RMI Expeditions Blog

The Five-Day climbs led by Jackson Breen and Will Ambler summitted Mt. Rainier around 7:10 am this morning. They reported clear skies above with clouds building around them, so they opted for a touch and go on top to keep the team moving. They'll return to Camp Muir and stay one more night before returning to Ashford. 

Way to go team!

August 13, 3036 7:37 pm

Welcome back once again! Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, people of all ages, the Hunt ended due to technical difficulties...we're kidding. It is with great congratulations that we award this team with the official summit of Glacier Peak. The hunt was successful, the views were beautiful, and the rope legs were real. Sasquatch, however, is yet to be found. Thank you one and all for tuning in to our program, Alas!! We are not done yet. Tomorrow we venture towards home, where the grass isn't greener but the toilets have seats. Until then our friends.

-Your 2026 Glacier Hunters

August 13, 2026 11:00 am

100% Summit Success. Ben & Team just called from the summit of Glacier peak with the entire team on top!

Augsut 12, 2026

Thank you for that brief, day long commercial break, we are back on Glacier Hunters and boy howdy do we have a story for you. Last night, the wind howled loudly over and through our tents, covering us in a film of fine silt but it didn't ruin our (questionably) healthy game of euchre. We rose early in the clouds wondering if sasquatch was preparing to pounce. No dinner bells on us, so we think we're safe. We then climbed through the mist of water vapor mixed with smoke to our high camp. We called out to the marmots along the way, enticing them with tuna time, but had no success. They must have been sleeping in.

Suddenly, there was a break in the clouds. "Glacier peak, is that you?" The broken mist made it hard to tell. To prep for our continued hunt, we waddled out to school like a bunch of penguins and played on the dry shores of the white chuck glacier. Refreshed by some of the high-quality H20 it had to offer, we returned to camp.

"There it is!" We're sure of it. A silhouette of Glacier Peak hangs in the distance. Tonight we rest. This is it. Tomorrow we will climb. Will our nerves keep us in check? Do we have the courage to complete the hunt? Does this volcano have what it takes to give us a shot? Sure does. Don't go anywhere because we'll be right back after another break with the results of this journey.

-Your 2026

Glacier (Demon K-pop) Hunters

August 10, 2026

Hello one and all and welcome to another episode of Glacier Hunters (copyright infringement expected).

This week, we journey once again in search for the infamous, desolate, and awe-inspiring volcano known as Glacier Peak. "Did I pack enough food? Where's your extra pair of underwear? Why is there only one blue bag in my blue bag? Is this where sasquatch lives?"

These are the questions we've been asking ourselves from the start. Last night, 9 of us met as total strangers (mostly), 3 of them rummaged through everyone else's stuff like it was Christmas morning (gear check), and then we all met this morning at a remote location (trailhead). As the team made their way to camp 1 of the trip, it was beautiful, and then it was hot. It was easy and then was all uphill. It was conversational, and then it was quiet (not really).

Will this group become friends? Will they find sasquatch or the missing pair of underwear? Will the hunt for Glacier Peak end in success?

As we sit at camp eating freeze dried macaroni, rice, and other unknown substances, we hope you'll stay tuned to find out. Anything could happen.

Goodnight.

-Your 2026 RMI Glacier Hunters

The Four Day Climb teams for August 10 - 13 led by RMI Guides Mike Bennet and Henry Coppolillo were unable to reach the summit of Mt. Rainier today due to route conditions.  The teams returned to Camp Muir and will start their descent to Paradise around 9 am.  Their programs will conclude this afternoon at Rainier BaseCamp.

Great news from Mount Baker!

RMI Guide George Hedreen and team have reached the summit of Mount Baker via the North Ridge Route and checked in from the top. George reported good climbing conditions, a bit of smoke in the area, and no thunderstorms despite the forecast calling for possible afternoon activity.The team is now descending via the Coleman-Deming Route and is expected to be back in camp this afternoon.

Congratulations to George and the entire team on a successful summit of Mount Baker!

Hello hello!

We rallied for one more day of hiking. After a night in an actual bed in Aguas Calientes, we woke up early and headed back to Machu Picchu. Some of the group even hiked the trail back up instead of taking the bus — a first for me, but it was so fun. Big stair people on this team.

At the top we regrouped and headed to Huayna Picchu, the peak behind Machu Picchu in every iconic photo you’ve ever seen. Steep steps, but we’re professionals now. Up through some clouds and light rain, and our luck held, the views from the top were incredible. Machu Picchu is the main event, sure, but the tree-covered mountains stretching out in every direction makes it feel mystical. Hard to imagine a better way to close out this trip.

We came down and caught the train back to Ollantaytambo, panoramic windows and winding views the whole way, birds soaring, valleys and passes we’d actually walked through days earlier now passing by from a completely different angle. The train is the only way to Machu Picchu that doesn’t involve your own two feet, and it’s a gorgeous one.

Back in Cusco, the cold hit us the second we stepped out of the van, straight from jungle humidity to 11,000 feet of thin, sharp air. Grabbed our duffels, climbed a few more stairs (of course), and collapsed into a hotel with warm beds and hot showers waiting.

We climbed passes, ate guinea pig, survived a group Scum rivalry, and somehow all still like each other. 10/10 trip. Thank you for following along and to this crew: I’d get chewy cuy with you again anytime.

RMI Guide Jess Wedel and the Machu Picchu team

The Five Day Private Climb led by RMI Guide Dominic Cifelli reached the summit of Mt. Raineir today with 100% of their team.  It's a beauiful day on the mountain with clear skies and cool temperatures.  The team will return to Camp Muir and spend another night on the mountain. They may do a little training or just enjoy the views.  Tomorrow they will descend to Paradise and conclude their program.

Nice work team!

The Four Day Climb led by RMI Guide Joe Hoch reached the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning with 100% of their team.  Joe reported a very good route, sunshine and cooler temperatures. They enjoyed some time in the crater before starting their descent. Once back at Camp Muir they will pack up and continue downhill to Paradise.

Way to go team!

Monday, August 10, 2026 11:27 pm

Hannah, Daniel, and I sunset climbed on baker this evening. Back at camp. We will be walking out tomorrow and enjoying the blueberries.

RMI Guide Leif Bergstrom & Team

Monday, August 10, 2026 - 8:38 pm PT

We made it to Machu Picchu today! Through the Sun Gate, down into the citadel, six days of trail behind us and somehow it still didn’t feel real once we were standing there.

After the downpour yesterday and all through the night, we figured we were done for, views-wise. We hiked up this morning in intermittent rain and heavy clouds. By the time we reached the Sun Gate, it was fully socked in. Nothing. We played the mind games anyway, telling the clouds they’d never clear, half-hoping that saying it out loud would jinx them into doing exactly that. Eventually we gave up and started the descent into Machu Picchu.

About a minute after we took off, the clouds started opening up. And then there it was, the whole citadel and the mountains around it, in and out of this mystical fog like it was showing off on purpose.

We took a stupid number of photos and celebrated like we’d won something, because we had. This whole trip has been extremes: cloud forests and downpours, dust and dry high altitude, brutal trail days to long quiet nights in a tent. Somehow it all resolved into that one minute of clearing sky.

Tonight we’re in Aguas Calientes, showered, fed, and saving what’s left of our legs for one final hike tomorrow.

RMI Guide Jess Wedel and the Machu Picchu team

The Expedition Skills Seminar – Paradise, led by RMI Guide Joe Crawford, culminated its week of training with a successful summit of Mt. Rainier this morning at 6:30 a.m.

The team spent four nights and five days training on the lower slopes of Mt. Rainier, developing essential mountaineering skills including glacier travel, crevasse rescue, anchor and belay systems, and establishing and living in a mountain camp. Yesterday, they moved up to Camp Muir to prepare for their summit attempt.

They were rewarded with a beautiful day on the mountain and enjoyed some time in the summit crater before beginning their descent. The team is now making its way back to Camp Muir, where they will take a short break to repack and rest before continuing the final 4.5 miles to Paradise later this afternoon, concluding their program.

Congratulations to the entire team on a fantastic week of training and a successful summit of Mt. Rainier!