The Four Day Summit Climb led by Seth Waterfall and the Five Day Summit climb led by Gabriel Barral were forced to turn around at 11,000' due to storm conditions and high avalanche hazards. There is a large cap on the mountain that was descending to almost 10,000'. The team began their descent from Camp Muir. We look forward to meeting them at Rainier Base Camp later this morning.
Hey Seth,
Thanks for the opportunity to summit. You made the right decision! We will see you soon for another attempt. BTW, can you e-mail that picture you took of us on your iPhone?
Thanks so much,
Jim
Posted by: Jim and Karin Block on 6/26/2012 at 1:23 pm
Thanks Gabby for a very special summit attempt. I hope soon to join you and shoot for the summit. Jake
Hello from the Carstensz Pyramid team,
What a way to start an expedition. Mountain climbers surf Bali!
Fresh red snapper for lunch and solid 3 foot swell for dessert.
I love my job!
We head to the airport at midnight tonight for a 2 am flight to the town of Timika on the Island of New Guinea.
The whole team and all bags are here and ready.
Everyone is looking forward to the rest of this adventure.
RMI Guide Mark Tucker
We're having a relaxing day, lounging around in our tents, resting, eating, and sleeping after a tasty breakfast of smoked salmon and cream cheese bagel sandwiches. The weather today started off cloudy and snowing lightly, but currently the clouds have dropped below us and we're enjoying some sunshine up here at 14,000'. We're currently in a holding pattern, waiting for a good weather window to move to high camp and make a summit bid. Based on the current forecast, it looks like we may take another rest day tomorrow to let this unsettled weather pass. That's OK with us, as we are welcoming the rest and time to acclimate further. The weather forecast looks good in a few days, so we'll hope that verifies.
Until then, we're in chill mode. We'll keep you posted with any news from our end.
RMI Guide Mike Walter
Enjoy every moment. Would be awesome to take in that much of creation’s beauty…so untouched by humans. Can’t to see your photos. We are praying for your safety. love the Ortmeiers:)
Posted by: maren ortmeier on 7/2/2012 at 5:23 am
Great to hear some news! I will certainly be praying for you, Lee, and all your compatriots. You’re as high now as I’ve ever gotten . . . keep going! I can only imagine what it actually looks like seeing it with one’s own eyes. And I suppose the Creator must be bigger than this, since He made it! :-}
Posted by: Fr Paul Duchschere on 6/28/2012 at 8:45 am
Today presented our team with it's first real challenge. Early this morning mother nature decide that leaving the weather window wide open was making things a bit to easy for us. She knew we had plans to move to 11,000 feet so early this morning the wind started blowing, the temps dropped and the world resembled the inside of a ping pong ball. For a while we were actually debating staying put. That thought lasted as long as a Luke warm cup of coffee and two hours later we were all heading toward camp 3. Despite the weather this team performed like a well oiled machine. We arrived at 11,000 feet in great style and pounded out a great camp. I am most impressed by everyone's strength and charisma.
Talk to you all tomorrow.
RMI Guide Adam Knoff
Hi Michael R,
Any good X-C skiing up there? If u see any good scarfs pick one up for me-hee hee!
We know u will do well ~ enjoy the experience & have fun!
Lv, Diana & Brian
Posted by: D and B on 6/25/2012 at 5:53 pm
Hey! One picture of my hubby is not enough for me to make it through! I just need to see Tims face and I’ll know how he’s doing. Pleeeeease! : )
Appreciate any news you can send, stories. Good job on the blog…just want more. You write very well!
Hey, everybody this is Billy calling and checking in from Ecuador on the Ecuador’s Volcanoes trip. The crew woke up yesterday morning at the Hosteria San Luis, where we enjoyed some really nice facilites after our hike on Cero Fuya Fuya. We went to the famous Andean Market in Otavalo where the crew got a chance to see all the local handicrafts and eat some crazy foods, all the cool stuff that’s for sale on a super busy Saturday market. It was a real treat that we were there on a Saturday.
Then we geared up and headed up to the hut on Cayambe. The road was in super bad condition. So, we ended up having to run laps with the 4x4 thru some deep mud while the rest of the crew was walking along the way. Vans couldn’t get within 10 km of the refugio.
But everybody is up here right now. We are taking a rest day. We did a bit of training and we are hanging out. Hopefully getting geared up for a summit attempt tonight. The weather has been super awful all day. Lots of clouds, blowing snow, lots of wind and everything around us is covered with ice and rime
Currently the weather is improving so we are keeping our fingers crossed for tonight and we’ll take our first crack at a big volcano.
So, we’ll call and check in tomorrow and let you know how it goes.
Signing off for now,
RMI Guide Billy Nugent
RMI Guide Billy Nugent checks in from the Cayambe Hut.
A few hours ago we were sitting on the glacier, Heartbreak Hill already a fading memory. Now we are back in Talkeetna, showered and fed and reconnecting with life off of the mountain. Our final day's walk was truly magnificent, with the light of the solstice in full effect as we marched downhill into thicker and thicker air, gaining strength as we went despite the accumulation of many days of work and little sleep. Waiting a few hours for a flight in the warm sun in the stillness of the Southeast Fork took the title as my best airport experience ever.
Once again we are all happy and healthy, glad to return to everyone back home safely and with an excellent time with friends on The Great One.
RMI Guide Jake Beren
The Four Day Summit Climb led by RMI Guide Jason Thompson was forced to turn around this morning due to deteriorating weather conditions. The teams reached a height of 10,500’ before making the decision to turn back. The team is expected to arrive back at Ashford Base Camp by early afternoon for hot coffee and a slide show presentation about RMI’s Alaska Seminar. There is an open invitation for the slide show if you happen to be in town!
We're all in our sleeping bags after a good day of climbing. We carried a cache of supplies to 16,800', just below Washburn's Thumb. Everyone did well on their first foray up the fixed lines, and then further climbing up the ridge of the West Buttress. We will be taking a rest day tomorrow, and hopefully be heading up to high camp soon thereafter.
A weak weather system looks to be approaching for the next few days, which is fine with us; we'll be resting, acclimating, and getting strong for the (hopefully) good weather to follow. We are in position now, and ready to head up to higher ground whenever the weather allows.
We will be in touch again tomorrow.
RMI Guide Mike Walter
Lee - So excited to hear news of your trek. Keep your socks dry. Looking forward to hearing about it all when you return. Cant wait to see the pictures. You are remembering to take pictures right? Mary Lee & C
Posted by: Mary Lee on 6/25/2012 at 8:21 pm
Lee, In support of your efforts I will go climb Dike East this week.
It is apparent the two previous days of hauling full loads weighing more than a small horse has already made our team stronger. Yesterday we all felt a bit nackered but ten solid hours of sleep was most revitalizing.
This morning the alarm went off at 6:00 am and we woke to clear skies and cold temps. The ever constant roar of our stoves means coffee is close providing the needed impetus to crawl out of warm bags and into cold boots.
We then made a smooth carry to 11,000 feet, the sight of our next camp. With a full afternoon to rest, the team is now learning the invaluable skill of killing time.
RMI Guide Adam Knoff
The Four Day Summit Climbs led by RMI Guides Paul Maier and Geoff Schellens were forced to turn around this morning due to deteriorating weather conditions.
The teams reached the top of Disappointment Cleaver at 12,500' before making the decision to turn back.
We look forward to seeing them back at Rainier BaseCamp this afternoon.
Hey Seth,
Thanks for the opportunity to summit. You made the right decision! We will see you soon for another attempt. BTW, can you e-mail that picture you took of us on your iPhone?
Thanks so much,
Jim
Posted by: Jim and Karin Block on 6/26/2012 at 1:23 pm
Thanks Gabby for a very special summit attempt. I hope soon to join you and shoot for the summit. Jake
Posted by: Jacob lehn on 6/25/2012 at 9:23 pm
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