Entries By brent okita

The Expedition Skills Seminar - Muir September 16 - 21 met in Ashford on a very rainy Sunday for their Technical Training day. With a gear check completed and their backpacks full they left Paradise on Monday with clear skies and sunshine.  The team has been at Camp Muir practicing mountaineering skills and enjoying this great weather.  Today they got an early alpine start and made their summit attempt.  RMI Guide Brent Okita reported a beautiful morning with no wind as they reached the crater rim of Mt. Rainier around 8:30 AM PT.  The team will enjoy some time soaking in the views from the summit before starting their descent to Camp Muir.  On mountain training will continue for the group until Friday when they will descend to Paradise and return to Rainier BaseCamp.

Congratulations to today’s climbers!

The Four Day Summit Climb teams led by RMI Guides Brent Okita and JM Gorum reached the summit of Mt. Rainier today. Brent reported a cold morning, and the team climbed into the a cap, so their time on the summit was brief.  The are on the descent and en route to Camp Muir.

Congratulations to today’s teams!

The Four Day Summit Climb September 3 - 6 led by RMI Guides Brent Okita and JT Schmitt were walking up Columbia Crest just before 7 AM PT today.  Brent reported a beautiful day and great climb.  They will enjoy some time in the crater before starting their descent.  Once back at Camp Muir they will repack and continue down to Paradise.  They will end their program with a celebration at Rainier BaseCamp this afternoon.

Congratulations to today’s summit climb teams!

The Four Day Summit Climb August 25 - 28 reached the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning.  RMI Guides Brent Okita and Jenny Konway led the teams and were approaching the crater rim just before 7 AM PT.  Brent reported a beautiful day on the mountain with clear skies and low winds.  They will spend some time in the crater before starting their descent.  Upon their return to Paradise they will transfer to Rainier BaseCamp and conclude their program with a short celebration.

Congratulations to today’s climbers!

The Four Day Summit Climb August 19 - 22 led by RMI Guides Brent Okita and Andy Bond reached the summit of Mt. Rainier right around 7 AM today.  Brent reported a nice day overall with 5-10 mph winds but very smokey skies.  The teams will spend a bit of time on the summit before starting their descent.  Once back at Camp Muir they will repack and then continue down to Paradise.

Congratulations to today’s climbers!

RMI Guide Brent Okita and the Four Day Summit Climb team were approaching the crater rim at 6:40 AM today.  Brent reported a windless and gorgeous day.  They will spend some time enjoying the views from the summit before descending to Camp Muir and then to Paradise.  We look forward to seeing them at Rainier BaseCamp later today.

Congratulations to today’s Summit Climb team!

Before parting ways the team had one last day to see animals.  It had been a really busy trip so far so half the group opted to sleep in while the other half got up early in search of some more close encounters. We were not disappointed.
First,  we spent 10-15 minutes within 10 yards of a huge giraffe. Not bad, but our next big break came when we got surrounded by a family of elephants, including the cutest little baby. These critters were sometimes no more than 5’ away. And we were in their midst for over half an hour. Incredible!
Then, getting to watch a huge herd of water buffalo heading to the river, again at unreal distances, was darned special. The herd must have numbered around 100.
This, in addition to seeing countless other animals made our last day wonderful.  The only animal we missed out on that day was seeing a lion.  But, wouldn’t you know that the sleepyhead crew found a beautiful lioness that hung out right next to their Landcruiser!
So we all had a great last day. 
We then drove back to the hotel, with a short break at a cultural center, to relax and shower before getting our evening flights out of Tanzania. Most of the crew actually built in an extra day or three to maximize their time abroad. Smart people!
The two weeks went by quickly, as they tend to do when we’re as busy as we were. I think I speak for the whole team when I say what a great time it was.  A fun adventure with a great bunch of folks. This is what climbing trips are all about, and what keeps me doing this for as long as I have. I know I’ll be climbing with the team again on a new adventure sometime.
I hope you’ve enjoyed these posts of our adventures. Perhaps I’ll see you on a climb sometime.  Kilimanjaro in 2019 anyone???

Take care and safe travels,
RMI Guide Brent Okita

When Luis posed the question last night if we could sleep in until 8:00, I just had to say yes.  After all,  we’d been going strong for days on end and were due some slack.  The whole table erupted in celebration on hearing my response. So, at the civilized hour of 9:00 we left our wonderful hotel en route for some souvenir shopping, to check out a Masaai Village and then on to our last full day safari.
Tarangire National Park has not disappointed. The sheer numbers of animals seen right off the bat were amazing.  Plus we got to see animals we haven’t yet seen: giraffes, elands, and a few other critters.  We also got to see numerous elephants.  After all,  this park boasts the highest density of elephants around.
Our day was made complete when we got up close and personal with a big old giraffe, maybe 20 yards away. How cool!
Now we’re at our last ‘hotel’, Balloon Camp.  Yes, from the outside these structures look camp like, but given the polished wood floors, marble topped bathroom, queen sized bed, it’s not ‘camp’!
Our group was seated outside for dinner with a full on barbecue buffet that did not disappoint.  What took place before was pretty cool too. As we were enjoying a drink in front of a huge bonfire, all of the sudden a group of Masaai came dancing into our midst. They put on a well done show, even drawing us Westerners out of our comfort zones to join in the dancing.
Interestingly, the hotel has a policy that after dark everyone needs an escort to and from the main lodge and their rooms/ cabins.  The staff was also very attentive to the bush just outside our outdoor seating, continually pointing their lights into the Bush. We did spy an impala looking in on the festivities.
Some of us were secretly hoping for a lion to check out at close range, but no such luck. Still, seeing the fresh elephant dung just outside my cabin was a great reality check.  We’re in their world at this place.
I must admit I’m hoping to see/ hear a big old elephant go walking by my cabin tonight.
As the trip draws to a close we’re all looking forward to seeing loved ones again.  But I, for one, will miss Africa.
Getting up early tomorrow we’re going to see some lions up close, and anything else that wants to show its beautiful face in the morning.

All for now,
RMI Guide Brent Okita

I’ll have difficulty describing the sheer numbers of animals that we saw today, so bear with me. If there are ten thousand big animals in the Ngorongoro Crater,  we probably saw half of them.
Our safari started quietly enough enjoying the views of the quintessentially African Acacia trees and some water bucks browsing as we descended into the caldera. Once there, the occasional zebra and wildebeest showed up, but then we really got into the animals. Herd sizes got bigger and gazelles, impalas, hyenas, jackals, wart hogs got into the picture.
Hippos were seen from just feet away as they baked in the sun half submerged in ponds. But then the mission was to find the royalty of the crater,  the lions and elephants.  We didn’t have to wait long. Although this pride of lions were mostly sleeping and not out chasing dinner, we were en rapt by their presence.
Elephants were next, though they were at a distance. However, their mammoth size made them stand out like the giants they are on the savanna. Rhinos too were seen from a distance, but the water buffalo showed itself up close and personal.
The day was capped off by seeing five elephants just 70 yards away at the top of the crater as we were leaving the park. Not to mention the baboons that were scattered all over the road on the way out,  just hanging out, getting each other.  One even jumped on our Landcruiser, causing a stir as we quickly rolled up windows.
Then it was back to the hotel where Luis arranged a nice wine tasting before dinner.  Following another great meal the hotel staff came out with a cake to celebrate Gennadiy’s birthday,  and outdid themselves with a wonderful Tanzanian birthday song and dance.
The evening ended with a huge bonfire and libations.
Another safari to come,  I’ll be back after that.

RMI Guide Brent Okita

What a nice contrast to the past seven days of climbing a 19,340’ mountain. Tired legs got a much needed rest as we drove around Lake Manyara National Park searching out wildlife made famous in National Geographic specials on TV. We were not disappointed.

We rode around in retooled Toyota Land-cruisers made just for game viewing,  complete with pop up roofs for looking at critters from above roof top level. These vehicles are the perfect way to access the terrain where we find the animals. Our team was split between two Land-cruisers. Our two drivers/guides, Francis and Godson, proved to be incredible sources of knowledge,  having to graduate from a two year university program and do internships before being qualified as a safari guide. Yes, we saw zebras, hippos,wildebeests, Cape buffalo, baboons, monkeys,  tons of birds, dik diks, impalas, and I forget what all else.  But we also learned such things as the inner workings of termite mounds, the love life of baboons and a myriad of other things.  Oh, and the other team got to see a bull elephant from ten yards away!

Now we’re settled in at our plush hotel, the Plantation Lodge, where we’re being spoiled by some cush living. Tomorrow, the Ngorogoro Crater awaits that should prove to be especially exciting.  Ok, that’s all for tonight.  Dinner is served in ten minutes and I don’t want to be late. I haven’t had anything less than a superb meal here on Tanzania, and I expect no less tonight.

Lala Salama,

RMI Guide Brent Okita