Entries from Locations
Posted by: Dustin Wittmier
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Ecuador
Yesterday we made a valiant effort on Cayambe. The team stuck together and supported each other along the way. We sat down for a break at 18200' anticipating one more hour to the summit. However, Mother Nature had a different plan, and we were privy to a surprise lightning show that was a touch too close for comfort. After packing up at the hut we made the trek south to Chilcabamba Eco Lodge where we are letting the bodies rest and reset. The team went for a neighborhood walk this morning and were delighted to have the neighborhood dogs join, although it seems the dogs had the ulterior motive of getting into mischief. Currently we are taking in stunning views of Cotopaxi and setting our sights towards our next high altitude adventure.
RMI Guide Dustin Wittmier and Team
Up at high camp this morning, things were blessedly calm. So much easier, after a long summit day, to have breakfast and pack up in windless and sunny conditions. We set out at noon and took on the hardest part first, getting big packs and tired legs down the fixed lines. It felt good to get that all behind us as we rolled into low camp and repacked for sled hauling down the lower glacier. We pulled in to basecamp at around 7 PM with a Twin Otter waiting. Some hurried packing, sorting and organizing followed and the Twin got off deck at 8 PM. They held dinner for us tired but excited Vinson folk. We stuffed ourselves and caught up with all the expedition folk we’d been sharing the mountain with. Our tents went up for a final night in Antarctica. It looks good for flying tomorrow so we may make it all the way to Punta Arenas on this whirlwind finish to the trip.
Best Regards,
RMI Guie Dave Hahn
Sunday, December 5, 2021 - 8:26 pm PT
We were back to high camp at 10:45 PM for a round trip time of just under 13 hours. Pretty normal for Vinson. Great views, fine weather. We had dinner back in camp and ran stoves forever to melt snow for water. Now 1:30 AM, the end of another long but magnificent day.
Awesome Dave!!!!
Posted by: Dave Kestel on 12/7/2021 at 3:28 am
Posted by: Dave Hahn
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Vinson Massif
Summit in perfect conditions at 7 PM! More from high camp this evening!
Best
Dave, Rajat, Mark
Congratulations guys! I really appreciated the updates!
Posted by: Don Huntington on 12/5/2021 at 7:21 pm
Congratulations to you all!
Posted by: Shweta on 12/5/2021 at 5:33 pm
We are settled back into the climber’s hut at Cayambe after a morning of reviewing climbing skills. Some competitive rounds of Yahtzee will now be followed with afternoon charcuterie and tea. The team is in good spirits and looking forward to our first alpine start tonight!
RMI Guide Dustin Wittmier & Team
Climb Strong Dustin!!
Posted by: Dave Kestel on 12/6/2021 at 4:25 am
Greetings from Vinson High Camp @ 12,500. Much nicer day. No wind. Up in 6 hrs 15 min. We are looking good for top tomorrow. Other teams rested at high camp today. Forecast is for continued good weather. We caught the 99.2% total eclipse this morning at 4:44 am. We were able to see Venus, but no stars. Still pretty bright out, surrounded by ice and snow, but a different light. We enjoyed it. Team is psyched for tomorrow. Stay tuned.
Best Regards,
The weather came around today, but not quite in time for us to make good use of it. The skies had cleared of cloud but at noon there was still wind whipping snow off the high ridges and peaks. We didn’t want to chance having to battle such a wind for the final hours into high camp and for the time needed to build that camp. So we got ready, but we waited for improvement. The winds did diminish but not convincingly enough for us to pull the trigger. The teams around us did go for it and seem to have done just fine, although now, at 9:45 PM there is still wind visible in the high camp area. We’re going to put our efforts into these next two days, Saturday and Sunday, for which the forecast is fine. We have the place to ourselves… not entirely by design, but the quiet is nice.
We’ll set alarms tonight for 4:44 AM… not for an alpine start to the climbing -which would be quite cold- but to catch the solar eclipse. At the time of totality, Mt Vinson will be squarely between us and a view of the sun, but perhaps we’ll see stars -a rarity in an Antarctic summer (like never).
Best Regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn & Team
The storm got real last night around 11 or midnight, and sneaky -blowing hard from the previously unprotected side of our tents. Most of the camp population was dressed up and out stumbling around in the storm, laboring to cut and carry more snow blocks to reinforce and extend walls. When the bigger gusts would power on through, people would tend to just stop whatever they were attempting and turn their backs to the assault of wind and ice pellets. It was definitely enough of a storm to break tents, but there was only so much you could do outside to protect them. That done, the other strategy was to get back in them and put a shoulder to the walls to help aluminum poles stand up to the blasts. Whenever there was the perception that things had eased, one could try sleep, but that was a little like trying to nap next to a machine gun in a fire fight. The wind howls and screams through mountains, but when it hits tent fabric, it drums. Hard and loud. It continued well into the morning and finally eased by around 10 AM, making it a little easier to get out at 10:45 when the sun came around the mountain to hit us through clouds. Breakfast was calm enough, but then the winds came in again and the game of snow blocks resumed for a few more hours. By about 2:30 PM, there was a cease fire at Low Camp. The storm was still everywhere else, with fog below and multiple cloud layers on the mountain and wind trailing big streamers of snow off the heights up by High Camp… but it got quiet and calm at Low Camp and we were able to get enough sun through the tent walls to be comfortable through the afternoon and evening. Predictions are that tomorrow (Friday) could be a nice day and if so, we’ll be on the move. We’ll take it step by step though. For the moment we’re happy not to spend the night building snow forts.
Best Regards
Stay safe above all else. How high would you estimate the storm winds were/are ?
Posted by: Michael Madin on 12/3/2021 at 10:56 am
Wishing for clear skies and a safe trip!
Posted by: Chad Burgert on 12/3/2021 at 9:06 am
Today we got second chair on the gondola and enjoyed a quiet morning on Rucu Pichincha. For many this was the second highest altitude they had reached and a good hike to really get the acclimatization going. Contrary to my previous trips and further proving the unreliability of weather forecasting in the tropics, we did not get rained on and it really did not threaten to rain on us at any point today. Following the hike we enjoyed a team dinner at a favorite local Lebanese restaurant and tomorrow we are headed north towards Cayambe.
All the Best to you and your team Dustin!!!
Farmer Dave
Posted by: Dave Kestel on 12/3/2021 at 3:15 am
Posted by: Dustin Wittmier
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Ecuador
Following some last minute changes to COVID protocol in Ecuador and the saga of one lost duffel, all climbers have now arrived safely in Quito and the lost bag was found and delivered to the hotel. As the first step in the acclimatization process we toured museums, churches and historic sites for much of the day. It is currently a national holiday in Ecuador so the streets were lively with tourists and vendors. Spirits are high as we prepare to hike Rucu Pichincha tomorrow!
RMI Guide Dustin Wittmier & Team
Sending Perfect weather thoughts for Cotopaxi!!!
Posted by: Dave Kestel on 12/8/2021 at 7:28 am
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