Entries By dominic cifelli
Wednesday, November 27, 2024 - 8:05 pm PT
Anja‘s Blog:
With the calm sound of snow falling on our tents in the ear we cosily fell asleep after a satisfying first day on Vinson basecamp. Todays morning surprises us with a pristine snow-covered landscape, the sun glimpsing at us once in a while. What a Privilege to be here and be able to observe all These changing Moody of nature in a breathtakingly beautiful scenery! But for now, there is no time for further contemplation: work must be done- we will be going up the glacier towards camp 1 to cache.
The sun pleased us the whole day: without wind we were sometimes even sweating on our way up. As we had a good pace, we overtook two teams! In the end Dominic extended our caching to one more leg : we brought our heavy packs and sleds close to Camp 1 ( uphill walking time 4.5 h, 750 elevation gain). On our way back to basecamp we almost ran: we were very happy to reach "Home sweet Home“ after two hours. Suppen was extraordinary, because from the stock we found 3 m deep in the glacier ( that is an extra Story, not for now) . We are now going to bed with a happy smile on our faces- and with the lullaby, Shackelton loved so much: "Guten Abend, gute Nacht…“ (unfortunately, we could not take an audio …)
Good night to all our beloved ones from Team Vinson 2024
New Post Alerts:
Vinson Expedition November 22, 2024
We’ve officially made it to Vinson Basecamp, a significant milestone for our team as we prepare for the climb ahead. The flight into this remote corner of Antarctica is always an unforgettable experience, with vast expanses of ice and jagged peaks stretching to the horizon. We are not alone here at Basecamp, as teams from around the world make their final preparations as well. There’s a collective sense of purpose here, a shared understanding of the challenges and rewards that come with climbing the highest peak on this frozen continent.
Tomorrow, we plan to either move camp or cache supplies at the bend in the Branscomb Glacier. This marks the start of our climb, where strategy and teamwork will play a critical role. Caching supplies is a useful tool to ensure we can move efficiently while staying prepared for what lies ahead.
Standing at basecamp, the magnitude of our shared objective is clear. This is a team effort in every sense and we're ready. We know the climb will test us, but thats what we came here for. We’re ready to take the next chess move toward the summit.
RMI Guide Dominic Cifelli & Team
New Post Alerts:
Vinson Expedition November 22, 2024
Posted by: Dominic Cifelli
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Vinson Massif
Monday, November 25, 2024 - 4:55 pm PT
In the mountains, the weather isn’t just a backdrop—it’s often the main character. True to form, it wasted no time reminding us who’s in charge by throwing a wrench in our plans. With a low-pressure system on the horizon, we seized the opportunity to push forward and fly to the Ice.
Expediting our packing, organizing, and weigh-ins, the team worked efficiently to hit the narrow weather window—and nailed it. The reward? A safe landing at Union Glacier, a gateway to one of the most remote and breathtaking places on Earth.
From here, we have just one more flight before we begin our climb at Vinson Basecamp. The anticipation is palpable as we cross our fingers for favorable weather tomorrow. For now, we’re soaking in the crisp, frigid air and marveling at the stunning, otherworldly views that only Antarctica can offer.
The icy landscapes stretch endlessly, painted in a palette of whites and blues that seem to defy imagination. It’s a reminder of the raw beauty and sheer scale of this continent, and we’re humbled to be here, ready to take on the challenges ahead.
Wish us luck as we embark on the next leg of this adventure. Here’s to clear skies, strong teamwork, and the climb of a lifetime!
RMI Guide Dominic Cifelli
New Post Alerts:
Vinson Expedition November 22, 2024
Posted by: Dominic Cifelli, Sam Hoffman, Tom Skoog, Mitch Valaitis, Hannah Blum, Robert Whyte
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
The September 1 - 5 Five Day Climb reached the summit of Mt. Rainier led by RMI Guides Dominic Cifelli and Sam Hoffman. Climbers reached the summit of Mt. Rainier around 5 am and were able to enjoy some time in the summit crater. The skies are clear and it's a bluebird day. The teams left the crater rim at 6:10am and are currently on their descent to Camp Muir. Once back at camp they will get to rest and enjoy the views and will spend tonight on the mountain. Tomorrow they have another 4.5 miles to descent in order to reach Paradise. There program will conclude tomorrow with a celebration of their adventure.
Nice work team!
Posted by: Dominic Cifelli, Drew O’Brien, Josh Geiser, George Hedreen, Celeste Wilson, Miles Watson
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
The Four Day Climb August 18 - 21 led by RMI Guides Dominic Cifelli and Drew O'Brien reached the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning. They enjoyed some time in the crater before starting their descent from the crater rim around 7 am. It's a beautiful day on the mountain. The teams will return to Camp Muir for a short break before continuing down to Paradise this afternoon and concluding their program.
Congratulations to today's teams!
Posted by: Dominic Cifelli, Jackson Breen, Charlie Harrison, Robert Whyte, Avery Stolte, Claire Pennell
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
The Four Day Climb led by RMI Guides Dominic Cifelli and Jackson Breen reached the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning and were walking off the crater rim at 6 am PDT. Dominc reported clear skies above 7,000' feet, and no wind. The team is making their way back to Camp Muir and will be back at Rainier Basecamp to celebrate this afternoon.
Congratulations Team!
Great news, congrats to all!
Posted by: Brent S on 8/16/2024 at 10:07 am
Posted by: Dominic Cifelli, Nick Sinapius, Hannah Blum, Dylan Anderson, Charlie Harrison, Rosie Hust
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
The Five Day Climb led by RMI Guides Dominic Cifelli and Nick Sinapius reached the summit of Mt. Rainier early this morning. The team is in route to Camp Muir where they will spend another night on the mountain before starting their descent.
Congratulations Team!
Posted by: Dominic Cifelli, Josh Geiser, Evan Redman, Charlie Harrison, Celeste Wilson, Jack Ritterson
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 12,300'
The Four Day Climb led by Dominic Cifelli and Josh Geiser reached the top of Disappointment Cleaver today. The team had a good day of climbing with winds of about 20 - 25 mph, and some hazy skies due to wildfires in the area. We have several guides on the upper mountain working to establish a route to the summit.
Posted by: Brent Okita, Dominic Cifelli, Ben Thorneycroft, Joey Manship, Dylan Anderson, Bailey Servais
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 12,300'
The Four Day Climb July 22 - 25 led by RMI Guides Brent Okita and Dominic Cifelli reached the top of Disappointment Cleaver at 12,300' this morning before windy conditions and route conditions forced them to turn back. The teams are now back at Camp Muir. They will continue their descent to Paradise later this morning.
Posted by: Dominic Cifelli, Jackson Breen, Josh Geiser, Will Ambler, Celeste Wilson, Claire Pennell
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
The Four Day Climb July 18 - 21 led by RMI Guides Dominic Cifelli and Jackson Breen reached the summit of Mt. Rainier today around 5:30 am. The team is on their descent and once back at Camp Muir will repack and take a short break before contining the final 4,500' to Paradise. Reports from the mountain are warm temperatures and light winds.
Nice work team!
What an amazing experience! Dylan and I are so grateful for our fantastic guides - Jackon, Will and Claire - you guys were the best! That Crux section will be embedded in my memory for life!
Posted by: Brendan Curran on 7/22/2024 at 1:22 pm
Very thankful to Sam and all the guides who helped me summit Rainier
So glad I did it!!
It was hard but so worth it.
Thanks to professional and experienced guides - it was a challenge worth trying
Posted by: Alex Fedorchuk on 9/10/2024 at 12:10 pm
So grateful for this opportunity to climb and summit!
Our guides Sam and his team were absolutely amazing!
They gave very precise instructions, paid attention to all of our needs and encouraged us to believe in ourselves. Very well trained and knowledgeable in mountaineering. Very professional and polite.
We felt like family.
P.S. Sam, I was able to complete my marathon three days later in 3:45 :)
Posted by: Vera Fedorchuk on 9/10/2024 at 12:08 pm
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