Entries from Denali
June 10, 2024
Posted by: Hannah Smith, Devin Guffey, Josh Geiser
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Denali
Elevation: 11,000'
Hello again,
Today we decided to take our rest day. All night the wind battered our tents and send snow swirling between the rain fly and tent body. The gusts kept up until the morning but later subsided and turned into a calm, bright, hot day. The team enjoyed the warm weather. They occupied themselves with a chess tournament. They are currently playing for seeding. Tomorrow we are looking to make our carry to 13,600' and Tuesday move to 14,000' Camp. Weather looks to be in our favor, so keep sending those good weather vibes our way the next couple days. Now we must catch some sleep for our day tomorrow.
Goodnight all,
RMI Guide Hannah Smith and Team
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June 9, 2024
Posted by: Hannah Smith, Devin Guffey, Josh Geiser
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Denali
Elevation: 11,000'
Saturday, June 8, 2024 - 8:55 pm PT
Greetings readers!
Today we had a casual morning eating breakfast burritos and sipping coffee. By 9:50am we were packed and roped uo for our back carry to our 9300' cache. A light wind kept the temps down and the team made fast work getting to the cache. After a bit of digging we retrieved all our things, packed it all up and headed back uphill. Up, down, up, down, sleep, eat, and repeat is the the name of the game out here. If you ain't walking you are sleeping or eating. After a bit of rest in the afternoon we reviewed walking in our crampons and packed for our carry to 13,600'. If the winds don't turn up which they are forecasted to, we will carry our gear and get in position to move to 14,000' Camp. The team is very eager to get up there. But we have to take our time and properly allow our bodies to compensate to the decrease in oxygen molecules up here. As I write the winds are picking up but maybe they will get it out of its system during the night. So goodnight all and send those good weather vibes.
RMI Guide Hannah Smith and Team
Sign Up For Denali Expedition June 2, 2024 Emails
Hey Hannah and Team! All the best wishes for calm winds and sunny skies for your move up hill!! Climb high! Climb Strong!!!
Farmer Dave
Posted by: Dave Kestel on 6/10/2024 at 3:32 am
Sending you good weather vibes!
Posted by: Shannon R Smith on 6/9/2024 at 3:37 pm
June 8, 2024
Posted by: Hannah Smith, Devin Guffey, Josh Geiser
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Denali
Elevation: 11,200'
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Friday, June 8, 2024 8:43 pm PDT
Good evening readers!
We are writing to you from 11k Camp. Our day started early with an alpine start thinking it was going to be the wee hours of the morning when the weather would clear. That turned out to be incorrect. We woke to white all around us. We were in a cloud. You could barely see the tents up glacier. We dragged our feet and took a nap. After a few hours the clouds started to lift so we packed up our camp.
The walking was tough today. The trail Had been blown in with lots of snow. The trail breaking was slow and exhausting but we made hung in there and rolled into 11k Camp. Feels good to be higher on the mountain. Just one step closer to our goal. At dinner we filled our bellies with Annie's Mac and Cheese and now we are all ready for a much-deserved sleep. We are all looking forward to uninterrupted sleep tonight. Tomorrow we will head back downhill to our cache to be reunited with our gear.
Goodnight, all!
RMI Guide Hannah Smith and Team
Sign Up For Denali Expedition June 2, 2024 Emails
Nothing to it but to do it. Onward and upwards
Posted by: PCash on 6/9/2024 at 6:28 am
Nice, guys! What a beautiful picture! Shane, hopefully that dried broccoli went right in the mac nom nom. Excited for the next update!
Posted by: Tara Kallembach on 6/8/2024 at 9:33 am
June 7, 2024
Posted by: Hannah Smith, Devin Guffey, Josh Geiser
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Denali
Elevation: 7,800'
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Thursday, June 6, 2024 6:11pm PDT
Hello readers!
The snow pitter pattered all night. With every tap to the side of the tent snow slides off. It was a winter wonderland. White surrounded us. You could see nothing but white. With visibility being low and tents wet, we decided to lay low and hang tight for the day. The team rested and the snow Fell most of the day. Towards the late afternoon the base of the peaks became visible. An optimistic sign that maybe the weather is letting up. We are Hopeful that we can get still move to 11k camp in an alpine start fashion much like we do on Rainier. So, after dinner we are going to rest a few hours and hopefully the weather is descent, and we can make our move.
Wish us luck and send good weather vibes.
RMI Guide Hannah Smith and Team
Sign Up For Denali Expedition June 2, 2024 Emails
Hi Tommy and group, wishing you all the best of luck for better weather and a successful climb. And thank you for all the updates.
Posted by: Jen Mackenzie on 6/8/2024 at 12:18 am
Hi Tommy MacKenzie,
We love you! Michael and I say hi!
I hope you are doing well and you have good conditions.
Wishing everyone a safe and wonderful experience❤️
Posted by: Linda Barrow on 6/7/2024 at 5:53 pm
June 6, 2024
Posted by: Hannah Smith, Devin Guffey, Josh Geiser
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Denali
Elevation: 7,800'
Wednesday, June 5, 2024 - 8:25 pm PT
Good evening everyone. Today we woke to clear skies above with clouds lingering over Denali. So it was go time to get our carry in. We knew the storm would come sooner or later so we got an early start and we walking by 5am. Fueled by bagels, cream cheese, and salmon we made our way up Ski Hill. The cool air felt good to walk in compared to the rather hot and sweaty walk yesterday. After gaining two thousand feet and the beginning of snow flurries, we decided to call 9300' our cache spot. We dug a big hole to fit all our cache items and then scurried out of there before more snow fell. The rest of the day we enjoyed a bunch of tent time which included naps, reading, watching shows, listening to music, and eating snacks. Some of the best sleep comes in the afternoon. Tomorrow we hope to move to 11,000' camp. This will depend on what the weather brings us in the morning. We may need to be patient but that's part of the Denali game. As for now, we are all settling into our sleeping bags as the snow pitter patters on our tents. It's quite relaxing. So goodnight all!
RMI Guide Hannah And team
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June 5, 2024
Posted by: Hannah Smith, Devin Guffey, Josh Geiser
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Denali
Elevation: 7,800'
Tuesday, June 4, 2024
Hello followers!
Today was a big day! Skies were clear which meant we would be flying. The team got their last lattes and drip coffees before making their way to the hanger. The pilot told us half the team would fly then he would come back for the rest of us. This gave the team time to get dialed with sled rigging and tent set up before arriving on the glacier and for those on the glacier time to learn too. As always the flight in was amazing. The views are stunning. The peaks of the Alaska Range are rocky and snowy and big. A bumpy landing got the team all safely on the glacier. The pilots are truly amazing at what they do. After some quick work shuffling gear and rigging up we hit the Kahiltna glacier running. Well not running. Slowly waddling in our snowshoes and heavy packs. We crushed the downhill and made smooth work of the uphill. You can tell the team did great training and it sure paid off with the smooth sailing we had getting to camp. It's all a learning curve right now, trying to get in a groove setting up camp. In a couple days we will be smooth as butter at it. Pizza for dinner always makes the heart and stomach happy. Our outdoor seating had amazing views of the surrounding peaks. Tomorrow we will hopefully do a carry to 9,600' give or take. We are hoping the storm stays away or at least gives us the morning/early afternoon. As for now, we are all getting our gear organized and into our sleeping bags for a well deserved rest.
Goodnight everyone!
RMI Guide Hannah Smith
Sign Up For Denali Expedition June 2, 2024 Emails
Hey Hannah!
I’m sending all the best thoughts and prayers for Perfect weather for you and your team!!!
Farmer Dave
Posted by: Dave Kestel on 6/6/2024 at 3:46 am
Great start to a great adventure! We’re so proud of you Dada! Stay safe and stay warm!
Posted by: Jessica on 6/5/2024 at 10:52 pm
June 4, 2024
Posted by: Hannah Smith, Devin Guffey, Josh Geiser
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Denali
Tuesday June 4, 2024 3:05pm PDT
Hannah Smith & Team are flying onto the glacier, and will officially start their climb!
Sign Up For Denali Expedition June 2, 2024 Emails
Strive for greatness and conquer that mountain, like my GOAT LeBron James! I’ll think of you all when I’m enjoying Space Jam 2 tonight! (My personal favorite) ❤️
Posted by: Patrick on 6/5/2024 at 6:11 pm
Good luck, learn lots, and have a great time team! Meganne, you are just the most incredible badass I know, you’ve got this
Posted by: Emma Bassein on 6/5/2024 at 7:31 am
June 4, 2024
Posted by: Hannah Smith, Devin Guffey, Josh Geiser
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Denali
Elevation: 348'
Monday, June 3, 2024
Hello readers,
Today was jammed pack with packing and sorting. The team went through their gear making sure they have all the crucial items to safely climb the mountain. Along with those crucial items is 22lbs of snack food. Everyone has a good mixture of salty, sweet, crunchy, chewy items to make them happy on the mountain. Once we knew we had all the right gear, we sorted it into our packs and duffles to be weighed for the plane. We ended our day with some souvenir shopping and a team dinner. The team is excited to get on the glacier and begin their expedition they have been training for. Fingers crossed the weather holds!
Goodnight,
RMI Guide Hannah Smith and Team
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June 1, 2024
Posted by: Dustin Wittmier, Daniel May, Lacie Smith
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Denali
Elevation: 20,310'
Friday May 31, 2024 7:16pm PDT
On Summit!
Saturday, June 1, 2024 12:55am PDT
Returned to 17,000' Camp safely at 10pm and planning to begin descent tomorrow morning.
RMI Guide Dustin Wittmier & Team
Sign Up For Denali Expedition, May 12, 2024 Emails
Sharon and Sarah,
Congratulations On quite the accomplishment. Waiting word from you to come pick you up in Talkeetna.
Hope the descent is going well.
John/Margaret
Posted by: John on 6/1/2024 at 5:48 pm
Congratulations Dustin and Team!!
That is Just Awesome!!!!
Posted by: Dave Kestel on 6/1/2024 at 12:43 pm
May 29, 2024
Posted by: Dustin Wittmier, Daniel May, Lacie Smith
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Denali
Elevation: 17,000'
Wednesday, May 29, 2024 - 4:15 pm PT
Hello again from 17,000' Camp. The views up here have been rewarding. Our camp is settled above the clouds and other Alaska range peaks. We went to bed early last night with high hopes of getting up for our final summit push. Unfortunately we awoke to less than ideal winds at camp and windy spindrifts on Denali Pass. We started the day with breakfast and hot drinks in our tents to stay out of the elements and have been hunkered down to avoid the cold winds. We’re patient, we’re staying warm and we’re very motivated for another attempt tomorrow!
RMI Guides Lacie, Dustin, Dan and team
Sign Up For Denali Expedition, May 12, 2024 Emails
Awesome job, Jordan!! We are so proud of you and praying for a safe return!!! Keep it up!!!
Posted by: Dylan and Kat Hunt on 6/1/2024 at 10:46 am
They did it!!! Huge congratulations to the entire team!!!! Love you Skyler!!!
Posted by: Matt Milford on 5/31/2024 at 8:24 pm
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I’m just here for some quality Patrick comments.
Posted by: Will on 6/13/2024 at 11:04 pm
Helloooo Tommy from Sunriver!
Keep up the good work. Love you miss you!
Chess? You have this hands down. I’m sure you’re in the finals, if I had to place a bet.
Posted by: Linda Barrow on 6/11/2024 at 8:51 am
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