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Mt. Rainier: May 17th Update

Posted by: Casey Grom, Tyler Reid, Adam Knoff | May 17, 2013
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Mount Rainier
Elevation: 13,300'

Casey Grom and the Five Day Mt. Rainier Summit Climb called in early this morning.  Due to low visibility the team made the decision to turn at 13,300’. The team is en-route to Camp Muir, and expected back at Basecamp this afternoon.

Tyler Reid and Adam Knoff are heading up to Camp Muir to start their Five and Four Day Summit Climbs respectively.

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Mexico Volcanoes: Team Summits Pico de Orizaba!

Posted by: Adam Knoff, J.J. Justman | March 09, 2013
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Mexico
Elevation: 18,701'

Hey there, this is Adam Knoff and JJ Justman- Team Mexico. We’re happy to say that we had a successful climb of Pico de Orizaba today with beautiful weather.  But we did it the old-fashioned way, we earned it.  It was not an easy climb.  Seven hours just climbing up the mountain and four hours coming down so eleven hours round trip of constant movement.  We’re all very relieved to be back at Senor Reyes’ compound where we will be having dinner and relaxing for the evening before flying out tomorrow.  All is well and we’re happy to be coming home to our loved ones.  This is Adam and JJ signing off.  Adios.

RMI Guide Adam Knoff

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Mexico Volcanoes: Our Team Readies for Orizaba Summit in Tlachichuca

Posted by: J.J. Justman, Adam Knoff | March 08, 2013
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Mexico
Elevation: 14,000'

Hello everyone, this is JJ and Adam with the Mexico Volcanoes team.  We had a great day of rest yesterday in Puebla, but we’re back to business.  We are currently sitting in Tlachichuca at Dr. Reyes’ facility.  We’re busy organizing gear and getting ready for our 4-wheel drive adventure up to the hut on Orizaba.  We had a good day getting in here, everyone’s rested up and feeling good. The weather is absolutely beautiful and we believe that is going to continue. So knock on wood and cross your fingers, wish the team good luck, but hopefully by tomorrow, we will be on our way down from the summit of Orizaba.  Take care everyone and we will touch base tomorrow hopefully from the summit.

RMI Guide JJ Justman

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Mexico Volcanoes: Adam Knoff Recounts Their Ixta Summit Day

Posted by: Adam Knoff, J.J. Justman | March 07, 2013
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Mexico
Elevation: 17,340'

We began our summit day on the “princess” mountain of Ixtaccihuatl with an early alpine start.  We left the climbers’ hut at 2 am with our headlamps on and darkness all around us.  We soon realized this mountain wasn’t going to be a ” warm up” for the taller Orizaba to come.  After a strenuous climb covering a huge linear distance, we reached the top six hours after starting out from high camp.  I was really impressed with everyone’s efforts.  This climb was a great confidence builder for the group, especially those who broke personal altitude records.  During the hike down everyone seemed to be congratulated by the forming of nice foot blisters but all pain was forgotten in Puebla after a few cervezas and a great meal. 

RMI Guide Adam Knoff

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Mexico Volcanoes: Ixta Summit!

Posted by: J.J. Justman, Adam Knoff | March 06, 2013
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Mexico
Elevation: 17,340'

Hey everyone, this is JJ Justman with the Mexico Volcanoes climbing team. We are looking up at Ixta right now and the reason why is we are safely down from of successful summit of Ixta. The team did great today. Definitely a little tired but we had a beautiful day climbing to the top of Ixta. So wanted to give a shout out to all our family and friends. We’re loading up the van and we’re gonna have a little bit of R&R in Puebla for the next day and a half.  Well deserved. But again, the team did absolutely outstanding.  We’ll touch base when we are in Puebla but everyone is safe and sound.  Having some cokes and gonna get some fresh quesadillas on the way.  But hope everyone’s doing well back at home and we will talk with all of you very soon.  Ciao from Mexico.

RMI Guide JJ Justman

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Mexico Volcanoes: Our Team Checks in from Ixta’s High Camp

Posted by: Adam Knoff, J.J. Justman | March 05, 2013
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Mexico
Elevation: 14,750'

Hello everyone, this is Team Mexico. JJ Justman and Adam Knoff as guides. We are at high camp on the mountain of Ixtaccihuatl. This is our first real mountaineering challenge of the trip and we are sitting comfortably at 14,500 feet.  We are taking a different route than the normal route that other teams generally take because the mountain this year is so dry.  We have a great view of the upper mountain from where we are sitting and have a new route picked out that keeps us on ridge lines to keep us safe from rockfalls. We’re very excited for tomorrow’s summit bid and will keep you posted on how that all unfolds. Stay tuned for more action tomorrow. Hasta manana.

RMI Guide Adam Knoff

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Mexico Volcanoes: Team at Altizmoni Hut on Ixta

Posted by: J.J. Justman, Adam Knoff | March 04, 2013
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Mexico
Elevation: 12,000'

Hello everyone! The Mexico Team is officially at the lower hut on Ixta. The morning started out in style with a terrific buffet breakfast at La Mission Hotel and Spa. I love sitting in that restaurant sipping coffee overlooking a waterfall.

After we had our fill we did a last minute grocery shop and then we made our way to the mountain. It is always flattering when the team says tonight was the best dinner yet. Carne asada, fresh sautéed veggies, black beans on top of cheese on fresh corn tortillas.

The team is doing great and we are prepared to head on up to high camp tomorrow.

RMI Guide JJ Justman

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Mexico’s Volcanoes: Team Makes Acclimatization Hike

Posted by: Adam Knoff, J.J. Justman | March 03, 2013
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Mexico
Elevation: 10,000'

Breakfast came early this morning at the BW Majestic Hotel, located in the heart of the world’s second largest city.  By 7 am the group was assembled on the Majestic’s top floor where the restaurant is located and to our surprise,  we could clearly make out the glaciated peak of Ixta far out to the south.  This was indeed confirmation that Mexico really does possess snow and ice.  A fact most North Americans are unaware of.  With our excitement clearly building we loaded the waiting van and headed straight to- oh ya!  Wal Mart.  Yup, glaciers and Wal Mart, these go hand in hand on successful mountain climbing trips.  After we saved a bunch of pesos on today’s everyday low price, we gunned it to La Malinche where we moved promptly into our dorm style cabanas and motivated for our first acclimating hike up the flanks of La Malinche itself.  With the summit laying a hop skip and jump out of our reach, the team took its final rest break at 13,700 feet and quickly descended.  Nothing better to toughen one up!  We are now off to dinner and preparations for tomorrow’s move to Ixta.  Team Orizaba out.

RMI Guides JJ Justman & Adam Knoff

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Mt Rainier: Expedition Skills Seminar Update

Posted by: Adam Knoff, J.J. Justman, Jason Thompson, Katie Bono | February 07, 2013
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Mount Rainier
Elevation: 11,500'

Today our winter team made it to 11,500 feet on Mt. Rainier! It was tough going at the end. We had thigh deep snow and we decided to make the safe decision to turn around.

The weather is beautiful but the conditions are tough. However, that didn’t stop the team from having a great day up high.

It’s a unique feeling being up here in the winter. We are all alone and we are enjoying Rainier’s pristine beauty that can only be enjoyed in winter.

RMI Guide Jason Thompson is now giving a lecture in snow science and avalanche awareness.

That’s all for now.

RMI Guide JJ Justman

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Mt. Rainier: Winter Seminar Training on the Cowlitz Glacier

Posted by: Adam Knoff, J.J. Justman, Jason Thompson, Katie Bono | February 06, 2013
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Mount Rainier

Our winter seminar awoke to pancakes and a view! We have a little break in the weather. So we are busy taking photos. It still is a little blustery but we plan on continuing big mountain training. On the agenda, building anchors, crevasse rescue and self rescue.

RMI Guide JJ Justman

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