Entries By adam knoff
June 25, 2012
Posted by: Adam Knoff
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Denali
Elevation: 11,200'
Today we set out to cache our upper mountain supplies above
Windy Corner. As we finished breakfast and packed gear the wind blew snow around camp. Layered up and ready for the weather, we set out anticipating the gales that would greet us at the corner. Constant wind and snow tried to impede us but the crew dealt with the adverse weather like it was a summer stroll. As we pulled up to the fabled Windy Corner the weather was nicer than what we'd walked through to get there. We buried our gear there and pushed back through the nasty weather to 11 camp. Everyone did great and spirits are high.
Tomorrow we rest!
RMI Guide Adam Knoff
On The Map
June 24, 2012
Posted by: Adam Knoff
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Denali
Elevation: 11,200'
Today presented our team with it's first real challenge. Early this morning mother nature decide that leaving the weather window wide open was making things a bit to easy for us. She knew we had plans to move to
11,000 feet so early this morning the wind started blowing, the temps dropped and the world resembled the inside of a ping pong ball. For a while we were actually debating staying put. That thought lasted as long as a Luke warm cup of coffee and two hours later we were all heading toward camp 3. Despite the weather this team performed like a well oiled machine. We arrived at 11,000 feet in great style and pounded out a great camp. I am most impressed by everyone's strength and charisma.
Talk to you all tomorrow.
RMI Guide Adam Knoff
June 23, 2012
Posted by: Adam Knoff
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Denali
Elevation: 9,800'
It is apparent the two previous days of
hauling full loads weighing more than a small horse has already made our team stronger. Yesterday we all felt a bit nackered but ten solid hours of sleep was most revitalizing.
This morning the alarm went off at 6:00 am and we woke to clear skies and cold temps. The ever constant roar of our stoves means coffee is close providing the needed impetus to crawl out of warm bags and into cold boots.
We then made a smooth carry to 11,000 feet, the sight of our next camp. With a full afternoon to rest, the team is now learning the invaluable skill of killing time.
RMI Guide Adam Knoff
June 22, 2012
Posted by: Adam Knoff, Mike Uchal, Zeb Blais
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Denali
Elevation: 9,800'
Hello to all from the
June 19 Denali expedition. If the saying "make hay while the sun shines" applies to mountaineering, this team could feed a lot of cows.
I am thrilled with our team dynamic and progress. Yesterday we ate breakfast, got ready and were blessed with clear conditions at base camp. K2 Aviation worked hard to get us all on the glacier which allowed us to pack up and move out. We arrived at the base of
Ski Hill by dinner.
Today we woke to perfect weather and the team again showed great enthusiasm to get moving. By 6:45 a.m. we were marching up Ski Hill with full loads. We arrived at 9,800 feet by 11:30 and are now enjoying a steamy afternoon sun bathing. Stay tuned for tomorrow's next episode. This is
Adam Knoff signing off.
On The Map
June 20, 2012
Posted by: Adam Knoff, Mike Uchal, Zeb Blais
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Denali
Elevation: 348'
After a delicious Roadhouse breakfast and stories from the world famous Fairview Inn pre-party, the team has been busy sorting gear for the trip. The weather is beautiful right now and we're prepping to fly onto the mighty
Kahiltna tomorrow morning. Until then we're enjoying solid earth under our feet, the smells of lush green plants in our noses and hearty meals in our bellies. Cheers from the RMI Knoff, Uchal and Blais team.
RMI Guide Adam Knoff
On The Map
The
Camp Muir Skills Seminar is back down off the mountain! We had hoped to give the summit one more shot but, as was our luck, the rain returned overnight. The mountain did clear at the mid elevations yesterday giving us hope but the weather fronts were stacked up end-to-end this week so we packed our things this morning and headed down.
Even though we weren't able to summit, Camp Muir provides an excellent high-altitude training site so we were able to train in the complex skills necessary to climb a glaciated peak. And so when the team parted ways everyone was psyched up for new adventures. One of the main things that makes a successful trip for me is if everyone returns as friends. This is no small feat with 15 climbers and 5 guides, but if this is our yardstick we definitely succeeded after our week at Muir.
RMI Guide Seth Waterfall
It's a beautiful day here at Camp Muir! The winds have died down and we're out practicing our rope work. We've been above the clouds all morning an the views of Mt. Adams, Hood and St. Helens are fantastic. Hopefully the weather continues to hold out for the rest of our trip.
RMI Guide Seth Waterfall
May 26, 2012
Posted by: Adam Knoff
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 11,000'
The Four Day and Five Day
Summit Climbs reached Ingraham Flats this morning on their summit attempt. The weather has been unsettled, which resulted in unfavorable route conditions.
Both teams are safely off the mountain enjoying their program wrap up with their guides.
February 17, 2012
Posted by: Adam Knoff
Categories: Guide News
February 10th, Vail, Colorado. The day had finally arrived. The Teva Mountain Games were on and I was ready for my first real climbing competition in years which included a wild race format and bar-none the highest caliber field of competitors I have ever faced. The competition was set up so two competing climbers would scale a 55-foot artificial wall plastered with regular plastic climbing holds like those found in the gym and a new experimental high density foam that was made to mimic real ice. The structure hosted two identical routes, a right one and left one that mirrored each other with every hold being exactly the same on each climb. When the bell went off, both climbers had six minutes to reach the top of the climb but with fast competitors taking less than three minutes per route the winner was decided by whomever climbed the top anchor first. Both climbers were then lowered to the ground and a three minute rest was issued. Then a swapping of sides ensued and a second race began. The combined winner of both races moved on to the next heat.
I almost did really well! Winning my first heat, I went into the second feeling unbeatable. All the fear and intimidation I felt by the big guns waiting to eliminate me vanished. I knew for certain I could hang. This all evaporated when on my first climb of the second heat I placed both tools in a foam hold and while trying to remove the upper one, the lower one blew out and I came whipping off the climb with an audible groan from the crowd. I had been leading the race when I fell and on my second climb of that heat posted the fasted time of the day out of any competitor. And so the hope of an unknown underdog sliding in and cleaning up at the first ever Teva Mountain Games was dashed. Not to worry, I will be back.
I owe
RMI a huge thanks for supporting my trip to Vail and giving me the chance to represent them. It is gratifying knowing such a worthy company has my back.
RMI Guide Adam Knoff
February 7, 2012
Posted by: Adam Knoff
Categories: Guide News
I am excited to announce that tomorrow I leave for Vail, Colorado, to represent
RMI in a mixed climbing competition put on by the Teva Mountain Games. Alongside my passion for guiding individuals up big snowy peaks, I for some reason find the odd sport of scratching up steep rock with ice tools to be downright irresistible. I am blessed to live twenty miles from Hyalite Canyon, Montana, where the art of “drytooling” can put your imagination to the test. No one in the mixed climbing world knows of me so when I sneak up and quietly take the number one spot on the Teva podium and everyone asks, “Who’s that guy?” I can say,” I climb
Mt. Rainier for a living”. Wish me luck while I compete with the big boys and take my game to their turf.
RMI Guide Adam Knoff
Ahh - a day of leisure in the rarified air. Well deserved after yesterday and a chance for the team to recharge.
Chris - continued best on the adventure and trust you remembered every last lyric on the Thriller album.
Pops
Posted by: Pops on 6/26/2012 at 4:53 pm
This is incredibly great! The team is working together and enjoying the experience. Hope the weather cooperates all the way up and back. Love Ya Tim. So proud of you!!
Posted by: Bob McLaughlin on 6/26/2012 at 3:20 pm
View All Comments