RMI Expeditions Blog

Elevation: 15,000'

Here we go! Our team is set at 15,000 feet at Barafu Camp on Kilimanjaro. Everyone is getting excited for a great summit day. The prediction is for sunny and clear skies. So it's down to business as usual here in camp. We are recovering with hot drinks and a great lunch prepared by our Camp Chef. It is at this point that all our physical preparation pays off. However, as I told my team, at a certain altitude the physical shuts off and it turns all mental. You have to stay positive and have the strength to overcome adversity to summit the highest mountains in the world. And Kilimanjaro is no different. Wish us luck! RMI Guide JJ Justman

On The Map

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Good luck to you all! You guys are amazing! Dom and Kalani we are all cheering for you here in sunny Florida!

Posted by: Bill and janella on 8/4/2013 at 7:57 am

Good luck everyone!! We are excited for you all! Dom and Kalani we are all cheering for you here in sunny Florida!!

Posted by: Janella and bill Raymond on 8/4/2013 at 7:52 am

Mt. Kilimanjaro: Waterfall & Team Continue to Enjoy Safari

August 2, 2013

Posted by: Seth Waterfall

Hi! We're all back at the Plantation Lodge after a great day in the Ngorongoro Crater. It was a lovely, if slightly cool, day there. The crater is truly one of the wonders of the world and the game viewing did not disappoint what-so-ever. We're all loving the relaxed pace of the safari after a long climb on Kili and tomorrow we continue on to Tarangire National Park. RMI Guide Seth Waterfall

Mt. Rainier: Teams on the summit August 2nd!

August 2, 2013

Posted by: Adam Knoff, Leon Davis

Elevation: 14,410'

The Four Day Summit Climb led by RMI Guide Leon Davis reached the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning at approximately 7:25 am. Leon reported steady winds from the N/NW at 10-15 mph, cold temperatures and a cloud deck below at 10,000'. The Expedition Skills Seminar - Paradise led by Adam Knoff also reached the summit this morning. The teams spent approximately one hour on the summit before starting their descent. Both teams will return to Camp Muir to repack their gear and take a short break before continuing down to Paradise this afternoon. We look forward to seeing them at Rainier BaseCamp later today. Congratulations to today's summit climbers!

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What a Great Experience! Thanks to Leon, Nick, Chase and our team.

Posted by: Fran G on 8/10/2013 at 7:46 am

OUTSTANDING!!!! Way To Go People !!!!

Posted by: Rick Myers on 8/2/2013 at 9:47 pm

Mt. Kilimanjaro: Justman & Team Ascend the Great Barranco Wall

August 2, 2013

Posted by: JJ Justman

Elevation: 13,160'

We had our best day yet climbing on the lower slopes of Kilimanjaro today. By no means is it vertical rock climbing, however, ascending the Great Barranco Wall really makes you feel like you are climbing! After we reached the top of the wall we traversed at an altitude of 14,500'. The weather didn't turn on us. However, the clouds rose up and engulfed us in a light mist as we climbed the final section into camp. We are now nestled in at Karanga Camp and the entire team is doing fantastic! Tomorrow is high camp. An then the summit so don't go too far. We will have a summit report for you Sunday!! RMI Guide JJ Justman

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Kalani and Dom, wow! Way to go, so proud of both of you and happy to be able to follow your adventure and cheer you on from afar. Be safe and enjoy! We miss you!!! Warm aloha…Sioson ‘ohana.

Posted by: Kimi Rapada on 8/2/2013 at 6:46 pm

Dom and Kalani, Awesome climb so far, huh? Can’t wait to hear all the details. Be safe. Debbie V

Posted by: Debbie on 8/2/2013 at 9:14 am

Mt. Rainier: Expeditions Skills Seminar - Moves into Camp Muir

August 1, 2013

Posted by: Adam Knoff

Elevation: 10,080'

Today team Expedition Skills Seminar - Paradise was relieved to crawl out of our tents to clear skies and warm temps. Last night, directly after arriving in camp after crevasse rescue training we were graced with a purifying rain burst but then rudely interrupted by a brief but intense lightning and thunder storm. It cleared in time for dinner and a peaceful sleep. After packing up camp this morning, a stimulating walk through a large crevasse field and icy section brought us to Camp Muir at 10,060 feet. Here we will rest and prepare for our summit climb tonight. Folks are happy to be moved into the bunk house here and even happier to hand off some group gear to a guide heading down hill. Yea for lighter packs! Wish us luck tonight on our climb. RMI Guide Adam Knoff

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GO Dusty, Rock-N-Roll brother. Many Blessings.

Posted by: Greg Smith on 8/2/2013 at 7:38 am

Good luck! Hope your climb goes well! Love you!

Posted by: Emma on 8/2/2013 at 6:15 am

RMI Guide Solveig Waterfall Recaps Her AMGA Ski Guide Exam

August 1, 2013

Posted by: Solveig Waterfall

Categories: Guide News Guide Grant

RMI Guide Solveig Waterfall in Alaska during her AMGA Ski Guide Exam.

Valdez, Alaska, is an incredible place to be in April. Long hours of daylight make for excellent opportunities to log massive amounts of vertical in the backcountry. When the skiing is good on Thompson Pass, there is no shortage of dramatic peaks and aesthetic lines. Taking my AMGA Ski Mountaineering Guides Exam there this spring, I spent a majority of April in the area training with friends and fellow guides becoming familiar with the Alaskan terrain and snowpack. The days leading up to the exam were filled with anxiety and endless “what-if’s” and “well-maybe’s.” Soon the other exam candidates and I found ourselves in the thick of eight days of late-into-the-night tour planning, strategizing, and pouring over weather forecasts, raw remote data, weather models, avalanche hazard forecasts, and various other slightly cloudy crystal balls. The general idea being to sort through all the data until you find a summary you like. Forecasting for an area as large as Alaska is quite difficult and many times during the week we were reminded that the forecasts were never quite wrong, but that the timing of the forecasts were usually off. Conditions varied from thigh-deep powder in the east facing couloirs of the Iguana Backs zone, to some of the stiffest, carvable wind-board I’ve ever skied on the Berlin Wall and Odyssey. The last few days of the exam we had great weather and flyable conditions. We employed the mechanical advantage of Valdez Heli-Skiing to get a ride into the Hoodoo glacier area for an overnight ski tour. We started with a descent of Acapulco Peak in the sunshine and finished with a long ski out of the Worthington Glacier in whiteout conditions. Going through the process of being examined by your peers, learning from other exam candidates, and dealing with the stress of guiding new terrain and on-the-fly tour planning has been invaluable in helping me excel in all other facets of my guiding and personal endeavors. Passing the exam and becoming one of only a handful of certified women in the U.S. is a huge honor and I am proud to represent RMI Expeditions. - RMI Guide Solveig Waterfall AMGA Ski Guide Exam participants touring in Alaska during their course.

AMGA Ski Guide Exam participants touring in Alaska during their course.

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Posted by: brahim ait on 9/22/2017 at 11:56 am

Congrats to you Solveig on completing the prestegious AMGA Ski Guide Certification and adding another line on your already impressive reseme. Reading about your latest adventure brought back fond memories of my climb with you, Josh and Lance on Rainier last August 22-25. Although I did not summit, I really enjoyed the adventure and the fellowship of our Climbing Team. I hope to one day sign up for an Everest Basecamp Trec . . . Maybe your Husband would be the Guide! Be safe, enjoy the adventure and keep living the dream. Doug Kennedy - The Songee Guy - a thin red cord binds us together as a Climbing Team !!!

Posted by: Doug Kennedy on 1/23/2014 at 4:20 am

Mt. Kilimanjaro: Waterfall & Team Game View at Lake Manyara

August 1, 2013

Posted by: Seth Waterfall

We're on safari! We didn't sleep in too much today. We left the hotel just after 9 AM and spent some time in the city of Arusha. We did some shopping and stocked up on drinks for the road. After about 2 hours of driving we had lunch and entered Lake Manyara National Park. The game viewing here is always great and the lake is very full these days. Here's a shot of a large elephant crossing the road in front of us. RMI Guide Seth Waterfall

Mt. Kilimanjaro: Justman & Team Camped Beneath the Barranco Wall

August 1, 2013

Posted by: JJ Justman

Elevation: 12,800'

Today was a fantastic day for the team as we achieved greater acclimatization. We entered the dry and rocky terrain of the Highland Desert Zone where large volcanic boulders dot the landscape. Our trail gently ascended the Shira Plateau and we the reached our high point near Kilimanjaro's Lava Tower at 14,900'. After a long break to soak up the thin air we descended into the Barranco Valley. We are now comfy and cozy in our SlingFin dining tent drinking hot tea and eating popcorn at 12,800'. Everyone is having a great time and we are looking forward to another great day on Kilimanjaro. RMI Guide JJ Justman

On The Map

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Kalani and Dom-
We are watching your progress and ascent with great excitement! Wow- way to go!
Susan and LHPS

Posted by: Susan Clayton on 8/2/2013 at 8:01 am

Dom and Kalani, thinking of you every day, every step of the way!! Living vicariously through the two of you. Enjoy every magnificent moment! Hugs, Diana

Posted by: Diana Boyce on 8/2/2013 at 7:16 am

Mt. Rainier: August 1st - Teams on the Summit!

August 1, 2013

Posted by: Brent Okita, Billy Nugent

Elevation: 14,410'

Today's Four Day Summit Climbs led by RMI Guides Brent Okita & Billy Nugent reached the summit crater of Mt. Rainier just before 7 am PT. Brent reported clear skies, a windless and gorgeous day. The smoke from the Eastern Washington fires seems to have cleared and the cloud deck is below Paradise at about 5,000’. The teams will return to Camp Muir in the late morning and then continue their descent to Paradise. We look forward to seeing the teams at Rainier BaseCamp this afternoon. Congratulations to today's Summit Climb teams!

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What a birthday present! I’m so proud and happy.

Posted by: Karen Oldfield on 8/1/2013 at 10:40 am

Congratulations Michael - Knew you could do it!!!
The Buckeye Nation is proud of you. GO BUCKS!!!!!

Posted by: Eric And Julia on 8/1/2013 at 9:53 am

Mt. Rainier: Paradise Glacier Seminar Fun with Crevasse Rescue

July 31, 2013

Posted by: Adam Knoff, Leah Fisher

Elevation: 8,500'

The Paradise Glacier Seminar is in full effect with loads of exciting training taking place. We have a beautiful camp at 8,500 feet on the Cowlitz Glacier surrounded by steep walls and breathtaking crevasses. Our team is all in great spirits and thriving in what has been described as a high excitement summer camp for aspiring mountain climbers. The weather is not as sunny as the two previous days but at least some of the forest fire smoke has subsided opening up some great views. We are all getting psyched for our move to Camp Muir tomorrow. Team Paradise sends their best to family and friends. RMI Guide Adam Knoff

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Climb High Laurel!
Looking forward to hearing about your adventure.
Love you!

Posted by: susan Turnquist on 8/2/2013 at 11:39 am

Hey Laurel!!!
Meg and I are thinking about you up there on the icy mountain. Great group picture! Enjoy the climbing.
We will be praying for a safe ascent tomorrow.
Love you girl!

Posted by: Susan Turnquist on 8/1/2013 at 12:21 pm