Entries from Expedition Dispatches
Hey everybody, this is Casey Grom checking in from the Kilimanjaro climb. We are calling to let you know that we're all safely back at High Camp after a very successful summit climb. We were able to get nine of our ten climbers to the summit. It was a little bit of a busy day up on top trying to get photos and let people make satellite phone calls and I wasn't able to get one out to the dispatch until we just got back to camp and it's a good time. We're all safe. Everyone's doing well. We will take a little break here and have some lunch and then we're actually going to pack up and descend a couple more thousand feet to some warmer temperatures and some thicker air. And it'll shorten are descent out of the park tomorrow. So everyone's doing well. Everyone's in great spirits and we'll do our best to get a dispatch out tonight. But if I remember right in the past, I haven't been able to get one out of the trees there. So if you don't get a dispatch tonight then Monday morning as soon as we're making our way out of the park, I'll update and give maybe a little play-by-play of the summit climb. And as well as we'll get some photos to you guys. Obviously, we haven't had cell service or Wi-Fi service up here so that we could really send that much data. I think a few of the team members said they were able to send some texts. But anyway looking forward to getting those to you and kind of fill you in on how everything went. That's all for now and hope you guys have enjoyed following along. Talk to you soon.
RMI Guide Casey Grom
On The Map
La Casa Sol means The house of sun in English. This happens to be the name of the beautiful hacienda we were staying at before leaving to go into Otavalo and then transport to the high mountain hut located at 15,000 feet on the southern flanks of Nevado Cayambe, Our first “big” objective and the highest equatorial point on the planet. Luckily the house of sun lived up to its name and for a few brief hours we were blessed with the hot Ecuador rays we had been lacking most of the trip.
With a nice morning shaping up we left Casa Sol and headed into town for our shopping extravaganza. The market in Otavalo is unique in many ways. Cooking stalls, spice merchants, local goods and unlimited crafts make this shopping experience hard to do in 90 minutes. But the team did well not filling the bus so by lunch it was off to meet the 4x4 trucks that would drive us all up the Cayambe road which makes New York potholes seem like cereal bowls.
Of course the sun didn’t last long and by midway through the drive the skies opened up and the rain poured down. So like all mountain weather just wait ten minutes and it will change. Which it did. To snow. And then to clear and then back to snow.
By dinner we had a few great views of the mountain which got us excited to train the next day. For the rest of the evening we will focus on hydration and breathing to keep us feeling healthy at this new head throbbing altitude. Once again the team is doing great and getting along famously. We look forward to another mountain day together.
RMI Guide Adam Knoff & Team Ecuador signing off.
Best of luck on your climbs. Pray that rain holds off. Enjoy
Posted by: Jane Knoff on 1/13/2019 at 6:17 pm
We are perched on the side of La Malinche this evening settling into our nice but chilly cabin. We took a walk this afternoon to see how our bodies feel after being rudely moved to 10 thousand feet and it felt great. Tomorrow we'll head up 4,400 feet to the summit and hopefully get nice views over to Pico de Orizaba, our next objective. Quick shout out to Norm from the mountains of Mexico!
RMI Guide Christina Dale
Glad to hear you’re all settling in. Have fun and be safe. Sue, we’ll talk when you get back.
Posted by: Norm Symonds on 1/14/2019 at 9:01 am
Posted by: JM Gorum, Hannah Smith, Avery Parrinello
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Elevation: 22,841'
Update 4:17 pm PT
Everyone is safe and sound back at high camp. It didn’t take long for the team to eat dinner, wrap up in their sleeping bags, and pass out. Tomorrow we’ll move back down to the booming metropolis of basecamp.
Summit Call
Hey this is JM Gorum calling from the top of Aconcagua. We got kind of a late start this morning. We ended up having a beautiful day. We are standing on top right now. We are getting some high clouds and snow a little bit. We are going to start heading down hill. We will check in when we get back to High Camp. Talk to you then.
RMI Guide JM Gorum
RMI Guide JM Gorum checks in from the summit of Aconcagua.
On The Map
Wonderful congrats a day late
Posted by: Alice and Don on 1/13/2019 at 10:30 am
We love you Cory!!! Congrats! Awesome job - can’t wait to hear about your adventures!
Posted by: Karen Prykull on 1/13/2019 at 6:11 am
Hello again everyone
After a good nights rest and a short hike up to 15,000' we’ve finally arrived at our High Camp. Thankfully the weather broke and today was sunny with great views of Kilimanjaro and our intended route for tomorrow’s climb.
The team has just wrapped up lunch and discussed in great detail the plan for tomorrow’s climb. Everyone knows what what we’ll be wearing, what will be in the pack, as well as the schedule.
Our game plan will be to wake at 11 pm and have a quick breakfast at 11:30, then hopefully hit the trail right at midnight. The team has been doing great thus far and I’m expecting us to reach the summit in 7 to 8 hours if things go according to plan.
Also to note!
There have been several rounds of trivia with the winners getting a chance to make a satellite phone call from the summit. So everyone back home please keep your phones handy and if you receive a call from a strange number please answer. We are 7 hours ahead of the east coast time zone.
So a 7 am arrival at the summit will mean a midnight phone call and 9 pm for pacific time.
Wish us luck! And thanks for sending the good weather just in time!
RMI Guide Casey Grom and the sunshine Kili crew!
On The Map
Catherine, I just heard from Mom, you did it! I am so thankful you have had this experience. Take care of those knees on the way down. I love you and am praying for your safe return.
Posted by: Carol Lyn on 1/13/2019 at 6:53 am
Cat and Kris, I can only imagine the magnificent views you’re seeing! I’m so happy you’re getting to have such an amazing experience. It’s certain to be a taxing endeavor, but it has to be worth it!! Am so proud of you both!
Posted by: Melinda on 1/13/2019 at 1:22 am
The Aconcagua January 10th Team arrived over the last two days with their bags in tow. We had a nice dinner and got acquainted last night. Today we’ll head three hours into the Andes. As we leave Mendoza the road weaves through the vineyards that surround the town. The remainder of the drive to Penitentes is through the arid valleys along the Mendoza River. The Team will spend the day packing and sorting equipment for the mules and enjoy their last night in a bed. Our trek towards Plaza Argentina begins tomorrow morning. Everyone is excited to begin what will hopefully be 2.5 weeks of good weather and fun climbing. Thanks for following along, we’ll send an update each day.
RMI Guides Mike King & Nick Scott
Posted by: JM Gorum, Hannah Smith, Avery Parrinello
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Elevation: 19,600'
We made it to high camp today under sunny skies and light winds. It was one of the nicest days of our climb so far. As usual with this crew, we set up camp quickly and efficiently. “Chillin by two” could be our team slogan. Lots of sun up here gave us ample time to dry out any items that may have been a bit damp. Not much else to report, we’re just doing all our last minute prep for our summit attempt tomorrow. Hopefully our next check-in will be from the top.
RMI Guides JM Gorum, Hannah Smith, and Avery Parrinello
On The Map
Congratulations Gorum team!
Much Aloha from Maui from the Wolfe Pack.
Safe travels down and don’t forget to hug the donkeys!
Posted by: Brent Wolfe on 1/12/2019 at 11:55 pm
Dear Nick and Andrew,
We have been thinking about you!!!!! Wish you all the best tomorrow !! We are very proud of you !!!!
Good luck to both of you and your team!!!
With love
Jagdish, Gunchoo, Devinder and Usha
Posted by: Usha and Gunchoo on 1/11/2019 at 8:26 pm
Today started the same as most days do. Breakfast from the hotel, coffee to wash it down sparking us awake and getting us close to the chocolate-filled croissants we have all learned to take with us on the mountain providing a superior snack to any energy bar. This morning was different however because we checked out of the hotel, loaded the Magic bus and powered north through traffic thicker than sea level air to a mountain two hours north of Quito called Fuya Fuya. Don’t get this confused with the famous mount Kung Fuya Fuya located next to Mt. Fuji in Japan, it is a lesser objective but important in our acclimating nonetheless.
After all the traffic, winding cobblestone roads and slow going, we reached Laguan Mojando, a beautiful high caldera lake very similar to Crater Lake in Oregon. Situated at 12,000 feet, we had in-and-out views of the surrounding peaks, including our objective, Mt. Fuya Fuya. With a summit sitting right at 14,000 feet, it was not as high as our mountain yesterday but offered steep hiking and challenging footwork. I always start this day off with a quickened pace just to get the blood flowing. As the team assembled after seven minutes of power walking up a hill over 12,500ft, Dirk looked at me and said, “Man, altitude is no joke, but it’s still kind of funny”. Which said it all considering we were all hunched over like we had just run the hundred yard dash but smiling at the pain we were all in.
A steep hour later the entire team stood on the summit with warm temps, periodic views of the deep blue lake far below and a growing respect for the Ecuadorian experience. It was another good day for the team.
Once we returned to the bus our flip flops greeted us and we headed back down the hill to eat lunch and relax at Casa Sol, a beautiful hacienda located high above the town of Otavalo. It is in this town we will all attempt to spend as much money as possible buying gifts for all the blog followers and maybe some loved ones at the giant craft market located in the center of town.
Until then we will relax with a beer, tie some knots, repack our bags and prepare for tomorrow.
Wishing you all well in the states,
RMI Guide Adam Knoff
What an experience for you, Chris..so happy you are able to do it..am enjoying the daily blogs!!
Posted by: Bobbi Jarvis on 1/12/2019 at 8:21 pm
So exited for Chris and to see all this beautiful scenery.
Posted by: janice myhrum on 1/12/2019 at 2:51 pm
Jambo family and friends.
Today was slightly better than the last few, briefly sunny this morning, then clouds and a little more rain as the day continued. Thankfully it was a shorter hike today and the team did fantastic.
We left camp a little later today to allow the many porters to hit the trail before us as we had our only major obstacle right out of camp. This obstacle is the great Barranco Wall, which rises about 1,000ft and looks as intimidating as it sounds. Thankfully there is a nice narrow goat trail that weaves its way up and through the wall and all the way to the top. Most of it feels more like steep hiking, but there are a few places that require our hands to help us climb up. The team did great and thoroughly enjoyed the challenge.
After reaching the top we took a nice break but were unable to enjoy the amazing views due to the clouds. Nonetheless we continued our hike for a few more hours before reaching camp.
We spent the remainder of the day relaxing in our tents and playing a few games of cards with plenty of good old mountain stories.
RMI Guide Casey Grom and the Kili crew
On The Map
Posted by: Peter Whittaker, Jess Matthews
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Ecuador
Thursday, January 10th, 2019 10:00 pm PT
It always seems to happen so fast. At the beginning of the trip our big objective felt far away, and each day brought anticipation of the new sights and experiences Ecuador would provide. But as soon as we pointed our crampons downhill from the summit, everything seemed to fast forward. Before we knew it we were gathered together in a warm, dry lodge with cold beers in hand at the base of Cotopaxi deliriously recounting the previous (beer-less and not very warm) 12 hours. Refreshed from deep sleep, and with the help of coffee we began to retrace our route back to the city. Cobblestone roads transformed into pavement, and conversation wandered to flight itineraries and last chances to purchase souvenirs. Then just like that we were back in the heart of Quito amidst the sights and sounds of city life wondering if our climb was really just a dream. After arriving, we visited a nearby artisan market and some headed to explore the old town. We gathered one last time tonight for a celebratory team dinner - we couldn’t leave without eating more empanadas! By now we’ve all started making our way home to loved ones armed with stories of adventure and visions of ones to come. Thanks for following along!
RMI Guides Peter Whittaker, Jess Matthews and Team
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Just wanted to tell Chris we are all fascinated with this way of keeping us aware
of your climbs. Keep it up
Dad
Posted by: John Condon on 1/14/2019 at 8:22 am
Yea Catherine! Was such an unexpected blessing to hear your voice from the summit! So glad weather cleared up some the last of the trip so that you had that beautiful view. Eager to hear all about it when you get back.
Posted by: Peggy P on 1/14/2019 at 6:02 am
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