RMI Expeditions Blog
Posted by: Robby Young
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Peru Seminar
And we’re back on the horse! We woke up early this morning in Huaraz and took in the last luxuries of hotel life before we loaded our bus and headed down the Rio Santo towards our final climb. It’s a long drive to Quebrada Llanganuco, where Pisco is located, but it’s a stunning sight to take in. We drove past some of the biggest peaks in South America on our way including Huascaran and Huandoy which tower up into the world of 21,000’. We dropped our bags with our donkey drivers and began our 2 hour approach around 11am.
Once we arrived at Pisco Base Camp we took in some warmth inside the Refugio as the snow fell off and on. Our guide team and cook staff got camp built here in this beautiful meadow and we spent the entire afternoon eating, no joke. After dinner finally was finished, we made our way to tents for a good nights sleep. Tomorrow, we’ll do some crevasse rescue training, take a short hike to the top of the morraine above camp, and pack for our big day on Friday. We’ll be in touch, as always.
RMI Guide Robby, Alfie, William, and Team ‘One-to-a-Tent’
Posted by: Win Whittaker, Josh McDowell
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
RMI Guides Win Whittaker and Josh McDowell lead their teams of American Lung Association Climbers to the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning. Win reported light winds and a fabulous day on the mountain. Congratulations to today's climbers for their efforts in fundraising and supporting the ALA and for all their hardwork training for this climb!
A special congratulations to Josh McDowell, today's summit is his 100th summit of Mt. Rainier!
Congratulations Climb For Clean Air (CFCA) Climb Group #3 for the awesome accomplishment. We hare so proud of you all and happy we got the opportunity to train with you.
Posted by: Tideworks Mountaineers on 7/26/2019 at 10:07 am
Congrats to all! Great work, team!
Posted by: Daniel on 7/25/2019 at 5:33 pm
The Mongolia team has made the jump from Olgii in Western Mongolia back to the capital, Ulaanbataar. We are enjoying the cosmopolitan feel of the city and a final cultural event today - visiting a 13th century recreation of Chinggus (Ghengis) Khan's kingdom and palace. Tomorrow morning we all catch flight home to our love ones.
Thanks for following along!!
RMI Guide Eric Frank
Posted by: Mark Tucker
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro
Packing a Toyota Land Cruiser modified for life in safari was a far cry from stuffing a backpack this morning. That's not to say we aren't missing our tent life and mountain staff but this will have to do for now. We climbed in the Land Cruisers just after 8:00 AM and the left Arumeru River Lodge -- our home away from home. We headed northwest to visit the beautiful Lake Manyara National Park. The lake is a brief stopping ground for many migratory animals and home to more than 300 bird species. We managed to see wildebeest, Cape buffalo, lots of baboon, and a herd of elephants from close up. It was a nice introduction to the incredible diversity of wildlife in Tanzania.
Everyone's eyes opened wide when we arrived at The Plantation Lodge and saw the perfectly cared for gardens, luxurious rooms and friendly staff. This will do just fine for the next couple of days while we explore the nearby parks.
RMI Guide Mark Tucker
I’m so happy for the accomplishment y’all have achieved AND for the opportunity now to relax and enjoy your safari days! Congrats on 30 years to Robin and Rhonda. ❤️
It was so good to hear from the Carters yesterday! We love you and can’t WAIT to see you Sunday.
Posted by: Tami Reitinger on 7/25/2019 at 9:03 am
The Expedition Skills Seminar - Emmons July 20 - 25, 2019 led by RMI Guide JM Gorum made their summit attempt this morning from Camp Schurman. Unfortunately high winds forced the group back to camp after reaching 12,200'. The team has returned to high camp, Camp Schurman, and will spend their final night on the mountain. After some additional training they will return to the trailhead tomorrow and arrive back to Rainier BaseCamp tomorrow afternoon.
Still so proud of you, Brandon! Hope you’ve had so much fun!!
Posted by: Jessica on 7/24/2019 at 6:10 pm
From the cramped confines of Machame Camp we headed out to our next camp, Shira. Although the rain forest below Machame was cool, the terrain on this stretch was stellar. Going thru the giant heather and moorlands the climbing became more and more interesting. Some rock outcroppings along the way provided wonderful viewpoints and lunch stops, not to mention some interesting scrambling challenges.
We have only one complaint. The food is just too darned good. Our cook staff works tirelessly on our behalf, creating prodigious quantities of cuisine that would not be out of place in a fancy restaurant. All made on a couple of two burner stoves.
As a climbing guide I'm the first person encouraging my climbers to eat to replace fuel burned on climbs. But our mountain staff take it to a whole new level. We are so spoiled! For example, on getting into camp this afternoon we were served an exquisite potato leek soup, followed by fried chicken, French fries and an avocado, pepper and tomato salad. All prepared fresh and treated to ensure everybody stays healthy. Our friends in the kitchen are magicians.
Liz has expressed interest in learning how the magic happens and has been invited back to the cook tent to watch and maybe pick up a few insights. I'll be pressing her hard for insights into their culinary genius. Until then, I guess we'll just suffer through the fact we're probably going to gain weight while climbing a 19,000' mountain.
Such are the challenges we face these days. Wish us luck.
And tomorrow: climbing to Lava Tower at 15,200' and Barranco Camp. Our team is more than ready for.
Until then,
RMI Guide Brent Okita
On The Map
Go mom! You got this. So close now. Can’t wait to hear about the escapade!
Posted by: Kaleb Crafts on 7/25/2019 at 7:33 am
Mary Crafts, You’re an Inspiration to me as well as others. I can’t wait to be training for our next adventure together. Our love has grown so much, It’s a joy Being with you. Congratulations to all of you.
Posted by: David Workman on 7/24/2019 at 11:41 am
Posted by: Mike Haugen, Bryan Mazaika
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
The Four Day Climb led by RMI Guides Mike Haugen and Bryan Mazaika reached the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning on a clear but windy day. The teams did not spend much time at the summit due to the winds. Once they return to Camp Muir the groups will continue their descent to Paradise.
Congratulations to today's climbers!
Big Congratulations to Dave & Chris and all the Climbers!!!
look forward to hearing more about the climb!!!!!
Posted by: Stephen Zink on 7/25/2019 at 4:06 am
Woohoooo! So excited and happy for you Brent and Marvin :) and ALL climbers!! Thanks so much for the update.
Posted by: Christine on 7/24/2019 at 1:07 pm
Hello modern world!
We're back in the bustling city of Huaraz after a week in the Ishinca Valley of the Cordillera Blanca Range. After any significant amount of time in the mountainous wilderness, even if just a week, it is certainly a shock to the system to return back to the modern world, especially when it's in the form of the chaotic city of Huaraz. With that chaos, however, comes showers, cervezas, real beds, warm temps, and flip flops! I'd say that it's nice to eat real food, but our reality is that we've been eating better in the mountains than most do in the cities (no joke)! That's all thanks to our wonderful cook from Alvarado Adventures, Emilio, once a guide here in the Range, and now a mountain chef extraordinaire that has been taking care of RMI teams for as long as we've been climbing in Peru.
We had some great successes this week in the Ishinca Valley. We went through the (sometimes) painful process of acclimatizing our bodies to high altitudes, and we were able to successfully summit two beautiful mountains; Ishinca (18,143') and Urus Este (17,782'). The mountains and glaciers here are quite dry this season, which made for more interesting climbing, and more challenging, than our other trips down here. Our team attacked that challenge with an 'enthusiasm unknown to mankind', and were able to accomplish some personal goals and set new altitude records in the process.
Tonight, we're just relaxing city-side at the wonderful Hotel Andino. We've got a little bit of repacking to do, as tomorrow morning we set out for our third and final climb of the trip; Pisco Oeste. We're looking forward to spending the next 4 days in the Llanganuco Valley and giving our bodies and minds another test of endurance as we look to approach the 19,000' mark and climb the beautiful west ridge of Pisco. We'll keep you updated on our progress. For now, enjoy some pictures from our most recents adventures in the Ishinca Valley.
RMI Guide Robby Young, Alfie, WIlliam, and Team 'Showers and Flip Flops'
Looks like a tuff climb. I know you could do it Trey. You’re up to the challange.
Posted by: Phyllis Craig on 7/25/2019 at 7:48 am
Congrats Paul! I’m stoked you went back and looks like a summit or two. :) Enjoy Pisco! It’s amazing!
Posted by: Rue Beyer on 7/23/2019 at 9:30 pm
Posted by: Casey Grom
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Elbrus Southside
Our final day in St. Petersburg!
The team had a great last day here in Russia. We visited the very famous Hermitage museum, known for its enormous collection of paintings and sculptures by many well known artist including Rembrandt, Michelangelo and even Da Vinci. It's one of Russia's great treasures and houses several thousand pieces of art collected over the last few hundred years. It consists of five buildings, each with three floors, and has hundreds of rooms. The team did their best to take in the highlights in just a few hours.
We also swung by the Cathedral of Kazan and Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, that's decorated almost entirely with Mosaics.
The day was wrapped up with a wonderful evening boat cruise to see this amazing city by water via its numerous canals.
It's been a wonderful adventure here in Russia, but it's time to say our goodbyes and return to family and loved ones.
Thanks for following.
RMI Guide Casey Grom and team
Posted by: Mark Tucker
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro
Camp was all up and getting organized at about six this morning. It always amazes me how well the body responds to solid rest. The dramatic difference between last night and this morning was a welcomed one for sure. Everybody showed up smiling to breakfast and enjoyed a delicious imported cake that was carried up the hill in celebration of the 30th wedding anniversary of two of our team. The date was actually yesterday, one heck of away of commemorating, congrats Rhonda and Robin! Before leaving camp we held our goodbye ceremony with our mountain staff. We tipped them, which is merely normal practice when 52 men have worked their tails off to help you accomplish your dreams. Packs were shouldered one last time for the 4,000 ft and three hour descent to the Kilimanjaro National Park gate. After checking out with the park service we left the mountain with the summit in our heart and a certificate in our hands. A couple hour drive brought us back to the lodge where it all started. Cleaned up, fed and repacked for safari tomorrow has us all giddy and excited with what's has happened and what lay ahead.
RMI Guide Mark Tucker
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Praying all of you make a safe climb. Go Trey!!!
Posted by: Phylis Craig on 7/26/2019 at 4:31 am
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