Entries from Locations

Ecuador Seminar: Knoff & Team Abort Antisana Summit Bid at 18,000’

January 14, 2016

Posted by: Adam Knoff, Nick Hunt

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Ecuador

Elevation: 18,000'

Post Antisana. Hmmmm? It is hard to put into words how a body feels after running full speed ahead for 36 hours without sleep. I take that back, we did close our eyes from 7 to 10 pm last night but if you asked anyone to tell you about their dreams they will half heatedly recount how their tent partner and the thought of eating instant oatmeal at 10:30 pm was more of a nightmare. So sleep was hard to come by. Once "awake", we forced down what calories we could and loaded our climbing kits into the jeeps. From base camp it was a 20-minute 4x4 trail to the starting point. Like all the other mountains down here the first hour starts with a dirt trail before gaining the toe of the glacier. We all did so about 1am and despite this being our second big climb in a row, everyone showed good spirit and stamina. For the next three hours we crossed spectacular crevasse bridges, cramponed up steep pitches and weaved through giant ice features. At 18,000 feet, we took a break to search out the final piece of the route finding puzzle which ended at the summit ridge. Once the ridge is gained it is a straight forward climb to the top. Unfortunately there was nothing straight forward about the terrain from our position to the ridge. With a mandatory 55-degree slope exposed to a crevasse below and having very tricky snow conditions, the risk of taking our team into that terrain was just too high. So it was here I decided to turn the climb around. The good news was, up to that point everybody climbed really well and said unanimously that Antisana was one of the coolest mountains they have ever been on. After a safe descent we rested at camp for a couple hours then took the magic bus to a hacienda for some much needed food, beer and rest. Tomorrow we are off to our final and most challenging mountain, Chimborazo. Stay tuned for the next chapter. Adam and team wishing all of our loved ones back home big hugs. We can't wait to come home and see you. RMI Guide Adam Knoff

Kilimanjaro: Seth & Team Move into Barranco Camp

January 14, 2016

Posted by: Seth Waterfall

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro

Elevation: 12,800'

Well we have definitely established a rhythm with Kilimanjaro. It was very nice and sunny again this morning and at 9:30am the clouds started building. By 1:30pm it was raining heavily again. The only thing different from yesterday is that we were out on the trail when the rain hit. It was only for about an hour so not a huge deal really, but it sure is nice to be in a dry tent now. We covered the longest stretch f the whole trip today, other than summit day and everyone did a great job. We also reached a high point for every climber here at 14,900'. That's always a fun thing. Now we have two easier days and after that we go for the summit. That's all for now. RMI Guide Seth Waterfall

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Leave a Comment For the Team (2)

I am in awe of each of you! Know you are happy to have a few of the high days behind you before summit. Bobby you and all of the team are in my thoughts and prayers each step of the way! JoAnne H

Posted by: Joanne H on 1/15/2016 at 10:18 am

Congrats on reaching a new high in climbing. Didn’t know it rained that much there.
Hope you are having the time of your life. Stay safe.

Love, VaLinda

Posted by: VaLinda Novak on 1/15/2016 at 7:58 am

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Aconcagua: Nugent & Team Finish Climb Preparations

January 13, 2016

Posted by: Billy Nugent, Katrina Bloemsma

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua

The team met up around 8 a.m. for a not too early breakfast. Afterwards we split up and set out on the streets of Mendoza, running all of our last minute errands. We visited a couple gear shops, hit the pharmacy, grocery store, all the usual stuff before reconvening for a team lunch at a sidewalk cafe. Nicolas, our liaison from Grajales, was kind enough to deal with all the permit rigmarole that is normally a complete pain. So the pace of the morning wasn't nearly as rushed as in years past. Our transfer out to Penitentes showed up at the hotel and we loaded up our gear and hit the road. The drive to Penitentes is absolutely gorgeous, rolling through the vineyards outside of the city, up into the foothills, and eventually making our way into the heart of the Andes. Four hours on the road brought us to the Grajales packing facility where we unloaded and spent the rest of the afternoon packing up for the mules and prepping for tomorrow's start up the hill. Psyched to hit the trail... RMI Guides Billy Nugent and Katrina Bloemsma and team

Leave a Comment For the Team (2)

Hello Dear Rob !!

.....and thank you for the updates Billy ! Just know that there are many of us at home checking the blog multiple times a day for any and every bit of the story .... So don’t be hesitant to overload us with detail :)

RMI really does it right .... Wine and grilled steak ....And with chimichurri I bet!

Relieved to hear the temps are significantly warming at the summit ..... I never thought I’d be happy to see a -7 windchill forecasted for later next week (rather than the -35 I’ve been seeing).

Hoping and praying for continued health and goodness for you and all your comrades. Feeling especially confident since your flock of angels are comfortable with the altitude ;) and cared for you so well in Mendoza!

Missing you tons and tons but so happy for all you are experiencing.

..... Always in my thoughts and prayers…M.

Posted by: MFG on 1/16/2016 at 5:03 pm

Dear Dad (Rick),

I miss you sooooo much, I hope you are doing all right, and I love you.

From,
Hillary

Posted by: Hillary and Hallie Haggard on 1/15/2016 at 4:38 pm

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Kilimanjaro: Team Checks in from Shira Camp

January 13, 2016

Posted by: Seth Waterfall

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro

Elevation: 12,500'

Hi from Shira Camp at 12,500 ft on Kilimanjaro. It's currently raining cats and dogs! We started the day under clear blue skies, had a great breakfast and were hiking by 8:30 in the morning. The clouds started to build at around 9:30 but we had sun breaks for our whole hike. The terrain was fairly steep right from the start but every one handled it well. The vegetation was very different from the lush rain forest we were in yesterday. As we gained altitude the fauna had a more alpine feel that corresponds to our high elevation. After we arrived at camp the cooks made a great lunch and while we were eating the rain started. It is nice to be in camp for it so we can rest and relax with the sound of raindrops on the tents. One of our climbers would like to say hello to Mrs. Price's second grade class. Thanks for following along with our climb. RMI Guide Seth Waterfall

On The Map

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Woo Hoo Eileen!
L&D is keeping tabs on your journey! We are excited and impressed at your sense of adventure and climbing skills! Looking forward to hearing all about your adventure upon your return!

Posted by: Anne & Christine on 1/14/2016 at 10:44 am

Love “tagging along” on your trip - here’s to the journey! Cheers to Team Fuller and everyone else…onward ho… Wishing you all amazing sights and sounds, sweat and laughter… ;)

Posted by: Jiffy Page on 1/14/2016 at 6:25 am

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Ecuador Seminar: Knoff & Team Ready to Tackle Antisana

January 12, 2016

Posted by: Adam Knoff, Nick Hunt

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Ecuador

Elevation: 13,400'

If you asked the team yesterday if they were ready to climb another 18,000-foot mountain tonight, I'm sure the answer would've been a chorus of "No!", but after a good night's sleep at Hacienda Gualchalá, everyone woke up with a spring in their step, a smile on their face, and determination to get back out there and tackle another peak. It's hard to understate the value of a relaxing evening and a lazy morning, but its effect on us is clear: our sore muscles and tired minds are a thing of the past! After a delicious breakfast out in the morning sun, we began the now familiar process of repacking the bus with all of our climbing gear, and we hit the road towards Antisana, our next objective. En route we stopped at a mall for some last minute grocery shopping and Kentucky Fried Chicken (seriously!) before heading up the long bumpy roads towards base camp. Upon arriving at camp just after 4pm today, we set about pitching tents and making dinner. This was done in short order and the team is now "in bed", resting for tonight's climb. (The ironic air quotes here are a nod towards the difficulty of getting any real sleep when you need to get up in five hours and the sun still hasn't even set.) The climb is a bit more challenging than Cayambe, but everyone is ready to give it a shot. The bags are packed and we're ready to go! Stay tuned for an update when we return from our climb! RMI Guides Nick Hunt and Adam Knoff

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Looking forward to seeing more photos soon. Hoping it was a fabulous climb for all. Love to Ranger Lorenzo too!

Trying to leave this comment again. Not sure why an error message appears after selecting submit your comment two times now? Maybe can’t use autofill?

Posted by: Debbie Worden on 1/14/2016 at 9:20 am

Enjoy every moment, experience the thrill, and take pride in the accomplishment. We’ll be following you up to the summit as you lift your head towards the sun. Have fun Eileen! Be safe!! We’re so proud and very excited for you!!

Posted by: Mary Segesta on 1/13/2016 at 8:24 am

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Kilimanjaro: Seth & Team Arrive in Machame Camp

January 12, 2016

Posted by: Seth Waterfall

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro

Elevation: 9,800'

Jambo! We are all up at our first camp and everyone is doing good. Dinner ended a little while ago and the team has headed off to the tents for a long night of rest. We got an early start this morning with breakfast at 6:30 and we were on the road just after 7:30. It took us about two hours to drive to the national park gate where we spent some time getting organized and sorting out the climbing permit. Once we were all checked in, we started our trek through the rain forest. Everyone on the team was excited to get going and we spent the next several hours hiking and chatting as we gained about 4,000 vertical feet. Everything went smoothly except for about five minutes of rain right before we hit camp. That's no problem for this team though and anyway our tents were nice and dry inside when we arrived. Tomorrow we climb up to the Shira Plateau. I'll check in again from up there. RMI Guide Seth Waterfall

On The Map

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Tell Annie all of us are thinking of her and are so proud of her!!

Posted by: Dianne Burd on 1/14/2016 at 8:28 am

What exceptional athletes! Enjoy the journey, the memories will last a life time.

Posted by: Kat Malcom on 1/13/2016 at 6:57 pm

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Aconcagua: Billy Nugent & Team Meet in Mendoza

January 12, 2016

Posted by: Billy Nugent, Katrina Bloemsma

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua

Hi everybody and welcome to the dispatch blog for this year's early January RMI Aconcagua expedition. Billy here checking in from lovely Mendoza, Argentina, where the last of our team (and a bunch of missing luggage) has finally arrived. We had an informative meet and greet this evening poolside at the classic Nutibara Hotel, a haven for Aconcagua climbers from all over the world, where we all got to know each other and run through some important details about our upcoming adventure. Afterwards we headed out on the town for our first team dinner, enjoying the steaks, wine, and Italian influenced food Mendoza is famous for. It looks like we have a very fit and experienced climbing team this year which bodes well for our chances up on the mountain. We'll check in again tomorrow from Los Penitentes where we'll be packing up our loads for the mules and finishing up the last of our preparations before heading onto the mountain. RMI Guide Billy Nugent

Leave a Comment For the Team (2)

Gerald from team 2015 wishing you all a safe climb! Remember it’s about the journey not the destination :)! However let’s face it the destination is pretty AWESOME! Can’t say enough good stuff about Billy and Katrina. Love Love Love e;m!!! You guys are in good hands with this A team! Watch listen and learn…They have so much experience and knowledge not to mention their professionalism as guides was invaluable to the 2015 teams success. Been thinking about joining you in Ecuador Billy Feb.2nd… What no Katrina! Maybe not then LOL!!!

Have a GREAT climb team!

Gerald

Posted by: Gerald Flynn on 1/13/2016 at 9:06 am

Randy…your epic adventure begins! Best of luck and try to stay warm. I will think of you every time I crawl under our nice warm electric blanket. I love you! “The mountains are calling and I must go.” John Muir
-Lisa

Posted by: Lisa Irwin on 1/13/2016 at 8:32 am

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Kilimanjaro: Seth Waterfall & Team Gear Check and Ready for the Mountain

January 11, 2016

Posted by: Seth Waterfall

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro

Hi, Seth here. We are all finished with dinner and everyone is off to their rooms to finish the last bit of packing before we head out to the mountain tomorrow morning. The plan is to meet up for breakfast at 6:30am and be ready to go by 7:30. We have a couple hours of driving to the national park entrance and it's good to be early. All the gear looks good and tents and food are all set to go. The team is starting to get excited. We are all looking forward to getting the trek under way. I will check in again tomorrow from Camp 1. RMI Guide Seth Waterfall

Leave a Comment For the Team (2)

Slow down Eileen… :-) I hope you are having an amazing adventure! Whoop, whoop!!!!

Posted by: Mark on 1/14/2016 at 5:58 am

To the brave and the bold, have a safe and happy adventure that many will dream of but few will undertake. Safe and happy travels to all! Tell Bobby – Love you from Mom

Posted by: JoAnne Hemphill on 1/12/2016 at 9:58 am

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Ecuador Seminar: Knoff & Team Summit Cayambe

January 11, 2016

Posted by: Adam Knoff, Nick Hunt

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Ecuador

Elevation: 18,997'

Hi everyone! This is RMI Guide Adam Knoff checking in from Ecuador. We reached the summit of Cayambe this morning on what turned out to be a beautiful day. Last night at dinner we were nervous about the climb; it was pouring rain outside. Would it clear for our climb? Would we even be able to leave the hut? My alarm went off at 11:00 p.m. and when I went outside to check the weather I saw stars in the sky. Our climbing window was open! It turned out to be a great climb. The rain last night didn’t hamper our efforts. We had a great route with great local guides. The team did an awesome job. On the summit we had views of Antisana and smoky Cotopaxi. Now we are back down and waiting for our bus to take us Guachala, the oldest hacienda in Ecuador. Our bus is delayed by rain, the same rain that made us nervous at dinner last night is now delaying our pick-up. Delays are part of the game so we take them in stride but I must say that this delay is definitely increasing our appetite for a juicy hamburger…hopefully soon we will be able to satiate our appetites. Until next time, RMI Guides Adam Knoff, Nick Hunt, and team

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Mountaineering experience enhances with good quality equipment. To get more insight about Mountaineering expedition and mountaineering please visit our website http://www.mountaineering.asia

Posted by: Tripti on 1/12/2016 at 1:44 am

Congrats on reaching the summit! The photo looks gorgeous. Great job everyone! Glad to see Justin Halls’ bad jokes aren’t weighing you guys down. ;)

Enjoy your adventures!

Posted by: Aimee Gilchrist on 1/11/2016 at 10:16 am

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Aconcagua: Justman & Team Pack Up and Leave for the Dusty Trail

January 11, 2016

Posted by: JJ Justman, Pepper Dee

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua

Elevation: 13,800'

Hi folks, Well, it's time to say goodbye to Aconcagua Base Camp and hit the dusty trail back to Las Lenas. Given the grim outlook on this mountain for the next week, the team is rather excited to be able to get back home to you all just a little bit sooner. We're hoping that the promise of huge slabs of steak cooked over an open fire will motivate us along the 18 or so miles we have ahead of us today. Hopefully we can stay hydrated and blister free. You used to call us on our sat phone, RMI Guides Pepper Dee and JJ Justman

Leave a Comment For the Team (2)

Great to meet you and have some fun with your team!

Cheers! Fred

Posted by: Fred Doar on 1/17/2016 at 4:07 pm

Hi Eric Leger & ACONCAGUA Team: It was a nice experience following along on your journey through the blog. Thank you so much. You have so much to be proud of in all that you were able to experience in your mind/body/spirit. Wishing you all safe travels home.

“It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves” -Edmund Hillary

~MIllie

Posted by: millie Chase on 1/13/2016 at 7:07 am

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Entries from Locations

Ecuador Seminar: Knoff & Team Abort Antisana Summit Bid at 18,000’

Kilimanjaro: Seth & Team Move into Barranco Camp

On The Map

Aconcagua: Nugent & Team Finish Climb Preparations

Kilimanjaro: Team Checks in from Shira Camp

On The Map

Ecuador Seminar: Knoff & Team Ready to Tackle Antisana

Kilimanjaro: Seth & Team Arrive in Machame Camp

On The Map

Aconcagua: Billy Nugent & Team Meet in Mendoza

Kilimanjaro: Seth Waterfall & Team Gear Check and Ready for the Mountain

Ecuador Seminar: Knoff & Team Summit Cayambe

On The Map

Aconcagua: Justman & Team Pack Up and Leave for the Dusty Trail

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