Entries from Expedition Dispatches
Posted by: Christina Dale, Jess Matthews
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
RMI Guides Christina Dale and Jess Matthews and led the Four Day Climb to the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning. Jess reported steady 25 - 30 mph winds from the summit. The teams are making their descent to Camp Muir where they will rest, refuel, and repack before continuing their descent to Paradise. We look forward to seeing them at Rainier BaseCamp in Ashford this afternoon.
Nice work teams!
Posted by: Brent Okita
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro
It just never let up today. Huge herds of zebras, wildebeest, gazelle and other critters surrounded us throughout the day. Ostriches, hyenas, jackals, hippos, birds and other animals also showed up. However, the lions are what really took the cake. Fifteen individual lions graced our day, some just a few feet away from our rigs.
It was just crazy how many we saw. We saw some big males following a female in heat. The biggest male actually walked around and in front of our Landcruiser in slow pursuit of the girl of his dreams. We observed an older female, said to be the best hunter in the pack, sizing up her opportunities for a kill as the herd of hundreds nervously milled around her in the 'safe zone' just out of reach. We also witnessed three females as they cautiously sized up their opportunity for a kill while following a small group of unaware zebras.
And on the road towards the park entrance, when we thought the day done, two exciting events took place.
First, we encountered a pride of four cats walking down the road. Although we made them a little nervous, they didn't bolt until our excitement got the best of us and they slipped away into the thick brush off the side of the road. The last lion actually hung in the brush just 6-7' away watching us watch her.
And to top off the day was a call to action when our group came upon a safari vehicle that had rolled off the side of the road and down a steep, 45-55 degree embankment. Caught with just my flip flops on I quickly donned my shoes, but not before our drivers and four of the team hopped out to the rescue. Normally I'd keep well intended but untrained folks away from a scene like this until we came up with a plan, but three of the four were medical professionals and one just darned strong.
By the time I scrambled down the brushy, vine covered slope the 'walking wounded' were climbing up to safety and the first people on scene had extricated a young boy trapped under the vehicle and were starting the process of hauling him up this very steep slope.
Following that difficult extrication a quick assessment found no life threatening injuries and we transported him in another tour vehicle to a hospital 20 kilometers away.
Huge kudos go out to Shavran, Liz, Craig and Joe for their selfless and heroic actions. A doctor, nurse, ski patroller and hard man, respectively. This kid was in good hands. Even our driver was instrumental in lifting the vehicle enough to pull the young boy from beneath the wreckage. Shavran and Liz didn't think twice about jumping into the Landcruiser with our patient to maintain C- spine precautions and monitor his airway during transport.
I later found out that both Shavran and Liz did this in their sandals and flip flops. Wow!
Good news, we think the kid is going to be OK, thanks to the efforts of some incredible individuals. (By the way, in general, let the medical and rescue professionals handle this kind of situation. If you want to be prepared to help in an emergency, get training).
Now, on to our last full day of our safari. Tarangire National Park. What are we going to encounter next ...
RMI Guide Brent Okita
My heart goes out to the families and people who were involved. I’m so glad to hear everybody’s going to be OK. Life and love is precious Hold it dearly to our hearts. Mary and everybody have a great safari on your last day.
Posted by: David Workman on 8/1/2019 at 3:58 am
RMI Guide Nick Scott and the Five Day Climb reached the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning! Nick reported blue skies, light winds, and chilly temperatures on the summit. The team began their descent to Camp Muir a shortly after 7:30 AM. Once back and Camp Muir, the team will repack after their two nights on the mountain before continuing their descent to Paradise.
Congratulations!
So glad you made it! Nice to meet so many of you during our 4 day climb!
Posted by: shannon austin on 7/31/2019 at 11:26 pm
Congratulations to the team! Proud of you! Wish we were with you, beautiful view. How’s the air up there?
Posted by: Sky dog, Hilly, Belle and Rocket Lewis on 7/31/2019 at 4:18 pm
Posted by: Mike Walter, Nikki Champion
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
The Four Day Climb led by RMI Guide Mike Walter reached the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning. RMI Guide Nikki Champion reported good weather with moderate winds on the summit. The team began their descent at 7:30 AM. They will return to Ashford this afternoon.
Way to climb!
Congrats Team! Way to go Andy! \o/
Posted by: Darla on 7/31/2019 at 11:16 pm
Congratulations Team! And special congratulations to our buddy Andy Booth for making the summit this morning. You earned it!!!
Posted by: Tideworks Mountaineers on 7/31/2019 at 8:45 am
Posted by: Brent Okita
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro
Waking up early this morning after our celebratory dinner last night could have been harder had we not had our safari to look forward to. Day one had us visiting Lake Manyara National Park, home of the elusive tree climbing lion.
Well, no lion was seen ready to pounce upon our Landcruiser, but we enjoyed a spectacular first day. Even before getting off the highway we had giraffes and zebras run across the road right in front of us, miles from the park. Once in the park our drivers, Godson and Fabian, proved to be inexhaustible sources of information on everything from the flora and fauna of the region to the culture of the Maasai. And they have such sharp eyes!
We were treated to wildlife sightings around every bend in the road, it seemed. The cute, curious, intelligent baboons were everywhere and some of the first animals encountered, but shortly after that we saw elephants, water buck, wildebeest, zebras, water buffalo, hippopotamus, impala, monkeys, and probably a dozen varieties of birds.
Liz jokingly commented that she only climbed the mountain to do the safari, and that she really wanted to see an elephant. Well, her wishes came true as we saw perhaps a dozen elephants, some quite close up! Watching a hippo snap its monstrous jaw down (with a reportedly 6 ton force) was another highlight. But perhaps the ever present baboons provided the most amusement as they seemed to like to hang right by the roadside, so up close and personal sightings were common and way too entertaining.
And now we're settled in to the Plantation Lodge, an over the top lodge converted from an old coffee plantation that is luxury and swankiness redefined. At least in my eyes. Dinner can best be described as 'haute cuisine' and a wine cellar and bar lie in a subterranean set of rooms one can peer into from a circular window set in the floor of the dining room above. Crazy!
Ok, after our 'kick ass' day summiting Kili, we deserve this!
Bon appetite.
RMI Guide Brent Okita
Posted by: Andy Bond, Avery Parrinello, Coby Walsh
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
The July 27 - 30 Four Day Climb reached the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning led by RMI Guide Andy Bond. Andy reported a beautiful day and a great route. The team enjoyed some time in the summit crater before starting their descent around 6:30 AM PT. Once back at Camp Muir the climbers will repack and continue down to Paradise.
Congratulations to today's climbers!
What an accomplishment! Have a safe climb down!! See you soon.
-Mary
Posted by: Mary Bauer on 7/30/2019 at 9:56 am
Read job ! I’m very proud of all of you. See ya soon. Don
Posted by: Donald Miller on 7/30/2019 at 8:20 am
Posted by: Robby Young
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Peru Seminar
Greetings all,
It’s been a whirlwind of a few days following our summit of Pisco on Friday. From the summit of Pisco onwards, we’ve been on the move, starting with a descent to Huaraz, a quick turn-around of packing, followed by a great celebratory dinner at our favorite Peruvian restaurant, Encuentro. Check out the photo of the feast that ensued, with props to Trey for going for the customary Peruvian dish, Guineau Pig (Cuy). He even ate it like a Peruvian, but we’ll omit a few details for our sensitive readers.
A long bus ride back to Lima on Peru’s Independence Day put us in position for our long overnight flights back stateside. I just landed in Los Angeles, and other members of the team are doing the same in other cities across the US this morning. It’s amazing how quick it feels between the time we’re standing on the summit of our final climb, and the time when we’re heading through customs in a blurry travel haze.
Our time in Peru, while it’s physically concluded, it’s a place that will certainly have a permanent impact on all members of our team. The mountains are very much unique on this planet of ours. The climbing is exquisite, the sunrises are the best in the world, the food rich, and most of all, the people are unbelievably welcoming and kind to us visitors. A big THANK YOU goes out to our guides and local staff down in Peru, including Alvorado Adventures guides William and Alfie, long time co-guides of RMI down in Peru. As well as our exceptional chef Emilio and his assistant Roger, who’s 5-star cooking was such a huge part of our experience and our success.
That’s all until next season. Thanks for following along blog fans. Enjoy a couple pictures from our final summit!
RMI Guide Robby Young and your favorite ESS-Peru Team
Robby ... thank you so much for all of the updates. You have some excellent writing skills! And thanks for getting everyone thru unscathed. Enjoy some downtime!!!
Posted by: Bridget on 7/30/2019 at 3:05 pm
Posted by: Brent Okita
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro
Our long summit day yesterday was rewarded with a deep, well deserved slumber last night. It was good to be back in the thick air of 10,000', but our return to the rain forest seemed relatively abrupt after having spent the last five days in the arid conditions up high on Kilimanjaro.
Camp was abuzz with activity early this morning as the staff from all the teams awoke on this last day with the anticipation of returning home, taking showers and seeing loved ones overwhelmed any desire to sleep in. As per tradition, we were bid farewell by our mountain staff with song and dance. Amazing voices and an appreciation for each other was obvious as the team went back and forth between chorus and lead singing, performing some traditional Tanzanian songs.
The hike out to the trailhead was quick as this strong cast of climbers grew stronger with every foot of elevation lost. Our last mountain lunch - a traditional Tanzanian meal - was taken at the trailhead before our 2+ hour drive back to our hotel. Showers were foremost on our minds to wash the seven days of dust, sweat and Kilimanjaro dirt off our selves.
We'll be celebrating tonight at dinner, enjoying each other's company before starting off on our next adventure, the safari. Unfortunately, we'll be losing Darren from the group as he'll be flying back to loved ones and life back home.
So... next up we'll be reporting from the wilds of Africa. The stuff we've marveled at on TV or the National Geographic.
Until then,
RMI Guide Brent Okita
Congratulations!! I can’t imagine what everybody had to go through to Summit. I hope everybody found what they were looking for on that mountain. My heart goes out to everyone , And to you Mary,wow you are something else.LU .
Posted by: David Workman on 7/29/2019 at 10:43 am
The Five Day Climb led by RMI Guide Alex Halliday reached the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning. The team experienced good weather and a good route for their climb this morning. The team left the summit crater of Mt. Rainier shortly before 8:00 AM. We look forward to seeing them in Ashford this afternoon and hearing about their time on the mountain.
Way to climb!
So proud of you tab. Can’t wait to hear all about it. Love you
Posted by: Candace on 7/30/2019 at 8:19 am
Tabz, you are amazing!! Way to go!
Posted by: Daisy on 7/30/2019 at 2:10 am
With good weather and a good route, RMI Guide Dave Hahn and the Four Day Climb reached the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning. The team began their descent from Mt. Rainier's summit crater around 7:30 AM. They will descend to Camp Muir to rest, refuel, and repack before continuing their descent to Paradise. We will see them in Ashford later this afternoon.
Congratulations climbers!
Well done…! Very proud of everyone ! Thanks to all who helped. See ya soon.
Posted by: don miller on 7/29/2019 at 9:58 pm
Congratulations to all!! We are looking forward to seeing you at Paradise!
Posted by: Delene gillespie on 8/1/2019 at 8:39 am
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