The 5 Days Into The Climb

Alaska Diary - WEEK 1 | Into The Shift - Through immersive journals, raw reflections, and behind-the-scenes insights, you’ll witness how challenge, nature, movement, and mindset converge to spark personal growth, clarity, and connection.

Author

Renata Farah
June 20, 2025

THE SHIFT

INTO THE SHIFT

Your inner journey starts where comfort ends.

“Into The Shift” is Rekonnekt’s storytelling and content series that follows real people — executives, athletes, and entrepreneurs — as they step outside their comfort zones and into transformative experiences.

➡️ Meet one of REKONNEKT’S Founder Members Bernardo Fonseca, CEO & Founder of X3M Brazil — one of the country’s leading sports and experience agencies, known for producing major endurance and adventure events across Latin America.

Now, Bernardo is taking his passion for challenge to the next level… on his “out of office” days, he’s heading to Alaska….

Alaska Adventure is ON!

Denali Expedition Journal

5 DAYS INTO THE CLIMB

➡️ 5 Days Into the Climb
By Bernardo & Renata

🔗 Connectivity

Starlink has been our lifeline. It’s the only way I can stay in touch, and I’ve been using the Garmin Messenger app to send sporadic updates whenever I get a chance. It’s wild how this tiny thread of connection can feel so precious out here.

1️⃣ Day 1 – First Steps on Ice

We flew in on a small bush plane, landing directly on the glacier. It was surreal. We set up camp under the open sky, exposed to the cold until 11 PM—then the real journey began. We started our trek toward Camp 1 through the freezing darkness, dragging our gear across unforgiving terrain. Sleep would have to wait.

2️⃣ Day 2 – Sweat in the Cold

Despite the ice and snow, the heat was brutal today. We left around midnight from Camp 1, hauling part of our load up to Camp 2 before returning. This back-and-forth is part of our acclimatisation strategy—and frankly, it’s the only way to manage the weight we’re carrying. Everything is too heavy to move in one go, so we split the loads and tough it out.

3️⃣ Day 3 – A Test of Will

A marathon day. Eight relentless hours from Camp 1 to Camp 2. We retrieved the food and gear we had cached along the way. Every step was hard-earned. The landscape here is brutally beautiful, and it demands everything from you—physically and mentally.

4️⃣ Day 4 – Loss and Resolve

We’re holding in Camp 2 now. Eating, resting, trying to regain some strength. The weather is surprisingly good, but carrying enough supplies for 21 days in these conditions feels like an impossible task. Today was especially tough—one of our teammates wasn’t well, so we carried all his gear too. It pushed us to our limits.

Today, I also got news that shattered me.

My mother-in-law passed away. I wrestled with what to do—go back or keep going. After a heartfelt talk with my wife, we agreed I should continue. Turning back at this stage is almost logistically impossible.

Climbing Denali is a different kind of beast. It demands everything—planning, physical grit, and emotional resilience. I’ve been learning a lot. About weight, efficiency, and how to strip everything down to only what truly matters. It’s been brutal—but as I keep reminding myself, nothing worth it comes easy.

5️⃣ Day 5 – Camp 3 and Back Again

Today we pushed to Camp 3, reaching 4,200 meters. It was bitterly cold—but I slept well last night, and I’m feeling strong, well-acclimatised. After reaching C3, we returned to Camp 2, caching much of our gear to pick up later. It’s a strategy game up here—balancing energy, time, and weather.

This expedition is the hardest challenge I’ve ever taken on, but it’s also deeply rewarding. If you’re reading this and have any questions, feel free to ask.

I’ll keep sharing whenever the connection allows.

More updates to come… keep the good vibes flowing!

The journey ahead promises powerful stories—each step a lesson in humility in the face of nature’s greatness.

Grateful to REKONNEKT for helping share this experience with the world ♾️

The Rekonnekt Discoveries

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A Final Note

NOTES FROM THE FOUNDER

Stories are the most powerful weapon in a leader's arsenal. Storytelling shapes our understanding of the world, influences our actions, and connects us to each other. They can inspire, create empathy, and even change lives. 

Here for a more connected world,

Where business meets adventure.
Connections go beyond networking.

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