Entries from Expedition Dispatches
Posted by: Mark Tucker
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro
Mark Tucker checking in. We are presently located at the airport, Kilimanjaro International. Great views of the mountain on the way here. We spent a few hours on the road today. Got through Tarangire one last time, saw many animals as expected. Had a lovely snack at the fabulous Dik Dik Resort, hot showers, and everybody is good to go. We are winging our way back home. Looking forward to seeing everybody in the states. Thanks for following the trip.
RMI Guide Mark Tucker
RMI Guide Mark Tucker checking in.
Hello everyone:
Today is our rest day before we make our summit attempt. We got up a little early for a little crampon practice while the snow was still firm and familiarized ourselves with our ice axes. We had breakfast and then spent a little time playing cribbage. After lunch we had our summit talk to prepare ourselves for tonight's climb. Everyone is ready and all we need now is a little good weather!
Keep your fingers crossed for us.
RMI Guide Casey Grom and crew
On The Map
We're at Shira Plateau Camp! We had another great day on the trail and everyone is adjusting to mountain life. We got up with the sun and had a great breakfast. Fruit and eggs and of course the wonderful bread from the Dik Dik is a great way to start a day.
Unfortunately for us though one of our team had to head home due to a work emergency. We'll miss him sorely and feel bad that he had to leave the trip.
After our goodbyes we hit the trail for a 4 hour and 45 minute hike to camp. The weather was mostly cloudy which meant we were inside the clouds all day. That is until we hit the top of the Shira Plateau where we moved out of the cloud deck. Once we topped out we were greeted with an amazing view of the summit. It's still a long way off but tomorrow we'll get right up under it!
A message from team member Gayle: She wanted to say hi to her Mom.
RMI Guide Seth Waterfall
On The Map
Happy birthday to our beautiful daughter! And a big Hugo Kalin as well. Enjoy every minute of this trip of a lifetime! Love, mom and dad
Posted by: Mary Beth Denefe on 7/26/2013 at 8:28 pm
Posted by: Adam Knoff, Solveig Waterfall, Mike Haugen, Win Whittaker
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
The Four Day Summit Climb teams led by RMI Guides Adam Knoff and Solveig Waterfall reached the summit of Mt. Rainier early this morning. The teams reported warm temperatures with winds at about 15 mph. They spent over an hour on the summit enjoying the views before beginning their descent back to Camp Muir.
After a week of Denali Prep training, Mike Haugen and the Expedition Skills Seminar – Kautz team also reached the summit of Mt. Rainier early this morning with 100% of their team. They have started their descent and will be back at Rainier Basecamp this afternoon.
The American Lung Association Climb for Clean Air is ascending to Camp Muir today with Win Whittaker as their lead guide. He sent us a photo of the team's climbing school from yesterday. What beautiful weather the teams have been climbing in!
Awesome!! Congrats everyone! :)
Posted by: Elise on 7/26/2013 at 11:43 am
Posted by: Mark Tucker
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro
Well known for its river valleys, wetlands, gently rolling hills, rocky outcrops, acacia woodlands, and numerous baobabs (the upside down tree). We are here at the Tarangire National Park which is one of my favorites. Perfect conditions weather wise during the game drive today. Wide open spaces and views to behold. Here we are at the Kikoti Luxury tent camp for the night after a great game drive through the park. I was just escorted to my tent by a man with a Rifle and another with a spear. Not uncommon for night movement while living in the bush.
Sure hope I survive the night so I can report in tomorrow.
RMI Guide Mark Tucker
Hey everybody this is Del, one of the Elbrus team members, reporting from about 12,000 feet on the southside of Elbrus. Today we did an acclimatization hike to 15,000 feet and everybody did well. We've got a strong team and a great group of people with diverse backgrounds. Greg, another team member, fabricated a set of horseshoes from some steel he scavenged and a lot of people have been playing on the mountain. Besides that, we've been napping, reading and socializing to pass the time. Our cook, Albina, has been feeding us well and the food has been tasty. The weather has been pretty good from this Hawaii boy's perspective and we're all looking forward to making our summit attempt tomorrow night. We're doing well and our spirits are high!
Del and the RMI Elbrus Gang
So close to the summit! Kudos you guys, I can’t wait to hear that you made it! Shout out to Debbi LaPrevotte: we miss you! Have fun and be safe.
~Alex and Robert.
Posted by: Alex on 7/26/2013 at 9:16 am
Fatima, Looks like you are all having lots of fun! Wishing you and your team well on your push up to the summit tonight. love Peter
Posted by: Peter Williamson on 7/26/2013 at 5:15 am
Well, we just pulled into Machame Camp, elevation 9,900'. It was a beautiful day here with plenty of sunshine. We climbed through the cloud forest today, although there were some muddy sections we did not get rained on at all. The temperatures were pleasant all day. Our camp is situated right where the forest gives way to the giant heather and it is a beautiful spot for sure. Once we move into our tents we'll have a little tea before dinner and a relatively early bed time. That's it for now.
RMI Guide Seth Waterfall and Team
On The Map
Posted by: Ed Viesturs, Peter Whittaker, JJ Justman
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
The Four Day Summit Climb Teams led by RMI Guides Peter Whittaker, Ed Viesturs, and JJ Justman reached the summit of Mt. Rainier under clear skies, a bright moon, and great route conditions. The teams have started their descent and are en route back to Camp Muir.
Congratulations to today's teams!
Congratulations!! Can’t wait to hear more about it! :)
Posted by: Meg on 7/25/2013 at 8:48 am
Posted by: Mark Tucker
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro
The day went like clockwork. We had a great breakfast and then hopped in our vehicles for a short drive to the entrance of the Ngorongoro National Park. The day was cloudy and cool to start, but by the time we descended some two thousand feet, to floor of the largest unbroken and unflooded caldera in the world, the sun was a shining. I would guess that we only saw about 20% of the 30,000 animals that live in the crater. On our way back to the amazing Plantation Lodge for another night we stopped into a Masai Village for a tour and some special shopping options. Tomorrow brings us to the home of more elephants per square mile than anywhere else in the world, Tarangire National Park. Somebody has to do it, wish you were here.
RMI Guide Mark Tucker
Posted by: Seth Waterfall
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro
Well, today was our first full day as a team. We met up for breakfast at 9 a.m. and then launched into a good meet-and-greet and a big download of info about our climb. It seems like everyone will be getting along famously and that's always a good sign.
After our team meeting we reviewed the gear needed for the climb and how to pack it all up. Then it was lunch time. The staff here at the Dik Dik has been treating very well and the food is amazing. Lunch today was three courses, dinner was five! We're all carbo-loading for the trek and everyone is psyched to hit the trail tomorrow!
RMI Guide Seth Waterfall
Go get ‘em Don and Kathy! So jealous, God speed, and may you have a perfect summit!
Posted by: Daniel on 7/26/2013 at 9:43 pm
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Good Luck Mr. Barber & Team!
Posted by: The Pages on 7/27/2013 at 8:31 am
Fatima,
Now this is the fun part of the trip! Hope you all have a great climb. Peter
Posted by: Peter Williamson on 7/27/2013 at 7:12 am
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