RMI Expeditions BlogRSS

Posts for Guide News

RMI Guides Tyler Jones and Zeb Blais Ski 21,000 feet on Mt. Rainier

Posted by: Tyler Jones, Zeb Blais | May 17, 2013
Categories: *Guide News

On May 8-10th RMI Guides Zeb Blais and Tyler Jones took advantage of the good weather in the Pacific Northwest to do a multi-day ski mountaineering tour on Mt. Rainier.  The duo spent three days on the mountain and skied an incredible total of 21,000 vertical feet!

We caught up with Zeb and Tyler before their next mountaineering adventure.

RMI:  On the first day of your trip you left from Paradise and skinned to Camp Muir.  What were the conditions like?

Zeb Blais: The conditions getting to [Camp] Muir were ideal with fast-gliding and supportable corn snow that made for quick travel. 

Tyler Jones: The warm afternoon snow conditions gave us a chance to get in a nice ski run in on the Cowlitz Glacier after we reached Camp Muir.  At the same time, it provided us with a good trail for the morning to climb the Gibraltar Ledges Route to the summit.  From there, our plan was to traverse to Liberty Cap to get a view of the big runs!

RMI: That night you left Camp Muir with the intention of skiing Liberty Ridge. Were you able to ski that line?

Zeb Blais: The key to skiing big exposed lines is always the snow conditions.  When you’re looking at skiing a line like Liberty [Ridge] you can only know what the conditions are like when you get there.  We were hoping that the north and northeast facing snow would be chalky, smooth, and wind packed, but when we looked at the entrance to Liberty it was clear that it wasn’t going to be skiable.  The Liberty Ridge Route looked like mid-summer, maybe good for ice climbing, but certainly not skiable.  The Liberty Cap Glacier was down to blue ice with lumps of rime glued to it, which I imagine is fairly common since it is so steep, but the skiing below looked the same. Rappelling the Liberty Cap Glacier and skiing the rest of the line did not look like an inviting option.

RMI: What did you end up skiing instead?

Zeb Blais: After realizing that Liberty was not suitable, we turned our focus to the Mowich Face - an amazing, steep face on the northwest side of the mountain.  This looked tempting at first, but it was heavily rimed with blobs of water ice.  It was not a place to be on skis! We retreated back to the ridge above and decided we needed to focus on warmer, spring like-snow.  We decided on the Sickle, a west-facing chute on the Tahoma Glacier.  The snow in the Sickle was prime for skiing!

Tyler Jones: On our ski we had nice soft spring snow down to 8,500 feet.  From there we were able traverse to our objective for the next day: Success Ridge between the South Tahoma Glacier and the Success Glacier.  We spent the night on the ridge, getting some well-deserved sleep, with the magnificent 4,000-foot Success Glacier Couloir above us waiting to be skied. The conditions on the Success Glacier were superb.  The snow was firm for climbing and soft for skiing.  After the amazing fall line decent, we continued traversing to [the trailhead at] Paradise.  As we hit the Nisqually Glacier we added more vertical to our trip and finished at the Nisqually Bridge.  In total Zeb and I traveled 24 miles, gaining 19,000 feet and skiing 21,000 feet in 3 days.

RMI: How does being a Guide help prepare you for trips like this?

Tyler Jones: Being a guide helps to develop your intuitive mountain sense, which is very important for making good decisions in the mountains.  It is that gut feeling that can make all the difference.

Zeb Blais: Guiding also gives me a good base-line fitness for doing long days in the mountains.  Mountaineering is a unique sport that requires specific techniques and fitness to be efficient.  The more you do it the better you get!

RMI: What was your favorite part of this ski trip?

Tyler Jones: My favorite part of this trip was seeing a few new places, skiing a new run, and enjoying the views of the Tahoma Glacier from Sunset Ridge.

Zeb Blais: A huge part of the trip was sharing it with Tyler.  Moving in the mountains with a partner who you enjoy and trust makes all the difference.  There are thousands of big and small decisions to be made when doing a trip like this, from what gear to bring to what line to ski to ‘do we go left here or right?’ Making these choices and learning from other experienced climbers or guides is always something I enjoy.

Can’t forget skiing!  Maybe I should have said this first, but the skiing was awesome! Steep, exposed skiing with great snow is one of the most exhilarating things a person can do.

RMI: What adventures do you have planned next?

Zeb Blais: I am guiding a mountaineering trip on Shasta at the end of the month, and then I’ll be back on Rainier for the climbing season with a Denali West Buttress trip at the end of June.

Tyler Jones: I am guiding a Denali trip in June.  After that I am planning on flying back onto the mountain for a ski trip with my fiancé Laura.  After that I will return to guiding on Rainier and the Grand Teton.  Then, I am getting married in September!

---

Happy Mother’s Day from RMI!

Posted by: | May 12, 2013
Categories: *Guide News

RMI’s guides would like to recognize the special women behind the scenes at RMI Expeditions.

Autumn, Sarah, Lacey, Melissa, and Bridget are our office support system, ensuring that all of our trips run seamlessly. Thank you for your hard work, reliability, and flexibility. Your contributions to RMI are appreciated and recognized by all of us.

Other special mothers on staff include our shuttle drivers, Mara, Jennifer, and Lola! We could not be more grateful for your enthusiasm, support, and for your treats on warm summer days!

Finally, a special thank you to our mothers. Thank you for continually supporting our passion for exploring the mountains.

From Everest to Ashford, we wish everyone a Happy Mother’s Day. 

- The RMI Guides

---

Mt. Everest: Team Ready for First Camp 1 Rotation

Posted by: Dave Hahn, Seth Waterfall, Mark Tucker | April 16, 2013
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Guide News *Everest
Elevation: 17,575'

Mark Tucker here at Everest Basecamp (EBC).  Home away from home.  I recently completed an Everest Basecamp Trek and Island Peak climb. Always a pleasure to share this amazing place with adventure travelers.  I had a great time.  Hope the return home for my team went smooth.  Thank you all.

Back at EBC, I am settling in.  Getting organized is always a bit of work but much appreciated as our team’s prepare for the rotations to the upper camps.  Now that the organizing is done, I opened up the local grocery store for the team. They went shopping for their food to be consumed at Camp 1 on their upcoming nights.  They plan to head full force thru the Icefall in the early AM, looking at three nights on the hill.  The team looks great, ready to get into meat of the climb. We did take time out to build the horseshoe pits and get in a couple games.  Burrito night tonight.  A favorite meal here at EBC.

RMI Guide Mark Tucker

On The Map

Sign Up For Guide News 2013 Email Alerts

1

---

The RMI Difference in Papua: Preparations for our September climb of Carstensz Pyramid

Posted by: Alex Van Steen | March 20, 2013
Categories: *Guide News *Carstensz Pyramid

In every part of the world where we travel, some RMI individual is tasked with developing & maintaining the quality program presented on the web. Whatever their role, that individual typically has a personal attachment, investment and history with the lands, mountains or peoples visited during the program. Their effort includes much more than simply creating an appealing itinerary and a glitzy web presence. The behind-the-scenes work includes addressing RMI’s environmental responsibilities, social responsibilities, and the development of solid logistical support, from understanding local customs to establishing a safety net. Most importantly, this effort involves building relationships with the local community, helping to ensure that we operate as partners wherever we travel with whomever we work. For Carstensz Pyramid in Papua, New Guinea, I get to be that individual.

The description of our program strikingly claims that we are the only outfit in the Western Hemisphere to partner exclusively with indigenous Papuans. Does it make you wonder how that came to pass?

Papua’s somewhat notorious reputation extends beyond the daily rain, and slick mud and logs of the jungle trek, and beyond the remote nature, sharp rock, and high altitude of the actual climb. And that’s already a lot! Truthfully, for those who research their objectives carefully, Papua’s reputation extends even beyond the uncertainty and flexibility required to visit an area where political tensions and security concerns exists. Shouldn’t you choose your outfitter most carefully?

In February I spent approximately three weeks in New Guinea’s “interior” with the intention not just to climb Carstensz Pyramid again, having guided a recent trip, but, as I enjoy saying, “I went to meet people.” Most of my time was spent among the Moni and Dani tribes of the highlands, but I also had the opportunity to shake hands with Indonesian government officials, Papuan regency representatives, folks with the Freeport mine, school teachers, pastors and missionaries, both Indonesian and expat, village elders, and even folks who were likely associated with the freedom movement (though that was difficult to tell because it seemed like politics was on everyone’s lips.)

I met a lot of people, explained what I was up to, and had many discussions with many people (with both tribal and Bahasa Indonesia translators helping me). Some folks expressed utter amazement that I was walking through their lands. This is predominantly because I was off the beaten path, i.e., not on the traditional, historical routes which have seen a good bit of use (and abuse). My presence also elicited appreciation (something I didn’t necessarily expect) because I was choosing to walk through the land rather than helicopter over it. Very practically speaking, people explained, flying over their lands excludes them from the benefits tourism can bring. I was already convinced that the model for sustainable tourism needed to include the indigenous peoples who inhabited the lands we wish to travel though en route to Carstensz, and spending all these weeks on the ground emphasized my sense for following socially responsible practices.

RMI’s commitment to Responsible Climbing pursues environmentally and socially responsible practices. This is simple enough to say, but a significant investment of time, energy & money is required to make good on those words. I have been told by many of the people with whom I connected in Papua, that my “relationship building” excursion (which included porter and trekking guide training, as well as discussions regarding tourist behaviors and expectations for each of the villages along the trek) was the first of its kind by a Western outfitter.

Sadly, the people of Papua (whether indigenous or Indonesian) have become accustomed to transactions which center solely around the exchange of money. I would suggest that for a tribal culture, where community is highly valued, to encounter trekkers & climbers with expectations to “take” home interesting stories, photographs and a summit, who repeatedly fail to “give” relationships, virtually guarantees a poor experience for both sides. I’m not trying to paint too broad of a picture because the truth is that each individual Papuan also wants what is best for his/her own person, family or tribe, just as we do in the West. I do, however, suggest that our social responsibility must encompass more than just paying porters well for work done well. Failure to build strong relationships will lead further down the present path experienced by many Western outfitters: where porters feel poorly treated and are sometimes not paid, and where tourists feel exploited and are sometimes extorted. Looking further down that path, do you wonder what it might look like? It looks just like the tensions which closed the route through Beoga years ago after hostages were taken. It looks just like the tensions which are currently threatening the Illaga route following a hostage/extortion situation in July 2012, or the abandonment and subsequent death of a sick Danish climber by a highly experienced outfitter. It looks just like an increasing number of operators who no longer have the option to peaceably travel through tribal lands and now offer helicopter transit up and over “tribal tensions.” And honestly, with some of the political and societal tensions which exist, unless outfitters work to develop relationships which are in line with indigenous tribal cultures, tourists will have no options other than to hire armed police or military to escort them through tribal lands. Wouldn’t it be more culturally and socially responsible to build relationships with the native peoples in which both parties collaborated to build a sustainable model of tourism? 

I encourage you to follow my blog at http://climbcarstensz.wordpress.com as I continue to share stories of what I have learned and of what we seek to build over time.   

Amakane!

1

---

RMI Guide Robby Young Completes the AMGA Ski Guide Course in the Wasatch Mountains

Posted by: Robby Young | March 07, 2013
Categories: *Guide News

RMI Guide, Robby Young, recently completed the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) Ski Guide Course, held in Utah’s Wasatch Mountains under the tutelage of IFMGA guide Erik Liedecker and Sierra ski guide, Peter Leh.  Over the duration of the 12-day course, a wide array of skills was covered including uphill and downhill ski guiding techniques, technical rope skills, snowpack evaluation, winter camping, backcountry rescue, and risk management in alpine terrain.  Despite Utah’s challenging snowpack and over two feet of fresh snow that fell during the course, Robby and his colleagues were able to put these skills and techniques to use in Utah’s easy-to-access alpine world.  While skill development was the primary focus of the course, the famous Utah powder skiing made for a very enjoyable educational experience!

---

RMI Hosts Prep for Rainier Class at REI

Posted by: Eric Frank, Seth Waterfall, Paul Maier | March 06, 2013
Categories: *Guide News

RMI is hosting several Prep for Rainier classes over the months of February, March, and April at local REI stores in the Puget Sound area. Join RMI’s experienced guides to discuss everything that is need to prepare for Mt. Rainier, including conditioning, trip planning, route choice, and equipment selection to climb Washington State’s highest point!

Come out to your local REI store to hear stories and answer your questions about Mt. Rainier!

Thursday

4/11/2013

7:00pm

REI Seattle with Paul Maier

More info…

---

RMI Guide Mike King Takes in Avalanche Level 2 Training in Oregon

Posted by: Mike King | March 05, 2013
Categories: *Guide News

AAIRE Avalanche Level 2 with Wallowa Alpine Huts

There has not been any recent snow accumulation in the last week leading up to my course.  I am hoping to see characteristics of an intercontinental snowpack, only time will tell.  The drive into the Wallowa Mountains in Eastern Oregon is flat with Oregon’s “Little Switzerland” rising out of the horizon.  The temperature is in the single digits and the sky is clear.  Re-crystallized snow, I think to myself, could mean good ski touring. 

Through out the course the weather stayed cold and clear, which allowed our group to tour in several different areas digging snow pits and discussing travel techniques from a guide’s perspective.  For me the most compelling aspect was comparing our morning observations, forecast and trip plan with what was actually happening in the field area.  Our instructors, Lee and Mike stressed the need to hone our snow test skills to perform instability tests with accuracy and detail. 

I leave the course with one phrase embedded in my subconscious, “does this slope have the propensity to propagate?”  All I can do is continue digging and looking at snow, at least there is no shortage of that as a mountain guide.

RMI Guide Mike King

---

RMI Guides Tyler Reid and Solveig Waterfall Make First Ski Descent of The Pipeline

Posted by: Tyler Reid, Solveig Waterfall | January 29, 2013
Categories: *Guide News

RMI Guides Tyler Reid and Solveig Waterfall make first ski descent of The Pipeline on Mt. Angeles in the Olympic Mountains of Washington.

Follow this link to Tyler’s blog for more exciting photos!

---

RMI’S TOP TEN BLOG POSTS OF 2012

Posted by: | December 14, 2012
Categories: *Guide News

From Expedition Dispatches, to interviews, to new records set by RMI Guides, see what the this year’s top 10 most popular posts on the RMI Blog!

10. RMI GUIDE SETH WATERFALL RECEIVES VALUABLE AVY 3 TRAINING

I’ve just returned to Washington after taking part in a six day Avalanche Level 3 course in Jackson, WY.  ‘Avy 3’ is the highest level of formal avalanche training in the US.  It is a professional level course designed for Guides, Ski Patrollers and other avalanche forecasters. Read more…

9. MOUNTAINEERING TRAINING | NUTRITION FOR MOUNTAINEERING TRAINING

Mountain Climbing has a high requirement for energy. Quality nutrition is a key component of training success. In this conversation with Registered Dietician Sally Hara of Kirkland, Washington, I had a chance to ask some of the questions which often come up in training for mountaineering. Read More…

8. MT. EVEREST EXPEDITION: RMI TEAM REACHES SUMMIT!

On Saturday, May 26th at 9:31 a.m. Nepali time the RMI 2012 Mt. Everest Expedition reached the summit! RMI Guides Dave Hahn and Melissa Arnot led the team of climbers to the summit of Mt. Everest at 29,035’. Read More…

7. MT. EVEREST EXPEDITION: REST DAY AT ABC

Our team enjoyed a rest day at Camp 2 (ABC) today.  Their plan is to head for Camp 3 tomorrow.

This really is the start of the Mt. Everest summit push in my eyes.  How the next two days go, can have real impact on the summit day. Read More…

6. MT EVEREST EXPEDITION: DAVE HAHN AND TEAM AT CAMP 3 ON LHOTSE FACE

Hello from Everest Base Camp,
I spoke with Dave and Melissa at Camp 3 and WOW did they sound great!
The climbing team left Camp 2 early this morning under perfect conditions. Read More…

5. RMI GUIDE KATIE BONO RECOUNTS MT. RAINIER SPEED ASCENT

I first thought of doing a speed ascent on Rainier late in the summer of 2011.  I started guiding with RMI that summer and spent plenty of time that year carrying heavy loads up the Muir snowfield as quickly as possible.  I come from a cross-country ski racing background and I raced professionally for the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation, the Rossignol Factory Team, and Dartmouth College before that. Read More…

4. MOUNTAINEERING TRAINING | SETTING A BASELINE: EVALUATING YOUR CURRENT FITNESS

To begin a conditioning plan for mountaineering, first establish the baseline of your current fitness level.  This baseline allows you to compare your current strengths to what you’ll need on the climb.  With this, we can compose a training plan that builds steady improvement between now and the day you set off for the mountains. Read More…

3. LOU WHITTAKER INTERVIEW

RMI Founder Lou Whittaker was interviewed last month by the Magic Valley Newspaper in Twin Falls, ID. Lou took some time off from skiing in Sun Valley to sit down and talk about his lifetime of climbing. Read More…

2. MOUNTAINEERING TRAINING | INTERVAL TRAINING

Interval Training is a training technique employed in many endurance sports. It refers to a training session where periods of high intensity effort, followed by rest, are repeated during a training session. Read More…

1. RMI GUIDE KATIE BONO MAKES SPEED ASCENT

Katie Bono climbs Mount Rainier in 4 hours, 58 minutes on July 24, 2012.

RMI Guide Katie Bono completed a car-to-car speed ascent of the classic Disappointment Cleaver route. Her effort is significant not only because it sets the female speed record but also because it adds a female presence to a list which had been exclusively male dominated. Read More…

---

RMI’S TOP TEN VIDEOS OF 2012

Posted by: | December 13, 2012
Categories: *Guide News

From videos shot by RMI Climbers to interviews with RMI Guides and clips from the world’s greatest peaks, see 2012’s top ten most viewed videos from the RMI Video Collection!

10: CONGRATULATIONS SETH WATERFALL, 100 RAINIER SUMMITS

9: MELISSA ARNOT TRAINS TO CLIMB MAKALU

8: MEET JJ JUSTMAN

7: DAVE HAHN: 14TH EVEREST SUMMIT

6: MT. McKINLEY WEATHER WITH DAVE HAHN

5. RMI CLIMBER VIDEO: PANORAMIC ECUADOR

4. MELISSA ARNOT INTERVIEW

3. CLIMBING MEXICO’S VOLCANOES: VIDEO BY JJ JUSTMAN

2. EXTREME ECUADOR: CULTURE AND CLIMB

1. ACONCAGUA SUMMIT DAY: VIDEO BY JJ JUSTMAN

2

---

More Entries

Recent Images From Guide News

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
•