Entries from Expedition Dispatches
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!
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
100% on top!
Everyone reached the highest point of Europe.
The team did a wonderful job of taking care of themselves and climbed strong all day. We summitted just after 7am in pretty good weather with views of the Caucasus Mountains.
After everyone returned to camp, we had a quick lunch and then packed up to head down valley to our hotel at the base of the mountain.
Everyone is in high spirits and feeling great after some much needed hot showers.
RMI Guide Casey Grom and the summit team!
On The Map
95degrees here in Ohio! Stay safe! Love the pictures
Posted by: Barbara beckner on 7/21/2019 at 10:54 am
Posted by: Mike Haugen, Alex Halliday
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
RMI Guides Mike Haugen and Alex Halliday reached the summit this morning at 8:45 a.m. The guides quoted, "It was a beautiful day to climb Mt. Rainier!" The team will spend some time on top before starting their descent back down to Paradise.
After a breezy start to last night the wind stop and a million stars made for an great view. Same clear skies this morning affording the glaciers and ice fields hanging at impossible angles overhead. We started a bit later giving some extra rest and a chance for some of the other teams to get ahead of us on the main challenge for the day- right out of camp the Barranco Wall. Most of it feels like steep hiking but a few places require the use of hands to help us ascend. After pulling through one set of ledgers to another, making for great photos, we were on top. A few more hours of hiking some and then some downhill had us here at our next camp, Karanga. This camp is a couple hundred feet higher than last camp. A beautiful spot that overlooks the valley it is named after. The team is in great shape and high spirits.
RMI Guide Mark Tucker
On The Map
Thanks for the photos! They help me know what’s ahead of me. So much for this being just an easy walk! Great job guys!
Posted by: Mary Crafts on 7/20/2019 at 11:21 pm
Love the updates! So happy for you all! I hope you’re having an amazing time! ❤️
Posted by: KERI LEHMAN on 7/20/2019 at 4:29 pm
Good morning everyone.
Guess what? We're at high camp! We traveled at night today to take advantage of the colder temps and to avoid the thawing ice that, when hit by the sun, might naturally shed some pieces.
Climbing the "Canaleta" (gully) at night, with a heavy pack is no joke. We're talking steeper and harder terrain than the standard route on Denali, with no fixed lines and at Aconcagua height!!! Our team is kicking butt.
We're now camped and settled in for the day, in hopes of good weather tonight to go for the 900 meters that separate us from the top of the Highest Glaciated Peak in the western Hemisphere.
Follow along!
RMI Guide Elias de Andres Martos
Good luck!!! Way to go to get to high camp!
Wish I was there!
Kim K.
Posted by: Kim k on 7/20/2019 at 1:14 pm
WOO HOOO! That’s incredible! Thank you Elias!
Posted by: Laura Bryson on 7/20/2019 at 11:34 am
-640x480.jpg)
-640x480.jpg)
-640x480.jpg)
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
View All Comments