Entries from Expedition Dispatches
Posted by: Dave Hahn
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro
Our climbing team came together in the last couple of days. We got seven folks and their baggage through a bunch of airports and airlines all the way to Kilimanjaro International Airport. And as of yesterday, we had the team, plus one guide, all assembled at The Rivertrees Inn in Usa River, Tanzania. Today we got into the business of final preparations for the mountain. We talked through the program and our priorities on the climb. We went over schedules and logistics and expected difficulties. And then we did gear checks (which everybody passed with flying colors). And finally, after folks had gotten packed up, we did the all important weigh-in to be certain nobody would be overloaded on the mountain. The work done, we relaxed around a campfire and ate a fine dinner in the Rivertrees garden. Tomorrow we climb!
Best Regards
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
Posted by: Andy Bond, Leif Bergstrom, Charlie Harrison, Joey Manship, Evan Redman, Will Nash
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 11,200'
The Four Day Climb led by RMI Guide Andy Bond and Leif Bergstrom climbed to Ingraham Flats today. The teams were above the smoke and enjoyed a wonderful sunrise. While at the Flats the team learned crevasse rescue and did some ice climbing. The team will finish up their training soon and return to Paradise later this afternoon.
Someone add 10 extra pounds to Sara’s pack and DON’T TELL HER!! Good luck to everyone.
Posted by: Dwight on 8/21/2023 at 1:33 pm
Best of luck to all the group especially my son, Heath Scheibmeir. Enjoy the wonders of your trip and above all STAY SAFE! GOD BLESS YOU ALL!
Posted by: Joni Y Thummel on 8/20/2023 at 8:49 am
Posted by: Casey Grom, Ben Luedtke, Ellison Boord, George Hedreen, Bailey Servais, Robert Whyte
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 11, 200'
The Four Day Climb with RMI Guides Casey Grom and Ben Luedtke climbed to Ingraham Flats early this morning. The team enjyoyed the sunrise and a beautiful morning soaking in all the views. They are back at Camp Muir and will be starting their descent to Paradise soon.
Amazing!!!! Congrats guys!
Posted by: Carol Wiesner on 8/19/2023 at 9:56 am
Posted by: Henry Coppolillo, Sam Marjerison
Categories: Expedition Dispatches North Cascades
Elevation: 8,816'
Live from the Boston Basin, RMI Guide Henry Coppolillo and Team reached the Summit of Forbidden Peak via the West Ridge Route!! The team climbed strong and had a few great days of climbing! Way to Go Team!
Posted by: Dave Hahn
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro
The team rallied for a pre-dawn start at Lolkisale Camp. We were escorted from our tent cabins so as not to lose anyone to predators. We ate breakfast as the light came up on the vast wilderness surrounding camp.
As we drove back into the mix of animals, trees, rocks, grassland and riverbeds we had high hopes of spotting the leopards and cheetahs that had been eluding us thus far. We saw a million more beautiful things this morning… but not the big cats. Something left for future safaris. By midday, this one was winding down as we headed east toward Arusha. The team was happy to get back to the familiar ground of Rivertrees Inn to have a chance to clean up and repack for extended travel. Inevitably, we started having to say goodbye to one another as we began a last migration to Kilimanjaro International Airport.
It seemed hard to believe that the project our team had been dedicated to for years -raising funds for the American Lung Association- and then actually climbing Kili for clean air- that it could all be coming to a conclusion… but of course our ambitious climbers were heard to be hatching dozens of new goals and challenges for the coming years.
Best Regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn & The ALA Climb for Clean Air Team
Wonderfully spectacular! Thank you for writing these fantastic and descriptive writings. It is great to follow along on the adventures
Posted by: Deb Beechy on 8/18/2023 at 2:00 pm
Posted by: Hannah Smith, Dominic Cifelli
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 11,200'
The Four Day Climb led by RMI Guides Hannah Smith and Dominic Cifelli reached Ingraham Flats today. The team had a good climb above Camp Muir to 11,200'. On going route conditions and a windy morning made that the high point for the team today. They enjoyed the sunrise over the Cascades and descended to Camp Muir. They will be back in Paradise in the early afternoon.
Strong work to all the climbers!
Posted by: Dave Hahn
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro
It was another cool and cloudy morning in the highlands where we woke up, but as we descended into the rift valley again, it got warmer and drier. We stopped for some souvenir/gift shopping and then made the move toward Tarangire National Park. We entered just before noon, weaving between giant baobab trees scarred by elephant tusks. Immediately we began seeing wildlife… impalas, zebra, wildebeest… first in ones and twos, then by the hundreds. Eventually we mixed in elephants and giraffes and seemingly everything else.
Tarangire is a vast land of animals. From horizon to horizon. Our seasoned safari team spotted two impressive lions that no one else had managed to find. We spent the day marveling at elephant families and birds of all sizes and flavors. We searched high and low for cheetahs and leopards… but (so far) without success. By sunset we were sitting around a fire just outside the park boundary in a “tent camp” still spotting wildlife from our chairs. It is our final night as a team. As the first few stars began to show, we shared a spontaneous and appropriate few minutes of silence… and then we burst into laughter and conversation and eventually storytelling.
Leopards in the morning.
Best Regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn & Team
Posted by: Steve Gately, Joe Hoch, Jackson Breen, Joey Manship, Raymond Holt, Ben Thorneycroft
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 11,200'
Today's RMI Four Day Climb with guides Steve Gately and Jackson Breen climbed to Ingraham Flats to enjoy the sunrise. The high heat, and current route conditions prevented the team from safely going any further onto the upper mountain. The team enjoyed the morning climb and are now descending to Paradise.
Posted by: Dave Hahn
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro
Ngorongoro Crater was worth getting up early for. We were on the road by 6:30 AM. It was cloudy and as we climbed up to the rim of the old collapsed volcano, we were in thick fog. This did not prevent us from seeing a handful of elephants in the forest up there though.
Our first hours in the “crater” were actually a little cool and drizzly, but we were seeing abundant wildlife and so we didn’t really care. We saw everything from Cape Buffalo to Jackals. The giant herds of Zebra and Wildebeest were a big hit. During the course of the day, we crisscrossed the valley floor and saw eight lions (beating yesterday’s total). We got to see a number of happy hippopotamus pile-ups in the mud and shallow waters.
By mid-afternoon we were climbing out of the bowl to visit a Maasai village on the crater rim. We danced with the villagers, and they showed us some of their traditional methods for building fires and living in the wild. The team got back to the Plantation Lodge in time for a sunset swim in the pool before dinner.
Tarangire tomorrow!
Best Regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn & Team
Posted by: Mike Walter, Will Nash
Categories: Expedition Dispatches North Cascades
Elevation: 10,781'
100% of Team on Top!
RMI Guide Mike Walter and team reach the Summit of Mt. Baker at 7:11 am today. The team had great climbing and warm weather. They are on the descent and will be back at the traihead later this afernoon.
Congratulations Team!
Whoohoo! Good luck to the team! #GeaxCindee&Amanda; you gals Rock! Have a wonderful adventure, we will be watching! Much love from NOLA! ❤️
Posted by: Allie, Frankie & Tillie on 8/26/2023 at 12:36 pm
Team Oregon, hope you had a great first day! We will be anxiously awaiting updates on your amazing journey. ~Rowen, Collin, Patty, Jan and Gordy
Posted by: Patty Lux on 8/22/2023 at 8:55 pm
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