After a glorious day game viewing in the Ngorongoro crater, the team made a stop by a Masai village.
We received the full tour and were able to help support the local economy. These folk are tough. Who is to say what life you live is better than one or another, I can sure tell you it is a different sort out here in the bush than most of the USA.
Our plan is to pack up in the morning and drive about an hour and a half to our next park, Tarangire National Park. We will be on the look out for the elusive leopard. Our safari staff has promised us a barbecue in the bush and we are looking forward to that. We end up in a tented camp tomorrow night and I can tell you I know tents and this is as far from any tent I ever stay in. Lets just say a king sized bed, toilet and shower are not the norm after I pitch a tent.
Once again the word is out..........Roughing it in Africa is all relative.
RMI Guide Mark Tucker
"By far the best of the year" was RMI Guide Brent Okita's description of today's weather on the summit of Mt. Rainier. Brent led the Four Day Summit Climb July 29 - 1 August to the top this morning. RMI Guide Eric Frank led the Five Day Summit Climb July 28 - 1 August to Rainier's summit with 100% of his team. Both teams reported warm temperatures with just a whisper of wind. They began their descent from the crater rim just before 8 am. The teams will return to Camp Muir and then continue their descent to Paradise.
RMI Guide Mike Haugen led the Expedition Skills Seminar on the Kautz Glacier. The team spent the week training at Rainier BaseCamp and on the mountain. This morning they packed up their camp at 13,000' atop Wapowty Cleaver and reached the summit of Mt. Rainier. The team will descend via the Disappointment Cleaver Route. This marks the 100th summit of Mt. Rainier for RMI Guide Mike Haugen. Congratulations Mike!
RMI Guide Jake Beren called to check-in from Mt. Shuksan. The team is back at camp after being 100% on top today. Jake reported that the route is “near perfect” with an amazing sunrise, views of Mt. Baker and the surrounding Cascades. They ascended the central gulleys of the summit pyramid and stood on top with windless, sunny conditions. The team had a great descent, rolling in to camp at the same time as the fog. They are back at camp hydrating and resting before hiking out tomorrow.
We look forward to seeing all the groups at Rainier BaseCamp this afternoon. Congratulations to today's teams!
Congrats Lindella and team. We are so proud of you!Mom and Dad
Posted by: Linda Smith on 8/4/2012 at 9:20 am
Congrats to Mike on 100!! I was there on the summit with him and our team had an incredible climb together. Thank you to our amazing guides and to my fellow climbers for a great four days on the mountain.
Its a sad day. Our https://Mt. Elbrus Expedition is over. I cannot tell you how much fun I have had with both my teams in Russia this year. I have climbed the highest mountain in Europe with old friends and I have made new friends along the way.
Tonight was the perfect way to end the adventure...on the canal waterways of one of the most magnificent cities in the world!
Enjoy a glimpse of the beauty...
https://RMI Guide J.J. Justman
All right you deserve to know. We have to be honest to all of you that have been following our trip. We have not been roughing it.
Tables and chairs on the mountain, hot water for washing at each camp. Fifty five local staff with us throughout the Kilimanjaro climb. We could carry any or nothing throughout the day. Fresh foods at each meal. You would have loved it.
Now here we are at the Plantation Lodge with white table cloths and fine china, eating incredible curry chicken and organic garden fresh salad, do not even want to rub in what we had for desert. All this after an awesome day of game viewing in Lake Manyara National Park.
I feel so much better now that you are in the loop. Wish I could say that it's tough surviving here in wild Africa but that would just not be true.
It is a real vacation now after a pretty physical week on the big hill. There are a few sore and tired muscles but over all the team is in great shape. We said a sad good-bye to one member of the group as he started his trip back to the USA, he had to get back for work. We will miss his wonderful sense of humor and great companionship.
Tomorrow we are off to one of the great natural wonders of the world - Ngorongoro Crater. Where there are so many animals in a small space, I better get the camera battery charged up tonight.
All is well,
RMI Guide Mark Tucker
Now I’m really jealous. The ultimate zoo - minus the fences! Dennis, I would tell you to take lots of pictures, but I already know that you will. Hope you’re having the time of your life! Love, Kim
Posted by: Kim Mulherin on 7/31/2012 at 6:29 pm
Please don’t let Dion bring home a monkey. Thank you!
Everyone has made it to Arusha, Tanzania! A few of the team arrived early and the rest of us just flew in. It's a loooong trip from the USA! All of our baggage is here so tomorrow we'll check the gear and pack up for our Kilimanjaro ascent.
RMI Guide Seth Waterfall
Hello everyone! It is Team Elbrus reporting from St. Petersburg. Last evening we had a great celebration in Cheget. I cannot fully explain how thrilled I am to have climbed with such a great team. We had a diverse group. Our youngest member, Charlotte, is 16 and tough as nails! I had to apologize on summit day because Elbrus wasn't high enough for her as she casually strolled to the summit. Our oldest team member makes me hope that I will be as strong at that age, especially since I will most likely be guiding into my late 80's.
We made it into St. Petersburg and we are resting and relaxing in our beautiful hotel near one of the city's canals. We have a full day of touring this beautiful city. Stay tuned for some great videos and photos of our final day in this fantastic country.
RMI Guide JJ Justman
Another beautiful day on Mt. Rainier and another summit! Congratulations to the Four Day Summit Climb! The team spent some time marveling in the views and great weather before starting their descent at 7:45 a.m.
RMI Guide Mike Haugen’s Expedition Skills Seminar - Kautz checked in from their camp at 13,000’, atop the Wapowty Cleaver. They are enjoying a perfect day of Crevasse Rescue Training and hanging out in the sunshine. Mike received the “best weather report” and they are planning on heading for Columbia Crest early in the morning and hope to meet the RMI Four & Five Day Summit Climb teams on top of Mt. Rainier.
RMI Guide Tyler Reid and the Expeditions Skills Seminar - Emmons are beginning four days on the northside of Mt. Rainier where they will gain valuable mountaineering skills and try for the summit later in the week. They will make their first camp tonight at 7,500' on the Inter Glacier.
In the North Cascades, RMI Guide Mike Walter and team reached the summit of Forbidden Peak via the West Ridge. They described a beautiful and warm day. The team descended to their camp in Boston Basin and will complete the walk out to the trail head tomorrow morning.
Congratulations to all the team's that reached the summit today!
We had an easy hike out of Kilimanjaro National Park this morning. After such a full day on the mountain yesterday, it was just a walk in the park today. A nice lunch was prepared for us at the Mweka Gate, which is the exit point from our route in Kilimanjaro National Park. Had a nice send off with our local staff with singing, dancing and gifting for the great service we had throughout the trip.
After our celebration dinner it is now time to repack for the next part of the adventure.... SAFARI here we come!
RMI Guide Mark Tucker
RMI Guide Pete Van Deventer led the Four Day Summit Climb July 27 - 30 to the summit of Mt. Rainier today. The Five Day Summit Climb July 26 - 30 led by Solveig Waterfall also topped out this morning. The teams reached the crater rim around 6:30 a.m. They reported clear skies, light wind and chilly temperatures. They were able to enjoy the view from the summit for 1 hour before beginning their descent. The teams will return to Camp Muir and then continue their descent to Paradise later this afternoon.
Congratulations to today's teams!
Much thanks and a huge appreciation for guides Peter Van Deventer, Mike King & Andres Marin for leading the team on July 27th030th! Mike Robison was on that summit and wishes for you to know that you all made this experience a thrill of a lifetime! Keep up the great work, stay safe and to all RMI is a first class operation from start to finish.
Posted by: Jennifer Robison (Mike Robison) on 8/2/2012 at 10:13 am
Great Job everyone! Geoff i’m excited to have you back home tomorrow and see your photos…
Mark Tucker checking in from Tanzania here at our last camp on this trip of Kilimanjaro. We are all down safe and sound; good spirits and good health. What a day! Beautiful summit, chilly and windy. Hopefully you got that message from the top. We pushed our way down to 10,000', so a 9,000' descent. Everybody's feeling it. Ready to go to sleep. A great meal. Looking forward to getting up pretty early and getting out of here. Have a nice celebration and take care of our fabulous local staff that has been providing us with this great service. I'd love to think we could do it without them but we'd be here for a couple of months. Everybody back home, all your friends and family are in great shape. Everybody did a fantastic job of doing what they could on the mountain. We'll check in after a good night's rest.
RMI Guide Mark Tucker
May God grant all safe returns I was looking for the yellow ducks Rob, Jodie,Ashlyn & Erick did they not go with this time? Love You Rob & family
Mom &dad;
Posted by: mom & dad on 7/30/2012 at 6:49 am
Hello,Milbraths,Eric,and Dennis
You did it. Congratulations! Another thing you can check off your bucket list. Hearing about the weather sounds like you needed your puffer jackets.:)Enjoy the rest of your vacation. See you soon. Love Brandie
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Amazing….hope you got a lot of pictures!
Regards from Lobo and Serengeti
Posted by: Monika Semkova on 8/2/2012 at 10:26 am
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