Entries By mike king
Posted by: Mike King
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Torres del Paine
We got picked up in Puerto Natales and enjoyed seeing rehas, guanacos & a fox during our scenic drive to the park. Our hike to Seron was 8.5 miles. The trail winds through beech trees with dry rolling grasslands along the Paine River. We had nice weather, wind to keep us cool & cloud cover for the UV. At camp, the team is enjoying some down time, charcuterie & dinner to conclude the day. All is good down in Patagonia. Camp Lago Dickson tomorrow.
Thanks,
RMI Guide Mike King
Posted by: Mike King
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Torres del Paine
The Torres del Paine trek team arrived over the last two days in Punta Arenas. Flying this far south requires a lot of plane, airport & layover time. We got an early start for our boat trip to Magdalena Island where a colony of magallenic penguins live.One and a half hours out the Straights of Magellan (if you haven't figured out that he's kind of a big deal down here) where the currents of the Atlantic & Pacific oceans collide resides a lot of penquinos. An hour loop got everyone a full dose of penguins, gulls & skuas. The baby penguins that hatched in November are big and still have trace amounts of their fuzzy down.
We'll transfer to Puerto Natales this afternoon and get our gear check done. A quick meeting with our Chilean partners will get everyone ready to begin our trek of the "O" & "W" circuit of Torres del Paine National Park.
So far the weather has been nice, seas calm and winds low. We are eager to start walking towards Seron camp in the morning.
Posted by: Mike King, Dominic Cifelli, Jack Delaney
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Elevation: 13,800'
We had a windy and cold morning to break camp down and descend to Basecamp. The team rallied and now we are enjoying some snacks, drinks and packing for mules. Tomorrow we’ll walk to Pampa las Lenas for an asado and night under the stars if the weather cooperates. The end of a great expedition to Aconcagua.
This is our last dispatch, thanks for following along.
RMI Guides Mike King, Dominic Cifelli, Jack Delaney & Team
Posted by: Mike King, Dominic Cifelli, Jack Delaney
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Elevation: 22,841'
Saturday, January 14, 2023 1:07 PM PT
We awoke early in the morning to chilly temps and moderate winds. Our summit bid had begun! It took several hours of slogging uphill before the sun finally blessed us with its presence. The rest of the climb was warm and the summit itself was windless!
The descent was smooth and exhausting. Everyone is back in camp safe and sound. Tomorrow we begin to descend into thicker air.
RMI Guides Mike King, Dominic Cifelli, Jack Delaney and Team
Saturday, January 14, 2023 9:30 AM PT
The Team stood on the summit of Aconcagua at 22,841' today! All is well, and we will share more details of our climb when we get back to camp!
RMI Guide Mike King
Good Job A! We’re so happy for you and Mike and the whole crew! I new you could do it! Love You! Uncle.
Posted by: Kim Peltier on 1/15/2023 at 9:11 am
Way to go team! Feeling proud and nostalgic as we watch this blog from Vermont. #LLLL. Hope you felt those vibes all the way to the top.
With love and admiration - the Wilhelms
Posted by: T and B from Vermont on 1/15/2023 at 6:40 am
Posted by: Mike King, Dominic Cifelli, Jack Delaney
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Elevation: 19,600'
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Our Aconcagua team moved to High Camp. The winds stopped as if a switch had been flipped around 9:30 last night. The eerily calm night led to another calm and hot day. The summit winds were still high with snow blowing 1,000 feet into the sky but have begun to calm down, or all the snow has vacated the summit. We will get some rest, eat and hydrate before turning in for the evening. Sleep is hard to come by at 19,600'. Hoping for a successful summit day tomorrow. We'll keep you posted!
--RMI Guide Mike King and team
Love reading the updates. Keeping you all in our thoughts and prayers for a safe and successful summit. Brother Mitch, we love and can’t wait to hear all about your adventures.
Posted by: Marianne Harvey on 1/14/2023 at 10:05 am
Good luck team - Pez and Mike make it happen!
Posted by: Scott on 1/14/2023 at 6:17 am
Posted by: Mike King, Dominic Cifelli, Jack Delaney
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Elevation: 18,000'
Our team will take another weather day at Camp 2. Strong winds and lots of snow will keep us from moving up hill today. Tomorrow is our last chance to move to High Camp. We will hope to have a summit bid on the 14th. The team is hunkered down in their tents as 40 mph wind gusts roar through camp.
RMI Guide Mike King
Thinking of you and wishing for good weather for you all. Love Vonne.
Posted by: Vonne on 1/14/2023 at 7:08 pm
Thinking of the group and wishing you luck! 40mph winds, yikes! We got about 14in of snow yesterday, then some rain. Hopefully it keeps coming so we can start snowmobiling!
Missing you - Lydia, Matt & Wilhelmina
Posted by: Lydia on 1/14/2023 at 5:53 am
Posted by: Mike King, Dominic Cifelli, Jack Delaney
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Elevation: 18,000'
Our Camp 2 staycation continues with a weather day. The winds are blowing above with lots of snow transport. We went for a walk and are enjoying warm tents with some Pink Floyd playing in the background. The appetites are still strong and team is getting restless. The 14th looks like the best summit day when considering wind speed and trail breaking.
Thanks for following along.
We’re sorry to hear about the summit delay, but are very happy you are with guides that care so much about safety!
Hoping you packed in enough food so that you aren’t sizing up your teammates for BBQ options, haha!
Bitter cold here this am, folks had -4. We’re expecting 10 inches of snow, followed by rain, so I guess the weather people don’t know.
You’ll love this: ALL of the US airlines were shut down for hours this morning because the centralized air traffic control program went haywire!
Yesterday I saw two owls! They were huge, one on the way home from work and the other at the peak of our lone Maple tree on the road in front of our yard.
Sending you all hugs. Keep your spirits up, this is a once in a lifetime climb! XOXOXO Momma & Dad
Posted by: Momma & Dad on 1/11/2023 at 11:56 am
I can only imagine how hard it is to wait. Sending all of our positive vibes and love.
Posted by: Emily on 1/11/2023 at 11:09 am
Posted by: Mike King, Dominic Cifelli, Jack Delaney
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Elevation: 18,000'
Today our Aconcagua Team is taking a rest day at Camp 2, 18,000'. We had a cold night with light winds that blew the weather pattern of the last five days out of the area. Dark clouds and high winds plague the summit. We'll focus on eating, rest and hydration. Our plan will be to move up to High Camp up the 12th, and make our summit attempt on the 13th. We are hoping the snow firms up and we get clear weather.
Hi Team: I’m with you in spirit if not in body. My very best for your summit attempt. I’m willing those winds to lay down and the snow to sublimate away. I’m toasting you and the mountain which I can see from the vineyards here in The Valle de Lujàn de Cuyo, raising glasses of Torontés, Malbec and Cabernet Franc to you all and your climb. Salud!
Posted by: Lisa Fernandez on 1/11/2023 at 7:53 am
Hey Mike! Wishing you and your team all the best on your summit!
Farmer Dave
Posted by: Dave Kestel on 1/11/2023 at 5:03 am
Posted by: Mike King, Dominic Cifelli, Jack Delaney
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Elevation: 19,600'
We made our carry to high camp at 19,600' today. The mornings continue to be clear, calm and provide spectacular views of the Central Andes. The afternoon blizzards with scorching heat and thunder snow continue as if set by a Swiss watchmaker.
We will rest tomorrow and see what the winds do. The consensus of longtime local guides is this amount of snow, lack of wind and heat is unique when compared to the last 15-20 years.
RMI Guide Mike King and Team
Get some rest tomorrow. Hope the weather cooperates. Chloe says “Tell Daddy I love him”.
Posted by: Emily on 1/9/2023 at 1:38 pm
That is the strangest combination of weather that we’ve ever heard! Thunder snow?! Praying this isn’t met with lightening as well.
You picked the best time to be gone, weather is dreary (of course everything is dreary compared with what you are reporting!) and not enough snow to do much. Having to resort to trail walks and indoor track for exercise.
Alison, you’ll be happy to know we took the Christmas tree down yesterday. Never as exciting as decorating, but Dad was a champ on the first round of tree needles throughout the living room - he even got one jammed under a fingernail!
Continue to have a great trip! Sending our love! Momma & Dad XOXOXO
Posted by: Momma & Dad on 1/9/2023 at 11:47 am
Posted by: Mike King, Dominic Cifelli, Jack Delaney
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Elevation: 18,000'
Today we moved camp to 18,000'. The clear mornings and snowstorms in the afternoon trend continues. We got a heat wave of calm air and lots of sun on new snow reflecting off the hillsides. Once through the Col we got some respite but it was not to last as the subtle breeze died as we built camp and the frying of skin began again. We are in tents with snow falling. Thanks for following along.
Keep up the good work and slather on that sunscreen. We all miss you and we love you.
Posted by: Emily on 1/8/2023 at 12:01 pm
Sounds like you’re making great progress! We’re so pleased for you!
The whole gang was here this am to walk the trails, not enough fresh snow to need snowshoes but still a good base.
All the dogs loved the trek thru the woods trails! Wander misses you, Alison, she can’t stick close enough to us, as I write she’s on my lap and in my face!
We’ve got sunshine for the first time in 10 days, hallelujah!
Keep up the great work, thanks for your updates! Love Momma and Dad XOXOXO
Posted by: Momma and Dad on 1/8/2023 at 11:33 am
Be safe + Enjoy.
Walter from.IN.
Thereabouts 2019.
Posted by: Waltero on 2/10/2023 at 6:01 am
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