Entries By dominic cifelli
Posted by: Dominic Cifelli
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Torres del Paine
Monday, February 2, 2026 - 7:00 pm PT
We’re off to the races. Today marks the start of our trip, and while we are not trekking just yet, we managed to pack in plenty of sightseeing.
The morning began bright and early, traveling along the Strait of Magellan to Isla Magdalena, a small island about an hour and a half away by boat, to spend time among the penguins. What a place. Penguins and a wide assortment of seabirds stretch as far as the eye can see. Honks, chirps, and the whistling wind fill the air as we walk among them, pause for the habitual jaywalkers to cross, and then continue on. The penguins seem completely unfazed by our presence, waddling past with total confidence and a complete lack of athleticism, going about their routines as if we are just another feature of the landscape. An incredible experience and a perfect way to begin the journey.
We have now picked up the last of our teammates, delayed by the infamous snowy weather the Carolinas are known for, and settled into Puerto Natales, our launch pad for the trek. Gear checks, souvenir shopping, and a much needed rest await us tomorrow. We are excited to be here in this fjord side town and ready to begin the trek ahead.
RMI Guide Dominic Cifelli
New Post Alerts:
Torres del Paine Trek, January 31, 2026
Ama Dablam doesn’t need an introduction — it’s the mountain that makes everyone stop mid-trek, pull out their phone, and say “what mountain is that?” It looks impossible, like a granite shark fin dropped into the Khumbu. And we got to climb it. After a few weeks of hiking, acclimatizing, and a lot of time perfecting our tea-to-oxygen ratio, our team made a summit push. We climbed to Camp 1 at 19,000 ft followed by Camp 3, then up to the summit. We skipped the infamous, and smelly, Camp 2 to avoid the cramped "sleeping" and opted to climb the Grey Tower in the daylight with No Crowds!!
We left Camp 3 in the wee hours of the morning due to the wind whipping across the seemingly near vertical wall facing you. We needed the sun to start making the air warmer, though the face doesn't get sun for quite some time in the mornings. The fixed lines started right out of camp, and we got into a rhythm quickly — one step, one jumar, a deep breath, repeat. The climbing from Camp 3 is the kind of terrain that keeps you smiling even while your legs burn. It’s steep, exposed, and wildly scenic — you look down and realize how much of the world is way below you. A few hours later, we were standing on the summit — some wind, blue skies, and the type of view that doesn’t feel real until you’re back at basecamp scrolling through your photos thinking, “oh yeah, that actually happened.”
We had opted to head all the way back down to basecamp after our climb, which made for a long day, but a worthwhile endeavor, nonetheless. A hot meal, a mattress, a warm dome, all after summitting one of the most iconic peaks on earth. We got back in the dark, but damn was it worth it.
Ama Dablam always lives up to the hype, a mix of gritty weather, unreal scenery, and the kind of that technical climbing that makes you grateful for strong ropes and stronger people.
Huge thanks to our Sherpa team, the staff at basecamp, and everyone back home following along.
Until next time,
RMI Guide Dominic Cifelli
New Post Alerts:
Ama Dablam Expedition October 8, 2025
Posted by: Dominic Cifelli
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Ama Dablam
After leaving the hustle and bustle of Kathmandu and making our steady way up the Khumbu Valley over the past several days, we’ve arrived at Basecamp, perched at 15,000 ft. Ama Dablam towers above us, its iconic ridges stretching around camp. Ama Dablam is named for its resemblance to a mother cradling and protecting her child.
What a place. We’re surrounded by 360-degree views of the Khumbu’s giants, some of the tallest and most breathtaking peaks on Earth. It’s inspiring, humbling, breathtaking. A fresh blanket of snow last week has transformed the landscape into a pristine white canvas, the air crisp as the last whispers of monsoon give way to winter here in the Himalayas.
Tomorrow, we head higher for acclimatization, up to Yak Camp, the intermediate point between Basecamp and Camp 1. We’ll tag 17,000 ft and return to BC for the night, where our routine involves as much ginger, lemon, and honey tea legally possible.
After that, we begin our rotation schedule in preparation for the big show: our summit push. For now, it’s still quiet up here, let’s hope it stays that way.
RMI Guide Dominic Cifelli
New Post Alerts:
Ama Dablam Expedition October 8, 2025
Posted by: Dominic Cifelli, George Hedreen
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
The Five Day climb led by RMI Guides Dominic Cifelli and George Hedreen successfully reached the summit early this morning via the Disappointment Cleaver route. Dominic reported moderate winds and firm route conditions, contributing to a smooth and efficient ascent.
Following their successful summit, the team returned to Camp Muir, where they will spend one final night before descending to Basecamp tomorrow.
Congratulations Team!
Posted by: Dominic Cifelli, Joe Hoch, Layne Peters, Avery Stolte, Hannah Billings, Stella Johnson, Annie Chapman, Kat Porter
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
Climbers on the Four Day Climb August 9 - 11 reached the summit of Mt. Rainier today. They enjoyed a bit of time on the summit and began their descent from the crater rim just after 7 am. Once back at Camp Muir, they will repack and continue the remaining 4,500' descent to Paradise.
Congratulations to today's climbers!
Gosh, what a bunch of studs. I wish I could climb with that A-Team.
Posted by: J.Ranger on 8/14/2025 at 3:01 pm
Posted by: Dominic Cifelli, Joe Crawford, Hannah Blum, Hannah Billings, David Rathbun, Matt Tucker
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
The Four Day Climb August 2 - 5, 2025 led by RMI Guides Dominic Cifelli and Joe Crawford reached the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning. The teams reported a beautiful day on the mountain with a little wind a little precipatation while they were on the summit. They enjoyed a bit of time in the crater before starting their descent. The teams are heading back to Camp Muir, and after a quick break will continue the remaining 4.5 miles to Paradise to complete their climb. Once back at BaseCamp they will enjoy a bit of celebration to conclude their adventure.
Nice work today team!
PC: Dominic Cifelli
Inspiring experience (yes, a 1997 reboot, well sort of!), and lots of gratitude to be a part of this RMI team!
A great big thank you to all the guides - you shine!
Posted by: Catherine Nelson on 8/21/2025 at 5:50 pm
Posted by: Dominic Cifelli, Ben Luedtke, Lael Butler, Felipe Guarderas, Calvin Jiricko, Erika Barrett, Kat Porter, Julian Kral
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
The Five Day Climb July 26 - 30 reached the summit of Mt. Rainier today! Led by RMI Guides Dominic Cifelli and Ben Luedtke, the team reached the crater under blue skies and excellent conditions. They enjoyed some time in the crater before starting their descent. The teams will return to Camp Muir for a well-deserved night's rest before contining the remaining 4.5 miles to Paradise tomorrow.
Congratulations to today's climbers!
PC: Ben Luedtke
Amazing trip! Thanks to all ... Cheers, Barry
Posted by: Barry French on 7/30/2025 at 5:01 pm
Congrats to my amazing wife Hsiaolei Miller! What an accomplishment! Thank you RMI team for taking such amazing care of her - and everyone who participated!
Posted by: Jaclyn Miller on 7/29/2025 at 6:17 pm
Posted by: Raymond Holt, Dominic Cifelli, Jack Ritterson, Dylan Anderson
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
At 5:45 am this morning, under a canvas of clear skies and the first light of dawn, our Four Day Climb team—led by Ray Holt and an incredible group of climbers—stood on the summit of Mount Rainier.
The team encountered some wind while navigating the Disappointment Cleaver, but by the time they reached the summit, the winds had eased, offering a calm and peaceful moment at 14,410 feet.
Now on their descent, the team is making steady progress back to Camp Muir.
Congratulations to all the climbers and guides on this unforgettable achievement!
Posted by: Dave Hahn, Dominic Cifelli
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
Early this morning, the Four Day Climb teams, led by RMI Guides Dave Hahn and Dominic Cifelli, successfully reached the summit of Mt. Rainier!
They were treated to a stunning sunrise and clear skies as they stood at 14,410 feet, taking time to celebrate their achievement and soak in the incredible views. After savoring their moment at the top, the teams began their descent to Camp Muir around 7:00 a.m. and are now continuing down to Paradise.
We look forward to welcoming them back in Ashford later this afternoon and celebrating a safe and successful climb!
Congratulations climbers!
Posted by: Avery Stolte, Mike Bennett, Dominic Cifelli, Dylan Anderson, Nina Bridges, Leif Bergstrom, David Rathbun, Ben Porter
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
This morning at 5:30 AM PDT, the Four Day Climbs led by RMI Guides Avery Stolte and Mike Bennett reached the summit of Mt. Rainier. Avery reported beautiful weather with no wind. With the early morning summit, the teams are currently descending back to Camp Muir where they will pack their bags before descending the Muir Snowfield to Paradise. We look forward to seeing them in Ashford later this afternoon.
Congratulations climbers!
Congrats to everyone for getting up and down safely, great pictures. Well done Dominic!
Posted by: Barry Milne on 11/5/2025 at 8:06 am
Photos look crazy epic! Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Some guy from Puyallup on 11/3/2025 at 9:35 pm
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