Entries By eric frank
May 22, 2017
Hello from the shores of beautiful Lake Titicaca. This morning the team fought our way out of La Paz traffic, and made the stunning three hour drive to Copacabana, a small beach town nestled on the Peruvian/Bolivian border. We spent the afternoon learning about local history, dining on fresh caught trout and climbing a small nearby peak to gain an over look of the city. It started raining in the early evening, so we retreated to our lodge for a cozy dinner and an impromptu foosball tourney.
We know it all sounds like fun and games, but our bodies are working hard acclimating right now. Starting the trip at over 12,000 feet means that we need to take the time to work into things. We are laying the groundwork to perform well in high ascents later in the trip.
Wish us luck!
RMI Guides Eric Frank, Caleb Ladue and the Bolivia crew
Hola!
The sun has set on our first day in Bolivia! The group just returned after a great tour through La Paz. We checked out the fruit filled markets, quiet plazas and even had the opportunity to ride the gondola up to the rim of the city and into it's sister town El Alto. La Paz sits in a valley at the toe of the altiplano, or high plains, and the gondola brings commuters out of the valley, and 500 meters up onto the steppe. Our timing couldn't have been better as the sun was setting on the Altiplano upon arrival. From our vantage we could look out over the city and see our climbing objectives Huayna Potosi and Illimani standing tall against the plains. we are regrouping in a moment and we will head out for our kick-off dinner and celebration.
RMI Guide Eric Frank
Summit! All team members with RMI Guides Eric Frank and Jenny Konway reached el Pico de Orizaba's summit today. Unfortunately the team was not able to call from the summit but they are back in Tlachichuca safe and sound.
Congratulations team!
On The Map
congratulations Andrew!!!
Posted by: Duncan Mckinnon on 3/12/2017 at 4:56 am
Hello, this is Eric Frank and the Mexican Volcanoes team. We are at the Refugio at the base of Orizaba. We left Puebla this morning and make a quick stop at Tlachichuca, the small town next to Orizaba, where we had enchiladas for lunch. Got packed up, and then got in the back of some big 4x4 trucks and road up here to the Refugio. The weather is clearing up and hopefully things will turn out for us in the morning. Everyone's in good spirits. We just had a big dinner of spaghetti and getting ready to bed down so that we can get up in just a few hours to launch for our climb in the middle of the night. Wish us luck on our last big objective, and we'll be back in the states with family before too long.
RMi Guide Eric Frank
RMI Guide Eric Frank calls in from Orizaba's high camp.
Posted by: Eric Frank, Jenny Konway
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mexico
Hello, this is Eric. I'm checking-in from the comforts of Hotel Colonial in Puebla. Today the team is resting after our major effort to get to the summit of Ixtaccihuatl yesterday. It is a very abrupt change to go from the challenge of a grueling descent straight to the luxuries of a major city. After a lazy morning, we met to explore a local market, eat gelato and soak in the stunning architecture of the city.
Tonight the team will have a group dinner and then get in bed to rest before we launch early tomorrow for our next major objective, Orizaba.
Here are a few shots from our climb of Ixta.
RMI Guide Eric Frank
Good morning everyone, this is Eric Frank and the Mexico's Volcanoes Expedition checking in from the summit of Ixta. It's 7:30 a.m., local time here. We had a wonderful climb this morning after a little bit of rain a little bit of snow and some passing thunder storms last night, we actually woke up to starry skies and beautiful blue sky above us at this point with just a few cloud lingering down below. So we're going to hang out here and enjoy the sunshine and spend some time on top. Then we will get headed back down and move to Puebla for our rest day tomorrow, that is very well deserved. Thanks for following along. Talk to you soon.
RMI Guide Eric Frank
RMI Guide Eric Frank checks in from the summit of Ixtaccihuatl.
On The Map
Congrats to everyone! We can’t wait to see the pictures. Thank you to the terrific guides for safely leading the group.
Posted by: Anne Coats on 3/8/2017 at 12:47 pm
Hello, this is RMI Guide Eric Frank calling in from high camp on Ixta. Unfortunately, we haven't been able to send out dispatches the last few days. We've had some technical difficulties with our satellite modem, so for at least the next few days, will be checking in with voice dispatches like this. All-in-all, the team is doing really well. We had a great day climbing up to our high camp here at 15,100' on Ixta. The weather is partly cloudy but this morning we had blue skies and am anticipating the same tomorrow for our climb. We're all settled into our tents and going to nap for the afternoon. We will have an early dinner and then get tucked into bed so we can get up in the middle of the night and climb tomorrow. Wish us luck. Thanks for following along.
RMI Guide Eric Frank
RMI Guide Eric Frank calls in from Ixtaccihuatl High Camp.
On The Map
Good luck everyone. Proud of you son
Posted by: Duncan McKinnon on 3/8/2017 at 3:36 am
Sunday, March 5, 2017
After trickling in from various airports around the US, our team gathered in Mexico City to kick off the trip. We enjoyed our first Mexican meal together and talked about the upcoming climbs. This morning, after a delicious breakfast at Hotel Geneve, the team departed from Mexico City and arrived at La Malinche, an extinct volcano towering over the historical Mexican Olympic training facility. We arrived around noon, and headed out on an acclimatization hike shortly after. Everyone felt great and we were able to climb uphill for over three hours. This was enough to get us above treeline where we could enjoy the beautiful views of the plains below. Once we were back down in camp, we settled into cabins, then enjoyed a dinner of grilled meats and veggies along with fresh guacamole and home tortilla chips! Now we are tucked in bed trying to get a good night's rest and prepare for our upcoming move to Ixta Base Camp.
Thanks for following along.
RMI Guides Eric Frank and Jenny Konway and the Mexico's Volcanoes crew
On The Map
Fantastic! It looks stunning- what an adventure and what a view.
Posted by: Debi Edy on 3/8/2017 at 10:40 am
Things seem to be going great. Hope everyone is well rested for the climb to the summit. The google map indicates that the view should be very special. Kudos to the guides.
Posted by: Grandma & Grandpa Coats on 3/7/2017 at 12:42 pm
Posted by: Eric Frank
Categories: Expedition Dispatches North Cascades
Hello, this is Eric Frank checking in from the bivouac below Winnie's Slide on the Fisher Chimneys Route of Mt. Shuksan. After all the rain of last week, the skies have turned blue and we climbed up the Chimneys under a full sun today. Thanks for following and expect a call from the top tomorrow.
RMI Guide Eric Frank
Hi, this is Eric Frank calling from the summit of Mount Shuksan. We had a cold and windy, but enjoyable, morning climbing up here today. It is gorgeous! We can see into southern Canada, over the city of Vancouver, out at Mount Baker, and even down all the way to Mount Rainier. We feel pretty fortunate to have the views that we have today. We will talk to everyone soon.
RMI Guide Eric Frank
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RMI Guide Eric Frank calls in from the Mount Shuksan summit.
Hey Kimmer!! Yea baby!! #smashville-Lucky is so happy the Preds won!! Have fun and stay safe on your climb- are you climbing Chimichanga or Charro first?? You’ll be awesome sauce either way xoxoxo Lora, Sophia & Michael
Posted by: Lora Sue on 5/23/2017 at 7:13 am
Hi sweetheart-
I, as well as Bud, Jesse, Taira and Adryan) are praying non-stop for you, your guides and your climbing mates. Tell Kim that the Predators won as her papa had hoped. I sure wish the Wild were in the mix but we’ll have to wait until next year I guess. It looks like a soggy week for you so stay warm and take it slow. Love you, sweetheart! Mama
Posted by: Bird on 5/23/2017 at 5:17 am
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