RMI Expeditions Blog

Kilimanjaro: Hahn and Team See Hundreds of Elephants!

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Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro

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We tore ourselves away from the luxurious Plantation Lodge this morning in search of more animals. Tarangire National Park has delivered nicely. We spent the day looking at hundreds of elephants, thousands of Zebra and wildebeest, eagles, vultures, superb starlings and dik diks. Certainly the high point was watching seven lions... Including several generations of cubs, turning a wildebeest into an all-you-can-eat buffet. They were absolutely ruling the waterhole -until a band of thirsty elephants moved in. The lions dragged their carcass a discreet distance into the shrubs and stayed away from the happy elephants. We watched it all. We then went exploring, enjoying the vastness of Tarangire. We scanned every boabab and acacia tree for leopards but haven't yet seen them... Same with the cheetahs. We know they are out there though and we'll hope to see them tomorrow morning. Tonight we are quite comfortable in the tent cabins of Kikoti Lodge out on the beautiful estate boundary of Tarangire. The team enjoyed the end of their last full day in Africa by watching the sun set over a campfire. Tomorrow we'll have that last chance at the cats as we spend the morning going back through the park before hitting the highway for Arusha and Usa River. Best Regards, RMI Guide Dave Hahn
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Jasna and Jason

I haven’t been able to follow your whole trip but I just read/caught up and wow! Can’t wait to hear all about it! Safe travels friends.

~JanieMac

Posted by: JanieMac on 8/18/2016 at 5:59 pm

Kate and Ben,  How exciting to see nature at its finest. We can’t even imagine what it was like to see all those magnificent animals in their element.  Enjoy your last day.  Seems like your adventure had just begun.  Looking forward to seeing all your pictures.  Safe travels.  Love mom and Ted.

Posted by: Janet Armentrout on 8/18/2016 at 4:42 pm

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Mt. Rainier: Summit Climb Teams Climb Under Full Moon

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Elevation: 14,410'

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The Four Day Summit Climb August 15 - 18, 2016 enjoyed an alpine start from Camp Muir under a beautiful full moon. RMI Guides Jake Beren and Ben Liken reported great climbing with warm temperatures and calm winds. After spending time on the summit both teams left the crater rim on their descent just before 7:30 am PT. We look forward to meeting the groups back at Rainier BaseCamp this afternoon. Congratulations to today's Summit Climb teams!
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One year from a septuagenarian and never having participated in snow activities probably is not the most propitious period to start mountaineering, especially on Mt. Rainier. It was Theodore Roosevelt, though, who said, “... Far better is it to dare mighty things, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.”

Being in good physical conditioning and active all my life I decided to follow Teddy’s advice. I made it to Ingraham Flats and realized appropriately that my slower pace was a deterrent to team members’ having a successful climb. No regrets from me, though. I met wonderful professional guides who were patient and indulgent with me throughout the climb.

I am proud of those individuals who summited. I also take particular pride in cultivating a friendship with young 18 year old Kyle who impressed me deeply with his poise, maturity beyond his years, self-discipline, physical ability and love of his family of whom he spoke proudly. Go through life Kyle, spreading your wings and soaring as high as you dare to achieve mighty things as Teddy most assuredly would say to you.

RMI is a professionally run company. Its professional staffs are highly skilled mountaineers who place a premium on customer safety. While safety is their number one priority the professional guides establish prudent parameters for customers to maximize available opportunities to apply their skills for a truly memorable and amazing experience.

With Kindest of Regards,
Jerry W Doyle

Posted by: Jerry W Doyle on 8/20/2016 at 2:58 pm

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Peru Seminar: Blais Calls In From Pisco Oeste

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Categories: Expedition Dispatches Peru Seminar

Elevation: 16,000'

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This is Zeb Blais and team checking in from 16,000-foot, Moraine Camp on Pisco Oeste. We had a great day today moving up to camp- pretty leisurely. We are now tucked in, fueled up and ready to make a charge on Pisco Oeste early in the morning. So we'll check in when we get back. Until then. RMI Guide Zeb Blais


RMI Guide Zeb Blais checking in from Pisco Oeste, Peru.

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Zeb, hope you and the team are enjoying yourselves - safe climbing and looking forward to hearing about this one when you are back!

Posted by: C. Riordan on 8/18/2016 at 7:11 am

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Mt. Rainier: Expedition Skills Seminar - Emmons Summit!

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Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier

Elevation: 14,410'

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The Expedition Skills Seminar - Emmons Team led by RMI Guide Geoff Schellens reached the summit of Mt. Rainier early this morning. Geoff and team had a great day of climbing with warm temps and clear skies. The team will spend the remaining time on the mountain training before returning to Rainier Basecamp tomorrow afternoon. Congratulations to today's team!
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Very excited for you! Can’t wait to see pics & hear the tales of your epic journey.

Posted by: Jean Plew on 8/18/2016 at 3:54 am

Congrats CousYs. Cannot wait to hear all about it. XX

Posted by: Michelle on 8/18/2016 at 2:57 am

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Kilimanjaro: Hahn & Team Visit Ngorongoro Crater

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Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro

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After a luxurious night at the Plantation Lodge, we were well-rested and ready to charge off for day two of our game-viewing Safari. A short drive brought us to the entrance of the Ngorongoro conservation area. Our drivers got us safely up the rugged road to the rim of a great collapsed volcanic caldera. For a time, as we drove around the cloudy rim, the "crater" was hidden from view, but eventually we started down into the bowl and could see the full extent of the valley. Joseph and Erik took us on the network of rough dirt roads around the interior of the crater until we'd seen our fill of wildebeest and zebra, hippos and gazelles, warthogs and Cape buffalo. We spied one of the rare black rhinos from some distance -they are shy- and kept our eyes peeled for more. We caught ostriches sharing a private moment, and then topped that experience by witnessing a pair of lions getting to know one another. The day was pretty magical... there were a few stray elephants thrown into the vast mix of wildlife. Today we were seeing full herds of animals rather than ones and twos of a species and that meant that we were often surrounded in our land cruisers... happily so. We left the crater and visited a traditional Masai "boma" This village on the rim housed a nomadic extended family. We watched traditional dances and toured the simple homes formed of sticks and dung. It was a view into a vastly different world than our own and we tried to understand how these herdsmen lived in the land of lions and leopards with only spears for protection. We were back at our own nomadic village -The Plantation Lodge, before sundown and enjoying the garden like setting and warm hospitality. Tomorrow we'll head for Tarrangire National Park. Best Regards, RMI Guide Dave Hahn & Team
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Perfect. Delighted the big cats did not disappoint.

Posted by: JH on 8/18/2016 at 5:51 am

What chance and pleasure Jasna ! Finally you have seen the TRUE HIPPOS (your hippos) Good return to home and pleasant trip , Jason and Jasna .
With love mama Rada

Posted by: mama Rada on 8/17/2016 at 11:46 pm

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Mt. Rainier: Summit Climb Teams Reach the Summit!

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Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier

Elevation: 14,410'

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The Four Day Summit Climb Teams August 14 - 17, 2016 enjoyed beautiful weather during their time in Mt. Rainier National Park. Today was no different as the teams got an early start from Camp Muir and were able to enjoy the views from the summit of Mt. Rainier. The teams, led by RMI Guides Mike King & Steve Gately, reported light winds and perfect weather. We look forward to seeing them at Rainier BaseCamp this afternoon. Congratulations to today's climbers!
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Proud sister, right here! Congrats, all (especially Rich S. & Mike H.)!

Posted by: Kristen on 8/17/2016 at 5:09 pm

CONGRATS MATTHEW! ♥

Posted by: hannah on 8/17/2016 at 2:48 pm

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Peru Seminar: Blais & Team Move to Pisco Oeste

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Categories: Expedition Dispatches Peru Seminar

Elevation: 15,300'

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After a brief layover in Huaraz to shower, shave and eat a few meals at low elevation we're back at it. Today we moved up to 15,300' Pisco Oeste Base Camp. While we waited for our burros and arrieros to deliver our gear, we took a short detour to Refugio Peru just above our camp. By the time we had finished off some cappuccino and chocolate cake, our burros had arrived and it was time to set camp. Our camp lies in a beautiful alpine meadow surrounded by the massive peaks of Huandoy, Huascaran, Yanapaccha and our objective, Pisco Oeste. We're primed to pack up tomorrow and move to our high camp before our summit attempt the following day. The team is doing great and we're fired up for our next summit bid. RMI Guides Zeb Blais, Chase Nelson and team
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Kilimanjaro: Hahn & Team Visit Lake Manyara National Park

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Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro

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Although our bodies were still a little tired and sore from climbing, we were up early and breakfasting today with excitement and anticipation for our safari start. The first part was actually through the urban jungle of Arusha at rush hour. Our drivers skillfully took the two tricked-out Toyota Land Cruisers through a crazy mix of highway construction, cattle and "normal" road congestion to get us out onto the open road, west of town. We watched several hours of towns, villages and Masai herdsmen drift by before we entered Lake Manyara National Park. Then the tops were rolled back and we all tried our best to spot the next exotic animal. We couldn't beat the guide/drivers, Erik and Joseph... or even our cook, Zach. Time after time, they'd find the zebra, Cape buffalo, elephant, mongoose, giraffe or baboon first. We had a wonderful afternoon in the park. No big cats, but we saw their tracks and knew they were out there -watching us. With the last of daylight, we rolled up at the Plantation Lodge and were all surprised to find such luxurious and welcoming accommodations in the "outback". Tomorrow we'll head for Ngorongoro Crater. Best Regards, RMI Guide Dave Hahn
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Mt. Rainier: August 16th Summit!

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Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier

Elevation: 14,410'

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The Four Day Summit Climb led by RMI Guide Mike Walter radioed into the RMI Office at 7:15 am to let us know they were leaving the Summit of Mt. Rainier. Mike and team had a successful climb to the summit with bluebird skies. Congratulations to today's team!
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GREAT JOB TO ALL OF YOU!!! CONGRATULATIONS LOVE, MOM

Posted by: linda kelly on 8/16/2016 at 7:10 pm

Congratulations Ryan, Katie and friends! What an awesome experience. We can’t wait to hear all about it. Love Crystal, Ken, and Dom

Posted by: Crystal on 8/16/2016 at 1:21 pm

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Mt. Rainier: August 16th Five Day Climb Summits!

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Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier

Elevation: 14,410'

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After their rest and acclimatization day on the mountain yesterday, the Five Day Summit Climb led by RMI Guide Solveig Waterfall reached the Summit of Mt. Rainier Early this morning. The team reported a great day of climbing with clear skies. Congratulations to today's team.
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Congratulations Katie, Ryan, Molly and Brian!  What an amazing adventure this has been for you and what an achievement!  Can’t wait to hear the stories and see the photos!  Lots of love to all of you!

Posted by: Anne McCooey on 8/16/2016 at 11:58 am

great job. can’t wait to talk to u about it. love dad

Posted by: craig kelly on 8/16/2016 at 11:49 am

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