Entries from Expedition Dispatches
Thursday, July 18, 2019
The skies cleared last night after dinner and we got a nice moonlit view of Salkantay. Well fed and feeling the cold in our toes we turned in for the night after a long day. The snow started about 3:00 am and left a thin white blanket on our camp and trail to Incachiriaska Pass. The Team did well with the altitude and the trail was in great shape with a little snow and moisture. While at the pass the low clouds lifted to provide a spectacular view of Humantay, Salkantay and a few peaks to the North.
We walked in the rain and sleet to our lunch spot and continued after lunch in a nice dry breeze. Our wet rain gear dried out and we enjoyed a nice walk down valley into the small subsistence village of Pampachuana located at 13,120’. The Team is doing great and has really enjoyed the solitude of this trip so far. We are tucked into our tents to avoid the current squall of rain. We are warm, dry and happy.
RMI Guide Mike King
Buenas tardes from Refugio Huascarán.
We are back on the move, and we left town again this morning fully psyched for our last objective. Huascarán was in view all day from the early morning drive to our 4-hour hike, and it never got any smaller! We are perched at 4,675m, on a beautiful rocky terrace next to the refugio on the edge of the glacial moraine. Our porters are currently helping out with dinner, and we're all hoping to go to bed pretty soon here.
Stay tuned for more,
RMI Guide Elías de Andres Martos and team
Hello again everyone!
Today the team started the day a little earlier with a nice breakfast prepared by Dasha, then set out on our last acclimatizing hike just after 8:00 to make use of the better (firmer) snow conditions and beat the forecasted afternoon storms.
The team did a great job hiking as we made our way up to about 15,000ft in just over three hours, setting a new record for some. We stopped along the way to take a few breaks and enjoy the intermittent views as the weather flipped between sun breaks and small snow squalls.
After reaching our high point we made our way back to camp just in time for another enjoyable lunch.
The afternoon was spent around camp just relaxing in our little huts after our big day.
RMI Guide Casey Grom and team
The team had a very nice day here on Kilimanjaro, waking to beautiful clear skies and hiking in sunshine all day. We started with a 6:30 wake up and packing before moving into our dining tent for a nice breakfast with porridge, scrambled eggs, toast, bacon fresh fruit and even fresh dark roast Tanzanian coffee.
We hit the trail around 9 am and slowly made our way up the rocky trail with incredible views of Kili above. After about five hours we reached our next camp that sits on the Shira Plateau, which is one of the three dormant volcanoes that make up Kili.
A lot of wet soggy cloths and gear is now bone dry, getting us back into great shape for our next few days on the trail.
All is well at 12,500'.
RMI Guide Mark Tucker
On The Map
Today was unexpectedly a big move day. After climbing yesterday, the team was planning to take a rest day and recoup, but the forecast had different plans for us.
After looking at upcoming weather and counting the days available to us we decided to move up to High Camp and try to utilize the current high pressure window.
Walking up the glacier was rather uneventful and we made it to our camp at 12,000ft in 5.5 hours. When we arrived the wind picked up and clouds started to build. As we eat dinner it is currently hailing outside and we can hear thunder in the distance. So much for utilizing the good weather!!
We're not sure what to expect tomorrow and the forecast doesn't seem reliable, so we're just going to wake up and see how things look.
RMI Guide Eric Frank
Posted by: Win Whittaker, Mike Uchal
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 10,080'
The Four Day Climb July 15 - 18 led by RMI Guides Win Whittaker and Mike Uchal were unable to climb today. The group is warm and dry at Camp Muir and will begin their descent around 9 AM.
The above photo is from the team above Paradise on July 16 for their Mountaineering Day School.
See you at Paradise with Rainier! Hugs to all!
Posted by: Candace Weisser on 7/18/2019 at 9:32 am
Sending prayers for safe climb and return to base camp.
Posted by: Marilee Adams on 7/18/2019 at 8:08 am
Hello from the Ishinca Valley in the beautiful Cordillera Blanca! Oh boy, what a treat it is to finally be in the mountains after 4 days in and around town. It is a beautiful setting here at Ishinca Base Camp, nestled between massive snow and ice covered giants at 14,400’. The peaks around us soar up to 20,000’ and it’s a sight to behold.
It took us about 4 hours to make the move here from the trail head. We donned day packs after leaving the bulk of our weight with the donkeys and arrieros, and enjoyed a light weight walk all the way in under sunny skies. Soon after setting up camp, the afternoon rains reared their ugly heads, but luckily we were already warm and dry in our tents.
Tonight, believe it or not, we were treated to a trout dinner with baby potatoes, chicken soup, and jello. We live our best lives here in Peru, and our cook Emilio is a huge part of that.
Tomorrow, we’ll take’er easy. A little walking, a little technical training, and maybe even some napping. We’ll fill you in tomorrow. Until then, thanks for following along!
RMI Guide Robby Young and Team ‘Trucha’
PS - Spanish word of the day is Sombra (Shade)
We’re really enjoying these posts! Sending best wishes for great hiking and beautiful weather. Go, Ben!
Posted by: Barbara W on 7/18/2019 at 6:47 pm
Posted by: Elias de Andres Martos, JT Schmitt
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Huascaran
Elevation: 10,000'
Good evening from Huaraz. The team is spending a couple rest days in town after our acclimatization phase on Yannapacha and Chopicalqui. This phase was, on its own, a legit climbing objective with high and technical peaks where our team stepped it up and proved to be a very fit, mentally tough and a determined one. We sure are now acclimatized and ready for the highest peak on Earth located in between the tropics, Huascaran. Follow along for the second half of our expedition starting tomorrow.
RMI Guide Elias de Andres Martos
We left Cusco at 5 am and headed for the small village if Mollepata. Our drive took us down a spectacular winding highway from the high Andean steppe into a heavily forested valley. With rain hitting the windshield we could see fresh snow up around 18,000’ when the clouds would break. Once our shuttle arrived at Soraypampa we ate a light breakfast and began hiking. The day was a mix of sun, wind, rain, snow and a little bit of “just right”. The Team got to use all their layers today and we didn’t envy the less prepared “backpackers” who had ponchos and jeans on.
We are having a great time and enjoyed some views of Nevado Salkantay 20,452’ until the weather rolled in. The hike follows a narrowing valley and eventually parallels an enormous glacial moraine. The good eating has already begun, trout, rice and potato soup for lunch; we get spoiled on these programs. Our local staff and horseman are extremely nice and hardworking. Thanks for following along. We will check in tomorrow after going over the 16,000’ Incachiriaska Pass.
RMI Guide Mike King
Miss you all and am thinking of you! I went to the doctor today - my wrist is fine, but I have a raging respiratory infection. Spent the day in bed with meds! I made the right decision to stay behind - I’m coughing like a 2-pack a day smoker!
Posted by: Dori on 7/18/2019 at 8:13 pm
Keep up the good work!!
It must have been Chad wearing jeans:)
Eddie
Posted by: Eddie Leonard on 7/17/2019 at 7:29 pm
The team is doing well after a good nights rest and waking up to nice weather this morning. Then we had a nice big breakfast in the hotel, and loaded up all our climbing gear and drove to the base of Mt. Elbrus. Once there we took advantage of the 3 gondolas, and a short snowcat ride to reach our new home for the next few days.
It's rather comfortable up here, as our outfitter has taken a few shipping containers and converted them into simple bunk rooms some for sleeping and some set up as dinning rooms.
Once we got settled into our new home we headed uphill on another acclimatizing hike and reached just over 14'000 before returning to camp where our wonderful cook Dasha had a nice hot lunch waiting for us.
We spent the remaining of the afternoon relaxing around camp and enjoying the views of the Caucasus mountain range which are pretty amazing since we are camped out at just over 12'500ft.
Dasha has cooked up a delicious Russian meal with plenty of borscht and potatoes that filled us up. Everyone is doing well and ready for a little sleep.
RMI Guide Casey Grom and team
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Y’all are doing it!!!!! Sara, fantastic newsletter!!!! Your way with words is so powerful! We are all rooting for your team and cannot wait to hear the stories!!!! Congrats on taking a BIG dream and making it reality!!! #primefamily #squeezetheglutes #dreambig
Posted by: RAB on 7/19/2019 at 8:41 am
So excited to read about your adventure!! You all are amazing people and I am so proud of you!!! Stay strong and safe!!!
Posted by: Melissa on 7/19/2019 at 8:12 am
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