Entries from Expedition Dispatches
Posted by: Dave Hahn
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro
We did another alpine start and another climb up the side of a volcano. But this time we got up to a fine pre-dawn breakfast in a comfy dining room with a roaring fire and rode up the side of a collapsed volcano in Toyota Landcruisers. That was all under heavy cloud and a little rain. By the time we’d ridden around the crater rim and dropped down in, we were out of the clouds and into a world of wildlife and wonders. Before very long we were looking at a pride of nine lions up close and personal (before the day was out, we’d seen around 26 different lions). We saw herd after herd after herd of wildebeest, zebra and Cape buffalo. Gazelles bounded and abounded. There were just a few solitary elephants here and there. In the morning we spied a rhinoceros off in the distance. In the afternoon we went on a wild rhino rumor race... chasing across the crater along with half the other Toyotas in Tanzania to see a supposed rhino who apparently dropped down and went to sleep out of sight. As consolation, we had high times with hippos in a number of places. Many of the team said their favorite part of the day was encountering two lionesses simply walking past the cars on their way to who-knows-where. We had an excellent and very relaxing picnic lunch while watching hippos, birds, buffalo and zebras. At about 4 PM, Ibrahim and Edson steered the Landcruisers up a crazily switchbacking exit road and we left the conservation zone and got back to our garden of a hotel to take things a little easy before dinner.
Tarangire is tomorrow.
Best Regards
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
Posted by: Steve Gately, Ben Liken
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
The Four Day Summit Climb led by RMI Guides Steve Gately and Ben Liken reached the summit of Mt. Rainier at 7 am today. Steve reported light winds, warm temperatures, and the smoke haze is starting to clear. The team spent about an hour on the summit enjoying the views before starting their descent.
Congratulations to today's team!
Posted by: Dave Hahn
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro
We loved our Kilimanjaro climb... but each and every night of it was spent sleeping on a tilt in one or more directions. Last night at the Arumeru River Lodge, we were on the level. Consequently, there were a bunch of relaxed smiles at breakfast this morning to go with all the clean hair and shaved faces. At 8 AM we met our Safari guide/drivers -Edson and Ibrahim and loaded up the Landcruisers for an adventure. We started out by heading west through the outskirts of Arusha. As we got away from Mt Meru’s flanks, the clouds got thinner until we were out in dry and open land under clear skies. We passed many herds of Maasai cattle tended to by small boys in tartan blankets. Even before reaching Lake Manyara National Park, we spied a few giraffes eating acacia trees near the highway. Once in the lush and green park, we began seeing wildlife almost immediately. Logan got the coveted “first pumba” prize for spotting a tusky warthog digging up lunch. Unexpectedly a small gang of Cape Buffalo kicked up dust as they charged across the road. A few minutes later, we saw our second of the “big five” with a memory of elephants eating their way through the thorn trees. There were troops and flanges of baboons everywhere we looked. After a great picnic lunch with superb starlings singing in the branches overhead, we encountered a tower of giraffes, a bloat of hippos, and a dazzle of zebras. Along the way, there were silver-cheeked hornbills, a small implausibility of gnus and a herd or two of impalas. We looked high and low for big cats but they eluded us today. Perhaps tomorrow. In late afternoon we drove out of the Rift Valley and into the highlands. It was a great pleasure to pull into the meticulously manicured grounds of the Plantation Lodge near Karatu. We enjoyed cocktails and appetizers as the light faded and the stars came out... then we moved inside for a fine dinner to celebrate Phillip and Emily’s fourth wedding anniversary.
Ngorongoro Crater tomorrow.
Best Regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
Posted by: Elias de Andres Martos
Categories: Expedition Dispatches North Cascades
Elevation: 9,127'
RMI Guide Elias deAndres Martos and Team reached the summit of Mt. Shuksan via the Fisher Chimney route early this morning. The team started their ascent from Lake Ann, scrambled to the base of the Chimneys and worked their way up the 3rd and 4th class rock, reaching the Sulphide Glacier moving up the steep snow, ice, and rock to reach the Summit Pyramid. The team is on their descent and will spend the night at Lake Ann this evening trekking out in the morning.
Congratulations Team!
The Expedition Skills Seminar - Kautz team with RMI Guide JM Gorum slowly worked their way up the Katuz Ice Chute today, but route conditions on the Wapowety Cleaver did not allow the team to climb beyond. The team in on the descent working their way back to high camp. The Team will spend the evening on the mountain. Tomorrow morning will be spent wrapping up their mountaineering skills training, and they will descend to Paradise in the afternoon.
Congratulations to today's team!
Posted by: Casey Grom, Jess Matthews
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
The Four Day Summit Climb Teams led by RMI Guides Casey Grom and Jess Matthews reached the summit of Mt. Rainier today. Jess reported moderate winds and clear skies on the upper mountain. The teams left the crater rim at 7:36 am and are making their way back to Camp Muir.
Congratulations to today's teams!
Awesome! Congrats to my family making memories of a lifetime!
Posted by: Donna Burkeen on 8/17/2018 at 3:23 am
So proud of you both. What an adventure and an achievement!
Posted by: Carol Kelsey on 8/16/2018 at 12:00 pm
Posted by: Dave Hahn
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro
Our entire team was in agreement that a night at 10,000 ft was just what the doctor ordered. Sure, there were some tired legs and sore backs at Mweka Camp this morning, but so many other problems had magically disappeared with the dropping of a vertical mile in sleeping elevation. We ate breakfast as the sun started to find its way through the heather and hanging moss. Afterward, our entire staff assembled to serenade and entertain us (and themselves) with singing and dancing. Before long, we were all laughing and clapping at their costumed portrayal of a western tourist, out for a climb. The customary tipping ceremony followed in which we passed out gratuities while shaking hands and personally thanking each of 51 strong and talented men. By 8:30 we were on the trail and losing altitude once again. Quickly, we transitioned back into a thick and lush rain forest. While we’d started out with blue sky and sunshine, inevitably we entered the cloud sea that had been so far below for much of the week. We never got anything worse than the odd sprinkle and a little mist down in the clouds and that kept the dirt trail from getting totally sloppy and slippery. One certainly had to pay close attention though, so as not to slip, trip or tumble in the process of descending 4,000 vertical feet. Porters from our own team, as well as from surrounding teams, came thundering down the track -mud or no mud- with fifty pound loads balanced on their heads. By late morning we’d all reached the national park gate at Mweka. Naturally we got pics of the gang at the final signpost of the journey, then we signed out of the park and walked through a bit of road construction to where the Barking Zebra staff had laid out a fine picnic lunch at a local art gallery and tourist shop. Thus fortified, we took on the two hour bus trip down through Moshi and over to the edge of Arusha. Everyone was ready for showers and comfy furniture back at the Arumeru River Lodge. The afternoon passed quickly as we reconnected to the world, dried and cleaned gear and readied other -less serious and substantial gear- for our safari starting tomorrow morning. We had a relaxed victory dinner together to celebrate the completion of the climb and to bid farewell to Darcy who’ll be boarding jets and getting home for work while we go poke around a few more National Parks to see what we can see.
Best Regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
RMI Guide JT Schmitt led his Five Day Mount Rainier team to the summit this morning. After spending two nights at Camp Muir, they began their morning with an alpine start working their way to the highest point in Washington. They are descending back to Camp Muir and then will continue off the mountain this afternoon.
Congratulations to today's summit climbers!
Hooray and Congratulations to Mark, Luke, and John!! This is truly an a’macy-ing accomplishment!
Posted by: Jane M Ferris on 8/15/2018 at 4:54 pm
Praise God you had success and a truly amazing view!
Posted by: Lowell and Melodie on 8/15/2018 at 12:49 pm
At 7:36 am the Mt. Rainier Summit Climb team, led by Robby Young, was walking off the crater rim. Their ascent took 6 1/2 hours this morning with colder than forecasted weather and a really nice day. We look forward to congratulating them this afternoon!
Congratulations to Mark, Luke and John Macy! A great accomplishment!
Love, Mom/Grandma!
Posted by: Alice Hartley on 8/15/2018 at 8:18 am
Hey everybody, this is Eric Frank calling from the summit of Forbidden Peak. It's a few minutes after noon here, and we finally managed to get above the wildfire smoke. So we've just popped up above it and its nice cIean air here. We had a great climb this morning. We left from Camp around 5:30, and here we are on top two and a half hours later. We're going to enjoy a few more moments, and then get packed up to head down. We will call to check in later today and let you know that we're safely back in Camp. Thanks.
RMI Guide Eric Frank
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RMI Guide Eric Frank calls from the Forbidden Peak summit in the North Cascades
Looks like the Alabama gang had success, congrats
Posted by: Don Baggett on 8/17/2018 at 12:43 pm
Way to go Mike and team
Good luck on the descent.
Posted by: Angela on 8/17/2018 at 9:12 am
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