Entries from Expedition Dispatches
Greetings from Ishinca Base Camp,
Today was all about well-deserved rest. We all woke up feeling good, despite being a bit stiff from our big climb of Ishinca yesterday. As usual, our cook, Emilio, had us covered and treated us to fried eggs and bacon to get our joints all greased up and ready to do some training today. Bacon is obviously amazing, but bacon at 14,200’ is out of this world!! Sign up for Peru 2020 and you’ll see what I mean!
We kept moving today and covered some important climbing skills, including anchor building, rope travel and rigging, and finally took our game to the Base Camp climbing crag and learned how to rappel with an extension rig. We’re all happy for the day to recoup, and we’re now in the middle of an afternoon siesta as the daily showers have started pidder-pattering on our tent fabric. We’ll likely see another delicious feast for dinner tonight before an early bedtime in anticipation of our climb of Urus Este that begins tonight. We’re amped and ready!
We’ll let you know how it goes tomorrow!
RMI Guide Robby Young with Alfie, William and Team ‘Papas Fritas For Life’
Hello Everyone -
Our team spent the contingency weather day hanging out in Cheget. We spent the day walking around town, enjoying the new coffee shop in town, and picking up a few souvenirs.
Right now we're all relaxing before heading out to a celebratory dinner with the team. Hopefully we'll survive the vodka associated with tonights traditional Russian celebration, hosted by our gracious local tour operator.
Everyone is in good spirits and looking forward to heading to beautiful St. Petersburg early tomorrow.
RMI Guide Casey Grom and team.
This morning we got out early ahead of the other groups and were rewarded with phenomenal 360 degree views of the lush converging valleys and glaciated peaks. Usually the clouds hang between the trail and these tall mountains due to our proximity to the cloud forest. As we wrapped up our time at Phuyupatamarca Pass, 12,130’ the clouds began to rise from the Urubamba River and the glaciers were hidden.
The day was filled with great views, warming temperatures and elaborate ruins. In particular the terraces of Intipata and Winaywayna captured the groups attention due to the scale of such a project completed on the side of a steep and heavily vegetated mountain. We are all looking forward to walking into Machu Picchu at sunrise, getting a shower at the hotel is a close second.
RMI Guide Mike King
Hello, this is the Huascaran team. We are back at High Camp after summitting the tallest peak outside of the Himalaya. We reached the summit at 8:30 AM local time. It's been a hard day, this mountain is no joke. We are at High Camp and will plan on heading down as far as we can today.
Thanks for following along.
RMI Guide Elias de Andres Martos
RMI Guide Elias de Andres Martos calls from High Camp after summit bid.
Congratulations!! So cool!! I couldn’t be happier for all involved!
Laura
Posted by: Laura Bryson on 7/21/2019 at 7:55 pm
WOWOWWWW! Great job and CONGRATS! What an accomplishment! So happy for you all and such great work!
Kim K
Posted by: Kim on 7/21/2019 at 4:38 pm
Posted by: Dave Hahn, Dustin Wittmier
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
The Four Day Climb July 18 - 21 led by RMI Guides Dave Hahn and Dustin Wittmier reached the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning under clear skies and a light breeze. The team spent some time on top before leaving the crater rim on their descent.
Congratulations to today's climbers!
Congratulations Thomas´!! ...from down here in Argentina at sea level :)
Posted by: Pamela Ballard on 7/24/2019 at 7:23 am
Awesome!! from the Sparks WooHoo!!
Posted by: Katie Sparks on 7/21/2019 at 3:32 pm
Posted by: Andy Bond, Grayson Swingle, Cal Smith
Categories: Expedition Dispatches North Cascades
Elevation: 10,541'
RMI Guide Andy Bond and team reached the summit of Glacier Peak in the North Cascades this morning! The team said it was a beautiful day without a cloud in the sky! The team will return to camp tonight and make the hike to the trailhead tomorrow.
Congratulations climbers!
Posted by: Eric Frank
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mongolia
Today was a rest day for the Mongolia Expedition. After five days off constant movement a little down time was well deserved.
We filled the hours by drying and organizing our gear, hiking to a nearby meadow filled with wild flowers and napping in the afternoon heat.
Things were low key and each team member enjoyed personal time.
A beautiful sunset capped off the evening and tomorrow we will begin our trek back to Ulaanbataar with fond memories of our time in this area.
RMI Guide Eric Frank
A few clouds to the morning but after another nutritious breakfast we set out toward High Camp. We marched up the broad tilted plateau concentrating on efficient techniques in walking and breathing. Things steepened just a bit as we came to the final ridge. We all were feeling strong as we arrived in Barafu our High Camp at 15,000'. We enjoyed a great lunch and held a meeting about strategy for the summit bid. We are busy packing up for an early dinner, bed by 6 pm and wake up around midnight. The team is in great shape and can't wait to get started.
RMI Guide Mark Tucker
On The Map
Outstanding! I am so proud of all you! Way to go Gabby, Sara and Charlie! You guys are absolute Rock Stars!!!
Posted by: Susie Yonkers on 7/22/2019 at 11:03 pm
Way to go! Can’t wait to hear all about your big adventure! Continued prayers for all.
Posted by: Mitzi Swift on 7/22/2019 at 6:55 am
Hello all!
Oh what a glorious day! Your favorite ESS-Peru Team summited Nevado Ishinca! The air was thin up at 18,143’, but we were prepped and ready for the challenge. The clouds draped over the surrounding 20,000’ peaks but we spent the whole day in the sun with just a light breeze that kept us in puffy layers. We had a great day and enjoyed about an hour on the summit before we made our way back to our Base Camp where a feast awaited us. The team enjoyed some Coca Colas and some foot soaks in the river this afternoon while we recovered and we’re now tucked into sleeping bags once again. We’re going to lay low tomorrow and train here at Base Camp before our second climb of the trip goes down on Monday. Until then, stay classy out there in the real world. We’ll fill you in tomorrow on our rest day.
RMI Guide Robby Young, Alfie, William and Team Pato Alpino
Congratulations! I can’t wait to hear about the next climb!
Posted by: Lindsey Fisher on 7/21/2019 at 1:44 pm
Thrilled you all made the summit and enjoyed the day. So proud of you Trey.
Posted by: Phyllis Craig on 7/21/2019 at 8:31 am
We got an early start this morning due to the two passes and 10,000 stone steps we needed to ascend. The first couple of hours took us to Warmi Huanusca Pass at 13,760’ where we got some great pictures of the mountain with fresh snow and receding pocket glaciers. From there the Team got their fill of Incan stone steps as we descended 2000’ to our lunch site. Enjoying the most sunshine we have had all trip, the group took some cat naps and enjoyed the lush forest that fills the Pacaymayo Valley. Once we got up and over Runkurakay Pass at 13,022’ we got more randomly spaced stone steps and the scenery kept getting better. Our day wrapped up with a tour of Sayacmarca, the most elaborate of ruins we have seen yet.
From getting snow, rain and chilly days we have walked into the cloud forest where birds are singing, noseeums are biting and the air is humid. The blooming flowers have been a pleasant surprise since it’s technically winter here. The group spotted a few Andean condors soaring above today. The trekking traffic has increased today as we draw closer to Machu Picchu and that’s ok, we got four days of solitude. Everyone is doing well and looking forward to tomorrow’s shorter hike and spectacular ruins.
RMI Guide Mike King
Previous Page
Next Page
Hi Dori. What a sport you are! And it appears that you have an excellent leader. I’m looking forward to hearing about your trip when you’re home. You, Rhonda and I have a date August 7. Enjoy the rest of your time in Peru!!
Posted by: Jessie Strauss on 7/24/2019 at 8:58 am
Hey Lara Lee. Hope you are having fun! Enjoy Machu Picchu tomorrow. We love you! Tell Louis, Bruce, and Paula we say hello.
Posted by: Brayden Wilkie on 7/21/2019 at 3:24 pm
View All Comments