Entries from Denali
May 25, 2024
Posted by: Mike Walter, Jess Wedel, Michael Murray
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Denali
Elevation: 17,000'
Friday, May 24, 2024 11:30pm PDT
We moved to High Camp in great weather today. Seven hours of climbing and hours more of building camp has everyone a bit tuckered. We'll check the weather in the morning and decide about going for the summit.
RMI Guide Mike Walter & Team
Sign Up For Denali Expedition, May 5, 2024 Emails
May 25, 2024
Posted by: Pete Van Deventer, Jackson Breen
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Denali
Elevation: 17,000'
Friday, May 24, 2024 10:51pm PDT
Things worked well for us today to get to 17,000’ Camp. The morning was relatively warm, things looked calm above finally, and everyone was excited to go somewhere new. That was true of most of camp as many guide parties all took the opportunity to bump up to high camp. It was a busy day on the fixed lines and buttress, but overall, it went pretty smoothly for us.
We were one of the first parties to arrive at 17,000’ Camp in the midafternoon, and had plenty of time to build camp while taking breaks to rest and recover up here in the thin air. We are settled in comfortably, and headed to bed shortly to wake up and see if tomorrow is our day to go for the summit!
Wish us fair weather and swift feet!
RMI Guide Pete Van Deventer & Team
Sign Up For Denali Expedition, May 7, 2024 Emails
Pete, Jackson and team….. you got this!! Proud, inspired and in awe of you all!! Finish the climb!
Posted by: Amy Breen on 5/25/2024 at 11:18 am
Get up that mountain Scott!!! I know you can do it! We are all rooting for your and your team!!
Posted by: Jackie Millen on 5/25/2024 at 9:16 am
May 24, 2024
Posted by: Nikki Champion, Leif Bergstrom
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Denali
Elevation: 11,200'
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Today was a challenging day. We rigged up with half the food and gear to go cache around Windy Corner. We made our way up Motorcycle and Squirrel, and through the Polo Fields but not all the way to Windy Corner. Going to see what tomorrow brings.
RMI Guide Nikki Champion & Team
Sign Up For Denali Expedition May 14, 2024 Emails
Go Uncle Jimmy!!! We are so proud of you! Stay safe and keep climbing that mountain! -Abby, Josh, Carter and Helena
Posted by: Abby Roberts on 5/25/2024 at 10:38 am
Go team Nikki, Go!!!
Posted by: Tracy and Bruce Wilhelm on 5/24/2024 at 1:33 pm
May 24, 2024
Posted by: Pete Van Deventer, Jackson Breen
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Denali
Elevation: 14,200'
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We went to bed last night really warm. The sun was still on the tents, and temps through camp were warm. That lasted until early morning, when suddenly the clouds dropped, and the temperature plummeted. This morning therefore was one of the coldest of the trip, properly bone-chilling cold. Halfway through breakfast the sun finally hit and our fortunes changed, thawing us out and warming up conversation. This was hopefully our last rest day. We took the opportunity to walk the short jaunt to the Edge of the World, where the edge of Genet Basin in which 14k camp is located, plummets to the NE fork of the Kahiltna 7000' below.
Otherwise, we’ve rested and organized for a hoped for move to 17,000’ tomorrow. The forecast looks promising, and we are excited to enter the home stretch! We'll send a progress report tomorrow.
RMI Guide Pete Van Deventer & Team
Sign Up For Denali Expedition, May 7, 2024 Emails
We love reading about your expedition! We’re thinking about my brother, Scott and hoping for good weather and a successful climb!
Posted by: Julie Joyce on 5/24/2024 at 7:09 pm
Great updates! And best of luck to the team. Jackson, we’re rooting for you all!
Tracy and Bruce
Posted by: Tracy and Bruce Wilhelm on 5/24/2024 at 1:35 pm
May 23, 2024
Posted by: Mike Walter, Jess Wedel, Michael Murray
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Denali
Elevation: 14,000'
Thursday, May 23, 2024 - 12:38 pm PT
It's a sunny day at 14,000' Camp with thick clouds below and strong winds above. We'll be resting again today, continuing to get stronger for our summit push. Weather models seem to be in agreement that improving conditions this weekend will usher in the first big wave of summit attempts of the season. We're in position to take advantage when we get our shot. We'll keep you posted.
Sign Up For Denali Expedition, May 5, 2024 Emails
We’re cheering you all on!
Posted by: Sharon Spaulding on 5/24/2024 at 4:32 pm
We are so excited for the team! I hope all goes well in our prayers are with you!
Posted by: Kathie Roberts on 5/23/2024 at 5:39 pm
May 23, 2024
Posted by: Pete Van Deventer, Jackson Breen
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Denali
Elevation: 14,000'
It was still pretty clear that we were going to sit today, the winds were ripping around up high like a school of minnows, darting in all directions. Camp, however, had finally calmed, the snow had stopped, and it was shaping up to be a sunny day. The sun eventually evaded the clouds up high and broke free thawing our tents and bodies. The rest of the day we stored up heat in our body batteries, basked in that orange orb, and rested. The forecast is looking better going forward, so we hope to be taking the next steps in the next few days. Until then, we'll continue basking in our high altitude solarium.
RMI Guide Pete Van Deventer
Sign Up For Denali Expedition, May 7, 2024 Emails
May 23, 2024
Posted by: Nikki Champion, Leif Bergstrom
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Denali
Elevation: 11,000'
Wednesday, May 22, 2024 - 9:44 pm PT
Another weather day in the books. We woke up hoping to carry this morning, but instead were greeted by another morning of strong winds and snowfall. After looking up Motorcycle Hill for a bit, and watching to see if weather improved we crawled back in our sleeping bags and decided it was going to be another rest and weather day. We needed winds to die down a bit to make it around Windy Corner. After camp warmed up a bit, we made some coffee and breakfast burritos and settled into another day of acclimating and resting. The weather broke a bit, and we were able to get the caches reading for tomorrow, practice putting our crampons on and just getting a bit of fresh air. Tomorrow we are yet again hoping for a bit better weather, and the chance to carry.
RMI Guide Nikki Champion
Sign Up For Denali Expedition May 14, 2024 Emails
Hi Will and team! Glad you got a small break in the weather and hoping for the best in the coming days. Congrats on your determination and preparation to make the trip - enjoy this adventure to the fullest!
Posted by: Rebecca on 5/24/2024 at 5:15 am
Hey Pops!
Hopefully mother nature chills out a bit and you guys can continue the climb up! Stay safe and we love you
Cody & girls
Posted by: Cody,amanda,addie & ava on 5/23/2024 at 10:40 am
May 22, 2024
Posted by: Mike Walter, Jess Wedel, Michael Murray
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Denali
Elevation: 14,000'
Wednesday, May 22, 2024 3:23 pm PDT
We're resting again at 14k. We're in the sun, but the cloud deck is just below us. And strong winds continue to ravage the upper mountain above us. After a lengthy brunch, our team spent a few hours building snow walls to fortify camp. We're hopeful that the weather change we're looking for will arrive by the weekend so we can make a summit push. Signs are optimistic and our team's spirits are high.
RMI Guide Mike Walter and Team
Sign Up For Denali Expedition, May 5, 2024 Emails
You are almost there!!! Patience and the time will be there before you know it! We are with you.
Posted by: Bruce Wilhelm on 5/22/2024 at 7:53 pm
Stay safe out there!
Posted by: Some guy from Puyallup on 5/22/2024 at 5:19 pm
May 22, 2024
Posted by: Nikki Champion, Leif Bergstrom
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Denali
Elevation: 11,000'
May 21, 2024
Our first real rest day - and our first real weather day. Winds picked up overnight and didn't let off all day. Along with the winds came the snow. We spent all day in our sleeping bags or battling to keep track of our belongings in the snow. We wrapped our first weather day up with some hand delivered burritos, and crawled in bed hoping to carry beyond Windy Corner tomorrow.
RMI Guide Nikki Champion
Sign Up For Denali Expedition May 14, 2024 Emails
Stay strong, stay focused. Praying for better weather. We’re rooting for you! Love, Noel and crew
Posted by: Noel on 5/22/2024 at 6:30 pm
Sending prayers of strength and endurance. Amazed to watch your progress and thrilled you got rested for next milestone! Windy Corner here you come! Love to Tim! Teri
Posted by: Teri on 5/22/2024 at 6:01 pm
May 22, 2024
Posted by: Pete Van Deventer, Jackson Breen
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Denali
Elevation: 14,000'
Tuesday, May 21, 2024 - 6:55 pm PT
It's been a stormy rest day at 14,000' Camp. Early this morning, things were calm in camp and relatively clear. We could hear the wind above at 17,000', and large cloud banks seemed to hang all around. There was a large wall of white to the south of us, and by the middle of brunch, that had overtaken camp. We had little visibility and snow fell lightly. As the day went on, the wind direction moved just enough to subject us to it's gusts. The tents shake, spindrift is invading through any opening it can find, and snow continues to fall, harder now, drumming on the tents when the wind isn't shaking them. It has been a perfect day to stay deep in the sleeping bags, napping reading, snacking, playing cards, and venturing out occasionally to fortify our compound with walls cut from snow blocks. We are snug and riding it out. More tomorrow.
RMI Guide Pete Van Deventer
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Big hello and hugs to Jill from all of the Bons! Best wishes on your summit push you stud. We love you!
Posted by: Amanda Stone on 5/25/2024 at 4:15 pm
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