Entries By hannah blum

Sunday, June 1, 2025 - 10:11 pm

Another solid day in the books!

After our late night yesterday, we slept in a little bit, had a quick breakfast of cheese grits and then packed up about two thirds of our personal and group food to lug up the mountain halfway between the base of Ski Hill and 11,000' Camp. Today we settle into a rhythm of caching. Where we pack up some of the food and gear we don't expect to use for a bit, and bury it somewhere between our current camp, and our next camp. Then we climb, past the cache, to our next camp, and then we go back and pick up the cache. With so much food and gear, caching gear between camps allows for more manageable loads and also allows for us to climb high, and then sleep low before moving camp. So today, with the two thirds of our gear back we walked out of camp, made our way up Ski Hill, past the 9,500' Camp some people stay at, and to our cache site near 9,800'. Weather had taken a turn since we woke up, with strong winds and light snowfall. Temperatures were cold and visibility was poor but we were able to make the day count, and set ourselves up to hopefully move tomorrow. After the long weathery day, we made it back to camp where we shared some good music and a round of quesadillas.

RMI Guide Nikki Champion

Sunday, June 1, 2025 12:25am PDT

Everyone’s weather dance must have worked, because we finally made it onto the mountain. After two and a half days of waiting, the stars aligned, and we got the call to load up around 1 PM. Everyone put on their mountain boots, threw their duffles into the conex for the next 20 days, took one final team picture, and boarded the planes.

After a flight above the clouds, we quickly descended to basecamp and unloaded into a pocket of sunshine. We went through group gear, repacked our duffles, and rigged the sleds to set out on our journey. Around 3 PM, we were finally walking and beginning the long-awaited climb.

We inched our way across the lower Kahiltna until we made it to Camp One, with the sun still above the mountains. This was our first chance to practice the craft of camp building—everyone set up their tents, crawled in, and waited for a late-night dinner of pesto tortellini. Finally, close to midnight, we wrapped up our day and prepped for tomorrow, when we hope to cache somewhere above 9,500 feet.

We’re excited to finally be climbing!

RMI Guide Nikki Champion & Team

RMI Guide Nikki Champion and her team flew onto Kahiltna Base Camp this afternoon and are all settled in, ready to begin their climb.

Friday May 30, 2025 -5:06 pm PDT

Well, we got everyone ready. Spirits were high, packs were packed, and the skies were crystal clear in town when we woke up… but sadly, the mountain had other plans. Basecamp was totally socked in.

So we got put on standby, crossing fingers and toes for a break in the weather.

And then we waited… and waited… and waited some more.

Unfortunately, instead of a magical clearing, the weather just kept building, and it became pretty clear that our window wasn’t going to open today. So, we shifted gears—found some lodging in town, went on a few sanity-preserving jogs, and then regrouped for dinner as a team.

Wash, rinse, repeat… and hope Friday brings the goods.

Think clear thoughts!

Wednesday, May 28, 2025 - 7:27 pm PT

We’ve officially made it to Talkeetna! After a long travel day yesterday for most of the team, we all finally met up at the Anchorage airport and started our journey north. A few hours (and some great scenery) later, we rolled into Talkeetna, dropped our gear at K2, and made a beeline for Denali BrewPub. Over burgers and beers, we got to know each other a bit better—swapping stories and sharing what brought each of us to Denali this season.

This morning kicked off our first full day together, and it was a busy one. We started with a deep dive into the packing list, making sure everyone is dialed for the climb ahead. Mid-morning, we took a short walk over to the National Park Service office for our official briefing. We were lucky to have fellow RMI guide Alan Davis—who’s also working for the Park this season—lead our session. Afterward, it was back to the hangar for final packing, sorting group gear, and manifesting everything to get ready for tomorrow’s flight.

The team is looking strong, stoked, and ready to get this expedition rolling. We’re hoping for good weather and an early flight into the Alaska Range tomorrow so we can hit the ground running. Stay tuned!

RMI Guide Nikki Champion

The Four Day Climb led by Ben Ammon and Sam Hoffman reached the summit of Mt. Rainier at 9:45 AM today. Despite some challenging walking on the route, the team made strong progress and arrived at the crater rim in just six hours. After a brief celebration on the summit, they began their descent.

Congratulations to today’s team on a successful climb!

The May 9–12 Four Day Climb enjoyed a beautiful morning on the mountain, with clear skies, calm winds, and cold temperatures. RMI Guide Dominic Cifelli led the team to 13,000 feet before route conditions prompted a turnaround. The climbers will return to Camp Muir for a brief rest before continuing down to Paradise this afternoon.

PC: Dominic Cifelli

The Expedition Skills Seminar – Muir, May 4–9, led by RMI Guide Seth Burns, successfully reached the summit of Mt. Rainier at approximately 9:15 AM today. The team encountered cold and windy conditions during their ascent from Camp Muir to the top of Disappointment Cleaver. However, upon reaching 13,200 feet, the winds eased, giving way to sunshine and clear skies.

Over the past several days, the team has been based at Camp Muir, where they focused on building essential mountaineering skills. They will spend one final night on the mountain before descending to Paradise tomorrow.

Well done, team!

PC: Hannah Blum

Monday, February 18, 2025, 5:19 PM PT

Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen we are starting our final approach into Mendoza. We should be on the ground in about 25 mins. Current weather is light winds out of the east, mostly clear skies and a temperature of 29 Celsius. We thank you for coming along on Aconcagua 2025 and have a good day. Ladies and gentlemen that ding means that we have started our descent into Mendoza. At this time we ask you to bring your seats and tray tables to their upright and locked positions. We will be through the cabin one last time to pick up any unwanted items. We also have a great offer for you today. If you call RMI today with a valid credit card we can set up a trip to most parts of the world. So hopefully you will call and take this great offer. Once again we should be landing in just about 25 mins. Congratulations to Ben, Hannah, Yev and Jim for summiting on Valentine's Day.

RMI Climber Nick Hanson

Two Days After the Conquest of Mount Doom:

The morning after a thrilling evening at base camp, where Yev and Jim engaged in an epic battle of Farkle (which ended conclusively in a tie), we embarked on a new challenge. Our weary legs carried us on a 17-mile trek through the beautiful Relinchos Valley and Vacas Valley, winding our way to our next camp at Pampa de Las Leñas.

As we traversed through the two valleys, we crossed rivers by foot and marveled at the majestic peak of Aconcagua as it was slowly obscured from view. Then, quite unexpectedly, we stumbled upon the fabled Fountain of Youth! This natural spring bubbled with crystal-clear water, inviting us to partake in its rejuvenating properties. We solved a mystery that has plagued explorers and adventurers for thousands of years. The fountain of youth is precisely located at coordinates 32.6439307 South, 69.8435342 West.

As we settle into our camp at Pampa de Las Leñas, we can't help but feel grateful for this incredible journey. Yev has conquered his precious summit, we discovered the Fountain of Youth, and most importantly: Nick and Jim have gathered many rusty horseshoes for their collections. A good day.

RMI Climber James Loudin