Update: July 30, 2015 11:31 pm PST
Family and friends we are back at camp safe and sound. Again, every one made the summit. Stay tuned for the summit video!!
July 30, 2015 8:50 pm PST
Hey, everyone. This is JJ Justman with the Elbrus team. I will give you one guess, just one guess as to where not one, not two, not five, but every single team member is right now. That is right! We are on top of Europe! We are on the summit of Mount Elbrus! The team did just a fantastic job today. We are a day early than expected. We have some weather coming in tomorrow and the next day. It is supposed to snow pretty darn good. As a guide I kind of hemmed and hawed and made the decision that the best day to go was today. And I'll tell you what, the team today is just strong as can be. We are on the summit of Elbrus. We are taking some more photos, and then we are going to head downhill. It is a beautiful day right now so we just made a terrific call as a team and I'm really proud of everyone. [Team cheers!] That's right, a big holler. Everyone says hi to family and friends. I will touch base with you guys when we get back down, but boy, we are just doing great. Thanks for following along. We'll talk to you again soon.
RMI Guide JJ Justman calls from the Mount Elbrus summit.
Nice! Looks gorgeous!! Congrats to all and a special shout out to my honey, Brian. Love you baby!!
Posted by: Victoria on 7/31/2015 at 8:01 am
hi Brian and team-
Wow! Sounds like some great decisions as to when to summit! Congrats to all!! Be safe and have fun coming down.
Love you-
Molly and Mike and family
Today was a rest day at high camp and the team took full advantage. Most of us have been napping, stretching, hydrating, and getting strong. A few of us, including myself, had a little bit of a rumbling gut last night and this morning but everyone seems to recovering quickly today.
Excitement is very high is we look up at the beautiful summit face with its steep ice runnels. Like a siren it is calling to us and with calm winds and blue skies it is impossible to ignore. Our forecast for tomorrow looks perfect as well so for now, we wait.
Thanks for following us on this fantastic climb.
RMI Guide Geoff Schellens and the Alpamayo Team
Brother, you really are Superman! Go Jesse!
When y’all are done with this one is Mt. Everest next on the list?
Can’t wait to hear about the top of the summit. Keep it up guys, almost there!
Posted by: Virginia Rosales on 7/31/2015 at 11:34 am
Good luck to everyone today! Geoff, you keep those rogues in check - no funny business at 70 degrees! Sending my love.
Hello again from Kilimanjaro -
Today the team had our usual start at 7am with a full breakfast at 7:30 and hit the trail just after 8. The skies were clear and it felt wonderful to be hiking uphill in the warmth of the sun. Our route today took us up to about 15,000' (setting new altitude records for some) as we passed a landmark known as Lava Tower and then descended down into the Barranco valley. This valley is full of giant groundsels and senecio trees that look like something out of a Dr. Seuss book.
As we arrived at camp the clouds enveloped us once again and we are currently relaxing back in our tents waiting on dinner.
Everyone is doing well and enjoying the climb.
RMI Guide Casey Grom and crew
Hello from Mt. Elbrus -
Our team is back from a great acclimatization day. We reached 15,300 feet and every team member did a great job! We are back now at camp with full bellies after lunch. This afternoon we are going to relax in the sunshine!
RMI Guide JJ Justman
RMI Guide Leon Davis radioed BaseCamp at 7:02 am to let us know both Four Day Summit Climb teams were about to reach the summit of Mt. Rainier. Leon reported a nice day on the mountain with light winds out of the West. The teams spent over an hour enjoying the view from the summit. They began their descent from the crater rim at 8:20 en route to Camp Muir. After a brief stop they will continue to Paradise and complete their program later today.
Congratulations to today's Summit Climb teams!
Hello from High Camp. Today we woke up with the sun hitting our tents at Moraine Camp and not a cloud in sight. We had breakfast and coffee and packed up. This was our first time with crampons and ice tools of the trip. It took a stretch or two but we all fell into a good cadence. Soon we found ourselves nearing the Col but a few steep steps of snow and ice separated us from camp. Though it was difficult with heavy backpacks we all climbed very well up to the Col. Here we finally got our first view of the southwest face of Alpamayo that we will climb. It is perhaps one of the most beautiful mountains I have ever seen and our line is striking and direct. Everyone is very excited for the ascent.
The team did very well today and everyone is happy and healthy. Most likely we will take a rest day tomorrow and climb on Friday.
Thanks for following along with us.
RMI Guide Geoff Schellens and the Alpamayo Team!
Wow!!! That is QUITE A MOUNTAIN!!!!! I appreciate the nightly reports so we can follow along with you. The blue skies DO make the mountain look magnificent….ONWARD AND UPWARD!!! Happy climbing! How are the donkeys ??? HEEE HAWWW!!!!!!!
Posted by: Patty Stenderup on 7/30/2015 at 9:51 pm
Go Geoff and team!!! Cheering for you all from Ashford. Go guys!
Hello from the Garabashi Hut at 12,000 feet!
Elbrus Team 2 is officially on the mountain and we are doing great. After getting settled in we went for a nice hike up to 13,200 feet. Elbrus was out in all its glory and we enjoyed the incredible alp'esque views.
RMI Guide JJ Justman
Hello from Kilimanjaro!
Today the team woke to mostly clear skies, but the clouds in the distance told us we shouldn't linger long. So after a nice breakfast with fresh fruits and scrambled eggs we hit the trail headed uphill. We climbed up the rocky ridge that leads to the Shira Plateau making good time, stopping only to take breaks and let the endless line of porters pass as they easily made their way up with their loads carefully balanced their heads. It is astonishing how easy they made it look!
Our gracious crew had sprinted ahead to have camp waiting for us and it was a welcome site after hiking for just over 4 hours. We arrived in time for a hot lunch and thankfully, just before those clouds started to sprinkle on us.
Everyone is doing great, especially since we are all warm and dry in our camp.
RMI Guide Casey Grom and Crew
RMI Guide Brent Okita with the Four Day Summit Climb along with RMI Guide Mike Uchal and the Five Day Summit Climb were approaching Columbia Crest, the highest point on Mt. Rainier, at 7:00 am. Brent reported light winds and clear skies on a beautiful morning. The teams will spend some time on the summit before beginning their descent. We look forward to seeing the teams back in Ashford this afternoon.
Congratulations Climbers!
Yippee - TRULY, a mountain-top experience! I’m happy for you This is my third attempt to send you a comment. Barbara very generously posted my name on her
comment. I’m trying once more to do it correctly. Love Mom in Tigard
Posted by: Helen MacDonald on 7/30/2015 at 1:31 am
Congratulations Ruth and Martin!!!! We would love to see a photo soon !!!! Love, Cathy and Gopal
Posted by: Catherine Shrestha on 7/29/2015 at 2:16 pm
This morning we woke to coffee in bed and blue skies above. We had a leisurely morning, after breakfast we napped in the sun and slowly packed our bags. At mid day we had a delicious lunch and spent some more time packing and digesting before hoisting our packs and heading up to Moraine Camp. Everyone did a fantastic job getting up here. Shortly after we moved into the tents our porters arrived with tea and dinner, these guys are amazing! We are now enjoying the alpine glow on some of the surrounding peaks of the Cordillera Blanca before turning in for the night.
The team is doing great and very excited to be making up hill progress again.
Thanks for following along with us.
RMI Guide Geoff Schellens and the Alpamayo team
So far the “hike” sounds like one of those glamping vacations. Step it up guys! John-I hope you enjoyed the glacier bathing. I once jumped into a glacier lake near Lone Pine. My heart stopped for a few seconds. I thought of you almost every step of the 3200 steps I took tonight in the stairwell. You probably have a better view. I can’t wait to see your pictures. Tante
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Nice! Looks gorgeous!! Congrats to all and a special shout out to my honey, Brian. Love you baby!!
Posted by: Victoria on 7/31/2015 at 8:01 am
hi Brian and team-
Wow! Sounds like some great decisions as to when to summit! Congrats to all!! Be safe and have fun coming down.
Love you-
Molly and Mike and family
Posted by: Molly and mike on 7/31/2015 at 7:19 am
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