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 1, 2026
Mt. Rainier Four Day Climb
The sunrise on the glacier after we had gotten out of the strong winds.
John M
July 1, 2026
The sunrise on the glacier after we had gotten out of the strong winds.
What did you enjoy most?
The sunrise on the glacier after we had gotten out of the strong winds.
July 1, 2026
Mt. Rainier Four Day Climb
What I enjoyed most was being on the mountain and taking in the surrounding nature. It was also nice to see how many people were involved, the guides, teammates, rental and shop folks, and restaurant staff. Everyone worked together toward one goal: keeping the activity safe! The training session was another highlight for me, since it was my first real mountaineering training. Our guides ran it professionally, and we had some great conversations about different techniques.
Masaru O
July 1, 2026
What I enjoyed most was being on the mountain and taking in the surrounding nature. It was also nice to see how many people were involved, the guides, teammates, rental and shop folks, and restaurant staff. Everyone worked together toward one goal: keeping the activity safe! The training session was another highlight for me, since it was my first real mountaineering training. Our guides ran it professionally, and we had some great conversations about different techniques.
Additional Comments
Thomas has offered outstanding professional support as a mountain guide, always focusing on safety and fostering strong team dynamics. Thank you!
Additional Comments
I really appreciate the equipment list. Very helpful!
Additional Comments
N/A
What did you enjoy most?
What I enjoyed most was being on the mountain and taking in the surrounding nature. It was also nice to see how many people were involved, the guides, teammates, rental and shop folks, and restaurant staff. Everyone worked together toward one goal: keeping the activity safe! The training session was another highlight for me, since it was my first real mountaineering training. Our guides ran it professionally, and we had some great conversations about different techniques.
What needs improvement?
If I may suggest a few points to further improve the overall experience: 1: Use of GPS Data in the Introduction Session It would be helpful to display recent route information using GPS data from devices such as a COROS watch during the first‑day introduction. Guides who have climbed recently can provide this data. Since COROS records details like distance, elevation, and pace, showing this visually would help participants better understand the current mountain conditions. Perhaps RMI could collaborate with COROS on this initiative? 2: One‑Hand Technique During Anchor and Climbing Training During the second‑day anchor and climbing practice, it would be beneficial to train using one‑hand techniques. On the mountain, we often needed to anchor in steep sections, and using both hands increased the risk of dropping the ice axe because we had to momentarily set it aside. Practicing one‑hand anchoring would better prepare us for real situations. 3: Clearer Guidance on Break Procedures During the Introduction Session It would be helpful to receive more detailed information about break routines on the mountain during the introduction session. Some participants, including myself, were not aware that we needed to put on a parka, use the toilet while roped up, and follow specific procedures during breaks.
July 1, 2026
Mt. Rainier Four Day Climb
The guides were very knowledgeable and professional! I absolutely plan to recommend RMI.
Nick H
July 1, 2026
The guides were very knowledgeable and professional! I absolutely plan to recommend RMI.
Additional Comments
George was a fantastic lead guide. He was extremely knowledgeable and made the trip and safe and very enjoyable. He made for great conversation. I would absolutely plan another trip with him!
Additional Comments
RMI made it very easy to prepare for the trip.
Additional Comments
RMI was very organized and made for a great trip! I also really appreciated their concern for the environment and keeping the mountain pristine!
What did you enjoy most?
The guides were very knowledgeable and professional! I absolutely plan to recommend RMI.
June 30, 2026
Mt. Rainier Four Day Climb
Summiting!!! But, honestly, the camaraderie and getting to feel involved in the mountaineering community around all these guides and people at RMI that are just some of the coolest people you'll ever come across.
Colin H
June 30, 2026
Summiting!!! But, honestly, the camaraderie and getting to feel involved in the mountaineering community around all these guides and people at RMI that are just some of the coolest people you'll ever come across.
Additional Comments
Tom was such an amazing lead guide. Tom extremely welcoming and set the standards for the group immediately which i loved. He made everyone at levels feel welcome and encouraged and seen whilst also making the danger of the mountain and seriousness of the hike be known. Tom was awesome and would love to have again.
What did you enjoy most?
Summiting!!! But, honestly, the camaraderie and getting to feel involved in the mountaineering community around all these guides and people at RMI that are just some of the coolest people you'll ever come across.
What needs improvement?
Nothing
June 30, 2026
Mt. Rainier Four Day Climb
Easily the people. Don’t get me wrong the mountain and the climbing was such a special experience, but what really made it fun and exciting was the Staff that you guys have. The right people can make or break and experience and all four of these guides truly made it wonderful. I will absolutely be back as a customer because of these four and the wonderful time that I had.
Jonathan K
June 30, 2026
Easily the people. Don’t get me wrong the mountain and the climbing was such a special experience, but what really made it fun and exciting was the Staff that you guys have. The right people can make or break and experience and all four of these guides truly made it wonderful. I will absolutely be back as a customer because of these four and the wonderful time that I had.
Additional Comments
Seth is one of those guys you meet and feel like he’s been your buddy for a decade. Extremely talented coach, amazing person, and expert in his craft. Will absolutely be hitting him up for a climb in the future.
What did you enjoy most?
Easily the people. Don’t get me wrong the mountain and the climbing was such a special experience, but what really made it fun and exciting was the Staff that you guys have. The right people can make or break and experience and all four of these guides truly made it wonderful. I will absolutely be back as a customer because of these four and the wonderful time that I had.
What needs improvement?
Honestly, the only thing that I would improve is maybe the website.
June 29, 2026
Mt. Baker - Easton Glacier
There was so much I loved - posting up in the mountains for three days, challenging my body in new ways, the awe-inspiring views, the new skills, and the camaraderie. But what I enjoyed most was the opportunity to stretch myself mentally/mindfully. I met self-limiting beliefs I didn't realize I had so that was really transformational. I loved the rope line work - attuning to my team, aligning pace and movement. I loved the emphasis on self-attunement and self-care - the other side of self-challenge.
Kate D
June 29, 2026
There was so much I loved - posting up in the mountains for three days, challenging my body in new ways, the awe-inspiring views, the new skills, and the camaraderie. But what I enjoyed most was the opportunity to stretch myself mentally/mindfully. I met self-limiting beliefs I didn't realize I had so that was really transformational. I loved the rope line work - attuning to my team, aligning pace and movement. I loved the emphasis on self-attunement and self-care - the other side of self-challenge.
Additional Comments
Joe was an excellent guide. He combined commanding presence, excellent communication, evident expertise (mountaineering, history, nature), and hilarity. I struggled with some of the mental aspects of the training, and Joe was able to read me skillfully, providing exactly the guidance I needed to overcome my fears and develop a strategy for focus. I am incredibly grateful.
Additional Comments
I had a great experience overall. I would have loved to meet my group before the trip, though so enabling communication beforehand would be an improvement to your process.
Additional Comments
I would have loved to have more time at our base camp before heading back to the trailhead. We only had an hour to eat and pack up, and that felt rushed to me. My body needed a little more recovery time for self-care.
What did you enjoy most?
There was so much I loved - posting up in the mountains for three days, challenging my body in new ways, the awe-inspiring views, the new skills, and the camaraderie. But what I enjoyed most was the opportunity to stretch myself mentally/mindfully. I met self-limiting beliefs I didn't realize I had so that was really transformational. I loved the rope line work - attuning to my team, aligning pace and movement. I loved the emphasis on self-attunement and self-care - the other side of self-challenge.
What needs improvement?
The only thing I would change is a little more time at camp before heading back to the trailhead after summiting.
June 29, 2026
Mt. Rainier Five Day Climb
I will be doing this adventure again and hope that these four guides are still around when I decide to go again, It was an overall fantastic experience!
Matt K
June 29, 2026
I will be doing this adventure again and hope that these four guides are still around when I decide to go again, It was an overall fantastic experience!
Additional Comments
I had a great experience learning from Nick as we were on the same rope team on summit day. His knowledge of the mountain and when to change safety tactics as the day warmed up was really cool to see and learn. Nick is a great guy!
What did you enjoy most?
I will be doing this adventure again and hope that these four guides are still around when I decide to go again, It was an overall fantastic experience!
June 29, 2026
Mt. Rainier Four Day Climb
I loved the experience learning a new outdoors craft, the personable guides, and the amazing sunrise view
Sterling S
June 29, 2026
I loved the experience learning a new outdoors craft, the personable guides, and the amazing sunrise view
Additional Comments
Jackson was highly professional and dedicated to safety while also being amazingly personable and genuinely interested in everyone having the best experience.
What did you enjoy most?
I loved the experience learning a new outdoors craft, the personable guides, and the amazing sunrise view
June 29, 2026
Mt. Rainier Four Day Climb
Guides were awesome and the home base campus was amazing.
Chad H
June 29, 2026
Guides were awesome and the home base campus was amazing.
Additional Comments
He was a GREAT teacher. His vast experience was shared in a useful and very interesting way. I have used other guide services and he is my favorite guide by far. Thank you Mike!
What did you enjoy most?
Guides were awesome and the home base campus was amazing.
What needs improvement?
I thought the price of the room at the bunkhouse was too expensive.
June 28, 2026
Mt. Rainier Four Day Climb
The guides were all very approachable, friendly, and knowledgeable and they were all clearly good at following their required procedures and making sure the climbers followed them as well.
Robert R
June 28, 2026
The guides were all very approachable, friendly, and knowledgeable and they were all clearly good at following their required procedures and making sure the climbers followed them as well.
Additional Comments
It would be nice for the equipment list to be broken down into buckets for different temperature/weather bands. For example, there are a lot of different levels of parkas and knowing which ones to buy (or rent instead) would help us be a lot more prepared.
What did you enjoy most?
The guides were all very approachable, friendly, and knowledgeable and they were all clearly good at following their required procedures and making sure the climbers followed them as well.
What needs improvement?
Be more transparent about the climbing requirements. Being able to climb 1000ft/hour is very different from being able to climb 1000ft in an hour without pausing. I understand the necessity of maintaining pace when roped up, but the program would be a lot more accessible if pausing movement for 30 seconds every 15 minutes or so was allowed. Had I known about the pace requirements I would have been able to prepare more appropriately, or decide if the program was right for me.
June 28, 2026
Mt. Rainier Emmons Climb
Even though it was a "guided" trip, it felt more like a :team" experience, maybe partly because all of the client climbers seemed competent and prepared. Great group, and fun week!
John R
June 28, 2026
Even though it was a "guided" trip, it felt more like a :team" experience, maybe partly because all of the client climbers seemed competent and prepared. Great group, and fun week!
Additional Comments
Dustin was the best person to lead our group! I have done/been on multiple climbing trips in the past 50 years, this was only my 3rd guided trip in all these years.....i could tell he was very attentive to our needs and the overall situation, and seemed ready to respond to anything that might come our way. He was very good at letting us behave independently, but was paying close attention to stuff as needed......(in all my years of climbing little and big stuff, I felt I had a feel for what was going on, and could tell Dustin had a great read on our activities and safety)......he was a great team leader in my opinion! ( even when i farted near his face one time....you have to ask him about that!)
Additional Comments
all in all, a very well thought out, comprehensive program and itinerary. well done!
Additional Comments
Again, a great program, I would climb with you all again any time!
What did you enjoy most?
Even though it was a "guided" trip, it felt more like a :team" experience, maybe partly because all of the client climbers seemed competent and prepared. Great group, and fun week!
What needs improvement?
Not much to improve. I enjoyed the whole experience!
June 28, 2026
Mt. Rainier Four Day Climb
What I loved most was I only had to worry about what I could control. All my focus was on my physical experience and enjoying it with my friends. All the transportation, weather, gear rentals, scouting, roping, worrying, etc was handled by RMI and it 100% solidified I made the right choice to have this guided experience.
Matthew H
June 28, 2026
What I loved most was I only had to worry about what I could control. All my focus was on my physical experience and enjoying it with my friends. All the transportation, weather, gear rentals, scouting, roping, worrying, etc was handled by RMI and it 100% solidified I made the right choice to have this guided experience.
Additional Comments
Ben was very mature and we felt like he was in total control the entire trip. He struck the perfect balance of seriousness to get us to the top as safe as possible, and playfulness constantly reminding us the number one rule was to Win.
Additional Comments
There was ample info across all forms of media that we had everything we needed to be prepared. The only knock would be providing when each piece of equipment would be necessary. The list said we needed 0-20 degree bags yet it never dropped below 40-50 degrees in the bunkhouse. It may change season to season, so it could've been one cost avoidance to not need a heavier duty bag.
Additional Comments
The guides showed excellent care for the environment and LNT. They prepared us exactly for every step we would take and were careful to always remind us we passed the hardest section... until the next one. Also, having such a comfortable shuttle to and from basecamp was such a nice perk that left our attention on the mountain.
What did you enjoy most?
What I loved most was I only had to worry about what I could control. All my focus was on my physical experience and enjoying it with my friends. All the transportation, weather, gear rentals, scouting, roping, worrying, etc was handled by RMI and it 100% solidified I made the right choice to have this guided experience.
What needs improvement?
RMI knocked it out of the park. I think the only area that I could call for improvement would be more cost transparency. It was an expensive trip so knowing where all the money was divided and how everyone behind the scenes contributed could be beneficial.
June 28, 2026
Mt. Rainier Emmons Climb
Feeling that we are team trying to get up and down safely. Feedback given by guides to help us learn and be better. I was very impressed with the integrity of the guides, they are really super knowledgeable people with extraordinary skills. What they do, they make it look so easy. Great listeners and communicators. Great people.
Eric M
June 28, 2026
Feeling that we are team trying to get up and down safely. Feedback given by guides to help us learn and be better. I was very impressed with the integrity of the guides, they are really super knowledgeable people with extraordinary skills. What they do, they make it look so easy. Great listeners and communicators. Great people.
Additional Comments
Website is difficult to sign into and cumbersome. Felt like I purchased a lot of equipment that I really did not need to have. Really need to have input from the guides on what actually is needed on the trip to avoid purchasing or renting items that will not be needed.
What did you enjoy most?
Feeling that we are team trying to get up and down safely. Feedback given by guides to help us learn and be better. I was very impressed with the integrity of the guides, they are really super knowledgeable people with extraordinary skills. What they do, they make it look so easy. Great listeners and communicators. Great people.
What needs improvement?
Don't assume we ever know. Teach at all times for all aspects of the mountaineering experience.
June 28, 2026
Mt. Rainier Four Day Climb
I had very high expectations for the Guides for this trip but they somehow exceeded all of them. They are just so knowledgeable about the mountain, techniques for mountaineering, safety protocols, etc. Additionally, I really appreciated how they shared all of this knowledge in a way that was broken down so it was easier to understand for someone like myself who doesn't have a ton of mountaineering experience. Above all, the Guides as well as the other climbers on my trip, were all great people which I learned is so important when doing a expedition like this
Connor H
June 28, 2026
I had very high expectations for the Guides for this trip but they somehow exceeded all of them. They are just so knowledgeable about the mountain, techniques for mountaineering, safety protocols, etc. Additionally, I really appreciated how they shared all of this knowledge in a way that was broken down so it was easier to understand for someone like myself who doesn't have a ton of mountaineering experience. Above all, the Guides as well as the other climbers on my trip, were all great people which I learned is so important when doing a expedition like this
Additional Comments
Thomas was a fantastic lead guide and acted with the utmost professionalism, respectfulness, and kindness, all while making this climb incredibly fun and memorable. As someone who worked hard to train for this climb but was nervous given it was my first real mountain climb, Thomas made the experience much more approachable while keeping safety as the #1 priority. Thank you Thomas for an amazing experience!
Additional Comments
Thank you to the entire RMI team for an amazing experience! We're hoping to be on another RMI trip in the future
Additional Comments
N/A
What did you enjoy most?
I had very high expectations for the Guides for this trip but they somehow exceeded all of them. They are just so knowledgeable about the mountain, techniques for mountaineering, safety protocols, etc. Additionally, I really appreciated how they shared all of this knowledge in a way that was broken down so it was easier to understand for someone like myself who doesn't have a ton of mountaineering experience. Above all, the Guides as well as the other climbers on my trip, were all great people which I learned is so important when doing a expedition like this
What needs improvement?
N/A
June 28, 2026
Mt. Rainier Four Day Climb
meeting the guides and team, and hearing everyones experiences and adventures in the mountains.
Bradley C
June 28, 2026
meeting the guides and team, and hearing everyones experiences and adventures in the mountains.
Additional Comments
It was a very well planned and thought out itinerary.
What did you enjoy most?
meeting the guides and team, and hearing everyones experiences and adventures in the mountains.
What needs improvement?
Can't really think of any. The guides were super friendly and patient, and were always ready to help or answer questions.
June 27, 2026
Mt. Rainier Emmons Climb
I really enjoyed learning about everything that goes into a successful summit - the gear, skills, movement, weather, navigation, etc. I loved picking the brains of the guides and guests. The camaraderie was amazing!
Jennifer S
June 27, 2026
I really enjoyed learning about everything that goes into a successful summit - the gear, skills, movement, weather, navigation, etc. I loved picking the brains of the guides and guests. The camaraderie was amazing!
Additional Comments
Dustin is a top-notch guide. Excellent communication, navigation, pacing, and pro-tips. He also made a point to connect with everyone and keep us all working together as a team.
What did you enjoy most?
I really enjoyed learning about everything that goes into a successful summit - the gear, skills, movement, weather, navigation, etc. I loved picking the brains of the guides and guests. The camaraderie was amazing!
What needs improvement?
Can’t think of anything to improve. :-)
June 27, 2026
Mt. Rainier Four Day Climb
The conversations. This has been one of the strongest bonding experiences I’ve ever had I think. When you’re on the mountain, you have tons of time to chat and what not. Even though everyone is struggling individually, you really are part of a team.
Lowy S
June 27, 2026
The conversations. This has been one of the strongest bonding experiences I’ve ever had I think. When you’re on the mountain, you have tons of time to chat and what not. Even though everyone is struggling individually, you really are part of a team.
Additional Comments
George was a great guide. Could not have asked for better. More than a great guide, however, George is just a great person. (P.S. writing all these comments while slightly buzzed, so you know I’m telling the truth).
Additional Comments
I felt super prepared before even showing up to orientation. The equipment list is extensive and everything pre-trip went smoothly.
Additional Comments
RMI is just full of beasts from top to bottom (Good thing).
What did you enjoy most?
The conversations. This has been one of the strongest bonding experiences I’ve ever had I think. When you’re on the mountain, you have tons of time to chat and what not. Even though everyone is struggling individually, you really are part of a team.
What needs improvement?
Invent a weather-controlling contraption and make sure to patent it immediately. Lol just kidding. RMI is GOATED
June 27, 2026
Mt. Rainier Four Day Climb
its perfect! keep doing what you’re doing.
Jordan T
June 27, 2026
its perfect! keep doing what you’re doing.
Additional Comments
Best guide I have ever worked with.
What did you enjoy most?
the guides
What needs improvement?
its perfect! keep doing what you’re doing.
June 26, 2026
Mt. Rainier Four Day Climb
I learned a lot about the sport of mountaineering. Mike was the best resource I could have asked for.
Thai T
June 26, 2026
I learned a lot about the sport of mountaineering. Mike was the best resource I could have asked for.
Additional Comments
Mike was absolutely the best guide we could have asked for. We will likely come back largely because of his expertise, commitment to safety/education as well as his exemplary. My only suggestion would be he eats more fruit.
Additional Comments
Food plan was not great for the cost. As a vegetarian there were really very limited options. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches ended up being very expensive for what I paid for. I would actively look to improve the process and offerings. Had I known that peanut butter and jelly were going to be the only options I would have purchased these items myself instead of the high cost of the meal plan.
What did you enjoy most?
I learned a lot about the sport of mountaineering. Mike was the best resource I could have asked for.
What needs improvement?
Food plan is an absolute scam for someone already paying $2500 for a trip The website is also fairly outdated and difficult to navigate. Is it really necessary for two factor identification for this type of website? I probably would have participated more in the group chat if it wasn’t so cumbersome to log in and navigate the website.
June 25, 2026
Mt. Rainier Four Day Climb
Honestly not a single thing id change from what I experienced, everything was perfect
Stepan S
June 25, 2026
Honestly not a single thing id change from what I experienced, everything was perfect
What did you enjoy most?
Being on a rope team with Lukas
What needs improvement?
Honestly not a single thing id change from what I experienced, everything was perfect
June 25, 2026
Mt. Rainier Four Day Climb
The guides were the BEST!
Gemma A
June 25, 2026
The guides were the BEST!
Additional Comments
Tom might just be the best guide ever to exist! He is what all guides should be aspiring to. A truly wonderful person too!
What did you enjoy most?
The guides were the BEST!
June 25, 2026
Mt. Rainier Four Day Climb
Its not about the summit, its the journey! Really enjoyed seeing how a group of strangers could come together over four days and accomplish a really challenging goal. The guides play a big part in making that happen, but I give credit for everyone showing up prepared and ready!
Frederic S
June 25, 2026
Its not about the summit, its the journey! Really enjoyed seeing how a group of strangers could come together over four days and accomplish a really challenging goal. The guides play a big part in making that happen, but I give credit for everyone showing up prepared and ready!
What did you enjoy most?
Its not about the summit, its the journey! Really enjoyed seeing how a group of strangers could come together over four days and accomplish a really challenging goal. The guides play a big part in making that happen, but I give credit for everyone showing up prepared and ready!
What needs improvement?
You really have a sweet setup out there in Ashford. Now that I've done a program I have complete confidence in your org and would certainly come back.
June 25, 2026
Mt. Rainier Five Day Climb
Pushing myself and experiencing such an intense climb
Hudson C
June 25, 2026
Pushing myself and experiencing such an intense climb
Additional Comments
Nick was an absolute professional, calm, collected, supportive, and clearly has his teams safety and success in mind.
Additional Comments
Equipment list had a few redundant items but obviously its quite difficult to compose a list for the entire season due to so many different conditions. The email correspondence was fine, if maybe a bit long winded at times. My only complaint with the website is that it doesnt list who is going to be leading the climb, so maybe when that is decided letting the climbers know who it is and their experiences would be nice
Additional Comments
All itinerary and info was clear and lnt was definatly followed. Transporation was seamless
What did you enjoy most?
Pushing myself and experiencing such an intense climb
What needs improvement?
Maybe some snacks of some sort when we return to basecamp? I was pretty hungry and couldnt eat before the team meeting
June 24, 2026
Mt. Baker - Easton Glacier
I enjoyed the social bonding of the group & gathering to go out to eat afterwards to bid our farewells.
William D
June 24, 2026
I enjoyed the social bonding of the group & gathering to go out to eat afterwards to bid our farewells.
Additional Comments
Quality example of a leader. Knows what he’s talking about & has a great sense of humor. Very considerate of the public & individuals around him. Also very motivational with a laid back approach. Would definitely climb with him again.
What did you enjoy most?
I enjoyed the social bonding of the group & gathering to go out to eat afterwards to bid our farewells.
What needs improvement?
Would have appreciated more of a heads up on the tent situation as far as having to share with someone else but other than that, all good!
June 24, 2026
Mt. Rainier Four Day Climb
The guides were so knowledgeable and encouraging. I learned so much from them and trusted in their leadership.
Mindy C
June 24, 2026
The guides were so knowledgeable and encouraging. I learned so much from them and trusted in their leadership.
What did you enjoy most?
The guides were so knowledgeable and encouraging. I learned so much from them and trusted in their leadership.
What needs improvement?
I think I would have appreciated more correspondence leading up to the trip (ie who would be on our team, who the guides were, etc).
June 24, 2026
Mt. Rainier Four Day Climb
It’s always awesome to learn from the guides while doing something I love! Thrilled to have done this again and to have finally made the “true summit” this time around!
Tierra M
June 24, 2026
It’s always awesome to learn from the guides while doing something I love! Thrilled to have done this again and to have finally made the “true summit” this time around!
Additional Comments
Ben was an incredible guide for our group. Not only was he helpful with gear check but also with training and keeping us safe on the mountain. I learned a lot from Ben even with this being my second time on Rainier! Ben handled all of our group challenges like a pro!
What did you enjoy most?
It’s always awesome to learn from the guides while doing something I love! Thrilled to have done this again and to have finally made the “true summit” this time around!
June 24, 2026
Mt. Rainier Four Day Climb
This is my second climb with RMI. I cannot say enough about the training you must provide to these guides. Every one I have dealt with has been candidly quite professional. I did not really struggle with any aspects of this climb, I take instruction well, and implement whatever instruction I am given. That being said, as I watched others around me struggle, not once did a guide lose their temper or patience with a client. Not once did they show annoyance when a struggling climber was not following instructions or forgetting them entirely due to struggling with altitude or pace. Simple forgetfulness of not switching the ice axe to the uphill hand was never met with annoyance or exasperation, but was instead met with genuinely patient reminders.
Tyler T
June 24, 2026
This is my second climb with RMI. I cannot say enough about the training you must provide to these guides. Every one I have dealt with has been candidly quite professional. I did not really struggle with any aspects of this climb, I take instruction well, and implement whatever instruction I am given. That being said, as I watched others around me struggle, not once did a guide lose their temper or patience with a client. Not once did they show annoyance when a struggling climber was not following instructions or forgetting them entirely due to struggling with altitude or pace. Simple forgetfulness of not switching the ice axe to the uphill hand was never met with annoyance or exasperation, but was instead met with genuinely patient reminders.
Additional Comments
Very professional and helpful in all aspects of the training and climb. 100% satisfaction. I would not hesitate to climb with him again.
Additional Comments
I know that there is some sort of separation between RMI and Whittaker, but I was also very satisfied with the rental assistance provided over the phone. The gal on the other line went above and beyond and called me back promptly after checking into a gear question for me.
Additional Comments
Guides appropriately kept us on the path and reminded us not to stray so as not to damage the park ecosystem.
What did you enjoy most?
This is my second climb with RMI. I cannot say enough about the training you must provide to these guides. Every one I have dealt with has been candidly quite professional. I did not really struggle with any aspects of this climb, I take instruction well, and implement whatever instruction I am given. That being said, as I watched others around me struggle, not once did a guide lose their temper or patience with a client. Not once did they show annoyance when a struggling climber was not following instructions or forgetting them entirely due to struggling with altitude or pace. Simple forgetfulness of not switching the ice axe to the uphill hand was never met with annoyance or exasperation, but was instead met with genuinely patient reminders.
What needs improvement?
I think Lowa must have forgotten to add the waterproof membrane to my rental boots. They wetted-out on my training day and were rather damp by about 1/2 way up to Muir. :)
June 24, 2026
Mt. Rainier Five Day Climb
What I enjoyed most about this trip was that it was about much more than reaching a summit. After previous attempts in 2023 and 2024, finally standing on top of Mount Rainier represented the completion of a goal that had been years in the making. The mountain challenged me physically and mentally, but the journey itself became just as meaningful as the destination. I especially enjoyed the camaraderie among the team and guides. Whether it was sharing stories at Camp Muir, learning from the guides, encouraging one another during difficult sections of the climb, or celebrating successes along the way, the people made the experience special. The trip also reinforced something I strongly believe: never give up. There were moments over the years when it would have been easy to accept that Rainier simply wasn't meant to happen. Standing on the summit proved that persistence matters and that some goals are worth pursuing, even when they take multiple attempts. Most of all, I enjoyed being fully present in the experience—the training, the climb, the views, the conversations, the challenges, and ultimately the sense of accomplishment that came from achieving a long-awaited goal.
Doug S
June 24, 2026
What I enjoyed most about this trip was that it was about much more than reaching a summit. After previous attempts in 2023 and 2024, finally standing on top of Mount Rainier represented the completion of a goal that had been years in the making. The mountain challenged me physically and mentally, but the journey itself became just as meaningful as the destination. I especially enjoyed the camaraderie among the team and guides. Whether it was sharing stories at Camp Muir, learning from the guides, encouraging one another during difficult sections of the climb, or celebrating successes along the way, the people made the experience special. The trip also reinforced something I strongly believe: never give up. There were moments over the years when it would have been easy to accept that Rainier simply wasn't meant to happen. Standing on the summit proved that persistence matters and that some goals are worth pursuing, even when they take multiple attempts. Most of all, I enjoyed being fully present in the experience—the training, the climb, the views, the conversations, the challenges, and ultimately the sense of accomplishment that came from achieving a long-awaited goal.
Additional Comments
Nick – The Patient Shepherd Nick was the guide I needed on this climb. I honestly don't think I would have made the summit without his care, attention, and steady leadership. He always seemed to know exactly when I needed a reminder to get myself back together—slow down, breathe, manage my pace, watch my footing, or focus on the next step. The remarkable thing was how he delivered those corrections: always with a smile, eye contact, and genuine encouragement. I never doubted that Nick wanted me to succeed. During the toughest moments of the climb, I needed someone to look up to, and Nick became that person. What also stood out was how attentive Nick was while we were at Camp Muir. He was constantly checking in on everyone—asking how we were feeling, how our legs were holding up, whether we needed anything, or if there was anything he could do to help us prepare for the climb ahead. He genuinely cared about the well-being of every member of the team. He also took the time to lead us on a short hike above camp to show us the Cowlitz Glacier and talk about the surrounding terrain. It wasn't part of any requirement or obligation; it was simply something extra he chose to do because he enjoys sharing the mountain with others. Those small moments added a lot to the overall experience and are a big part of what made the trip memorable. One of the coolest moments of the trip was after reaching the summit. My brother Dan was unable to continue to the top, but Nick stepped into that moment and celebrated the achievement with me. It was a simple gesture, but one I'll never forget. Great guide. Even better man.
What did you enjoy most?
What I enjoyed most about this trip was that it was about much more than reaching a summit. After previous attempts in 2023 and 2024, finally standing on top of Mount Rainier represented the completion of a goal that had been years in the making. The mountain challenged me physically and mentally, but the journey itself became just as meaningful as the destination. I especially enjoyed the camaraderie among the team and guides. Whether it was sharing stories at Camp Muir, learning from the guides, encouraging one another during difficult sections of the climb, or celebrating successes along the way, the people made the experience special. The trip also reinforced something I strongly believe: never give up. There were moments over the years when it would have been easy to accept that Rainier simply wasn't meant to happen. Standing on the summit proved that persistence matters and that some goals are worth pursuing, even when they take multiple attempts. Most of all, I enjoyed being fully present in the experience—the training, the climb, the views, the conversations, the challenges, and ultimately the sense of accomplishment that came from achieving a long-awaited goal.
What needs improvement?
Honestly, I don't have any significant suggestions for improvement. This was my third trip with RMI, and each experience has been professionally run, safety-focused, and enjoyable. The guides were exceptional, communication before and during the climb was clear, and the overall experience met or exceeded my expectations. If anything, I would simply encourage RMI to continue doing what they do well—hiring outstanding guides who are not only technically skilled, but who genuinely care about the people they are leading. The quality of the guides is what sets the experience apart.
June 23, 2026
Mt. Rainier Four Day Climb
I enjoyed the whole experience!! Highlights were outstanding guides, a great group, a beautiful sunrise on summit day, learning new skills and relearning old skills I had not used before in quite a few years.
Don S
June 23, 2026
I enjoyed the whole experience!! Highlights were outstanding guides, a great group, a beautiful sunrise on summit day, learning new skills and relearning old skills I had not used before in quite a few years.
Additional Comments
It is obvious Ben is an experienced Professional Guide. He has a wealth of knowledge to offer in many areas of guiding. He is also a kind, supportive leader. His calmness as a leader Makes others comfortable in a mountain environment. He is very supportive of clients learning new skills and supportive of the other guides he works with. Ben’s rope handling skills are fantastic, very efficient!! I learned a lot from Ben!!
Additional Comments
The website is great with a a thorough equipment list and many resources for someone preparing to participate in a climb. I spoke to several office and rental folks prior to the climb. In all cases they were friendly and helpful.
Additional Comments
The transportation was comfortable and efficient! The drivers were friendly and professional. They have a hard job driving on the curvy road that is often crowded! My hat is off to them!!
What did you enjoy most?
I enjoyed the whole experience!! Highlights were outstanding guides, a great group, a beautiful sunrise on summit day, learning new skills and relearning old skills I had not used before in quite a few years.
What needs improvement?
Keep supporting the guides and all staff with professional development opportunities! They are your greatest resource!!
June 23, 2026
Mt. Rainier Four Day Climb
I am very grateful for such a profoundly moving experience and the opportunity to share it with my family. We will reminisce about it together for years. Thanks for making it possible.
Kim S
June 23, 2026
I am very grateful for such a profoundly moving experience and the opportunity to share it with my family. We will reminisce about it together for years. Thanks for making it possible.
Additional Comments
Ben represents the highest level of outdoor leadership in my opinion. He exudes sound judgement and wisdom, and his calm presence is truly an asset to clients - it helps us to feel confident. He is kind, gentle, humble and approachable. He is constantly observing people, conditions and all factors involved in making sound judgements. Great communication skills and very thoughtful and sincere in all interactions. It was truly an honor and a gift to spend time on this mountain with Ben.
What did you enjoy most?
Spending time with gifted, professional guides in a magical place. Sunrise.
What needs improvement?
Can’t think of anything - you are truly SUCH an impressive, professional organization!! The Camp Muir facilities are a bit rough….but maybe that’s part of the experience!?
