RMI Expeditions Blog
The rain delay yesterday didn’t take the wind out of our sails. We woke up bright eyed and bushy tailed ready to start our trek. On the way to the trailhead we enjoyed (yerba) mate, empanadas, and Carlos’s 80’s rock playlist. The meat and Malbec of Mendoza felt like an oasis but getting on the trail today reminded us of why we had travelled all this way.
A cool breeze and breathtaking views helped us up the Vacas Valley and a condor soaring high above the snow capped peaks was a good omen for the start of our trip. We are now sitting at Las Leñas patiently awaiting an asado from our kind Argentine hosts. We had a lovely first day and are excited for what is to come.
Peace, Love, Gratitude.
RMI Guides Ray Holt, Ben Luedtke, and Team
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Aconcagua Expedition January 5, 2026
Posted by: Walter Hailes, Nick Sinapius
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Ecuador
Elevation: 15,407'
Thursday, January 8, 2026 - 6:41 pm PT
Our second day in Quito started with a leisurely breakfast followed by a taxi ride to the Teleferico ( gondola ) that took us up to 13,000 feet and the first of our many volcanoes of the trip. We hiked to the top of Rucu Pichincha (15,407 ft.), one of the many peaks of the pichincha volcano that overlooks Quito. Most of the day was spent in the clouds until we reached the summit and they cleared for a view of the city below. This marked a new high point for some members of the group, being higher than any point in the continental United States. Our decent went smooth and most of us escaped with only minor sunburn.
On our way back to the hotel we worked on our Google Translate communication skills and after a brief rest we walked to a local Ecuadorian restaurant for dinner, managing to avoid the worst of the evening rain. Our biggest takeaway from the day was to trust the local taxi driver’s weather forecasts.
RMI Guide Nick Sinapius
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Ecuador Seminar January 6 - 20, 2026
We started the day in our fancy hotel, enjoying eggs and sausage and coffee as well.
The van had arrived, the gear was all packed and our guides diligently made up for what we lacked
The bus swayed and vistas were scanned, 3 hours more to begin what we planned
But when we stopped to pee we heard the news, one weather day we had to lose.
We decended the highway trying not to be crass, Aconcagua had told us, you shall not pass
The city came close and I remembered my luck, I was in South America no other place I'd rather be stuck
Another night in the land of sun and good wine, another joke about chubrub would not be out of line
RMI Climber Colin Young
Due to heavy rains the Aconcagua National Park closed today. (Jan. 8) The team will start their trek tomorrow to Base Camp.
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Aconcagua Expedition January 5, 2026
Hola amigos y familiares de Mendoza, Argentina y feliz año nuevo!!
We have all officially arrived here in the land of carne asado, vino tinto, and guanacos. The excitement cannot contain us. Over the last 2 days, we have found the lag to our jet, enjoyed some fine Argentinian cuisine, and triple checked our gear. The highest peak outside the Himalaya, the Stone Centinel, awaits our arrival. Tomorrow is that day. The day we start our long trek to stand atop South America. Stay tuned as we utilize our Chubb Rub along our endeavor not only to climb, but circumvent Aconcagua.
Hablamos pronto.
RMI Guides Ben Luedtke, Ray Holt, & Team
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Aconcagua Expedition January 5, 2026
Hello from Ecuador!
We had a beautiful first day on our Ecuador adventure. After introductions and a quick team meeting we set off on a tour of Quito.
Our first stop was at the equator, where it’s hard to walk in a straight line, easy (for some people) to balance an egg on the head of a nail, and water swirls this way and that. Our tour guide explained the physics being all these things correctly enough to meet the approval of Paul, our Astrophysicist. Most of us were just happy to see the water swirl in different directions.
We finished our sight seeing with a walking tour of the historic district and a panoramic view of the city from the base of the Virgin off the Panecillo.
Overall a really strong start with a great group of people.
RMI Guide Walter Hailes
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Ecuador Seminar January 6 - 20, 2026
Sunday, December 7, 2025 - 8:45 pm PT
Tim and I said goodbye to a lot of friends today. We had time for all of that though as the jet landed at Union at 3:30 PM. We had plenty of time to catch a lecture on jellyfish, to eat a big lunch and to go for a 10K fat bike ride out in the bright sunshine. It was another great day in Antarctica. It was a slightly novel experience to load onto a 757 with only 16 other passengers. Things were relaxed, to say the least. We both got window seats and thus had a spectacular view of Vinson as the pilot took us way closer than normal leaving Union. Four hours later we put down in Punta Arenas. It was just getting dark -an unfamiliar thing to us- as we drove into town. Checking in to the hotel at 10 PM meant that dinner would be tough to find on a Sunday evening, but we were able to find a comfortable cafe still willing to serve pisco sours. So we toasted each other and a fine adventure. We got oh so lucky… and we used that luck to achieve some dreams.
Best Regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
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Vinson Massif Expedition, November 22, 2025
Sunday, December 7, 2025 - 7:03 am PT
Tim and I spent a restful day and night at Union Glacier. It was another very calm and sunny day here… easy to enjoy. We alternated eating and napping with attending lectures and riding fat bikes on a groomed 10K track.
We are on course for flying back to South America later today and so we are both experiencing the usual mix of excitement for moving on and regret at leaving this wonderful place.
Best Regards
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
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Vinson Massif Expedition, November 22, 2025
Friday, December 5, 2025 - 6:16 pm PT
It was another cloudy, cool day at Vinson Basecamp… right up until about six o’clock in the evening when the clouds melted away. We ate a last mountain dinner and then caught a twin otter to Union Glacier.
Now we’re in the big camp, with scientists, climbers, tourists and adventurers of every stripe. It is a bit like a school reunion, bumping into friends and teammates from around the world and from decades of expeditions.
Tim and I proceeded to the dining tent for a nightcap before heading to our comfy “clam” tent.
Best Regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
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Vinson Massif Expedition, November 22, 2025
Posted by: Dave Hahn
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Vinson Massif
Thursday, December 4, 2025 - 6:39 pm PT
Today was a no fly day at Vinson Basecamp… too much cloud. But Tim and I were quite happy to relax with the ALE staff in the comfortable dining tent. It is still something of a novelty to have WiFi way out this way and we enjoyed catching up and eating and reading. For being a “weather day” it really wasn’t all that unpleasant. Just a little cooler without direct sunshine. Now, close to midnight, it is snowing lightly.
Best
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
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Vinson Massif Expedition, November 22, 2025
Wednesday, December 3, 2025 - 4:43 pm PT
We got a good rest at high camp. There was some concern that winds would hit overnight but the morning was calm, sunny and easy. Just what we’ve come to expect. We ate a good breakfast, knocked down our tents and began climbing downhill. As expected, it was a pretty good workout getting down the fixed ropes, but then it was a cruise (a multi hour, pack carrying, sled hauling cruise) to reach Basecamp. We were greeted with champagne and handshakes. Just after Tim and I spread out our sleeping bags in our basecamp tent, the possibility arose that we’d fly to Union Glacier. Clouds were hovering around base but broke up enough for one airplane to get in. But that was it and the second flight that would have taken us was scrubbed for the evening. Tim and I were actually relieved to relax in Vinson Basecamp and to share a victory dinner with Jon Gupta.
Best Regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
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Vinson Massif Expedition, November 22, 2025
That is Awesome Dave!!! Great Work!!! Congrats!!!
Posted by: Dave Kestel on 12/4/2025 at 3:58 am
Hey Dave! It was So Cool to follow you guys on this Incredible adventure!
Dave
Posted by: Dave Kestel on 12/9/2025 at 3:19 am
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