Entries By brent okita
Our five hour trek to the Shira Plateau and our beautiful camp here began steeply out of Machame Camp and was quite relentless for a good three or so hours. Along the way we learned some walking and breathing techniques that will be key to our success on this expedition.
While I was busy coaching the team on these skills, one of our local guides, Peter, did a fantastic job with the pace and allowed us to move easily while still getting to camp at a reasonable hour. In this case, that would be at 1:30, just in time to sit down for the incredible lunch spread prepared by our chef Tosha. How does fried chicken, French fries and a refreshing salad, followed by watermelon sound, especially at 12,570'.
Climbing Kilimanjaro is nothing if not over the top luxury, and I'll take every last bit of it. Our staff on the mountain, the guide, porters, cooks, waiters etc. allow the team to concentrate on the important matter of acclimatizing and just taking care of ourselves. We'll need that help to be able to climb this 19,000' behemoth in a week.
Following lunch we've all gone into major relax mode, letting the altitude seep into our bodies and the calories just consumed reenergize us in preparation for a big day getting to Barranco Camp. And of course, we need to be rested for 'tea time' in a few minutes.
Yeah, life is tough here in Tanzania, but the team is reaping the benefits of our support crew and everyone is doing really well.
All for now from the Shira Plateau.
RMI Guide Brent Okita
On The Map
Posted by: Brent Okita
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro
The team all got to breakfast early this morning allowing us to get a head start on the day. This was nice as we were able to get to the Machame Gate and start our day before a lot of other teams. The National Park Service keeps Kilimanjaro national Park in great shape and it's been inspiring to see them take a strong stand promoting Leave No Trace policies. Our immaculately maintained trail led us easily thru the rain forests of the lower flanks and to the beginning of the giant heather,which can grow to thirty feet high. All are doing fantastic, especially after fantastic three course dinner our cool Toshi prepared for us.Sleep is tugging at our sleeves pretty hard, so we retired to our tents where this old cowboy is also ready to crash.
Talk with you tomorrow.
RMI Guide Brent Okita & Team
Posted by: Brent Okita
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro
A long day was had as we reviewed our climb to come and covered some important ideas that will make our big adventure as safe, successful and fun as possible.
Kilimanjaro is a great mountain to get ones feet wet on given its non technical nature, but the fact that it's seven days long does present a bit of a steep learning curve for us in many ways.
We're all ready now for the climb to begin tomorrow! The hard work of today was nicely softened by massages for all coordinated by brother Brad. Such a great idea!
We're looking forward to a big day tomorrow and finally getting underway.
All for now from the comforts of the Arumera River Lodge. Next stop, the flanks of Kilimanjaro.
RMI Guide Brent Okita
The Parella family wish you all a great climb and a wonderful 50th birthday to Anne!
Posted by: Carin Parella on 7/20/2017 at 4:16 am
Posted by: Brent Okita
Categories:
July 18, 2017
Most of the team flew in last night, weathering the long flights and time changes admirably. Our hotel, the Arumera River Lodge here in Arusha, Tanzania, is great. They held the restaurant open for us so we could have dinner and decompress from our travels some.
This is unlike any hotel I've stayed at. Africa at it's best, with the diminutive antelope called the Dikdik and Blue monkeys running around the grounds filled with tropical trees and vegetation and insects I've never seen before. Kansas it ain't!
The drive in from the airport earlier was a forty five minute exercise in restraint as I tried to concentrate on my conversation with the manager of our outfitting company here for Kilimanjaro, while still watching the people and goings on around me. Bikes piled high with crops from the fields, women in beautifully colored saris and everything else that makes Tanzania such a wonderful place to visit.
I must confess, this is not my normal expedition. This is a family affair triggered by my sister in laws big birthday and my brother's pulling the strings to make it all happen. Plus, my wife is part of the team too. Thanks Brad!
Ahead of us is breaks, our official team meeting and orientation and subsequent equipment check readying us to begin our climb tomorrow of one of the 'Seven Summits,' family style.
Now if I can just get over my jet lag.
RMI Guide Brent Okita
RMI Guides Brent Okita, Bryan Mazaik and Lucas Haaland led their Four Day Summit Climb team to the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning. The team reached the crater rim shortly after 6:30 with 100% of their crew. The team enjoyed a beautiful day with clear skies and light wind. They will descend to Paradise and transfer back to Rainier BaseCamp where they will celebrate their adventure.
Congratulations to today's climbers!
Good job!! Can’t wait to see pictures!
Posted by: Dusty Leigh on 7/12/2017 at 5:02 pm
Emily and Phil, you are awesome, congratulations on the summit! Love you both, I am sure you are enjoying the views!
Posted by: Chris Bolton on 7/12/2017 at 11:52 am
Posted by: Brent Okita, Bryan Mazaika
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
RMI Guide Brent Okita led the Four Day Summit Climb July 1 - 4, 2017 to the summit of Mt. Rainier today. Brent reported clear skies with moderate winds and nice climbing conditions. The team spent some time on the summit enjoying the views and celebrating the 520th summit of Mt. Rainier for Brent Okita. The team will return to Camp Muir and continue their descent to Paradise later this afternoon.
Congratuions to today's Summit Climb Team and to RMI Guide Brent Okita!
Posted by: Brent Okita, Christina Dale
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
RMI Guide Brent Okita called from the Mt. Rainier crater rim with the news, "We are on the summit on a Bluebird Day!" Clear skies, no wind, and views for miles- can't beat a summit like that. The teams spent an hour on top before starting their descent at 7:00 a.m.
Congratulations to Chris Paskoff and the rest of the expeditioners on reaching the summit! What an experience and what a view!!
Posted by: Scott Paskoff on 6/30/2017 at 8:38 am
Posted by: Brent Okita, Jenny Konway, Matt Rosenberg
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 13,500'
RMI Guides Brent Okita, Jenny Konway and Matt Rosenberg led the Four Day Summit Climb of Mt. Rainier June 17 - 20, 2017. The team arrived at Camp Muir yesterday afternoon. They began their alpine start around midnight and climbed to 13,500' before deteriorating weather and poor visibility forced them to turn around. The team will return to Camp Muir and then continue to Paradise. We look forward to seeing them at Rainier BaseCamp later today.
Special thanks to RMI Guide Jenny Konway for providing photos of today's climbers!
Posted by: Brent Okita, Christina Dale, JT Schmitt
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
A leisurely, big breakfast of eggs, bacon and hash browns was had after sleeping in fairly late yesterday. When we finally got out of the posh we were surprised to find that planes might be flying soon. Yes, we were keeping an eye on the weather, but it wasn't really that good yet. At first we couldn't really believe it and the team indulged in some leg wrestling antics (which the women handily won).Then we heard the words, "RMI Okita, two Otters are in the air for you".So we went from slow mo to go go as we tore our tents down and packed in a matter of about twenty minutes! I think some folks were motivated to leave. As we brought the last of our stuff the fifty yards to the glacier landing strip we saw the planes come into view. By 1:00 we were in town, unpacking group gear and trying to dry stuff that was soaked from the unseasonably warm temps and rain. We'll not discuss our evening affair in much detail except that the food was good and the libations rather excessive.
We're on our way to the airport now, twenty three days after flying on to the mountain. No summit to boast of this time. But looking back on it all, it's the people we climb with and share adventures with that inspires me to live the life of my dreams. Summits may be nice but are somewhat ephemeral. Friendships formed while climbing mountains last a lifetime. Thanks to the wonderful group of climbers with whom I've shared the past three weeks. You're the best!
And now they are on their way back to you, with stories to tell and memories to share. Indulge their eccentricities. Should they reach for their pee bottle in the middle of the night or ask for a "swirl" after dinner, don't worry. They'll recover from these mountain habits in time.
Thanks for joining us these past three weeks!
Goodbye,
RMI Guides Brent, Christina and JT
It looks like you guys are patient and strong enough, it is true JT, Summits are ephemeral, the mountain still there, JT I’m sure the smile is still there and the fight for adventure grown, great to hear team is back and rested :)
Posted by: Lauro Urbina on 6/17/2017 at 1:39 pm
Posted by: Brent Okita, Christina Dale, JT Schmitt
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 7,200'
June 10, 2017
The sleep of the dead finally hit me this morning just after my last post. An hour later JT asks, "Should we get up? It's 1:04 am and the alarm on my phone hasn't gone off!"
The night hadn't brought the hoped for cooling, but it was time to leave and make that trip to Base Camp. Breakfast and hots were served in the remains of our old Posh site, sans the actual Posh, then we were off. As we turned the corner at 10,000' heading down the Kahiltna we were treated to the amazing view down glacier of the jewels ad the Alaska Range. Hunter, Foraker, Crosson and other peaks were starkly defined in shades of black and white, along with some other hue that seemed hard to place. Unusually dark clouds prevented the pinks and reds we often see at 3:30-4:00 am, but this view I've never seen before, and may have been even more spectacular. 6+ hours of hard walking finally brought us back to Base Camp. Reflective of the poor snow year in the Alaskan mountains this year, there were a number of sketchy crevasse crossing to be negotiated. Then white out conditions kept us from seeing the landmarks that would otherwise tell us exactly where we were, but the track in the snow of others gave us something to follow. Then, low and behold, the tents of Base Camp popped into view and we knew we were done. Unfortunately, these same clouds have prevented planes from flying and landing here, so we are again captive of the weather gods and just waiting to be released from Denali to return to civilization where we might wash the twenty one days of toil off us and sit in chairs at a table and eat food that requires more than just a spoon.
I just hope that, when we do get to that restaurant, some social graces return to folks and we don't see them licking their bowls clean in anticipation of the next course.
I'll of course advise everyone to bring a pee bottle to their hotel room, and perhaps even a CMC (clean mountain can), because some habits might just be too difficult to break after these twenty one days.
Goodnight from 7200' camp, where I hear the snow hitting the tent walls in increasing intensity. Oh well, at least we need walk no more, for now.
RMI Guides Brent, Christina, JT & Team
What an Awesome adventure, Summit or not…An Awesome Adventure! Congrats to everyone!
Posted by: Dave Kestel on 6/12/2017 at 4:36 am
It sounds like quite an adventure to 17K. From what Ive read everyone’s bailed off 17 Camp in the last few days. Quite a year for crevasse falls too. Glad you guys made it safely back to camp! Now to chill out and sip some Alaskan brews until the ride shows up. Have an Ice Axe for me when you get back to TK!
Posted by: Keith Gates on 6/12/2017 at 12:28 am
Brent - I am always so proud of you. It is always amazing to see how much you enjoy this chosen profession AND how professionally skilled you are. You are also quite an inspiration to your siblings. AND Dr. Carey sends his regards. You certainly impressed him not only with your expertise but for your being such an intelligent caring person. Love you - take care - be safe. mom
Posted by: Marjorie Okita-Johnson on 7/21/2017 at 10:50 am
Brent - I can’t believe you’re on Kilimanjaro! My buddy Billy and I hiked with you a few years ago and Rainier and we’re going to miss you by one week!! We leave this weekend for Arusha. Perhaps we’ll cross paths!
Hope your adventure is going well!
Dennis Welsh
Posted by: Dennis Welsh on 7/20/2017 at 5:39 pm
View All Comments