RMI Expeditions Blog

Barranco Camp, 13,100 ft.  We broke everybody’s altitude records today!  It was another perfect day, weatherwise, and we took advantage -leaving Shira Camp at 8 AM.  The terrain was less steep than yesterday as we walked straight toward Kibo.  The massive cliffs and hanging ice fields grew closer and more grand as we approached the Lava Tower, our altitude goal for the day.  We celebrated 15,200 ft by having lunch and a leisurely break.  Then it was time to try out the going down muscles.  We dropped 2000 vertical feet into the Barranco Valley and enjoyed the Giant Senecios and Lobelias that make the valley so special. 

We came into another perfectly built camp, patting ourselves on the backs for a 7.5 hour day on a big mountain.

RMI Guide Dave Hahn, Dustin Wittmier & Team

Barranco Camp, 13,100 ft.  We broke everybody’s altitude records today!  It was another perfect day, weatherwise, and we took advantage -leaving Shira Camp at 8 AM.  The terrain was less steep than yesterday as we walked straight toward Kibo.  The massive cliffs and hanging ice fields grew closer and more grand as we approached the Lava Tower, our altitude goal for the day.  We celebrated 15,200 ft by having lunch and a leisurely break.  Then it was time to try out the going down muscles.  We dropped 2000 vertical feet into the Barranco Valley and enjoyed the Giant Senecios and Lobelias that make the valley so special. 

We came into another perfectly built camp, patting ourselves on the backs for a 7.5 hour day on a big mountain.

RMI Guide Dave Hahn, Dustin Wittmier & Team

Our final program of the Mt. Rainier season wrapped up with an action-packed Expedition Skills Seminar - Muir! The team experienced a true taste of mountain conditions, with a wide variety of weather—including fresh snow—providing excellent opportunities to learn.

Throughout the seminar, climbers practiced essential skills including crevasse rescue, rappelling, glacier travel, and rope techniques, building confidence and gaining valuable experience on the mountain.

The team also made a summit attempt but ultimately turned around due to route conditions. While the summit wasn’t in the cards this time, the experience provided some great lessons in mountain decision-making and safety.

As we close out another season, we want to extend a huge thank you to all of our climbers and guides who made this year so memorable. We appreciate your hard work, enthusiasm, and commitment to learning and adventure. We’ll see you on the mountain next season!

We caught a nice sunny day for our move out to Shira Camp. Kibo -Kilimanjaro’s central peak- was shining in the morning sun when we took off from Machame Camp. The team seemed to have no trouble with the steeper hills we confronted right off the bat.  We climbed up rocky steps through a forest of Giant Heather to attain a ridge crest, then we walked straight toward Kibo for a while before making a turn to the west.  We got to use our hands on the rock in a few places as we traversed some cliff bands on the way out to the Shira Plateau.  By 1:30 PM we were in our new camp.  It was a relaxing afternoon of eating, drinking and resting at this new and significant altitude.  The team is getting ready for a beautiful sunset out towards Meru, the fifteen thousand foot volcano on our western horizon. 

RMI Guide Dave Hahn

Sunday, September 6, 2026 - 8:30 am PT

Machame Camp, 10,000 ft.  Our team of nine set off precisely on schedule this morning at 8 AM.  Our bus driver negotiated the busy highway to get us to the Machame Gate of Kilimanjaro National Park in a tidy two hours.  There were papers to be filed and permits to be issued and finally we set out walking through the big forest at 11 AM.  The team crushed it today, cruising from 6000 to 10,000 ft in 5 hrs, 20 min.  We took a few breaks, listened to a few birds and surprisingly, saw the mountain.  We began the day under thick clouds but they dissipated as we climbed and we ended up with blue skies and great views in our new home.

RMI Guide Dave Hahn

Saturday, September 5, 2026 - 10:10 pm PT

We’ve got the makings of another fine expedition to the highest point in Africa.  Nine of us got together at Rivertrees Inn yesterday to plan and pack for the mountain.  This morning we are setting out!

RMI Guide Dave Hahn

We woke way out in the bush of Tarangire to find fresh lion tracks in the dirt around the landcruisers.  It felt good to be out early and looking for game with no other cars around.  We didn’t see too much wildlife until we were relatively close to the gate on our exit.  A family of lionesses and their cubs were dozing by a waterhole.  And then we were out of the park and making our way back to Arusha.  We stopped once more at the cultural heritage center and then arrived back at Rivertrees. A shower, a repack, and a last dinner together fortified the team for departure.  Most left that evening, the rest the next day.  All pretty pleased with some great weeks in Africa together. 

RMI Guides Dave Hahn, Dominic Cifelli & Team

The Five Day Climb led by RMI Guides Ben Luedtke and George Hedreen were unable to travel above Camp Muir due to stormy weather and low visibility. During their two days on the mountain, the team received a few inches of new snow. Despite the challenging conditions, the climbers made the most of their time on Mount Rainier before descending.

Close Encounters

We came down into the great rift valley today and made our way to Tarangire National Park.  The place is known for elephants, Baobab trees and a great chance for nearly every thing else.  It wasn’t a big cat day for us… we saw a couple below a tree, but they were sleepy.  But it was a big day for elephants.  Close up and personal elephants.  Well one at least.  We’d stopped to watch a family of pachyderms cross the road.  They all crossed; moms, babies, aunts, sisters.  Except for one big bull who, instead of crossing, suddenly came to check out one of our Landcruisers.  We were trying to guess his intentions as his trunk found its way into the car. He then pulled back a step, took a rumbling dinosaur deep breath and shook his head violently a few feet from the car.  Then he stared down into it good and hard before pushing a tusk against the window.  Richard, our driver/guide turned the key and pressed smoothly on the gas at the same time, quickly moving us to safety as the big bull elephant then danced into the road.  We couldn’t believe how close we’d been to an enormous and confused animal.  It was a little terrifying and thrilling all at once. 

We then went on our way, deeper into the park, enjoying seeing giraffes and hyrax’s and elands.  Our lodge for the night is a tent camp way out in the wilds of Africa.  We shall see what beasts wander through. 

- RMI Guide Dave Hahn & Team

We fought through weather & cold conditions on Mt. Baker this weekend,  but had a successful summit day followed by beautiful sunshine on our decent from Baker! 

RMI Guide Hannah Blum