Entries from Expedition Dispatches
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Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro
Jambo!
Everyone arrived safely to the Dik Dik Hotel in Tanzania. We spent the day organizing gear and packing our bags. The Team looks in great shape and everybody spot on with a positive attitude.
We have just finished a five course meal and are looking forward to some much needed sleep after all our travels. We will be up early tomorrow to start the climb.
Word from the mountain is that a pretty big snow storm rolled through today up high, so it is nice to be down here for that one.
We will be sending updates on our progress, so stay tuned.
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Wishing you all a Happy Valentine’s day from the RMI Kili Team in Arusha!
RMI Guide Mark Tucker
Today we left the hustle of Mexico City and drove to the high altitude training facility of La Malintzi for our first taste of the thin air. We hiked through the forest, climbing until we broke above treeline and gained our high point on the ridge of La Malinche at around 13,000 feet. We were strong today and after a little siesta and dinner are bedding down to rest up for tomorrows journey to the Altzimoni hut, our jump off for Ixta.
Buenas Noches and happy birthday to Christian and a big Valentine's Day hug to all the sweeties up North.
Happy Valentines Day Christian and hope your birthday was fun - miss you!
Posted by: Deb on 2/14/2011 at 1:14 pm
Hey everybody, it's Billy checking in for the entire crew. We woke up this morning to beautiful blue sky and calm winds and finally the storm broke for us. So we packed up our stuff and left Chopper Camp. We just moved in here at Camp Cholera and looks like this weather is gonna be holding for us through the evening and tomorrow and that makes tonight our summit attempt so will be getting up pretty early in the morning tomorrow and if all goes according to plan, we’ll be standing on top of the Americas, the summit of Aconcagua. We will give you guys a phone call and check in tomorrow at the end of the day and let you know how things went. Wish us luck.
Talk later. Ciao.
RMI Guide Billy Nugent
RMI Guide Billy Nugent talks about the planned summit attempt for tomorrow.
Great news on the change in your weather - may you have a beautiful summit! Best of luck to the team!
Paula & Bill
Posted by: Bill & Paula VanDeventer on 2/13/2011 at 6:34 pm
Last night our entire crew met in the lobby of our Colonial-era hotel in the heart of Mexico City, right on the Zocalo or main square. We all introduced ourselves and began the process of turning into a team by all going out to a local restaurant where we ate great authentic food and were serenaded by a squad of Mariachis.
This morning we had a quick breakfast before finishing up our packing and heading down to meet Rogelio, our long-time transportation guru here in Mexico. He will help us travel to La Malintzi where we will begin our acclimatization process by hiking up to 13,000 feet on the old volcano of La Malinche.
Here we go!
RMI Guide Jake Beren
Happy Valentine’s Day. Be safe and have fun.
Posted by: Teresa on 2/14/2011 at 5:31 am
Have a great time… and Happy Valentine’s Day!
Posted by: Gena on 2/13/2011 at 9:39 pm
Howdy gang, we are up here at Chopper Camp. We are experiencing 30 mph winds, about 30 feet visibility, sometimes less and plenty of blowing snow to boot. We are starting to feel like we're in the middle of an Alaskan storm here. A little bit worse cause we're so close to our objective.
Me and the guides have been jammin’ reggae and blues in the tent to try to channel some southern or tropical vibes and overcome this lousy storm. But the forecast actually calls for the squall to blow itself out tonight and if that's the case we're going, the whole team will head up tomorrow to Cholera Camp tomorrow. And then may take a crack at the summit on Valentine's Day. But right now, Pete says the stoke meter is currently at 1 ½, so please send us your happy, positive, and tropical weather vibes, down here in South America.
We miss you all. Wish us luck.
Ciao
RMI Guide Billy Nugent
RMI Guide Billy Nugent checks in from 18,000' on Aconcagua
Wow!! Watching your progress is inspiring. I almost wish I could be there too.
Posted by: mary doyle on 2/13/2011 at 4:04 pm
Bulls, Bulls, Bulls, Bears, Bears…
Ditka…
Polish Sausage…
Posted by: Dan on 2/13/2011 at 1:11 am
Today was the first day we've been stymied by lousy weather but the forecast looks pretty good! We're just stuck in our tents waiting for sunshine and calm winds. The rest of the crew is taking the weather day quite well. Depending on tomorrow's conditions we may move to Cholera Camp (19,600') in a single carry because the distance is relatively short and the group loads will be light...
We'll keep you posted!
Stuck in tents,
RMI Guide Billy Nugent and the crew
RMI Guide Seth Waterfall radioed in from the summit of Mt. Rainier at 11:15 a.m. PT with 100% of the team on the top.
It is a beautiful, crisp, clear day and they enjoyed the views for a little while before starting their descent. They will return to Camp Muir to celebrate and warm up.
The team will spend tonight at Camp Muir (10,060') and begin their descent tomorrow after some additional training.
Congratulations to the team!
Hello!
We are checking in from Camp Muir. The team is enjoying the nice sun at 10,000'. We have had a great day of training. The weather has been pleasant with a cold wind from the north. Sunny conditions are warming everyone’s spirits. Today we are working on some advanced climbing techniques, and tonight if weather allows we may be going for a summit push. The weather looks good things are lining up in our favor but a strong north wind could thwart our summit attempt. We will check in tomorrow with our updated status.
Wish us luck!
RMI Guide Seth Waterfall
Thank you, Lord, for good weather, healthy bodies, kindred spirits and that sense of accomplishment. Take care.
Posted by: Martha Snyder on 2/9/2011 at 7:01 pm
Take care and good luck, at least it’s warmer then Antarctica
Posted by: Tom on 2/9/2011 at 2:50 pm
Buen día to all you following along back home! This fearless (not really) group are chilling at Camp 1 after yesterday's carry up to the CHOPPER CAMP (pronounced with an ex-governator accent). The weather is gorgeous this morning; blue skies with all of the surrounding mountains dusted white with yesterday's snowfall. The group is acclimatizing very well and is chomping at the bit to move higher.
Patience is the name of the game now. The rest and acclimation we get here will make us strong up high!
Ants-in-our-pants-o-meter: 7.8.
RMI Guide Billy Nugent
Patience is the name of the game now. The rest and acclimation we get here will make us strong up high!
Ants-in-our-pants-o-meter: 7.8.
RMI Guide Billy Nugent
Wulp, we done carried to Camp 2 and let me tell you, this team is climbing STRONG. We got into a little bit of snow and wind through Ameghino Col but it was nothing we couldn't handle. We were just under four hours up to Chopper Camp and around one hour down. This means we were cruising!
And after a dinner of pasta with tomato sauce (w/ fresh sauteéd onions and garlic) and a hot drink we're nestled back in our tents ready to pass out.
Stoke meter is up there, maybe 7 or 8!
RMI Guide Billy Nugent & the Aconcagua Team
And after a dinner of pasta with tomato sauce (w/ fresh sauteéd onions and garlic) and a hot drink we're nestled back in our tents ready to pass out.
Stoke meter is up there, maybe 7 or 8!
RMI Guide Billy Nugent & the Aconcagua Team
yes!
Posted by: Katie on 2/9/2011 at 2:45 pm
Hello!
I am Steve’s daughter Heather :) I just wanted to say how much all of you ROCK for doing this climb! Have a great climb!
And specifically to my dad: Dad, I am so incredibly proud of you and cannot wait to hear (and see) about this incredible experience!!! You are THE coolest and most inspiring person and father. Enjoy this trip - you deserve it! I LOVE YOU!
Sending you all positive vibes from Madrid,
- Heather
PS now I will leave you with my favorite quote:
“The purpose to life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for never and richer the experience” - Eleanor Roosevelt
HAVE A GREAT CLIMB!!!!
Posted by: Heather Evans on 2/14/2011 at 4:48 pm
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