Entries from Locations

Sunday, August 11, 2024 - 4:35 AM PT

 Hello!

Today we had an awesome day on the official Inca trail. We got an early start and headed up to Dead Woman’s Pass. We started low at 9,800ft and ascended to nearly 14,000ft. The views were beautiful and we took the time to take it all in. We got really lucky as the clouds socked in minutes after we left the pass on our descent to camp.

After over 4,000ft of gain and nearly 2,500ft of loss, we rolled into our camp with tired legs. Another delicious dinner and we are all off to an early bed. We have another big day tomorrow - traveling over two smaller passes and visiting many Inca sites along the way.

RMI Guides Jess, Casey and team

The Four Day Climb August 8 - 11, 2024 led by RMI Guides Alan Davis and Jackson Breen reached the summit of Mt. Rainier today. Alan reported a beautiful day on the mountain and a good climb this morning. The teams spent a bit of time on the crater before starting their descent from the crater rim aroun 6:30 am. They are currently heading back to Camp Muir where they will take a quick break, re-pack their gear and continue the remaining 4,500' to Paradise. There program will conclude this afternoon with a celebration at Rainier BaseCamp.

Congratulations teams!

Yesterday’s climb of Paqueño Alpamayo provided a full-value introduction to climbing in the Cordillera Real. A 2:30 AM and a short walk on trail brought us back to the toe of the glacier where we’d trained the day prior. We dawned our climbing gear and began working our way up the icy glacier. Each step sounded like shards of glass underfoot and required careful technique to move efficiently and securely. 

We reached the summit of Tarija shortly after sunrise, the first summit of the trip at 17,500’! The views of Huyana Potosi, our next objective, were excellent, and we could see the remainder of the route to Paqueño Alpamayo. This is where the challenge of Paqeño becomes apparent, the route really throws a little bit of everything at you! First, we descended several hundred feet of third- and fourth-class rock, followed shortly by two pitches of 45-60 degree ice up the west ridge. 

Sadly, the effects of climate change are painfully obvious in the Andes, and this peak was no different. What used to be a final pitch of steep neve below the summit is now entirely snow-free, so we removed our crampons and scrambled the final 200’ or so to the top. After a short celebration it was time to start making our way down, we still had a long day ahead of us before we could relax in camp! Some steep down climbing and a short rappel led back to the base of the east ridge of Tarija we’d descended earlier. The rock scramble back up to the summit effectively made for three summits over 5000m over the course of just a few hours! 

The descent back down the glacier was slow and a bit tedious at times given the icy conditions, but we were riding high from such an engaging and beautiful day of climbing. Everyone slept well last night after our big day. We are back at the trailhead now loading up the van to begin making our way to the base of Huyana Potosi. We’ll sleep in the base hut tonight and move up to a higher hut around 16,900’ tomorrow. After several nights sleeping up high and a big day of climbing yesterday the team is feeling stronger than ever in the thin air and we’re all looking forward to our next summit attempt on Monday! 

RMI Guides Andy Bond, Henry Coppolillo

Buenos Dias Amigos!

All is well here in Peru. The team is doing great and have been enjoying the trek thus far. It was nice leisurely day with easy walking and cool temperatures as the clouds overhead kept the sun off. We had a few sprinkles as we made our way out of the Salkantay Valley and have now joined the Inca Trail proper.

We visited a massive old Incan ruin that was believed to be a check point along the way and have descended into lower altitude and the lush forest.

Hot showers, well almost, more warm than hot - but enjoyed nonetheless by almost everyone. And the incredible food continues to be produced from our gracious crew.

RMI Guides Casey, Jess and the Incan crew

The Five Day Climb led by RMI Guides Dominic Cifelli and Nick Sinapius reached the summit of Mt. Rainier early this morning. The team is in route to Camp Muir where they will spend another night on the mountain before starting their descent.

Congratulations Team! 

Hola from Peru!

Today the team awoke to beautifully clear skies right beneath the massive and towering Salkantay mountain, which is 20’000’+ feet. It’s covered in snow and glaciers so much it felt like we were in the Himalayas. We then hit the trail and headed uphill to our high point of the trip at just over 16’000’ feet, which definitely was a new height for a few team members. Everyone did great and enjoyed the nice long descent to our new camp at 12’600’. It was a beautiful hike in one of the most spectacular valleys I’ve ever seen.

Our outfitter has been incredibly gracious with having camp set up each day before we arrive, along with feeding us 3 amazing meals a day.

RMI Guides Casey, Jess, and the Inca Trail crew!

Thursday, August 8, 2024

We had a chilly morning packing up camp and weighing out our loads for the donkeys, but were rewarded with ideal temperatures for the short hike from the trailhead to Condoriri basecamp. After setting up tents and a short rest we continued up the trail to the toe of the glacier where we spent a few hours reviewing the basics and practicing some more advanced skills for our attempt on Pequeño Alpamayo tomorrow.  We're back in basecamp at 15,400' now, packing and resting up in anticipation of an early start. We'll be in touch tomorrow when we're back in base camp, and will be sure to share some photos when we're back to civilization on Saturday.

RMI Guide Henry Coppolillo

Our last full day of our safari did not disappoint. After a morning of souvenir hunting we arrived at Tarangire National Park ready for more action, and got it within minutes of going through the gate. 

Warthogs, elephants and a bunch of other critters came our way in the first hour. A lot of close up encounters with giraffes and elephants stole the show, with the finale happening in the final minutes as we drove adjacent a huge and incredibly green swamp area and had a herd of elephants cross in front of us and proceed to cover themselves in mud and even dunk themselves in the water like kids at a pond. An amazing site! 

Our 'camp' in the middle of the Park is pretty cool too. Like all these camps in the bush, our living quarters are screened in canvas tents enclosing some high end furnishings. Kind of swank and kind of fun. 

One last morning of safari awaits us as sadly our trip comes to a close. 

Until tomorrow. 

Jambo!

RMI Guide Brent Okita

PC: Shout out to Jeff Tracy, on his 3rd Kilimanjaro climb, for the beautiful photos!

RMI Guides Dan May and Mike Bennet led their Four Day Climb August 5 - 8 to the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning. Skies are clear with a light breeze.  The teams were able to spend some time in the crater before starting their descent from the crater rim around 7 am. They will return to Camp Muir, take a short break and then continue down to Paradise.

Nice work today teams!

Thursday, August 8, 2924 - 5:11 am PT

Hola!

We left Cusco early this morning, taking a bumpy and winding road into the heart of the Andes. We were all a little queasy from the bus ride but when we opened the door to views of Tukarway (19,499ft) and Salkantay (20,574ft) all was okay. There are no words for the feeling of being surrounded by jagged peaks with glaciers, snow and ice. The views were beyond beautiful.

After a second breakfast, we started our trek. Winding through the valley with mountains reigning above us at every turn. After a few hours we stopped for lunch. We promise not to tell you all because we want you to think we’re hardcore but we did indeed have a 3-course meal seated at a table right in the middle of the trail. Fresh avocado and vegetables, warm soup, followed by mashed potatoes and beef medallions. Okay, okay, okay. I’ll move on, but it was divine. 

After lunch we had a steeper climb for a couple hours to our camp at 15,500 feet!! Right at the toe of the Salkantay Glacier. Our tents opening up to the mountain before us, we saw ice falls and avalanches cascading down the slopes. We are all exhausted after little sleep last night and our first big day on the trail.We’re tucked in now with hot water bottles and sleeping bags fully zipped - it’s likely our chilliest night of the whole trek.

Tomorrow we’ll head over Salkantay Pass at nearly 16,000 feet and then descend around the mountain to our next camp.

With tired feet and big smiles,

RMI Guides Jess, Casey and team