RMI Expeditions Blog
Posted by: Zeb Blais, Chase Nelson
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Peru Seminar
Elevation: 14,600'
Today was the most fun I've ever had acclimatizing. The team was feeling good and moving well as we made our way up to the crystal clear waters of Laguna Churup.
The lake sits at 14,600' and is a perfect day hike to get some altitude in before we move to our base camp in the Ishinca Valley. When we arrived we couldn't resist the glacial-fed emerald pool. Within a few minutes most of the team was fully submerged and paddling as hard as they could to get back on shore. The water temperature was... Refreshing.
Pictured here from left to right are Chase, John, Sarah and Steve.
This inspired group of adventurers is back in Huaraz, packed up and ready to head into base camp tomorrow. Can't wait to get climbing!
Until then,
RMI Guide Zeb Blais and team
Inside information, while illegal on Wall Street, totally ligit on the Inca Trail. We got up at 2:30am so we would be first in line to enter the trail leading to Machu Picchu when the gates opened at 5:30am. While we waited some Team members slept, relaxed and 4 of us continued a best of four Hearts game on top of a backpack.
With a little under an hour of walking to the site, we cruised through the "Gringo Killer", a 60 degree 50 Incan step section just prior to the Sun Gate. No Gringos were harmed in the filming of this section. The Team enjoyed an amazing sunrise across the cloud forest and in Machu Picchu.
In total we spent 2 hours walking around the immense complex. Listening to our local interpretive guides, Erick and Winder as they described what we were seeing. The Team was shocked at the shear size of the stone work and numbers of people who had arrived via bus.
While a trip like this can be about the destination, we all agreed the last 5 days on the Salkantay/Inca trail was more about the journey; consiting of remote valleys, Andean vista's and a variety of Incan sites.
We are back in Aquas Calientes, showered and resting. Thanks for following along and we will return to Cusco tomorrow evening for departure flights on Wednesday.
After a quick chairlift bump up from the valley we went for a great training/acclimatization hike today up to over 11,000'. Last night was full of thunder, lightning, and steady rain and had me worrying in bed that today would be a drencher. But low and behold, the skies eased off and we enjoyed high overcast skies with some beautiful views of the mountains around us and near perfect hiking temps. The team moved well and even handled some light rock scrambling with ease. Cap it off with a nice lunch and I'd chalk it up as a success. Now we're spending the afternoon handling last minute details before we head up on the mountain tomorrow.
Talk tomorrow,
RMI Guide Billy Nugent & Team
Super fond of Don Cash and proud to be his wife!!Good luck to Jeff and Joe as well! Summit #3! Mo
Posted by: monette on 8/9/2016 at 3:59 am
Beautiful pictures!! We’re following you with amazement Sue!! Have fun & have a great climb!
Posted by: Laura Thompson on 8/8/2016 at 9:20 pm
Posted by: Dave Hahn
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro
Out here in Arusha today it was a little cloudy and sometimes rainy. So we didn't get the high "water tower" view of Kilimanjaro that the Dik Dik hotel is known for, although some of our team ventured about five stories up the steel structure just to check. We had the garden-like grounds of the hotel pretty much to ourselves as we discussed the Kilimanjaro climb and the steps that needed to be taken before departure. We went through gear and clothing and made a few key introductions of personnel from our excellent local staff. Then it was time for getting packed... figuring out what goes on the mountain and what stays at the Dik Dik. This important chore done, the team had ample time to nap, read and recover from endless airporting and frequent flying. We ended the day with some heavier rain showers and a sumptuous dinner. The team was trading laughs and stories as if they'd known each other for years. After about four courses and a couple of toasts, we started wandering off to send last emails and ultimately to hit the sack.
Big day tomorrow, time to walk up a volcano.
Best Regard,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn & Team
What a wonderful opportunity to enjoy such a beautiful place. Wishing everyone an exciting and eventful climb. Take lots of pictures. Love you guys.
Posted by: Janet Armentrout on 8/9/2016 at 7:53 am
Thank You Mister Hahn and all the people of your team ! What chance for us to enjoy this climbing . I remember the movie ” The Snows of Kilimanjaro” with Ava Gardner, Susan Hayward and Gregory Peck by Ernest Hemingway ... What beautiful mountain ...! SRECN0—GOOD LUCK
Posted by: Radmila Radovanovic on 8/9/2016 at 4:07 am
Posted by: Pete Van Deventer, JM Gorum
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Elbrus Northside
It rained last night. Then it fired off a couple blinding flashes of lightning with a throaty growl of thunder that rolled on and on for what seemed like minutes. Then it rained some more.
We did the only logical thing we could think of this morning and put on the brightest clothing we all could find and crawled out to eat a breakfast of champions: cocoa puff and coffee.
The rain eventually diminished and we grabbed empty packs and returned to our cache to be reunited with the rest of our gear. An afternoon of rest and staying dry led to dinner, which showed promise with a brief glimpse of the sun. But it was not to be; within 30 seconds of putting out the dinner call, the hail began, which became rain once again.
Despite the 110% humidity, spirits are high, and we keep looking upwards at our next step, the glacier climbing towards Lenz Rocks and eventually the summit. We shared our current reading endeavors, learning about the reality of fish farming, and the Russian stereotypes portrayed by Dostoyevsky. Tomorrow we will try for an acclimatization hike and small carry to Lenz, with an eye towards making that move the day after to start our summit push. We'll see if that lines up with the weather's ideas.
Best from a soggy camp one,
RMI Guides Pete Van Deventer, JM Gorum, and Team
Posted by: Billy Nugent
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Elbrus Southside
Whoah...
Long day of traveling today. We assembled at 5:30 am in the hotel lobby and were picked up by our driver who helped us beat the Moscow traffic on our transfer over to the airport. It was a beautiful morning for navigating Aeroflot's complicated check in process but we were able to get it all done relatively quickly making time to grab some breakfast at an airport cafe before heading through security. Our flight itself was smooth, and our ride from Mineralnye Vody to Cheget went smoothly as well despite hot temps and many cows in the road. The team is relaxing after our dinner and hoping to catch up on a little sleep. Sometimes days where you just sit in on vehicle and then another can be the most tiring.
RMI Guide Billy Nugent & Team
Sue Mamer. I enjoy the blog to keep up with your trip .Also the the photo. Good Climbing and have fun !!!!! Dad
Posted by: Dan Griswold on 8/8/2016 at 12:18 pm
The Four Day Summit Climb led by RMI Guide Leon Davis Reached the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning. Leon reported weather coming in from the southwest this morning forming a cap on the summit, so their stay on top was brief. The team has started their descent and are en route to Camp Muir.
Congratulations to today's team!
Congratulations team….........we have a four day climb scheduled for August 27-30, 2016. Cant wait!!
Posted by: Jon on 8/9/2016 at 9:08 am
Congratulations Jane and Crew! Great photos can’t wait to hear all about it. Love, Mic
Posted by: Michelle McNally on 8/8/2016 at 1:15 pm
The good weather had to leave us at some point. The rain bounced off our tents most of the night and started to lighten up as we departed camp. This is our last full day on the Inca Trail.
We hiked along amazing stone work and paths, ascending to 12,130'. This has been our shortest day and we got the opportunity to see two Incan sites that are still nearly original. The team took the afternoon to see Winaywayna and some llamas keeping the grass under control.
As the sun sets, light clouds are floating in the valley and occasionally offering views of high glaciated peaks. We are getting an early start so Machu Picchu won't be quite as crowded. Five days have flown by and the team, while eager to visit the main site, is already reminiscing on our first few days in the High Andes, oh and eager for a shower.
We will check in from Machu Picchu pueblo/Aquas Calientes tomorrow afternoon.
RMI Guide Mike King
Posted by: Elias de Andres Martos, Eric Frank
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Peru Seminar
Elevation: 13,650'
Good evening from Artesonraju Base Camp. Today was a well deserved rest day here at Hauripampa after yesterday's summit on Paria. We're eager to start our final move towards our objective.
RMI Guides Elias de Andres Martos and Eric Frank
Posted by: Dave Hahn
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro
Our Kilimanjaro climbing team has accomplished something truly remarkable...Eight of us managed to travel from America to Africa without a single missed flight or lost bag. Moses, our bus driver from the Dik Dik Hotel, had champagne ready for the occasion when he gathered the team at Tanzania's Kilimanjaro Airport. He then got us back to our peaceful refuge on the outskirts of Arusha. We ate a late night welcome dinner and started getting to know one another. Realizing that major-league jet-lag was imminent, we retreated to our bungalows and resolved to get a full night of sleep before considering an attempt on a continental high point. Tomorrow we'll begin with a strategy meeting and a packing session.
Best Regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
Thanks so much for letting Lee and I be a part of this! WOW can hardly wait! If you need us “it may be a day’s drive” but I can make it happen ENJOY ENJOY ENJOY! oxoxox
Posted by: Becky Pittman on 8/8/2016 at 5:49 pm
What a beautiful color the water is! Nothing better than taking a cold plunge to get more oxygen. Sending blessings to all as you get started on this adventure. Looking forward to the updates as this story is created.
Posted by: Debbie Z. on 8/9/2016 at 7:18 am
Well done all! Looks like great conditions. Enjoy the cold water and the big adventure.
Posted by: Dan Foster on 8/9/2016 at 4:11 am
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