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Entries By adam knoff

Adam Knoff Recaps His Experience at the Teva Mountain Games

Posted by: Adam Knoff | February 17, 2012
Categories: *Guide News

February 10th, Vail, Colorado.  The day had finally arrived.  The Teva Mountain Games were on and I was ready for my first real climbing competition in years which included a wild race format and bar-none the highest caliber field of competitors I have ever faced.  The competition was set up so two competing climbers would scale a 55-foot artificial wall plastered with regular plastic climbing holds like those found in the gym and a new experimental high density foam that was made to mimic real ice.  The structure hosted two identical routes, a right one and left one that mirrored each other with every hold being exactly the same on each climb.  When the bell went off, both climbers had six minutes to reach the top of the climb but with fast competitors taking less than three minutes per route the winner was decided by whomever climbed the top anchor first.  Both climbers were then lowered to the ground and a three minute rest was issued.  Then a swapping of sides ensued and a second race began.  The combined winner of both races moved on to the next heat.

I almost did really well!  Winning my first heat, I went into the second feeling unbeatable.  All the fear and intimidation I felt by the big guns waiting to eliminate me vanished.  I knew for certain I could hang.  This all evaporated when on my first climb of the second heat I placed both tools in a foam hold and while trying to remove the upper one, the lower one blew out and I came whipping off the climb with an audible groan from the crowd.  I had been leading the race when I fell and on my second climb of that heat posted the fasted time of the day out of any competitor.  And so the hope of an unknown underdog sliding in and cleaning up at the first ever Teva Mountain Games was dashed.  Not to worry, I will be back. 

I owe RMI a huge thanks for supporting my trip to Vail and giving me the chance to represent them.  It is gratifying knowing such a worthy company has my back.

RMI Guide Adam Knoff

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RMI GUIDE ADAM KNOFF SHARES HIS THOUGHTS BEFORE COMPETING IN THE TEVA MOUNTAIN GAMES

Posted by: Adam Knoff | February 07, 2012
Categories: *Guide News

I am excited to announce that tomorrow I leave for Vail, Colorado, to represent RMI in a mixed climbing competition put on by the Teva Mountain Games.  Alongside my passion for guiding individuals up big snowy peaks, I for some reason find the odd sport of scratching up steep rock with ice tools to be downright irresistible.  I am blessed to live twenty miles from Hyalite Canyon, Montana, where the art of “drytooling” can put your imagination to the test.  No one in the mixed climbing world knows of me so when I sneak up and quietly take the number one spot on the Teva podium and everyone asks, “Who’s that guy?”  I can say,” I climb Mt. Rainier for a living”.  Wish me luck while I compete with the big boys and take my game to their turf.

RMI Guide Adam Knoff

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Mt. Rainier: First Winter Seminar of 2012

Posted by: Adam Knoff | January 13, 2012
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Mount Rainier
Elevation: 13,000'

Hello Everyone,

The Winter Skills Seminar is down safe and sound from a week of good training and climbing on Mt. Rainier. We made a solid summit attempt on Thursday with the team climbing strongly to 13,000’ before wind, cold, and firm conditions had us turn around. The week saw high points for some of the team, lots of new knowledge gained, and many climbers hankering to come back for more. Congratulations and thanks to the team for a great week!

RMI Guide Adam Knoff

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Cotopaxi Express:  Acclimatization Hike on Rucu Pichincha

Posted by: Adam Knoff | December 12, 2011
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Ecuador
Elevation: 9,200'

Hola Everyone,

Today began much like yesterday.  Breakfast in our newly remodeled hotel at 7:30 with the team preparing for the day’s activities. But instead of taking a tour of Quito, we stayed close to home and headed ten minutes east of our hotel to the 15,500’ Rucu Pinchincha volcano.  This mountain gave Quito quite a scare in 1999 spewing large amounts of ash into the air which caused half of this enormous city to be evacuated. Nothing major came of the eruption.  So today it is a prefect acclimatizing hike.  Because it is only the team’s second day in Ecuador, one might speculate that marching from 9,200’ to 15,500’ first thing might be a bit much.  Not the case when a gondola zips you up the mountain side turning what should have been a two hour hike into a 10 minute cruise.  We were a bit bummed to have thick cloud cover resting heavily in the valley but we lifted out of the mist at 13,000’  and were allowed great summit views of both Cotopaxi and Cayambe, two of Ecuador’s most impressive peaks. 

Once on the move our team showed their enthusiasm and readiness to climb.  Led by RMI’s local Ecuadorian Guide Fredy Tipan, we all headed 2.5 miles up a well traveled trail making good time to the mountain’s summit.  Several members of the group broke personal altitude records.  We spent 20 cool and cloudy minutes on top before returning to the cable car.  With a rather late arrival back in town, it was decided that a late lunch would set everyone up nicely for a leisurely evening and some much needed rest.  We are all looking forward to leaving the city and seeing more of this beautiful country tomorrow.

RMI Guide Adam Knoff 

Sign Up For Ecuador 2011 Email Alerts

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Mt. McKinley Expedition: Knoff & Upper West Rib Team at Basecamp

Posted by: Adam Knoff | June 12, 2011
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Mount McKinley

This is Adam calling from Kahiltna Basecamp.  We’re back and everyone is safe and sound, but our adventure isn’t over yet.  Weather permitting we will fly off today, but at this point of the trip we defer to the expertise of the Alaskan bush pilot.  The weather here is cloudy, with fog banks creeping in and out of base camp.  The pilots must have perfect visibility in order to safely land here, so all we can do is sit and wait.  It’s funny how much the weather dictates all movement on Mt McKinley; airplanes and climbers both!  Yesterday was my 36th birthday and what a great place to celebrate life!  Though everyone is looking forward to reuniting with family and friends, our climb of the Upper West Rib and reaching the summit of Mt McKinley is something we’ll always remember with pride. 

If the planes get in, this will be our final dispatch.  Otherwise, I’ll keep you posted on how we’re entertaining ourselves and dreaming of things we all take for granted in civilization!

RMI Guide Adam Knoff

On The Map

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Mt. McKinley Expedition:  Upper West Rib Team Summits via West Buttress

Posted by: Adam Knoff | June 10, 2011
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Mount McKinley
Elevation: 20,320'

RMI Guide Adam Knoff called on June 10 at 5:50 pm (PST) to report the team was on the summit of Mt. McKinley!

They made a great push starting at 9:00 am this morning and were celebrating at the top. The weather was warm and beautiful and it was the best day ever for their team. They were going to head down to 17,000’ camp to spend the night. On Saturday they plan to head to 14,000’ camp and spend another night.

The whole crew made it to the top and were very excited that their second push paid off!

Congratulations to the team!

 

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Mt. McKinley: Knoff & Team Headed to High Camp

Posted by: Adam Knoff | June 09, 2011
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Mount McKinley
Elevation: 17,200'

We are at the base of Washburn Thumb, heading to high camp. We will rest at high camp this evening and attempt the summit early tomorrow morning.  Everyone is feeling great and excited for their summit push!  Weather is sunny and warm.  It’s almost too warm as we were climbing with the sun radiating off of the glacier.

We’ll check in again soon.

Wish us luck!

RMI Guide Adam Knoff

On The Map

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Mt. McKinley Expedition: Knoff & Team Rest at 14,000’

Posted by: Adam Knoff | June 08, 2011
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Mount McKinley
Elevation: 14,200'

Hello,
This is Adam Knoff checking in with the Upper West Rib Team checking in from 14,000’ on Mt. McKinley.  After making a descent from 17,000’ to Genet Basin at 14,200’ and regrouping, we are feeling like reaching the summit is a possibility again. We left much of our gear at 17,000’ anticipating a return, we’ve just had the most spectacular rest day, and now with the weather improving, we have decided to head back to 17,000’ tomorrow on another summit shot.

Although descending to 14 and then ascending again represents a lot of hard work, from an acclimatization standpoint, it’s the bomb and we’re psyched!

RMI Guide Adam Knoff

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