Entries from Expedition Dispatches
After a restless night of sleep at our high camp, 17,900ft, we got up late had breakfast and coffee and began our day of chilling. Everyone is adjusting well to the new altitude, some minor headaches this morning but once we were up and moving around a little the symptoms abated. After soup for lunch some folks caught a quick nap before we started packing and prepping for our summit bid tonight. We are all excited for our chance to start climbing this beautiful face we have been looking at all day. That's all for now. We'll check in again after we get back from our climb tomorrow.
Thanks for following along,
RMI Guide Geoff Schellens
Up early for a crisp and clear day at Shira Camp. Perfect climbing conditions all day long. Kibo, Kilimanjaro's main peak towering over us during the 2,500-foot climb to well over 14,000 feet . A nice gentle grade up to our high point for the trip, then down, down, down, down the Barranco Valley where we are for the night. Glaciers, tall cliffs, giant ice runnels are the view from camp. Pictures at sunset are going to be awesome.
RMI Guide Mark Tucker
On The Map
Thinking of you guys!! Love you.
Posted by: Cassie evering on 7/28/2016 at 9:09 am
The Four Day Summit Climb led by RMI Guides Tyler Reid and Ben Liken reached to summit of Mt. Rainier at 5:20 am this morning. Tyler reported clear skies, calm winds and warm temperatures on the top. The team has started their descent and are en route back to Camp Muir.
Congratulations to today's team!
Congratulations to everyone, especially Mario P. I can’t wait to hear about the trek and see some beautiful photos. What a great accomplishment.
Posted by: D Zabel on 7/28/2016 at 1:11 pm
Well done ... Can’t wait to hear about the trip.
Posted by: Jeff and Karen on 7/28/2016 at 9:42 am
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Today was a big day, we loaded our packs and dawned our climbing equipment and walked away from Moraine camp. Once on the glacier we slowly worked our way around crevasses as we worked upward to the col. About 800 feet shy of the col we encountered to first of the three steeper pitches which the team dispatched with no problems. Everyone climbed very well and just before 3 pm we were all at our high camp. This is also where we caught our first glimpse of the face we will climb. We settled into our tents for a quick nap before tea time and then dinner. As Alpamayo caught the alpenglow of the last light of the day we retired to our sleeping bags, tired but very happy.
Tomorrow we rest before we make our summit attempt the following day.
RMI Guide Geoff Schellens & Team
The Expedition Skills Seminar - Emmons Team Reached the Summit of Mt. Rainier via the Emmons route early this morning. RMI Guide Zeb Blais reported that the team had a great climb with absolutely beautiful weather. The team is back at Camp Schumann and will spend the evening finishing up their training. They return to Rainier Basecamp tomorrow afternoon.
Congratulations to the Emmons Team!
Posted by: Casey Grom, Billy Nugent
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Elbrus Southside
Elevation: 12,000'
It was a beautiful day here on Elbrus.
We had a normal start to our day with breakfast in the hotel and then loaded up all our climbing gear and drove to the base of the ski lift where we rode not one, not two, but three gondolas to reach our new home for the next few days and happens to sit at just over 12,000ft. It's rather comfortable up here, as our outfitter has taken a few shipping containers and converted them into simple bunk rooms that sit atop some makeshift skis so they can be moved. Creative to say the least!
Once we got settled into our new home we headed uphill on another acclimatizing hike and reached about 13,500ft 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, walking around and just enjoying the views of the Caucasus Mountain Range.
RMI Guide Casey Grom and crew
Posted by: Katrina Bloemsma, Steve Gately
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
RMI Guides Katrina Bloemsma and Steve Gately led their teams to the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning. The weather report from the top was calm, sunny, and warming up quickly. At 7:15 a.m. they began their descent from the crater rim.
Congratulations to the teams!
A good night for sleep with a couple folk still adjusting to time zone change. There were amazing stars last night. Woke up to perfectly clear sky's views of the big top ahead. Sizable chunk of altitude gain in half the distance of yesterday but still gained us 2,500 feet in elevation. As you can imagine fairly steep right out of the gate but every one handled it well. The environment changes dramatically from a lush forest to a more alpine feel. A big finish to the day, traversing out to the west, complete opposite from where we will travel tomorrow across ancient lava flows that have created a broad flatland between Kibo-Kilimanjaros main peak and Shira, its western satellite. Our home for the night.
RMI Guide Mark Tucker
On The Map
This morning you could feel the energy in the air. Everyone is very excited to be moving up hill again. Immediately after breakfast Dan, Paul, and Olga began packing and were done by 9:30, despite the plan to leave BC after lunch. So we all enjoyed a little more relaxation time until lunch was served around noon. Unfortunately the tasty pasta ended up sitting heavy in our bellies so we waited a bit more before shouldering our packs. As we picked our way through the boulder field we settled into a comfortable pace and in just over two hours we found ourselves at Moraine Camp, 16,200'. Everyone is doing great and glad to be making upward progress again. We are all tucked in for the evening, getting some good rest before we move up to high camp tomorrow.
Thanks for following along.
RMI Guide Geoff Schellens
Posted by: JJ Justman
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Elbrus Southside
What a way to finish our great adventure in Russia! Today our team had a great day with our local St. Petersburg guide exploring this incredible city! It was incredible day in the city that ended with an amazing canal tour. I have to admit, it is hard to leave Russia. I am so happy that we have enjoyed the many great wonders of this great country! Thanks for following along!
RMI Guide JJ Justman
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Best wishes to Geoff and the team. hey Geoff, I’m working down the hall from your Dad in South Portland, ME. He’s been kind enough to keep us posted on your progress. I just want you to know that you have my dream job!! Enjoy as I sit in my fluorescent lit cube, pounding away on this keyboard. LOL! Be safe!!
Posted by: CJ Knight on 7/29/2016 at 10:40 am
yeah Geoff and team!!! Cheering for you today!
Posted by: ElÃas on 7/29/2016 at 8:59 am
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