Custom Denali Team 5 Summit

June 7, 2022 – Our Custom Denali Team 5, led by Willie Webster, summited Denali on June 5, bringing the entire team to the summit in beautiful weather. The team enjoyed stellar views and clear skies. They’ve begun their descent and continue down the mountain.

This wraps our May Denali programs, with 5/5 reaching the summit. Congratulations to all of our hardworking climbers and guides, and stay tuned as our June Denali programs depart in the coming days.

Looking down the fixed ropes towards 14 Camp (Eric Simonson)

Denali Team 4 Summits

June 4, 2022 – Congratulations to Denali Team 4, led by Nicole Sims, on their successful summit of the tallest peak in North America on Friday, June 3. The team has safely returned to 17,000 ft and is beginning their descent today. Close behind Team 4 is Custom Denali Team 5 led by Willie Webster. They have moved to 17,000 ft camp and are staging for their summit attempt in the coming days.

Meanwhile, Denali Teams 2 and 3 have all made it safely back to Talkeetna, congratulations to them for a successful expedition!

The West Buttress Route from an airplane

Summits On Denali

June 2, 2022 – Congratulations to Denali Team 2, led by Rowan Stewart, and Denali Team 3, led by Keith Rumburg, on their successful summits of Denali! Both teams summited in clear and relatively warm weather yesterday, collaborating to get both teams to the summit. Team 2 has returned to 14,000 feet to rest, and Team 3 will begin their descent today. Team 1, led by Nickel Wood, has wrapped up their post-trip logistics and has returned to Anchorage for their imminent departure.

Team 4 (Nicole Sims) – 17,000 feet

Team 5 (Willie Webster) – 14,000 feet

All is well on Denali!

Climbing on the West Buttress with Mt Foraker behind (Eric Simonson)

Rainier Summits

Congratulations to our Baker Rainier Seminar team, led by Brad Swanson, which summitted both Mt Rainier and Mt Baker this week, utilizing small weather windows to achieve a summit on both peaks. Our first Emmons climb of the year, led by Anna Hicks, summitted Rainier via the Emmons route this morning and the team is now resting at Camp Schurman. Anna led the team to the first guided summit of Rainier via the Emmons route in 2022. Congratulations to both teams, their hard work paid off!

The Baker/Rainier Seminar climbing team descends the upper Ingraham Glacier early on May 31 (Nico Leis).

Success on Denali

May 30, 2022 – Congratulations to IMG Denali Team 1 led by Nickel Wood and assistants Leanne Sebren, Lara Ralich, and Blair Hutchinson! The team successfully summited on Sunday afternoon, May 29, in clear weather and were rewarded with excellent views. The team returned safely to camp at 17,000 feet and plans to descend promptly.

Teams 2-5 continue their ascents:

Team 2 (Rowan Stewart) – 17,000 feet

Team 3 (Keith Rumburg) – 14,00 feet

Team 4 (Nicole Sims) – 14,000 feet

Team 5 (Willie Webster) – 11,000 feet

Climbing on the West Buttress with Mt Foraker behind (Eric Simonson)

All is well on Denali!

Denali Teams Continue Up The Mountain

May 28, 2022 – Good news as Denali Teams continue to ascend.

Team 1 – Team 1 moved to 17,000 feet yesterday.

Team 2 – Team 2 moved to 17,000 feet yesterday.

Team 3 – Team 3 moved to 14,000 feet yesterday.

Team 4 – Team 4 is at 11,000 feet and took an acclimatization hike to 13,000 feet yesterday.

Team 5 – Team 5 reached 11,000 feet yesterday.

All is well on Denali as the teams make their way up the tallest mountain in North America.

The Lower Kahiltna, not far from where climbers get dropped off, on a cloudy day.

Denali Teams Continue Their Ascent

May 25, 2022 – Team 4 (led by Nicole Sims) and our Custom Denali Team 5 (led by Willie Webster) have joined the other teams on Denali; all 5 teams are on the mountain! Team 4 flew on to the Kahiltna on Sunday in beautiful weather, and Custom Denali Team 5 flew on Tuesday. All is well on Denali!

Team 1 (Nickel Wood): 14,000 feet

Team 2 (Rowan Steward): 14,000 feet

Team 3 (Keith Rumberg): 11,000 feet

Team 4 (Nicole Sims): 11,000 feet

Team 5 (Willie Webster): 9,000 feet

IMG’s Custom Denali Team 5 loaded in the ski-plane with their gear, ready to depart for the Kahiltna.

IMG Denali Team 4, led by Nicole Sims, ready to leave for the Kahiltna

IMG Summits Rainier!

Congratulations to Patrick Mauro and his team for reaching the summit of Rainier for this morning for the first time this season. The team put in a monumental effort exploring different route options on Rainier and establishing our high camp early Sunday putting the team in a position to make a successful summit bid early this morning. Patrick’s conditions report from the summit was “windy, but clear.”

Lead Guide Patrick Mauro poses with his team at the summit of Mt Rainier.

Teams Moving Up Denali

Teams 1,2, and 3 have checked in from Denali, and all are doing well. Team 1 led by Nickel Wood, plans to move camp to 14,000 feet today, with Team 2, led by Rowan Stewart, close behind at 11,000ft.

Team 3, lead by Keith Rumberg, poses in front of the plane taking them to the Kahiltna.

Team 3, led by Keith Rumberg, flew on to Denali yesterday and is comfortably camped near 10,000ft. Team 4, led by Nicole Sims, arrived in Talkeetna yesterday and the team will spend the day preparing their expedition to depart in the coming days.

Denali Team #2 Flying On; Team #1 at 9,200′

More good news from Alaska today! Team #3 is meeting up in Anchorage.Â Team #2 was able to fly into the Kahiltna Glacier Basecamp on schedule this morning.

Team #1 has moved up in a single carry to 9,200′ camp above Ski Hill and will be turning their attention to moving to the 11,000 Camp. With high pressure remaining in control through Saturday, we expect to have several days of good opportunity to continue moving our teams up the mountain!