knoff

On The Map

Leave a Comment For the Team (2)

John and crew,  Stay strong!  I am pulling for the weather to begin to work in your favor.  You have been so patient ....hang in there!  love, dee

Posted by: Deann on 7/7/2012 at 12:46 pm

Nelson, sympathy for Mother Nature at 17,000 camp.  I know you toughed out cold and wind, and I hope you can recharge and warm a bit at 14,000 camp.  I know you may be disappointed, but few have ever been to 17,000 on Denali.  Hang in there and maybe the weather will break and reward perseverance.  Love you, stay safe.  Dad

Posted by: Bill on 7/7/2012 at 10:10 am


Mt. McKinley: Knoff & Team As the Wind Blows

This is the June 19th Denali Expedition welcoming you to the first episode, of the new hit saga, "As the Wind Blows." Time flies when you're having fun at 17,000 feet. We're now going on our third full day at high camp. We've determined that the forecast provided by the National Park Service, is reliable as a politician in an election year. Despite the gale force winds and frigid temperatures, the team remains positive. We pass the time eating junk food and sharing iPods as our batteries last. Zeb and Adam ventured to 19,000 feet yesterday to check snow stability and rock conditions after high winds and snowfall. The avalanche danger a concern. They've deemed the route safe, which now leaves the ball in the court of Mother Nature. 17,000 feet is a harsh waiting room, which increases the longing for family, friends, and the creature comforts of our homes. We invite you to wait with us lower 48 as we pass the time here at 17K. Stay tune for the next episode of, "As the Wind Blows." RMI Guide Mike Uchal


RMI Guide Mike Uchal with the First Episode of As the Wind Blows

On The Map

Leave a Comment For the Team (2)

Nelson-

You are an inspiration! I cannot wait to hear about your big adventure. I’m really proud of you. Take good care and I’ll see you later this year.

Katie

Posted by: Katie Taylor on 7/6/2012 at 2:49 pm

Nelson,
We just found out what your doing this summer! We are following you everyday!
Be safe and strong! We are anxious for clear weather! I wrote to James today to tell him what your up to. He completed Air Assault and has checked into Camp Buckner!
He is looking forward to visiting you at college this year! We loved seeing all your adventure photos from last summer and are so impressed to find out what your doing this summer! Not many people in the world can even attempt what you are doing! Glad to know you and be part of your life!
Thinking of you,
The Kinsey Family

Posted by: Lori Kinsey on 7/6/2012 at 2:30 pm


Mt. McKinley Expedition: Knoff and Team at 17,000’ Waiting

Greetings everyone! This is Mike Uchal from the June 19th Denali Expedition with Adam Knoff, Zeb Blais, and team. We are celebrating the 4th of July here at 17,000’ with fresh coffee and great group stories. We are being proactive at fighting an impossible tent-bound fever with short jaunts outside and hot meals in our group tent, when the weather allows. We’ll continue to play this now mental game as we continue to wait for our weather window for our summit attempt. Please stay tuned Lower 48 and happy 4th of July to all of our friends and family from our team here at 17000’. Good bye. RMI Guide Mike Uchal
Leave a Comment For the Team (2)

DG,
Enjoy your time on the mountain. I was in court today in Durham and all the Marshalls were asking about you.  Speaking of court—that’s where I’ll be tommorrow, Monday and Tuesday. And I’m not even the litigator in the family.  So, there are worse things than waiting on a weather window!  Bet you wish you had a Kindle though!

Stay focused!
Stephanie

Posted by: Stephanie on 7/5/2012 at 4:49 pm

Hi Uncle mike! It’s grace and sam. Boudro says hi! (mom says its Boudreaux but i dont like like that spelling) he’s very crazy! We miss you soooooooo much. Guess what? Mom’s pregnant! Yay, we are so excited! Have fun!

Posted by: Grace and Sam on 7/5/2012 at 3:22 pm


Mt. McKinley Expedition: Knoff and Team Check in from High Camp

This is RMI Guide Adam Knoff, checking in from high camp on Denali at 17,000’. We had a sweet climb from 14,000’, up the fixed lines and along the crest of the West Buttress, eventually dropping into the basin where camp is placed. What an absolutely spectacular day of climbing! Unfortunately, the predicted nice weather did not materialize and in fact, has deteriorated. Such is life on Denali, where all movement is dictated by weather. We are securely entrenched in camp, with sturdy walls and a posh cook tent. We have plenty of supplies, and now it becomes a waiting game. We will keep you updated.

On The Map

Leave a Comment For the Team (2)

Happy Independence Day!  Mike R we’re thinking of you all the time!  Hannah has an impressive ball collection waiting for you…

Posted by: Susan on 7/4/2012 at 4:36 pm

Hey John, Happy 4th!!! Sorry you didn’t make the summit on the 4th, but the day is soon to come. Just got back from Maryland; very hot - it was 106 one day. Glad tobe home. Stay warm and safe. Jill

Posted by: Jill on 7/4/2012 at 4:05 pm


Mt. McKinley: Knoff & Team at High Camp

Adam Knoff called in at 3:50 p.m. PT from the base of Washburn's Thumb. The team is on their move to 17K Camp to get into position for their summit bid. All is well and the weather is good.

On The Map

Leave a Comment For the Team (2)

Hi Mike,  your almost to the submit.  You will make it to your goal and your dream.  I am so proud.  Can’t wait to see pictures and hear the stories.  You have worked hard for this.  Enjoy the moment when you reach the top and yell out as loud as you can.  I am so proud of you.  The endurance of this trip is overwhelming.  Be safe and enjoy. Love you lots - Mom

Posted by: mom on 7/4/2012 at 5:56 am

DG,
Here’s hoping that you guys have good weather for the summit push. I can’t wait to hear the stories and see your pictures!
Lots of love,
Steph

Posted by: Stephanie on 7/3/2012 at 8:05 pm


Mt. McKinley:  Knoff and Team Resting at 14,000’

Mt. McKinley has the gnarly reputation for being one of the hardest mountains in the world to reach the summit of. In circles of armchair mountaineers, horror stories bounce around like cheap cigars. What most people don't realize is how much down time comes with living the dream of climbing north America's highest peak. Yesterday we put in our first "average work day" with an eight hour round trip climb to Washburn's thumb at 16,500 feet. We cached food, fuel and clothing needed for our time on the upper mountain. This was our teams most difficult challenge to date which everyone handled like cagey veterans. Back to the down time. Of course the terrain on this mountain demands one's full concentration, but so does our time of rest. It is unnatural for all of us to try and sleep twelve hours a day with no darkness. The rigors of rest should not be underestimated. Today we woke from thirteen hours of hibernation and had a two hour breakfast demanding great effort to pull away from. Now we are preparing for a stroll to the edge of the world and then home for more sleep. Today is beautiful here at 14,000 feet, much more pleasant than our ten below nights. All is well and we look forward to climbing higher.. RMI Guide Adam Knoff

On The Map

Leave a Comment For the Team (2)

everybody eat a lot
DG Chris and Michael U eat a lot
John, Tim and Mike R you eat a lot.
Nelson, Adam and Blais eat a lot
Be ready.

Posted by: shamu on 7/2/2012 at 7:59 pm

Nelson - So wonderful to hear your voice from nearly the top of North America! I will be thinking about you tomorrow as your group contemplates a summit bid. I know that it is a trade off between rest and good weather. Pulling for you from home.
Love, Mom

Posted by: Jennifer on 7/2/2012 at 6:56 pm


Mt. McKinley: Knoff & Team Part 2 Saying Hello

We apologize to Mike and Nelson's family's for missing their hellos. Here they are saying hi to their followers. Nelson: Mom, Dad, I'm having an absolute blast. I love it up here. Thank you so much for making this happen. I'm feeling great and getting excited for the imminent summit push. Tomorrow (weather permitting) we'll get to the top of the fixed lines and up onto the famed West Buttress. Long story short, I'm having a great time. Thank you so much. To everyone else who I told to follow the blog (probably a good 3 people or so) this place is way sweet. Wicked fun. Big Rik--you need to get up here sometime, it's fantastic. Lynn--of course I'm winning and writing lots. I'll have plenty of stories for you all. It's cold, fun, and badass. Love, Nels Hi Susan, Mel, Hannah, family and friends! Thanks to everyone for your posts. Your thoughts mean so much. I'm having a great time, staying warm, and the guides make sure we eat very well. After being snowed in today, we'll hopefully move to high camp in the next few days where we stage our attempt for the summit. Miss you all! Love Mike
Leave a Comment For the Team (2)

Tim,

Been following the team’s progress—sounds like yet another awesome adventure! As promised—important news down here:  Colorado continues to burn, Obama-“care” passed, and basically Repub’s and Dem’s still hate each other’s F’ing guts.  Oh, almost forgot the most important news dominating the papers/internet: Tom Cruise and his wife are getting a divorce.  Just goes to show you—we are still a bunch of collective idiots to care about that crap down here.  So, PLEASE, march on!  Live the dream for the rest of us shmucks!  Be safe and know you’ve got your fans rooting for you—and, your entire team’s good fortunes.  And, remember, Warrior II photo on top!  And, take it easy on your team-mates up there—you CAN control that gas of yours—stop using the altitude as an excuse!  Little Bro.

Posted by: Dan McLaughlin--aka, Little Bro on 7/1/2012 at 4:43 pm

Hey,
Oz is on his way to Georgia with the Barteks!  I’m trying to stay out of the Raleigh heat—high today of 104!  Boone sounds way better with a predicted high of 92.. Doing some work around the house and checking your weather and for updates..
Hope to hear from you soon!
Stephanie

Posted by: Stephanie on 7/1/2012 at 10:12 am


Mt. McKinley: Knoff & Team Say Hello from 14K Camp

This is the June 19th Denali expedition sending love from 14,000 foot camp. We received a foot of fresh snow last night distracting us from our scheduled plan of carrying loads to the top of the fixed lines at 16,200 feet. Because of this unexpected delay we are resting today fending off climbers soliciting food to lighten their loads for the descent. We have decided to pass the phone to let each team member send a personal hey to friends and family. This one goes out to my wife Birgen and son Liam. I have only tried to spoon Uchal twice thinking of you. He elbowed me both times. I miss you as much as ever and can' t wait to get home to you both..... DG here. Miss and love you all. Doing great up here and everything is rock steady. Hugs Oz and see you soon. Can't wait for you to join me. It's Chris. Special thanks to all of you who posted messages and words of encouragement on the blog. It means a lot and gives me some extra fuel for the push up the peak. Nickie - I love you so much and can't wait to see you again after a successful trip. Cheers! This is Michael U. I hope all is well back home and abroad! I miss and love you all so much. O Sorry for leaving you to care for the new K-9. Grace, HB, Samer, Charlotte, Lulu, and the rest of the family - I can't wait to see you when I get home. Greetings from JJ, amazing group of guys, amazing mounting and truly an experience of a lifetime to be here. Priorities change when life is stripped to the essentials. Peace, joy and love of friends and family take in a new and heightened priority. Please know I am very safe and that my love for you is growing with each step. I miss you all and have many big hugs in store for all upon my return, especially the new love of my life. See you at the wedding if not sooner. Love, John Hello fam & friends--Tim here. It's hard to explain what the top of our continent looks like--truly amazing! Thx for all of your posts, luv sharing them in the "posh" (a funky community eating/gathering area). Great guides & climbing team, we're all looking up at the top now. Love & miss you all--literally dreaming of you nightly--altitude makes for some strange dreams BTW. Thx for covering me during cherry harvest & all the other "stuff." See you in a couple of weeks!!!

On The Map

Leave a Comment For the Team (2)

John, Great to hear all of you are doing fine. We are just home from the “small hills of NC”  As we go along in life we do learn more of love, laughter and thankfulness.  Blessings to all of you climbing.  Jackie and Paul

Posted by: Jackie Winchell on 7/1/2012 at 9:39 pm

What no news fro you Nelson?? I know that you are having a trip of a lifetime. Check in next time the phone goes around. The moms in KC (that would be Mrs. G and me) are worried :-) Can’t wait to see you ... and the amazing photos. I would definitely be up for Killi next year. Lots of love, Mom

Posted by: Jennifer Collet on 6/30/2012 at 5:40 am


Mt. McKinley: Knoff & Team at 14K Camp

After a few snowy days at our 11K camp, we hoped for some kinder weather for our move to 14,000'. We all agree we got too much of a good thing. Yesterday's move validated the old mountaineering saying that "you either freeze or fry." Wednesday morning was clear, but quite cold at 11K. We ate our warm breakfast, anxiously awaiting the sun to warm our tents before we packed up to move. The cool morning climb up Motorcycle Hill quickly turned into a sweltering overly sunny slog through the Polo Fields and around Windy Corner which lacked the then desired wind of which it got its name. After refueling and rehydrating the well-oiled machine we pulled into camp 4 (14,000') at 5 pm. We were welcomed by our other RMI team, light snow, and many other climbers at this small makeshift alpine village. Today (Thursday), we returned to Windy Corner to retrieve our cache of food and equipment in much of the same weather conditions as the day before. We are now resting back at 14,000' awaiting our possible carry up the fixed lines to 16,000' tomorrow. To our many fans out there who are leaving messages on our blog, rest assured they have reached us! Tuesday night over dinner we passed the iPhone around for all to read the kind words from friends and family. Keep them coming! Until tomorrow, RMI Guides Mike Uchal, Adam Knoff, Zeb Blais, and our team at 14,000' Stay classy lower 48!

On The Map

Leave a Comment For the Team (2)

Hi to Mike R and fellow climbers. I am soo amazed by your courage, strength, and perseverance, you should be very proud of yourselves as I am of you Mike!I luv reading all the messages including the other teams as well, Its absolutely unimaginable to me, what you must be experiencing. Enjoy what you can. Thinking about you. Love Cheri

Posted by: Cheri on 6/29/2012 at 6:54 pm

Greetings John!

We are all so excited about your amazing adventure!  Deann is on the phone with me right now and we are still talking about you!  Enjoy your travels!

ONE of you biggest fans! Jo

Posted by: Jo on 6/29/2012 at 3:11 pm


Mt. McKinley: Knoff & Team Resting

Today is number six on the mountain and the first solely designated to rest. As discovered on day one of our long journey together, having fun is as necessary as being organized, fit and compatible. This morning the gang was allowed to sleep until their natural alarm clock pulled them from dreams of family, beer and showers. Six inches of fresh snow blanketed our camp here at 11,000 feet so we were all pleased to be staying put. Once all gathered in our perfectly designed cook tent, two hours were killed flipping flap jacks and drinking coffee. Now we have moved on to lunch where singing every song to Michael Jackson's Thriller album has trumped all else. There is not an unhappy soul in the group. Mike would like to wish mamma and papa Uchal safe travels on their adventure to Russia and beyond. RMI Guide Adam Knoff

On The Map

Leave a Comment For the Team (2)

Singin MJ???  Has Gords schooled you all in the finer moves of the Thriller choreography??  When you run put of MJ Gords may treat you to some spot on GnR!  Could make for a loooong rest day!  Cheers everyone. The Reisers in N.Conway, NH

Posted by: Petah Reisah on 6/28/2012 at 6:54 am

Hi Michael,  Hope you guys all enjoyed your day of rest.  I am sure it was well deserved. Just wanted to tell you that your Dad is very jealous that you are surrounded by all that snow and cold :)  Stay strong and safe.  Love you. P.S. Jess says “HI”

Posted by: Dad & Lynne on 6/28/2012 at 4:54 am

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