RMI Expeditions was founded in 1969 by Lou Whittaker and Jerry Lynch with a conviction that guides should teach, not just lead. What started on one mountain now spans seven continents, 40+ programs, and more than 100,000 climbers guided. But the number that matters most isn't in the stat row below. It's the one that's harder to count; the people who came back from a climb seeing things differently. Our guides are the product. When you tie in with RMI, you don't hire a service. You join a team.
When our climbers tie onto our rope, they become part of OUR team.
Peter Whittaker
That team is now in its third generation of Whittaker family leadership, backed by 70+ professional guides who represent the deepest concentration of high-altitude experience in North America, and a 55+ year concessionaire record on Mount Rainier that no competitor can match.
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Our Mission, Values, and What We Stand For
What 55+ years of operational experience actually looks like on the mountain.
RMI's Legacy & The History of American Alpinism
Our partners, from gear & apparel to local outfitters and NGOs.
Firsthand accounts from the rope team.
Every decision RMI makes (who we hire, how we train, where we operate, and how we leave a place) comes back to the same question Lou Whittaker asked in 1969: what does it actually mean to take someone into the mountains responsibly? Guiding isn't a transaction. When you rope up with RMI, you join a team built on five decades of hard-won mountain knowledge, and a set of values that govern every hire, every program, and every decision made above the trailhead. These are the principles we operate by.
The mountains we guide on are not backdrops. They are places that ask something real of the people who enter them, and give something real back. Every value below exists in service of that exchange; getting you to a place where the view changes how you see things, and making sure you get there and back with the skills, the support, and the team to do it right.
No one can promise safety. But we're very good at managing it.
RMI operates as a High Reliability Organization - the same framework used by aircraft carriers and nuclear power plants, industries where the cost of failure is absolute. We were the first guide service in Mount Rainier National Park to implement an OSHA-recognized Safety Committee, and our protocols have held up under Washington Labor and Industries' voluntary safety audit. But credentials don't keep people safe. Culture does. Every RMI guide is trained in technical rescue, remote medicine, and risk decision-making, and every one of them operates under the same standard: maintain a margin of safety at all times, not just on summit day, and not as a slogan. We cannot guarantee safety. No honest guide service can. What we can guarantee is that every guide on your rope has been trained to recognize the moment before things go wrong, and to act on it.
Technical skills can be taught. Character cannot.
RMI guides are hired for who they are before what they can do. Technical proficiency matters, and we've put over $100,000 in AMGA education grants behind developing it, but the guides who make a climb memorable are the ones who are genuinely good to be around at altitude, in a tent, on a hard day. Every RMI program is led by an RMI guide. On international programs, RMI guides lead alongside vetted local partners who meet RMI's operational standards. When you tie in, you get someone who has spent more time on this mountain than they can count, who knows what you're feeling before you say it, and who considers getting you there and back the best part of their job. That relationship is the product. Everything else supports it.
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We don't just follow best practices. We helped build them.
RMI has been operating in some of the most fragile environments on earth for over five decades. Leave No Trace isn't a checkbox for us, we helped write the Alpine Zone curriculum. Carbon-neutral National Park operations, human-powered carries, waste removal standards on Mt. McKinley, these are practices, not pledges. But responsible climbing isn't only about what we leave behind. It's about what we give back. Since 1988, RMI has raised $4.4 million for the American Lung Association and led breast cancer survivors to the summit of Aconcagua. The mountains have given us everything. We've been trying to return the favor for 55+ years.
The summit is the goal. The experience is the point.
RMI exists to get people into the mountains and back down safely. But the guides who have spent decades on these routes will tell you the summit is only part of it. Something happens when you push past what you thought you were capable of, when you move through terrain that demands everything you have, when you stand somewhere most people will never stand. You come back different. Not because the mountain changed you, but because you found out what you were made of when it asked. That's what we're actually in the business of. The summit is how we get you there.
Learn more about how RMI puts our principles to practice all over the world.
After two failed attempts and 13 years of dreaming, the RMI guide made history on May 9th.
Meet the women who’ve shaped RMI’s legacy in the mountains and inspired generations of climbers around the world. Discover more now.
Learn how RMI Expeditions practices sustainability in mountaineering through Leave No Trace principles and environmental stewardship. Learn more.
RMI guide Brent Okita becomes the first person to summit Mount Rainier 600 times. With nearly four decades of guiding experience, Okita’s record reflects a lifetime of leadership, resilience, and dedication to mountaineering.
At RMI Expeditions, guiding is more than a job. It’s a profession built on expert training, mentorship, and continual development. Discover how our guides prepare to lead with skill, safety, and purpose in every step of your climb.
In climbing, the margin of safety is the buffer between risk and return. Learn what it means, how to build it on the mountain, and how RMI guides set the standard for risk management.
Most guide services can get you to the mountain. The difference is what happens once you're there — how decisions get made, how guides are trained, how logistics hold up when conditions change, and whether the team leading you has been on this route enough times to know what the mountain looks like on a bad day. RMI has been building the answer to those questions since 1969. What follows is the operational reality behind 55+ years of guided climbing.
Every trip RMI runs worldwide is led by an RMI guide.
Every trip RMI runs worldwide is led by an RMI guide. That's not a policy statement, it's a structural commitment that shapes how we hire, how we train, and how we staff every program from Rainier to Vinson. New hires go through a multi-stage evaluation process that weights interpersonal judgment above technical credentials, because technical skills can be developed and character cannot. Once hired, guides progress through a defined pathway from assistant guide to school lead to lead guide, with AMGA certification requirements and over $100,000 in education grants backing that development at every stage. Senior guides like Brent Okita, who has led clients to the summit of Rainier 600 times, and Dave Hahn, with 15 Everest summits and 300-plus Rainier ascents, are still on the mountain, still leading rope teams, still setting the standard that everyone below them is working toward. When you hire RMI, you get a guide who has been on your route more times than most people have been in the mountains at all.
Every RMI program worldwide is led by an RMI guide. Get to know the people who will be on your rope.
Every guide on your rope has been trained to recognize the moment BEFORE things go wrong.
Risk management at RMI is not a summit-day protocol. It begins in the planning stage, runs through every camp transition, and governs every turnaround decision regardless of how close the summit is. Weather windows are evaluated against conservative thresholds, not optimistic ones. Turnaround times are set before the climb starts and held when the moment arrives. On technical routes, guides are continuously assessing snow stability, crevasse patterns, rope team fatigue, and overhead hazard, not as a checklist but as a running calculation that informs every step. When conditions shift, the guide making the call has made it before on this route, often in worse conditions. That depth of route-specific experience is what a 55+ year operational history on a single mountain actually produces, and it is what our international programs draw on when we select local partners and design expedition logistics on peaks we don't guide every season.
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The people who run RMI's operations have been doing it for a long time. That matters more than it sounds.
Most of RMI's office and operations staff have been with the company for 15 to 20 years. They have handled permit renewals, flight cancellations, gear emergencies, inclement weather protocols, local outfitter communication, and the kind of complex political climates that can shut down an international expedition with 48 hours notice. Bridging the office and the mountain are RMI's Mountain Managers — senior guides who also coordinate logistics, communicate with clients before and during programs, oversee guide divisions, and handle the operational details that keep a program running when conditions change. When something goes wrong on a program, the person fielding that call has almost certainly dealt with a version of it before, and the guide on the other end of the radio has too. That depth of institutional knowledge doesn't come from a manual. It accumulates over decades of running the same routes, in the same parks, with the same partners, through the same seasonal variables.
More than 55 years of continuous operation in a federal park doesn't happen by accident.
RMI has held the Mount Rainier National Park guiding concession since 1969, longer than any other guide service on the mountain. Maintaining a federal concession requires ongoing compliance with National Park Service standards across safety, environmental practice, guide qualifications, group size management, and operational conduct. That permit has been renewed consistently across more than five decades of changing regulations, administrations, and environmental requirements. In Denali National Park, RMI has run more than 300 expeditions since 1975, building a relationship with the National Park Service in Alaska that reflects the same operational consistency. These aren't legacy credentials. They are active requirements that RMI meets every season, on every program, across every mountain where a federal permit governs the right to operate.
What Lou Whittaker started at the base of Mount Rainier in 1969 has become something neither he nor Jerry Lynch could have mapped out on a napkin. A regional guide service built on a single conviction (that guides should teach, not just lead) has grown into five and a half decades of Himalayan firsts, environmental standards, world records, and a guide roster that reads like a who's who of American mountaineering. The Whittaker family has been at the center of all of it, from Lou and Jim scrambling the Cascades as teenagers to the third generation now helping run the company. This is how it happened.
The story of RMI starts not with a business plan, but with two boys from West Seattle and a mountain that wouldn't leave them alone. From that first summit in 1945 to the founding of Rainier Mountaineering, Inc. in 1969, everything that RMI became grew out of what Lou and Jim Whittaker learned by spending their lives on the mountain.
Lou and Jim Whittaker grew up in the Arbor Heights neighborhood of West Seattle and started climbing with the Boy Scouts at twelve. They joined The Mountaineers, and in the summer of 1945 made their first ascent of Mount Rainier together at sixteen, via the Emmons Glacier. By eighteen, Lou had climbed every major peak in Washington. By nineteen, both brothers were guiding on Rainier and had taken over management of the national park's guide service. The Cascades were their backyard, Rainier their classroom, and guiding their livelihood before either of them had figured out what came next.
When the Korean War broke out, Lou and Jim were drafted and assigned to Camp Hale, Colorado, where they trained 10th Mountain Division soldiers in alpine climbing, skiing, and cold-weather survival using skills sharpened on Rainier. Discharged in 1954, the twins returned to Seattle and went separate directions. Jim built REI into America's largest outdoor specialty retailer, and in 1963 became the first American to summit Everest, receiving the Hubbard Medal from President Kennedy. Lou had been invited on the expedition and declined, feeling a growing sense of responsibility at home. He stayed on the mountain, kept guiding, and spent the next fifteen years building toward something of his own.
After fourteen years as chief guide under Rainier's main concessionaire, Lou purchased the guiding concession and co-founded Rainier Mountaineering, Inc. with business partner Jerry Lynch in 1969. His founding philosophy was straightforward: guides should teach, not just lead. Climbers weren't passengers to be escorted to a summit. They were rope team members, expected to learn, contribute, and be accountable to everyone tied in with them. That philosophy was a deliberate departure from how guiding worked at the time, and it remains the operating standard at RMI today.
Lou passed away on March 24, 2024, at his home near the mountain, surrounded by family. Jim followed in April 2026 at 97. Between them, they shaped American mountaineering more than any other pair of siblings the sport has produced.
The company Lou built around a single mountain spent the next two decades proving it could operate anywhere. From Mt. McKinley to the Himalayas, RMI guides were pushing into terrain that defined a generation of American mountaineering — and bringing the same teaching philosophy with them.
RMI's first Mt. McKinley summit came on May 18, 1974, when guides John Kalbrener, Laury Bye, and Joe Horiskey reached the top after eighteen days on the mountain. The following year, RMI led its first guided client expedition to Mt. McKinley, again under Horiskey's leadership. In the decades since, RMI has led more than 300 Mt. McKinley expeditions, more than any other guide service on the mountain. Joe Horiskey, who began guiding on Mount Rainier at seventeen in 1968, a year before RMI was founded, went on to lead 23 Mt. McKinley expeditions and accumulate 235 Rainier summits.
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Peter Whittaker spent summers at Camp Muir as a cabin boy starting at age ten, learning the mountain the same way his father had; by living on it. He began guiding at sixteen, the youngest on the roster. His brother Win started guiding in his teenage years as well. Lou's son and his guides were becoming the backbone of what RMI would grow into, and the mountain that shaped Lou was shaping them the same way.
Marty Hoey joined RMI in the early 1970s as a cabin girl and became the company's first female guide. For more than a decade, she guided Rainier over 100 times, led expeditions on McKinley and Aconcagua, and was considered one of the finest high-altitude female mountaineers in the world. In 1982, Lou invited her to join his North Wall Everest expedition. She was within a day or two of what would have been the first American woman's summit when she fell from a fixed rope at 26,600 feet. Her body was never recovered. Lou said afterward: "If Marty had been with us, we would have made it." Her legacy lives on in every female guide who has worked for RMI since.
In 1982, Lou led an expedition to Everest's North Wall; the deepest concentration of RMI talent ever assembled on a single climb, including Eric Simonson, Phil Ershler, George Dunn, Joe Horiskey, and Larry Nielson. The summit eluded them. Two years later Lou returned, leading the first American ascent of Everest's North Col in 1984, with Phil Ershler making a solo summit push. Peter, twenty-four, was on that expedition carrying loads to high camp. In 1983, Larry Nielson became the first American to summit Everest without supplemental oxygen. A few years later, Lou led the first American ascent of Kangchenjunga in 1989, the world's third-highest peak. On that expedition, a young Ed Viesturs reached his first 8,000-meter summit, the beginning of a quest that would end with him becoming the only American to climb all fourteen without supplemental oxygen.
While Lou's Himalayan record was being written in the 1980s, Peter was building his own. The decade that followed would see Peter complete the Seven Summits, lead one of the most memorable climbs in RMI's history, and return home to take the helm of a company that had spent thirty years becoming something worth leading.
Before Peter came back to RMI, he spent fourteen years running his own global expedition company, Summits Adventure Travel, leading more than seventy expeditions across all seven continents. He completed the Seven Summits himself during that period, and developed the international relationships, logistics, and expedition management experience that no amount of time on Rainier alone could have built. When he returned to Washington in 1995, he brought all of it with him.
In 1995, Peter organized and led Expedition Inspiration; a team of breast cancer survivors to the summit of Aconcagua in Argentina. The climb raised $2.3 million for breast cancer research and was documented in a PBS film produced by Bill Curtis Productions. It remains one of the most deliberate uses of a mountain in RMI's history: not as a backdrop, but as the thing itself, used to show what people are capable of when the stakes are real and the team is right.
Peter assumed leadership of RMI in 1999, folding the international infrastructure of Summits Adventure Travel into the company. What had been a Pacific Northwest guide service with a strong Himalayan track record became, under Peter's leadership, a genuinely global operation. The same teaching philosophy Lou built in 1969 was now backed by expedition experience on every continent and a growing roster of guides who had climbed with Peter around the world. Lou stayed connected. The rope just got longer.
Peter took over a company with deep roots and a strong domestic reputation. What he built over the next fifteen years was something Lou hadn't set out to create in 1969: a truly global guide service, operating on seven continents, with an environmental track record and a guide roster that kept producing firsts.
When Peter folded Summits Adventure Travel into RMI in 1999, the company's international reach expanded overnight. The relationships, logistics, and expedition infrastructure Peter had built across fourteen years and seventy expeditions became RMI's. Programs that had existed on Rainier and Mt. McKinley now extended to Kilimanjaro, Aconcagua, Vinson, Everest, and beyond. By the time Peter's first decade of leadership was complete, RMI was operating on all seven continents with established local partnerships on every one of them.
Peter's most lasting operational change wasn't programmatic; it was environmental. RMI implemented a concessionaire shuttle system to reduce vehicle traffic at the park, stopped using helicopters to stock high camp and switched to human-powered carries, reduced group sizes to meet wilderness backcountry guidelines, and in 2002 guide Dave Hahn led the first commercially guided expedition to carry all human waste off Mt. McKinley. From 2001 to 2003, RMI co-developed the Leave No Trace Alpine Zone curriculum with the National Park Service and other concessionaires. LNT adopted it nationally in 2011. These weren't responses to pressure. They were decisions made before anyone was asking.
In the 2010s, RMI expanded into the North Cascades, adding Baker, Shuksan, Forbidden Peak, and Glacier Peak to the program catalog. The expansion brought RMI's teaching philosophy to a range of technically demanding objectives that had long attracted serious climbers but lacked the structured, guide-led programs RMI had built on Rainier and in Alaska. It also brought RMI closer to its Pacific Northwest roots; the same mountains Lou and Jim had scrambled as teenagers were now part of the program.
The guides who passed through RMI during Peter's leadership didn't just represent the company; they defined a generation of American mountaineering. Ed Viesturs, who reached his first 8,000-meter summit on Lou's 1989 Kangchenjunga expedition, went on to become the only American to summit all fourteen 8,000-meter peaks without supplemental oxygen. Dave Hahn has been guiding with RMI since 1986, accumulating 15 Everest summits, 300-plus ascents of Rainier, and 38 summits of Vinson Massif. Melissa Arnot Reid joined as a Rainier guide in 2004 and became the first American woman to summit and descend Everest without supplemental oxygen in 2016, her sixth summit of the peak. These are not footnotes to RMI's story. They are the story.
The Whittaker gear story starts on a K2 expedition in 1975. Somewhere on the trek out, Lou removed the Vibram soles from his climbing boots and affixed them to his tennis shoes — improvising a lightweight trekking shoe out of necessity. He brought the idea to New Balance, and the result was the Rainier Boot, released in 1982. It combined the cushioning of a running shoe with the traction of a climbing boot, and it was on Lou's feet on Everest's North Col route in 1984. Lou also served as a product designer and consultant for JanSport and K2.
Before taking over RMI, Peter had already been working with gear companies as a sponsored athlete and product collaborator — Marmot, Mountain Hardwear, Buck Knives, Timberland. These weren't endorsement deals. They were working relationships built on the same premise Lou established with New Balance: guides know what works, and manufacturers benefit from that knowledge. When Peter assumed leadership of RMI in 1999, that philosophy became part of how the company operated.
A climb of Rainier with Neil Fiske, then CEO of Eddie Bauer, became the spark for something larger. Peter and a team of RMI guides spent the next several years designing the First Ascent technical apparel line, testing every piece on Rainier under real expedition conditions. The line launched with the 2009 RMI Everest Expedition and grew to $42 million. When Eddie Bauer eventually stepped away from the technical direction, Peter took the design team and the process with him.
Peter founded Bight Gear in 2016 with one goal: simplify the mountain system. Where major brands were offering twenty-plus versions of the same jacket, Bight built one or two options per layer, designed by the same team from base layer to expedition parka. Every product had to log 100,000 vertical feet of human-powered testing on Rainier before it went to market. RMI guides were the test team. In 2023, Bight was acquired by Black Diamond.
The acquisition led to something bigger. In January 2025, Black Diamond announced a formal partnership with RMI, integrating 70+ RMI guides into product development and field testing. The partnership includes a guide scholarship fund for AMGA education and a co-developed 6,000-meter parka currently in testing. Neil Fiske, who sparked the First Ascent collaboration on a Rainier climb with Peter fifteen years earlier, is now Black Diamond's President. He called it full circle. It is.
RMI enters its sixth decade as the same company Lou built and something new at the same time. The guiding philosophy hasn't changed. The ambition for what comes next has.
In June 2025, Brent Okita became the first person to summit Mount Rainier 600 times. He has been guiding with RMI since 1986, and he reached the record while leading a client team to the top - the only way he wanted to do it. Six hundred summits works out to approximately 5.4 million feet of elevation gained, not counting training, attempts, or the times he biked from Ashford to Paradise. He has also led 23 consecutive successful Mt. McKinley expeditions. When asked what comes next: "More climbing, more Mount Rainier. It's what I do." An exemplary RMI guide, Brent has been at this for four decades, and just keeps going.
Speed records on Mount Rainier have always belonged to the people who know her best. Since Lou and Jim Whittaker, along with John Day, set the first documented speed record in 1959 -- car to car in 7 hours and 20 minutes -- the record has almost always been set by guides, climbers, and athletes for whom Rainier isn't just a destination, but a home mountain. On May 9th, 2026, RMI guide Simon Kearns added his name to that lineage in a big way, running from the Paradise parking lot to the summit and back in 3 hours, 43 minutes, and 52 seconds -- the fastest unsupported on-foot round trip in the mountain's recorded history, shattering the previous mark by more than 30 minutes.
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Peter's current priority is to build year-round, full-time mountain guide positions, still rare anywhere in American guiding. For too long, professional guiding has been seasonal by default; structurally incompatible with a full career, a family, or long-term financial stability. Alongside that, RMI's partnership with Black Diamond has opened new ground in guide-driven gear development, and over $100,000 in AMGA education grants continues to back the technical development of every guide on the roster. The product has always been the guides. This is what investing in that product actually looks like.
The website you're reading is part of a larger effort to make RMI as clear and accessible as the mountain experience itself. New program pages, sharper qualification standards, better tools for climbers making decisions about which objective is right for them; all of it built around the same question Lou asked in 1969: what does it actually mean to take someone into the mountains responsibly? Kristian Whittaker, Peter's son and Lou's grandson, is now a partial owner, bringing a focus on operations, marketing, and business development into the third generation of family leadership. Together, the team is ensuring our standards, principles, and practices are ready for the next generation of aspiring climbers.
Lou Whittaker started this company with a conviction that guides should teach, not just lead. Nearly six decades later, that conviction runs through every hire, every program, and every decision made above the trailhead. The guides are better trained, better supported, and more diverse than at any point in RMI's history. The programs reach further. The partnerships run deeper. And somewhere on Rainier today, an RMI guide is leading a rope team up a route they know better than almost anyone alive, exactly the way Lou intended.
RMI is fortunate to partner with a range of excellent companies and organizations that help us run world-class mountain expeditions — from the gear manufacturers whose equipment gets us up the mountain, to the nonprofits, training organizations, and land managers whose work protects the places we climb.
We are proud to say that all of RMI's programs and operations within U.S. National Parks are carbon neutral.
We believe climate change presents significant challenges to the planet and the mountains we cherish. By implementing practices to reduce our emissions, coupled with purchasing carbon offsets, we achieve our goal of sustainability and further promote responsible environmental practices.
We have acquired offsets for greenhouse gas emissions through our partnership with Ostrom Climate, Canada's top carbon management solutions provider. Their carbon offset projects undergo rigorous verification by third parties to validate that emission reductions are genuine and permanent, ensuring that our contribution is making a tangible impact.
By supporting this project, we effectively prevent the same amount of greenhouse gas emissions generated from our operations from being emitted elsewhere. These offsets are instrumental in fulfilling our sustainability objectives and advancing responsible environmental practices.
In its simplest form, Leave No Trace is about making good decisions to protect the world around you - the world we all enjoy.
The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics is an educational, nonprofit organization dedicated to the responsible enjoyment and active stewardship of the outdoors by all people, worldwide.
The Juniper Fund supports and empowers families and communities impacted by the loss of Himalayan high-altitude workers by providing cost-of-living grants, vocational training, and business grants.
The International Mountain Explorers Connection (IMEC) is a U.S. nonprofit organization based out of Boulder, Colorado. Through its Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP) in Moshi, IMEC’s focus is improving the working conditions of the porters on Kilimanjaro. IMEC supports the mountain crew by lending donated clothing at no charge, providing free educational classes and by advocating for responsible mountain trekking practices.
RMI Expeditions is proud to have worked closely with the Climb for Clean Air, a fundraising program for the American Lung Association, since 1988. Climb for Clean Air offers programs on Mt. Rainier, Mt. Baker, and Mexico's Volcanoes to all who are ready to take on the Challenge. Climb A Mountain. Make A Difference.
Uphill Athlete is a platform for openly sharing proven training knowledge for alpinism, mountaineering, rock and ice climbing, ski mountaineering, skimo racing, and mountain running. We offer free educational resources, sell well-designed training plans, and coach amateurs and experienced athletes to maximize their fitness and succeed in the mountain sports they love.
The American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that has been supporting the mountain guiding and climbing instructor community since 1979.
Their mission is to be the leader in education, standards, and advocacy for professional guides and climbing instructors.
MSR is fueled by the belief that better, safer, more reliable equipment is the key to unlocking greater adventures.
Petzl's mission is to create innovative tools and services that allow men and women to progress, position, and protect themselves in vertical environments, as well as to light their way in the dark.
We Simplify Outfitting
As retailers, we're beholden to no one but our customers. As climbers, we'd never trust our lives to mediocre gear. Our name says it all: Whittaker Mountaineering. We test, select, and offer the best mountain trekking and climbing equipment available. We take on the hard work to simplify outfitting for you.
From its headquarters in the Jura mountains of France, Julbo has been at the forefront of action sports optics since the company was founded in 1888. Three generations have directed Julbo's evolution from a manufacturer of corrective lenses to a global producer of protective eyewear for all active outdoor pursuits.
Black Diamond is committed to designing and engineering the most innovative mountain equipment in the world.
Black Diamond is an official sponsor of RMI. Black Diamond will contribute to the growth and development of our guides by providing and improving opportunities for the pursuit of more certifications and official training. In return, our guides will continue to wear, test, and provide valuable feedback to Black Diamond for the improvement of their mountaineering gear.
RMI Expeditions operates in the Mount Baker - Snoqualmie National Forest for Mt. Baker and Glacier Peak programs. These programs include Mt. Baker - North Ridge, Mt. Baker - Easton Glacier, Mt. Baker Coleman-Deming, Expedition Skills Seminar - Baker: Coleman-Deming, Mt. Baker Summit & Ski Descent, Mt. Baker Backcountry Ski & Splitboard Course, Glacier Peak Climb, and custom programs.
RMI Expeditions operates in North Cascades National Park under a Commercial Use Authorization. Our programs within North Cascades National Park include Mt. Shuksan - Sulphide Glacier, Mt Shuksan - Fisher Chimneys, Expedition Skills Seminar - Shuksan, Forbidden Peak - West Ridge, and custom programs.
RMI Expeditions is an authorized concessioner of Mount Rainier National Park. We have operated within Mount Rainier National Park since 1969.
RMI Expeditions is an authorized concessioner of Denali National Park and Preserve. We have operated within Denali National Park and Preserve since 1975 and lead programs on Mt. McKinley and the Kahiltna, Pika, and Ruth Glaciers.
The reviews below come from climbers across every program RMI runs, from first-time Rainier ascents to multi-week international expeditions. What people tend to remember isn't just the summit. It's the guide who caught something before it became a problem, the rope team that held together on a hard day, and the feeling of arriving back at BaseCamp having done something they weren't sure they could do. Read them with that in mind.
July 9, 2026
Mt. Rainier Five Day Climb
It was very clear that RMI was doing everything possible to keep us safe. Although I know there were many hazards, I felt safe at all times, thanks to the expertise and clarity of our guides. Reaching the summit - and the journey along the way and back- was an experience that ranks among the most amazing experiences I have ever had.
Robert E
July 9, 2026
It was very clear that RMI was doing everything possible to keep us safe. Although I know there were many hazards, I felt safe at all times, thanks to the expertise and clarity of our guides. Reaching the summit - and the journey along the way and back- was an experience that ranks among the most amazing experiences I have ever had.
Additional Comments
Jess was an incredible guide. From the very start, she helped me learn to pack a pack better than I ever had and continued to shared clear expertise about all aspects of the climb. I felt very safe with her as a lead guide and the guide on my rope team. She even provided a rope and knots session after our successful summit and provided suggestions for upcoming climbs. I could not imagine a more knowledgeable, supportive guide!
Additional Comments
All the training resources were very helpful too. I followed the training guide pretty closely and I felt very ready for the climb! It might be helpful to share that spreadsheet right when we sign up (which maybe you did and I missed it).
Additional Comments
Every aspect was purposeful and well run. Even the gear check and slideshow on the first day were efficient and helpful.
What did you enjoy most?
It was very clear that RMI was doing everything possible to keep us safe. Although I know there were many hazards, I felt safe at all times, thanks to the expertise and clarity of our guides. Reaching the summit - and the journey along the way and back- was an experience that ranks among the most amazing experiences I have ever had.
What needs improvement?
Very minor point, but it might be helpful to clarify that the harness must be 6 years old or younger in the gear list as that may have helped avoid me needing to rent. Jess also shared her system of “snack units” in the gear check, which may have been a helpful tool even further in advance.
July 9, 2026
Mt. McKinley - West Buttress Expedition
RMI guides and their attitudes towards the mountain, climbing style and risk tolerance are always my favorite part of climbing with them.
Nicholas L
July 9, 2026
RMI guides and their attitudes towards the mountain, climbing style and risk tolerance are always my favorite part of climbing with them.
Additional Comments
You handled a difficult client much better than I could have. Kudos. I appreciated how you managed the weather, rest days and uncertainty. I always felt you had the situation under control no matter the circumstances.
Additional Comments
Maybe add a face covering, like the OuterU Faceglove to the list. That thing was invaluable.
Additional Comments
We ate so good on the mountain!
What did you enjoy most?
RMI guides and their attitudes towards the mountain, climbing style and risk tolerance are always my favorite part of climbing with them.
July 9, 2026
Mt. Rainier Four Day Climb
I have so many things I enjoyed about the trip. I loved the team and comradery. I appreciated the moments I had with every guide and team member. The support that everyone had for each other, summit or not, was wonderful. To learn so much and do so much, even without getting to the top was incredible fun. I have no regrets with my choice of RMI or to do this trip.
Samantha G
July 9, 2026
I have so many things I enjoyed about the trip. I loved the team and comradery. I appreciated the moments I had with every guide and team member. The support that everyone had for each other, summit or not, was wonderful. To learn so much and do so much, even without getting to the top was incredible fun. I have no regrets with my choice of RMI or to do this trip.
Additional Comments
Dan was an incredibly funny and easy to work with person. You could feel the joy that he finds in what he does every moment you're with him. Not only did he seem personable and kind, but also incredibly knowledgeable in what he does. I wouldn't have picked anyone else to be our lead guide for the trip.
Additional Comments
I want to give a huge thank you to everyone who works on the team, including the drivers who shuttled us. I didn't get a chance to thank each one personally, but I do truly appreciate how they help us. I also want to thank the people who would go up the mountain for RMI to help set up and clear up the routes. The team seems to be so good at working together.
What did you enjoy most?
I have so many things I enjoyed about the trip. I loved the team and comradery. I appreciated the moments I had with every guide and team member. The support that everyone had for each other, summit or not, was wonderful. To learn so much and do so much, even without getting to the top was incredible fun. I have no regrets with my choice of RMI or to do this trip.
What needs improvement?
I have no recommendations
July 9, 2026
Mt. Rainier Four Day Climb
Happy to make it to the summit, weather worked out.
Adam B
July 9, 2026
Happy to make it to the summit, weather worked out.
Additional Comments
Ben was a great leader for the trip and was incredibly helpful in making sure we were prepared for the climb. He was clear about his expectations for the climb and helped keep everyone safe. Was also just a lot of fun to do the trip and training with him.
Additional Comments
Fairly easy process to register and get everything ready. The website performs quite poorly on the phone.
What did you enjoy most?
Happy to make it to the summit, weather worked out.
July 9, 2026
Mt. Rainier Four Day Climb
From Day 1, I felt like I was heard and understood with any questions or comments I had about equipment or the route. While it was kind and compassionate the entire time, Mike and his team had the perfect balance of empathy and firmness with respect to how we were climbing, keeping pace, eating, and climbing on a line. At no point throughout the entire experience did I feel unsafe or ignored. Safety was spoken to us as the highest priority. That was no lie and was paired with four of the most personable guides I could ever imagine climbing with.
Ian B
July 9, 2026
From Day 1, I felt like I was heard and understood with any questions or comments I had about equipment or the route. While it was kind and compassionate the entire time, Mike and his team had the perfect balance of empathy and firmness with respect to how we were climbing, keeping pace, eating, and climbing on a line. At no point throughout the entire experience did I feel unsafe or ignored. Safety was spoken to us as the highest priority. That was no lie and was paired with four of the most personable guides I could ever imagine climbing with.
Additional Comments
From his calm and collected approach during our school to his persistent ability to make sure we are all keeping pace, eating, drinking, breathing, and remembering what he taught us, Mike displayed all the best qualities you would expect in a Lead Guide. Route finding abilities, care for the mountain, watching out for rock and ice falls, anchoring in at the appropriate moments. He made the entire experience one to remember because of his teaching and leadership skills. Not only would I recommend RMI to others in the future, I would solely recommend Mike and ask for him and this team personally. Congrats on his 100th summit! I felt very honored to be part of his lead rope team and help him get this amazing achievement.
Additional Comments
RMI sent the proper documentation and instructions at the right times throughout the preparation process. With the help of the climbing team during Day 1 Orientation, they got us all the right equipment at the right time to make this climb an enjoyable experience rather than a sufferable one.
Additional Comments
No real comments here since it all went very smoothly. In regards to transportation, environmental care, and overall itinerary, no news is good news. 10/10
What did you enjoy most?
From Day 1, I felt like I was heard and understood with any questions or comments I had about equipment or the route. While it was kind and compassionate the entire time, Mike and his team had the perfect balance of empathy and firmness with respect to how we were climbing, keeping pace, eating, and climbing on a line. At no point throughout the entire experience did I feel unsafe or ignored. Safety was spoken to us as the highest priority. That was no lie and was paired with four of the most personable guides I could ever imagine climbing with.
What needs improvement?
N/A. It is my personal bias that makes be believe this was an extremely smooth and clear cut experience, regardless of last minute changes or route adjustments.
July 8, 2026
Mt. Rainier Five Day Climb
The guides and the other guests were all amazing. It’s rare that you find a group where everyone gets along so well.
Nicholas H
July 8, 2026
The guides and the other guests were all amazing. It’s rare that you find a group where everyone gets along so well.
Additional Comments
Awesome trip leader!
What did you enjoy most?
The guides and the other guests were all amazing. It’s rare that you find a group where everyone gets along so well.
What needs improvement?
Get the people snoring in the bunkhouse some help…sounds like something demonic going on with someone in there.
July 8, 2026
Mt. Rainier Four Day Climb
Everything was planned out really well and the rout discretion at the intake had me ready to climb mentally
Dillon L
July 8, 2026
Everything was planned out really well and the rout discretion at the intake had me ready to climb mentally
Additional Comments
Climbing with Don was an absolute masterclass in guiding. Right from the start, everything was planned out perfectly, and his thorough route description during our intake left me feeling 100% mentally prepared for the climb. His infectious energy and relentless positivity kept our team motivated when the going got tough. Not only is Don an incredibly strong climber, but he is also a brilliant role model. Thanks to his encouragement, we pushed through our limits safely. I really hope to climb with him again one day! Highly recommend!
What did you enjoy most?
Everything was planned out really well and the rout discretion at the intake had me ready to climb mentally
July 8, 2026
Mt. Rainier Four Day Climb
Coming down from the summit with clear skies, seeing the magnitude and expanse of the full mountain with all the cascades in the distance
Michael K
July 8, 2026
Coming down from the summit with clear skies, seeing the magnitude and expanse of the full mountain with all the cascades in the distance
Additional Comments
All the guides we had were outstanding. They all had great attitudes, were extremely easy to interface with, and very knowledgeable. I learned a lot about mountaineering and have a lot more respect for mountaineers and especially mountain guides. Climbing Rainier is extremely difficult; I can’t imagine how difficult it is to climb, carry additional equipment, manage a whole team, and do it over and over again year after year. Very impressed!
Additional Comments
Honestly, everything was pretty great. The only reason I’m not giving 10s all around is I really want to highlight how good the staff was. It’s obvious they have an extremely difficult job and despite that, they execute at an insanely high level with great attitudes
What did you enjoy most?
Coming down from the summit with clear skies, seeing the magnitude and expanse of the full mountain with all the cascades in the distance
What needs improvement?
There were times I felt Meredith and I needed a slightly longer break. There may not be a realistic way to improve on this because if a 3-man rope team breaks 3-5 more mns, they fall behind the rest and that can affect the entire group and potentially increase risks. Maybe there’s a way to say “hey, we’re gonna take 3-5mn more on this break but be 3-5mns shorter on the next break” as long as everyone on the rope agrees…just some food for thought. This feels like a nitpick tho given how well everything went
July 8, 2026
Mt. Rainier Four Day Climb
The entire summit push, though challenging, was so exciting and rewarding. It was surreal climbing almost entirely in the dark and then emerging at the crater. I also enjoyed getting to learn and utilize the skills we needed to climb.
Jack C
July 8, 2026
The entire summit push, though challenging, was so exciting and rewarding. It was surreal climbing almost entirely in the dark and then emerging at the crater. I also enjoyed getting to learn and utilize the skills we needed to climb.
Additional Comments
Tom was my head guide and rope team leader. I can't say enough good things about him and would love to climb with him again in the future. At our orientation, he was very helpful and thorough and approachable with our questions. On the climb, I completely trusted his judgement and commitment to safety. He did a great job at giving us instructions mid climb as well as giving us the motivation we needed. I appreciated how clear and transparent he was before each section of the climb about what we were going to encounter and what steps we needed to take to move through it safely. He was patient with us whenever issues arose and always seemed to stay calm but in control during difficult moments. I could not have asked for anything more in a leader! He really set the bar high for future guides. Huge thank you to Tom for guiding us up and down safely.
Additional Comments
The office team was super helpful with questions leading up to the climb. On the website, only feedback is that the forum for the team to ask questions was kind of hard to find. The equipment list was great and very thorough. There are a couple items, such as the bowl and cup, that I would mark optional or note that climbers can determine what they need based on the food they are bringing. (Maybe that is obvious to others, but I purchased them because I wanted to have everything on the gear list, even though I didn't think my food needed them, and I ended up not brining them all after all).
What did you enjoy most?
The entire summit push, though challenging, was so exciting and rewarding. It was surreal climbing almost entirely in the dark and then emerging at the crater. I also enjoyed getting to learn and utilize the skills we needed to climb.
What needs improvement?
It would be cool to know who the guides are ahead of time and what their background is, but I understand that is not always possible.
July 8, 2026
Mt. Rainier Four Day Climb
Everything! But the guides really made it the best, not only did we learn so much from them, but we enjoyed their company and expertise in the mountains!
Madeleine L
July 8, 2026
Everything! But the guides really made it the best, not only did we learn so much from them, but we enjoyed their company and expertise in the mountains!
Additional Comments
Eric was an incredible guide and leader. I hope we get the chance to climb with him again in the future!
What did you enjoy most?
Everything! But the guides really made it the best, not only did we learn so much from them, but we enjoyed their company and expertise in the mountains!
What needs improvement?
Nothing it was amazing
July 8, 2026
Mt. Rainier Five Day Climb
The guides were top notch. From their expertise to their level of fitness and engagement, I could not have asked for more. The genuine enthusiasm and the interest all of them showed to each guest showed through. In short, I would say that all of the guides are genuinely good people. I have the highest regard for everyone at RMI I was in contact with. You should be proud of your people.
Ed O
July 8, 2026
The guides were top notch. From their expertise to their level of fitness and engagement, I could not have asked for more. The genuine enthusiasm and the interest all of them showed to each guest showed through. In short, I would say that all of the guides are genuinely good people. I have the highest regard for everyone at RMI I was in contact with. You should be proud of your people.
What did you enjoy most?
The guides were top notch. From their expertise to their level of fitness and engagement, I could not have asked for more. The genuine enthusiasm and the interest all of them showed to each guest showed through. In short, I would say that all of the guides are genuinely good people. I have the highest regard for everyone at RMI I was in contact with. You should be proud of your people.
July 8, 2026
Mt. Rainier Four Day Climb
Everything was enjoyable!
Suzanne H
July 8, 2026
Everything was enjoyable!
What did you enjoy most?
Everything was enjoyable!
What needs improvement?
Nothing - everything was perfect!
July 7, 2026
Mt. Rainier Four Day Climb
The guides made the experience stellar. They kept everyone in an amazing mood, motivated to climb, and safe at all times. Obviously, climbing the mountain was the highlight, but the environment the guides fostered made it so much easier and more enjoyable an experience.
Remington W
July 7, 2026
The guides made the experience stellar. They kept everyone in an amazing mood, motivated to climb, and safe at all times. Obviously, climbing the mountain was the highlight, but the environment the guides fostered made it so much easier and more enjoyable an experience.
Additional Comments
Ray was a superstar! We were sad to see him get pulled off the climb but it still worked out excellently.
Additional Comments
My only comment would be a bit more of a specified packing list per how the mountain is currently looking, however I understand that might be a bit difficult to continually change.
What did you enjoy most?
The guides made the experience stellar. They kept everyone in an amazing mood, motivated to climb, and safe at all times. Obviously, climbing the mountain was the highlight, but the environment the guides fostered made it so much easier and more enjoyable an experience.
What needs improvement?
A more accurate packing list could be helpful.
July 7, 2026
Mt. Rainier Four Day Climb
First and foremost being able to reach the top of Mt Rainier has been a goal for me for a long time, so accomplishing that has been amazing. I also really enjoyed how personable every guide was. They truly cared about all of us and gave us great feedback to all of the questions that we had. The guides are the ones who made this extremely special.
Noah B
July 7, 2026
First and foremost being able to reach the top of Mt Rainier has been a goal for me for a long time, so accomplishing that has been amazing. I also really enjoyed how personable every guide was. They truly cared about all of us and gave us great feedback to all of the questions that we had. The guides are the ones who made this extremely special.
Additional Comments
Mike lead Ian and I up to the summit of Rainier and I couldn't have felt safer with any other guide. He is a great leader and truly inspirational. 100/10 would climb with Mike any time. Congratulations to Mike on his 100th climb of Mt Rainier!
What did you enjoy most?
First and foremost being able to reach the top of Mt Rainier has been a goal for me for a long time, so accomplishing that has been amazing. I also really enjoyed how personable every guide was. They truly cared about all of us and gave us great feedback to all of the questions that we had. The guides are the ones who made this extremely special.
What needs improvement?
I had a 10/10 experience, so I have nothing that I think could've improved the trip.
July 7, 2026
Mt. Rainier Four Day Climb
The best part of the trip was definitely the people. The guides were top-notch and made the whole climb feel safe and rewarding, and being able to share the entire experience with great friends made it unforgettable.
Patrick K
July 7, 2026
The best part of the trip was definitely the people. The guides were top-notch and made the whole climb feel safe and rewarding, and being able to share the entire experience with great friends made it unforgettable.
Additional Comments
Henry was a fantastic lead guide. His incredible depth of knowledge was obvious from the start, and he made me feel completely safe and confident throughout the entire climb on Rainier. I couldn't have asked for a better leader on the mountain. I would 100% do another climb with Henry.
What did you enjoy most?
The best part of the trip was definitely the people. The guides were top-notch and made the whole climb feel safe and rewarding, and being able to share the entire experience with great friends made it unforgettable.
July 6, 2026
Mt. Rainier Four Day Climb
The professionalism of the guides and overall friendliness of everyone in the office/rental center/guide teams
Cody B
July 6, 2026
The professionalism of the guides and overall friendliness of everyone in the office/rental center/guide teams
Additional Comments
Ray was incredibly friendly and easy going, but also is a true professional. You can tell he cares deeply that everyone is learning from the guides while also having fun. He is very happy to share knowledge about the mountains and gear.
What did you enjoy most?
The professionalism of the guides and overall friendliness of everyone in the office/rental center/guide teams
July 6, 2026
Mt. Rainier Four Day Climb
The guides did an excellent job of getting us to the top and made sure we knew how important that achievement was. Event though they've guided many groups, they made us feel special. Mountain school was a blast and it was a lot of fun learning new things in a low pressure environment.
Justin W
July 6, 2026
The guides did an excellent job of getting us to the top and made sure we knew how important that achievement was. Event though they've guided many groups, they made us feel special. Mountain school was a blast and it was a lot of fun learning new things in a low pressure environment.
Additional Comments
Fantastic guide. George made sure everyone was safe and well informed. He kept us on schedule and ensured we stayed positive and motivated. I'd 100% recommend and I'd climb with him again!
What did you enjoy most?
The guides did an excellent job of getting us to the top and made sure we knew how important that achievement was. Event though they've guided many groups, they made us feel special. Mountain school was a blast and it was a lot of fun learning new things in a low pressure environment.
July 5, 2026
Mt. Rainier Four Day Climb
I enjoyed getting to know my teammates and guides. I also really enjoyed making it to the summit.
Michael O
July 5, 2026
I enjoyed getting to know my teammates and guides. I also really enjoyed making it to the summit.
Additional Comments
I was very fortunate to have George as the lead guide on our successful summit. George made this trip safe, informative and fun.
What did you enjoy most?
I enjoyed getting to know my teammates and guides. I also really enjoyed making it to the summit.
What needs improvement?
It was a great experience.
July 5, 2026
Mt. Rainier Four Day Climb
The whole team of guides was superb. Thank you for a great time! Best, Philipp
Philipp E
July 5, 2026
The whole team of guides was superb. Thank you for a great time! Best, Philipp
What did you enjoy most?
The whole team of guides was superb. Thank you for a great time! Best, Philipp
July 5, 2026
Mt. Rainier Four Day Climb
The opportunity to climb a truly technical climb.
Matt C
July 5, 2026
The opportunity to climb a truly technical climb.
Additional Comments
George is very experienced and professional.
Additional Comments
Eddie was great to talk to and very pleasant and responsive.
What did you enjoy most?
The opportunity to climb a truly technical climb.
What needs improvement?
Nothing I can think of.
July 4, 2026
Mt. Rainier Five Day Climb
Our guide team was the best part of our trip. I feel like we walked away with having learned so much, got inspired for future climbs, and got to understand their decision making process throughout the trip.
Abbey L
July 4, 2026
Our guide team was the best part of our trip. I feel like we walked away with having learned so much, got inspired for future climbs, and got to understand their decision making process throughout the trip.
What did you enjoy most?
Our guide team was the best part of our trip. I feel like we walked away with having learned so much, got inspired for future climbs, and got to understand their decision making process throughout the trip.
July 3, 2026
Expedition Skills Seminar - Emmons
The people. On the clients - going in, four climbers knew each other from past trips and coordinated on doing this seminar. Six climbers made it to Schurman and one was a cute older man (70 yrs old!) and the other was our age (Cristen). The four of us absorbed Cristen into our crew and plan on doing more RMI adventures with her. I've done four other RMI trips - the DC, Baker, Glacier, and Cotopaxi. Each long trip (Glacier, Cotopaxti, and now Emmons) we've built a community of clients who want to climb to together and relationships with the guides.That's really special. On the guides - RMI guides are world class. I met Mike Bennett when he was training and now he's lead teams to Everest twice. I know Mike wasn't here - but my point is that trajectory doesn't shock me. Sam, Margo, Matt, and Kat are all exceptional world class guides and I can see them being brilliant leaders anywhere. RMI also has a safety focused mission and as someone who has climbed with a handful of other services, this mission is clearly a commitment and not just marketing. Your guides are what makes RMI special.
Joseph M
July 3, 2026
The people. On the clients - going in, four climbers knew each other from past trips and coordinated on doing this seminar. Six climbers made it to Schurman and one was a cute older man (70 yrs old!) and the other was our age (Cristen). The four of us absorbed Cristen into our crew and plan on doing more RMI adventures with her. I've done four other RMI trips - the DC, Baker, Glacier, and Cotopaxi. Each long trip (Glacier, Cotopaxti, and now Emmons) we've built a community of clients who want to climb to together and relationships with the guides.That's really special. On the guides - RMI guides are world class. I met Mike Bennett when he was training and now he's lead teams to Everest twice. I know Mike wasn't here - but my point is that trajectory doesn't shock me. Sam, Margo, Matt, and Kat are all exceptional world class guides and I can see them being brilliant leaders anywhere. RMI also has a safety focused mission and as someone who has climbed with a handful of other services, this mission is clearly a commitment and not just marketing. Your guides are what makes RMI special.
Additional Comments
Sam is phenomenal. He's a great leader, great instructor, and an empathetic and fun person. Sam also goes way above and beyond for the team and preaches safety (systems must be unquestionably strong!). When we ran into complex terrain, Sam synced with Margo and told us he would prepare a way around the challenge. When he came back, I joked that I expected a beautiful lined with LED lights. It was basically that nice and secure. This path amazed every client and demonstrated the level of commitment our guides have to our safety. (On summit day Sam was my rope team leader).
Additional Comments
Ezra at the rental shop!! The moment I stepped in he said - oh I called your for the transceiver rental for Cotopaxi! How does he remember that? Another client who is a friend said they've been to the rental place so much they just do everything Ezra says lol. Also the office team is great to call and ask various questions about the trip.
Additional Comments
RMI is the best.
What did you enjoy most?
The people. On the clients - going in, four climbers knew each other from past trips and coordinated on doing this seminar. Six climbers made it to Schurman and one was a cute older man (70 yrs old!) and the other was our age (Cristen). The four of us absorbed Cristen into our crew and plan on doing more RMI adventures with her. I've done four other RMI trips - the DC, Baker, Glacier, and Cotopaxi. Each long trip (Glacier, Cotopaxti, and now Emmons) we've built a community of clients who want to climb to together and relationships with the guides.That's really special. On the guides - RMI guides are world class. I met Mike Bennett when he was training and now he's lead teams to Everest twice. I know Mike wasn't here - but my point is that trajectory doesn't shock me. Sam, Margo, Matt, and Kat are all exceptional world class guides and I can see them being brilliant leaders anywhere. RMI also has a safety focused mission and as someone who has climbed with a handful of other services, this mission is clearly a commitment and not just marketing. Your guides are what makes RMI special.
What needs improvement?
Hah so I don't know how this would go but it'd be nice to to a debrief with clients individually. Now that may be terrifying so it might be a bad idea.
July 3, 2026
Expedition Skills Seminar - Emmons
Thanks so much for an incredible experience!
Allie M
July 3, 2026
Thanks so much for an incredible experience!
Additional Comments
Sam was amazing! He is wise beyond his years. He was a great sport about our silly group jokes - chiming in but also helping us get to business when needed. I'm amazed he's only 25! He's a natural leader, helped inspire confidence, joy & enthusiasm. We were blown away when he built us a "rainbow road" to get through some interesting crevasses. It was a blast to see how passionate he is.
Additional Comments
Only critique is that the equipment list was a little unclear about slings, vs cordelette, etc. The group struggled a bit to understand what we ended up needing.. we didn't end up needing those so in hindsight if we could rely on the guides' equipment, I'd remove those and just include the carabiners.
What did you enjoy most?
Everything!
July 3, 2026
Mt. McKinley - West Buttress Expedition
Being out in the wild for a true, extended expedition, not just a day trip or overnight.
Joseph K
July 3, 2026
Being out in the wild for a true, extended expedition, not just a day trip or overnight.
Additional Comments
To me what stands out most about Daniel is his abundant cheerfulness and eagerness to help everybody. On top of his high competence he leads by building trust and engagement and a great team atmosphere, doing and sharing and very visibly putting in a lot of effort and consideration.
Additional Comments
The website's fine, it would just be nice if it didn't timeout logins so quickly. The equipment list for this trip could use some slight revision here and there. The one item in particular that I stuck on and others mentioned as well is it could make more clear the intended use and nature of the "HEAVY WEIGHT INSULATING LAYER" top versus the "MEDIUM WEIGHT INSULATING LAYER" and "INSULATED PARKA WITH HOOD."
Additional Comments
I continue to be very pleased by RMI's approach to the environment and the mountains. In this case it was a notable positive to me that RMI teams hike out all their human waste rather than throwing it into the crevasse at 14 Camp. The meals were uniformly exceptional, all three guides did a great job with them. I was really impressed by the variety and quality. Bonus points for very solid vegetarian options as well.
What did you enjoy most?
Being out in the wild for a true, extended expedition, not just a day trip or overnight.
What needs improvement?
I realize it's tough with guides' schedules, but I would consider adding another team call maybe 4 months out from the trip, followed up by the current call at ~1 month to go. For individuals this would enable more meaningful time to adjust training and equipment based on direct advice from their guides. As a group it might foster more coordination ahead of time, e.g., how many people are bringing solar panels.
July 3, 2026
Mt. Rainier Four Day Climb
I loved being on the mountain. It was such a challenge, and even though I didn't summit, I felt supported and safe the entire way. Being outside, challenging myself like this was a fantastic reminder of how much world is out there to explore. Thank you for that reminder!
Jane D
July 3, 2026
I loved being on the mountain. It was such a challenge, and even though I didn't summit, I felt supported and safe the entire way. Being outside, challenging myself like this was a fantastic reminder of how much world is out there to explore. Thank you for that reminder!
Additional Comments
Tom was a fantastic lead guide. My husband and I were commenting on how thorough he was in mountain school (our best yet!) and good he was at keeping our group safe, informed, and together. We also appreciated how he treated his team of guides. It was clear there was a lot of respect among them; seeing that helped build more confidence among our entire group.
What did you enjoy most?
I loved being on the mountain. It was such a challenge, and even though I didn't summit, I felt supported and safe the entire way. Being outside, challenging myself like this was a fantastic reminder of how much world is out there to explore. Thank you for that reminder!
What needs improvement?
n/a
July 3, 2026
Mt. Rainier Four Day Climb
Infrastructure is certain great, but RMI's name is built on the quality of its guides. It's what led me to you in the first place. All else fell in line with that reputation.
Kevin R
July 3, 2026
Infrastructure is certain great, but RMI's name is built on the quality of its guides. It's what led me to you in the first place. All else fell in line with that reputation.
Additional Comments
Seth is essentially what you look for in a lead guide. Instills confidence from the outset - not only in his understanding of the mountain and conditions, but his approachability. Readily evident that those around him respect his skillset and as a person. I would not hesitate to climb with Seth again, nor recommend him to other climbers.
Additional Comments
Regarding the "Guide Picks" on the website: always interesting to know what gear survives gear testing by your guides, in particular. I gave a 9 for the equipment list, solely because I found my conversations with our team leader in our initial meeting most helpful. At times, recommended gear lists can be too extensive. (No chance my pack was going to be even close to 45lbs going up to Camp Muir, for example.) Not a knock on RMI specifically, just a general observation. Experience tends to be the best guide, and I get that people without that experience need guidance.
What did you enjoy most?
Infrastructure is certain great, but RMI's name is built on the quality of its guides. It's what led me to you in the first place. All else fell in line with that reputation.
What needs improvement?
I thought hard about constructive criticism for you. Couldn't come up with anything to criticize.
July 2, 2026
Expedition Skills Seminar - Kautz
I enjoyed how structured the trip was, I got the sense from the guides they are pro's and it was great to be able to work with people you can learn alot from and also have a good time.
Dylan W
July 2, 2026
I enjoyed how structured the trip was, I got the sense from the guides they are pro's and it was great to be able to work with people you can learn alot from and also have a good time.
Additional Comments
Henry knows his stuff and is an excellent lead guide, very good at teaching from basics to technical aswell as leading our team to have a super successful climb.
Additional Comments
I signed up about 1 week before but any questions I had were answered same day
What did you enjoy most?
I enjoyed how structured the trip was, I got the sense from the guides they are pro's and it was great to be able to work with people you can learn alot from and also have a good time.
July 2, 2026
Mt. Rainier Four Day Climb
The group we had was a lot of fun! All the guides are great to work with and have a lot of experience!
Lukas B
July 2, 2026
The group we had was a lot of fun! All the guides are great to work with and have a lot of experience!
Additional Comments
Jackson is an amazing guide, lots of experience, fun stories to tell, all while being dialed in and serious about the safety of the group
What did you enjoy most?
The group we had was a lot of fun! All the guides are great to work with and have a lot of experience!
What needs improvement?
Make sure the trails are actually clear and good to summit before leading the group up to the mountain. We had to turn around early (13.000ish ft) since the trails were covered in snow and unclear if any crevasses opened up. The guide told us they need to get multiple guides up there to clear and shovel the trails back in before someone could summit. On our way down we ran into the next group(s) of people who walked up to “summit”. But without fixing the trails first they don’t have a chance to summit either…
July 2, 2026
Mt. Rainier Emmons Climb
I have been on many RMI trips and this was the nicest group so far! Lovely guides, very nice clients.
Maria M
July 2, 2026
I have been on many RMI trips and this was the nicest group so far! Lovely guides, very nice clients.
What did you enjoy most?
I have been on many RMI trips and this was the nicest group so far! Lovely guides, very nice clients.
What needs improvement?
Start an group email months before the program. It helps people share equipment/ideas. I don't think the posts for the team page were working for this trip.
July 1, 2026
Mt. Rainier Four Day Climb
Making friends in the mountains. Experiencing the mountain above camp Muir was awesome.
Douglas S
July 1, 2026
Making friends in the mountains. Experiencing the mountain above camp Muir was awesome.
Additional Comments
Making friends on the mountain was the best part. Our guides really cared about our experience. They made me feel like family. The other climbers and I bonded together well as a team.
Additional Comments
RMI truth in advertising. Got what I expected. If I could find a way to sleep better on Muir it would be better for summit day.
What did you enjoy most?
Making friends in the mountains. Experiencing the mountain above camp Muir was awesome.
What needs improvement?
Better sleeping accommodations at camp Muir
