RMI Expeditions Blog
Posted by: Brent Okita, Leah Fisher, Nick Hunt
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 20,320'
RMI Guide Brent Okita calls in from the descent of Mt. McKinley's summit.
On The Map
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We are following your progress. Good Weather & Good Luck! Going to Raleigh to see & hear Oz.
Posted by: Fred & Donna on 6/5/2014 at 5:46 pm
Hi Paul! We didn’t want you to be the only “camper” (haha) not getting “mail” from home this trip. So enjoy your adventure and safe travels! Love Ronda, Alex, Meeka and Max (the toad catcher!!!)
Posted by: Ronda Kinneberg on 6/5/2014 at 4:07 pm
Posted by: Mike Uchal
Categories: Mount Rainier Responsible Climbing
Every summer, RMI climbing teams consume over 7,000 gallons of drinking water at Camp Muir, the primary camp on Mt. Rainier's Disappointment Cleaver Route. For many years, melting snow in a large barrel heated by propane created drinking water for Camp Muir. We knew that there was a better way to provide drinking water to our teams and it just required a little bit of creativity, brainstorming, and initiative. Over the course of the 2012 and 2013 climbing seasons, a new solar thermal system was installed at Camp Muir. This system, designed to use environmentally benign and free solar energy to efficiently melt snow, provides drinking and cooking water for RMI climbers and guides at an elevation of 10,060'. The system was designed and built by RMI Guide and alternative energy professor Mike Uchal and his colleague Dr. Brian Raichle, who is a professor of solar energy technology at Appalachian State University. RMI Guide Cody Doolan also contributed with the design, installation, and maintenance. RMI's Solar Snow Melt System, part of our commitment to Responsible Climbing, reduces our environmental footprint on Mt. Rainier by minimizing the need to burn liquid propane gas in order to melt snow, cuts our operating costs, and reduces the environmental footprint of the helicopter used to transport propane to Camp Muir.
How it works:
A small electric pump powered by photovoltaic panels pulls water from the burn barrel, a large barrel used to melt snow, uphill to a solar thermal collector. The collector, a conventional flat plate solar thermal collector is the kind that is typically used in residential and commercial domestic hot water systems. The water is pulled by gravity through the copper pipes in the collector and is heated by solar radiation before returning to the melt barrel. RMI guides keep the barrel fed with clean snow from the snowfields above Camp Muir and this snow mixes with the warm water and melts into liquid form. A controller turns on the pump in the morning and off at the end of the day when the sun goes down. Because the collector is uphill of the barrel, gravity drains water from the collector at night to prevent damage from freezing water. This system design eliminates any problems associated with overheating during late season conditions when solar energy can be plentiful and strong.
How it performs:
On warm, sunny days at Camp Muir, typical in the late summer, the solar snow melting system heated the 30+ gallons of water in the burn barrel to above 100°F. That is nearly spa temperature! On cold, sunny days, often found early in the season, the system heated water to temperatures above 40°F - enough to effectively melt snow. Propane is still used during storms that last several days, when solar radiation isn’t strong enough to heat the collector, but the solar snow melting system dramatically reduced the amount of propane burned during the 2013 summer climbing season.
Anecdotally, before the 2013 climbing season the propane burner was running for around 3.5 hours per day to melt enough snow to provide drinking water for the RMI teams. During the 2013 climbing season, guides estimate that the burner was needed on average around 15 minutes per day. During the summer climbing season of 2013, we estimate the solar system saved approximately 250 pounds of propane, the associated cost of transport that propane, and 0.33 metric tons of CO2 emissions.
This project is part of RMI’s commitment to the outdoor community and environment as we work to reduce the environmental footprint of our climbs in order to ensure that many future generations are able to enjoy the same mountain environment that we enjoy. The RMI Solar Snow Melt System is a great example of practices that can reduce a business' environmental footprint and provide cost savings at the same time. By the end of its first full year at Camp Muir, the system paid for itself with savings in fuel and helicopter transport costs. The next time you make it to Camp Muir, swing by the guide shack and check it out! The guides would love to show you the system in person.
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Mike Uchal is a Professor of Alternative Energy at Appalachian State University and guides trips on Mt. Rainier and Mt. McKinley for RMI Expeditions. Mike lives the mountain life, rock climbing, paddling whitewater, mountain biking, trail running, and skiing whenever he has spare time.
Thanks for sharing such an amazing informations.
Very helpful.
Rachel
Posted by: Rachel on 1/16/2019 at 5:46 pm
http://www.rmiguides.com/blog/2014/06/05/mt._rainier_expedition_skills_seminar_muir_reaches_summit
Hello folks looking for the skills seminar this week. There was a posting yesterday but not under Rainier. The above link will take you to a great picture!
Posted by: Doug on 6/6/2014 at 4:13 pm
Posted by: Brent Okita, Leah Fisher, Nick Hunt
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 17,200'
On The Map
Miss you Daddy Love you, cant wait to see you again
Posted by: Kaylee on 6/4/2014 at 10:20 pm
Fantastic!! What a thrilling accomplishment for the team! Your sisters send y’all a salute from a view of the ‘teeners’ in Co
Posted by: Deb on 6/4/2014 at 7:22 pm
Posted by: Brent Okita, Leah Fisher, Nick Hunt
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 17,200'
On The Map
God Speed and Good Luck to Brady O’Mara and his fellow adventurers. The Cheltenham Farrell’s
Posted by: Farrell Family on 6/4/2014 at 10:03 am
Good stuff! Hoping you awoke to a beautiful, windless, snowless day and are making your way (carefully)to the summit right now. Lots of prayers and good karma are with each and every one of you. I want you all safely delivered to Talkeetna and several icy cold pitchers of beer…after you shower. Good luck! We love you, Brady…and your tent pal, Bruce.
Posted by: Jane O'Mara on 6/4/2014 at 7:51 am
Posted by: Eric Frank, Geoff Schellens
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 7,600'
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On The Map
Awesome!
Keep up your great skills . Keep your warmth and continue strong. Hope the weather continue being nice to you guys. The Rosales Family sends love and good vibes to you guys.
Posted by: L. Rosales on 6/4/2014 at 1:55 pm
We send greetings from the mountains of Western North Carolina and good vibes that your quest goes smoothly and the weather continues to cooperate.
John- All of the family send their love!!
Posted by: Rita and BruceWightman on 6/4/2014 at 2:28 am
On The Map
Rick
Great climb. How hard can it be ?
Dan
Posted by: Dan Duncan on 6/4/2014 at 3:49 pm
Hey, Paul and team! Love the updates. What an adventure. Thinking of you all.
Anita
Posted by: Anita on 6/4/2014 at 4:12 am
Posted by: Pete Van Deventer, Robby Young, Josh Maggard
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 14,000'
On The Map
Our hearts ache for you. We are so sorry that your trip is ending this way knowing how much you wanted to summit. Lowrys you will survive!
Posted by: Frank Haasbeek on 6/4/2014 at 5:00 am
Have a safe trip home. Just remember:
The Journey is for the Soul, The Summit is for the Ego.
We love you,
Lisa, Joe and Gabe
Posted by: Lisa, Joe and Gabe on 6/3/2014 at 7:27 pm
Posted by: Eric Frank, Geoff Schellens
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 7,600'
On The Map
Good luck and good blessings!
Posted by: ben laverty on 6/3/2014 at 5:13 pm
Glad to hear that things are underway and that the adventure has begun!
Posted by: Lara Grossman on 6/3/2014 at 11:21 am
We are with you every inch of the way, willing you forward when you dont want to take another step. we know you will make it. god speed and good climbing . We love you Steven Hart
Posted by: Aida Hart on 6/3/2014 at 6:15 am
Outstanding job Daniel & Team! We are cheering you all the way to the top! We are so excited for you.
Lots of love/
Mom & Rob
Posted by: Lena Akerman on 6/3/2014 at 4:51 am
Leah, thank you for taking our picture on the summit.
Brent, as one of your former clients on a skills seminar I just wanted to say thank you for teaching me the skills to allow me to summit Denali. It was an honor and privilege to meet your team on the football field and share the summit with you all.
Great job team RMI!
Posted by: Dan Crouch on 6/10/2014 at 5:25 am
Congratulations to the entire team. JOB WELL DONE. Continued safe travels in your entire journey home. Godspeed to you all.
Posted by: Mark DiLucca on 6/6/2014 at 8:45 am
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