tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-270525562009-04-21T12:48:39.872-07:00Todd Rutledgeinfo@mountaintrip.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27052556.post-1147985476694711412006-05-18T13:50:00.000-07:002006-05-18T13:51:16.710-07:00On the way down the expedition met a nice little snow storm. Everyone is in sort of a holding pattern, whether they are moving down the mountain is yet to be seen but even if they made it to base camp today they would not be able to fly out.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/27052556-114798547669471141?l=denaliearlybirds.blogspot.com'/></div>Todd Rutledgeinfo@mountaintrip.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27052556.post-1147834261854811032006-05-16T19:49:00.000-07:002006-05-16T21:08:05.566-07:00At 6:30 pm today we recieved a call. . . the summit was glorious. Tonight they will stay at high camp and should start heading down the mountain tomorrow. Fantastic!!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/27052556-114783426185481103?l=denaliearlybirds.blogspot.com'/></div>Todd Rutledgeinfo@mountaintrip.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27052556.post-1147826776637229352006-05-16T17:45:00.000-07:002006-05-16T17:46:16.643-07:00Today is absolutely perfect on the mountain. The Early Birds are trying for the Summit today. If they succeed they will be the first team to reach the top in the 2006 season. Good Luck Everyone!!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/27052556-114782677663722935?l=denaliearlybirds.blogspot.com'/></div>Todd Rutledgeinfo@mountaintrip.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27052556.post-1147572485051413352006-05-13T19:06:00.000-07:002006-05-13T23:18:52.980-07:00Everybody made it to high camp at 17,000 ft yesterday and will be ready to make a summit attempt any day now. Weather has been good on the mountain with the hope of warmer temperatures coming their way everyone is pretty excited. Sounds like they are all in good spirits and ready to make the final push to the summit.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/27052556-114757248505141335?l=denaliearlybirds.blogspot.com'/></div>Todd Rutledgeinfo@mountaintrip.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27052556.post-1147321478362418612006-05-10T21:23:00.000-07:002006-05-13T23:16:23.336-07:00The first group of the season is moving well and carried a load today up to the ridge at just over 16,000 feet. Climbing was a little strenuous due to icy conditions. Tomorrow the party will take a well deserved rest day. The next chance they get they will move up to high camp at 17,200 feet.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/27052556-114732147836241861?l=denaliearlybirds.blogspot.com'/></div>Todd Rutledgeinfo@mountaintrip.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27052556.post-1147230212900225992006-05-09T20:02:00.000-07:002006-05-09T23:22:42.383-07:00The expedition is spending another night acclimating and enjoying the beautiful veiws from the 14,000 foot camp. As one of the first expeditions of the season they will have the priveledge of digging out the "Fixed Lines". These are ropes that are anchored in the snow and ice and help climbers ascend the steeper terrain to the ridge at 16,200ft. There are about 700 feet of this fixed rope and the first teams(Guides) of the season have the job of clearing the snow and getting them ready to use. The plan from this camp is to carry a load of food and fuel to the ridge at 16,000ft, and then return to camp at 14,000 to rest for a day. After that they will be ready to move to high camp at 17,200 feet as soon as the weather looks good. Wish them luck with the weather, and we will update as soon as we get some news.<br /><br />We recieved a call this evening and the expedition did a carry to the ridge. They hope to move up to 17,000 ft tomorrow.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/27052556-114723021290022599?l=denaliearlybirds.blogspot.com'/></div>Todd Rutledgeinfo@mountaintrip.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27052556.post-1147123378152432952006-05-08T14:18:00.000-07:002006-05-09T20:04:18.260-07:00Good weather is back. . . today the Early Bird Expedition is making their way up to 14,000 ft. Word on the street is that everyone is doing great. They will be taking a few days to rest, hang out and take in the views at 14,000ft.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/27052556-114712337815243295?l=denaliearlybirds.blogspot.com'/></div>Todd Rutledgeinfo@mountaintrip.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27052556.post-1146966246740360382006-05-06T18:39:00.000-07:002006-05-06T18:44:06.746-07:00We got the call this afternoon(Sat. May 6) from the team. They have spent a couple of extra days at 11,000 feet waiting out the weather, but got a break today. The crew carried a load of food and fuel from 11,000ft to 13,500ft to stock the next camp. If the weather continues to cooperate they will be moving up to the 14,000 foot camp. Let's hope for sunny skies, and we should hear from them tommorow. Everyone is doing great, and excited to move on up!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/27052556-114696624674036038?l=denaliearlybirds.blogspot.com'/></div>Todd Rutledgeinfo@mountaintrip.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27052556.post-1146766336321123902006-05-04T11:06:00.000-07:002006-05-04T11:12:16.336-07:00We haven't heard a peep from the Early Bird expedition. Between base camp and the 14,000ft camp the cell phones won't get a signal. It usually takes about a week to move on up to 14K so we may hear from them this weekend for the first time. The weather has been pretty nice so far, but thursday and friday are going to be a bit snowy. <br /><br />We'll update the blog as soon as we get any news. Stay Tuned...<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/27052556-114676633632112390?l=denaliearlybirds.blogspot.com'/></div>Todd Rutledgeinfo@mountaintrip.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27052556.post-1146367155540360392006-04-29T20:18:00.000-07:002006-04-29T20:21:30.573-07:00The team drove up to Talkeetna this morning and registered with the National Park Service. After watching a Power Point presentation about what they might expect on the mountain, they made their way to the airstrip and flew in to the Alaska Range.<br /><br />Everyone is excited to be on schedule and on the move!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/27052556-114636715554036039?l=denaliearlybirds.blogspot.com'/></div>Todd Rutledgeinfo@mountaintrip.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27052556.post-1146156183523430502006-04-27T09:02:00.000-07:002006-04-27T09:43:03.543-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6572/1215/1600/DSCN0134.0.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6572/1215/320/DSCN0134.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />The team's first view of Denali will be from Base Camp looking over the Mt. Francis saddle. The summit is a mere 2.5 miles above Base Camp!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/27052556-114615618352343050?l=denaliearlybirds.blogspot.com'/></div>Todd Rutledgeinfo@mountaintrip.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27052556.post-1146080463410800642006-04-26T12:26:00.000-07:002006-04-27T09:01:16.326-07:00Mountain Trip is thrilled to welcome a group of climbers from around the world to our first Denali expedition of 2006. The climbers include:<br /><br />Dan Meyer from Anchorage, Alaska, USA<br />Jay Beaudoin from Greer, South Carolina, USA<br />Mirjam Reiser from Germany, but currently living in Greer, SC, USA (thanks Mirijam, for the expedition name!)<br />Andy Rees from the UK<br />Paul Taylor from the UK<br />Alex Lowenstein from Mill Valley, California, USA<br />Carl Hawthorne from the UK <br />Sean Purcell from Eagle River, Alaska, USA<br /><br />The Guides for the expedition are:<br /><br />Dave Staeheli from Palmer, Alaska<br />David Marchi from Shasta, California<br />Kevin Koprek from Silverton, Colorado<br />Kale Volimte from Ridgway, Colorado<br /><br /><br />These hearty souls are amongst the first climbers to attempt Denali this season and we wish them all the best of luck.<br /><br />Stay tuned for updates from the mountain...<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/27052556-114608046341080064?l=denaliearlybirds.blogspot.com'/></div>Todd Rutledgeinfo@mountaintrip.com1