RMI Expeditions Blog
Posted by: Zeb Blais, Alex Halliday, Bryce Foster
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
The Five Day Summit Climb led by RMI Guide Zeb Blais radioed this morning to report a successful climb. The team is enjoying beautiful views of Mt. Rainier's summit crater and surrounding area. They are experiencing light winds and will begin their descent shortly.
Congratulations!
Posted by: Steve Gately, Nikki Champion, Christian Junkar
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
RMI Guide Steve Gately radioed in at 7:00 AM PT this morning to report a successful summit climb. The team was spending some time enjoying the crater and views of Mt. Rainier before gearing up for their descent. Steve reported light winds and good conditions.
Congratulations to today's climbers!
Yahoooo!!! Congrats boys!! Not sure if this is your group, but it has to be one of the ones reported! Love and miss you! Can’t wait to hear all about it!!
Posted by: MK on 8/16/2018 at 4:24 am
All the preparation is finished. We’re healthy and comfy (relatively) at high camp. It wasn’t even such a tough job to get here. We woke to perfect weather at Karanga Camp. The sun hit while we were sipping coffee and gazing down on the now-familiar sea of clouds far below. Kibo was cloud-free and out in all its glory above us. Without a puff of wind, it was easy to put the final touches on our packs after breakfast and to get ready for walking at 9 AM. Our fifty man support staff didn’t want us to walk away all grim and work focused though... they quickly assembled and began clapping and singing -and inevitably dancing and laughing, until we joined in and got our morning stretch session done the fun way. We then set out behind Philibet’s capable leadership. It was easy ground compared to the walls we’ve climbed in recent days. Just a steady and slow altitude gain through progressively less desert vegetation. We had the whole move done in three hours and pulled into 15,000 ft Barafu (Swahili for “ice”) Camp at noon. The team alternated between resting and eating, drinking and packing for the afternoon. The normal lassitude and our fair share of intermittent headaches afflicted us as we whiled away the afternoon, but all in all we’re feeling strong and excited... ready for an “alpine start” and a big day of going to new heights and seeing new sights. Tosha is going to serve up a 5:30 dinner and after it, we’ll try not to stare overly long at the sunset and amazing colors... we’ll zip ourselves into the tents for some crucial rest before the alarms go off at 11:30 PM and the climb to the top of Africa begins.
Stay Tuned.
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
On The Map
Very Happy for the Bogert family for their accomplishment. Looking forward to hearing all about your venture on your return!!
Dad/Grandpa
Posted by: Chaffee on 8/15/2018 at 10:23 am
Even your camp is well above Long’s Peak altitude! Keep trekking Bogert family. Stay safe! - Cole
Keep up the great work and have fun, so excited for you to reach the peak! - Amber
Posted by: Cole and Amber on 8/13/2018 at 9:04 pm
Posted by: Pete Van Deventer, Nick Scott, Ross Morgan
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
The Four Day Summit Climb August 9 - 12 led by RMI Guide Pete Van Deventer reached the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning with clear skies, light winds and cool temps. The team enjoyed some time on the crater before beginning their descent just before 9 AM. There is a marine layer around 6,500' with clear skies above. We will see if that dissipates before the team descends to Paradise.
Congratulations to today's climbers!
Congratulations to everyone involved. Well done to Matt Leonard on his first big climb.
Posted by: Brian R Leonard on 8/12/2018 at 11:55 pm
A number of the team reported their “best night yet” at Barranco Camp. Perhaps that was because we’d put in a good hard day, but it could also have been the calming ambient noise of waterfalls and streams flowing near the tents. We were drinking coffee at 7:30, still before the sun found its way into the steep sided valley. After another great breakfast, we were headed off to climb the Great Wall at 9 AM. Luckily, we don’t have too many other teams on our schedule and so “traffic” was light as we tackled the steep rock ledges of the lower wall. Frank led the team today, while Freddy, Philibet, Naiman and James kept careful watch on the team, pointing out the odd missed hand or foothold in the rough lava scramble. It was quite pleasant to rest atop the wall in calm sunshine with the steep bulk of Kibo shining overhead. Another, easier section of walking took us to the steep cut of the Karanga Valley. All that remained then was to drop down one steep side of the gorge and to march up the opposite side. The team mastered the “rest step” on this ascent and kicked in some “pressure breathing” for good measure. We rolled in to camp at 13,100 ft at about 1:30 and were sitting down to lunch not too long afterward. Clouds formed up to hide the upper mountain and to shield us from the strong sunshine for the afternoon. We’ll see if they break up for sunset and to allow our traditional stargazing after dinner.
Best Regards
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
On The Map
Sorry Emily and Phil .. I meant to say Phil.. silly Joey…
Posted by: JoAnn and Chris Bolton on 8/12/2018 at 3:42 pm
Great job team! Once again beautiful views! So happy for yu all and what you have accomplished!! Of course.. hugs to Emily and Ryan!! Climb on!!
Posted by: JoAnn and Chris Bolton on 8/12/2018 at 3:40 pm
It was a perfect day for climbing, right from the start at Shira Camp. Not too cold and not too hot, and not much to worry about from clouds and squalls. We set out walking directly toward Kibo, Kilimanjaro’s central peak, at 8 AM. The terrain was a good deal less steep and the trail less confining than what we’d encountered yesterday. We worked up through high desert vegetation on a gently sloping plateau of lava boulders. Within a few hours, we’d busted all-time altitude records for Darcy, Lory Beth, Kathy, Jon, Jensen, Kevin, Melanie, Logan, Phillip and Emily. By noon we hit our high point for the day, the Lava Tower at 15,200 ft, and the weather stayed fine as we picnicked and watched the white necked ravens performing elaborate aerobatic maneuvers in the thin air. At this point, we’d reached the base of Kibo and the cliffs and ice fields towered 4000 vertical feet over us. As we headed down into the valleys below Kibo’s southern flanks, the afternoon clouds formed up but didn’t bother us much. We dropped back down into gardens of giant senecios and lobelias as we closed in on Barranco Camp at 13,000 ft. By 2:30 we were moving into a perfectly built camp and getting ready for afternoon tea and popcorn in the dining tent. We rested away the afternoon and came out before dinner to watch the light change and to gaze up at tomorrow’s challenge -The Great Barranco Wall. Damp and dense clouds then washed in and out over camp for the next few hours like waves at the beach.
Best Regards
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
On The Map
Way to go, Lory Beth!! Can’t wait for Tuesday!!!\
Posted by: Marianne Bach on 8/13/2018 at 6:51 am
Praying for safety and delight! Can’t wait to hear all about it from Lory Beth.
Posted by: Kim Ingram on 8/11/2018 at 6:41 pm
Posted by: Brent Okita
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro
Before parting ways the team had one last day to see animals. It had been a really busy trip so far so half the group opted to sleep in while the other half got up early in search of some more close encounters. We were not disappointed.
First, we spent 10-15 minutes within 10 yards of a huge giraffe. Not bad, but our next big break came when we got surrounded by a family of elephants, including the cutest little baby. These critters were sometimes no more than 5' away. And we were in their midst for over half an hour. Incredible!
Then, getting to watch a huge herd of water buffalo heading to the river, again at unreal distances, was darned special. The herd must have numbered around 100.
This, in addition to seeing countless other animals made our last day wonderful. The only animal we missed out on that day was seeing a lion. But, wouldn't you know that the sleepyhead crew found a beautiful lioness that hung out right next to their Landcruiser!
So we all had a great last day.
We then drove back to the hotel, with a short break at a cultural center, to relax and shower before getting our evening flights out of Tanzania. Most of the crew actually built in an extra day or three to maximize their time abroad. Smart people!
The two weeks went by quickly, as they tend to do when we're as busy as we were. I think I speak for the whole team when I say what a great time it was. A fun adventure with a great bunch of folks. This is what climbing trips are all about, and what keeps me doing this for as long as I have. I know I'll be climbing with the team again on a new adventure sometime.
I hope you've enjoyed these posts of our adventures. Perhaps I'll see you on a climb sometime. Kilimanjaro in 2019 anyone???
Take care and safe travels,
RMI Guide Brent Okita
Posted by: Elias de Andres Martos, Hannah Smith
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
The Four Day Summit Climb August 8 - 11 left Camp Muir around 2:30 AM hoping the winds would decrease. However, strong winds continued and the teams had to turn around and head back to Camp Muir. The teams are descending early from Camp Muir this morning and we expect them at Paradise around 9:30 AM.
We woke to crystal clear skies today at Machame Camp and so the team got their first views of Kibo, Kilimanjaro’s central peak. We could see the hanging glaciers and ice fields sparkling in the morning light. Way down below us, there were clouds, but they were minding their own business and didn’t seem capable of rising up to swallow us. After a fine breakfast, we hit the trail at 8 AM with Philibet leading the charge. It was a slow charge as the trail steepened and got a whole lot more rocky just out of camp. But we made good progress anyway, gaining altitude through a forest of giant heather. Directly behind us and out on the western horizon was the giant pyramid of Mt Meru, Tanzania’s third highest peak rising out of a sea of low cloud. We gained a ridge crest and traveled along it toward Kibo for a ways before banging a left turn and traversing a series of old lava ledges. Finally, at about 12,700 ft we turned a corner and walked onto the broad Shira Plateau. We finished up by dropping downhill briefly before coming into our new camp at 12,500 ft. We’d seen our first Senecios and Lobelias, some of the distinctive endemic plants of Kilimanjaro. We’d gotten the walking finished in about five hours which gave us plenty of time for a relaxing afternoon in Shira Camp. The team reviewed their Swahili vocabulary at 4:30 tea time and watched a fine sunset a few hours later out over the old volcanic towers of Shira. We filed into the big dining tent by headlight at 7:00 and were once again greatly impressed with the meal that Tosha had produced in his simple kitchen tent. It was another fabulous evening for stars and planets... and sleep as well.
Best Regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
On The Map
So excited for you all and this amazing adventure. Continued prayers for a safe journey. Love and blessings.
Posted by: Holly Gilliam on 8/11/2018 at 12:59 pm
Wishing you the best, Lory Beth.
Posted by: Leonard Brendel on 8/11/2018 at 8:37 am
Posted by: Casey Grom, Bryan Mazaika
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
The Four Day Summit Climb August 7 - 10 led by RMI Guides Casey Grom and Bryan Mazaika reached the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning. Casey reported a breeze at the crater and overall good conditions. The teams began their descent from the crater rim around 7:20 AM.
Congratulations to today's climbers!
We had an amazing experience getting to the summit with with Casey, Ross and Nate. Thank you guys!!!
Posted by: John Alkhatib on 8/12/2018 at 10:24 am
Congrats to you all!!!
Posted by: Jerry Nelson on 8/10/2018 at 5:08 pm
Would like information on summiting Mt Rainier. 2019
Posted by: Richard hibbert on 8/14/2018 at 4:21 am
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