Entries By mike king
The team is currently resting in the sweat lodges that are their tents. This camp is known for its windy conditions and without steep ridges and peaks to block the sun, escaping the wind means roasting like a Kenny Roger's chicken.
As we continue the trek to Base Camp the size of this valley only grows as the Vacas River gets closer to it's source.
After seeing Aconcagua for the first time today, everyone is looking forward to the cold temperatures at Base Camp. Tomorrow we finish the trek, here's to calm winds and strong backs for the team.
RMI Guide Mike King
While we won't make it until the Ball drops tonight, we will have a nice dinner and do a little celebrating with the mule drivers. Our Aconcagua Team has arrived in camp after a hot day hiking with a nice breeze that made the heat tolerable. This first day is a lesson in patience. Picture walking six hours in the high desert covered in softballs. If your thinking, "not ideal" you'd be right, but this is our approach trail and our aching feet took a backseat to watching condors soar high above the neighboring Andean peaks.
The team is resting and rehydrating and wishes everyone back home a 'Feliz Anio Nuevo"!
RMI Guide Mike King
Want to wish my amazing brother, Art Muir, a Happy Birthday! Now I can brag about my 71 year old brother who climbs mountains all over the world! Have a great day, Art.
Posted by: Bonnie on 1/9/2017 at 6:56 am
Jim and Art…we are following the climb. So exciting! Be safe. Hope to see your faces on one of the posts.
Jack and Pam Schriver
Posted by: Jack and Pam Schriver on 1/2/2017 at 6:10 pm
Posted by: Mike King, JM Gorum
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
This is Mike King with the RMI December 28th Aconcagua Expedition. We are currently in Penitentes relaxing and waiting for dinner to start. Everyone arrived with all their gear and the Team has already begun to bond and been cranking through tasks to get ready for the 3 day trek to Plaza Argentina. We have clear skies and hot weather in the forecast. This will be a short dispatch as we are at the hotel with wifi, so contact your loved ones here in Argentina and wish them a 'happy New Years and safe & successful climb'.
We won't be envious of your Seacrest-Times Square Ball Drop show since we'll be celebrating out under the most spectacular night sky ever taken in with authentic Argentine cowboys cooking the most delicious steaks anyone has had the pleasure of eating.
The Camp at Lenas is notorious for not allowing satellite phone coverage so if you do not see a dispatch, do not fret. Know that the group is well and currently experiencing the 'meat sweats' which can translate into 'meatmares' at bedtime. Check back for more great stories from Aconcagua.
RMI Guide Mike King
On The Map
Wishing you all a Happy and Healthy New Year! Here’s to your journey and wishing you all success!
Be safe, have fun! Love, the Andersen girls
Posted by: Natalia on 12/31/2016 at 10:18 am
Rob, looking forward to following your journey with Mike and team. Safe travels and Happy New Year to everyone! Mike and Paula
Posted by: Michael and Paula Richards on 12/31/2016 at 9:40 am
Posted by: Mike King, Steve Gately
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mexico
This is the RMI Mexico team back safely in town. We had a good descent from the summit of Orizaba. Our shuttle picked us up just as the clouds and rain began to set in. Stormy weather played a huge part of this trip, we are glad that the weather cleared for our successful summit this morning. The team is getting cleaned up and sorted for their flights home tomorrow.
Thanks for following along.
RMI Guides Mike King & Steve Gately
Saturday, October 22, 2016 - 8:07 am PT
This is Mike with the RMI Mexico team. We are currently standing on top of Pico de Orizaba. We woke up around midnight and the weather was wet and rainy, we didn't think we were going to get it. When 2:30 am rolled around the clouds parted. Everyone is doing really well up on top. We are taking some photos and taking in the sights from the highest point in Mexico will give you guys a shout once we are down safe and sound. Talk to you later.
RMI Guide Mike King
RMI Guide Mike King calls from the summit of Pico de Orizaba, Mexico.
On The Map
The Mexico Team is resting comfortably at the Piedra Grande Hut on Orizaba. Yesterday we had a nice day off in Puebla, everyone took advantage of the good food, area surrounding the Zocalo and some visited a car museum.
Leaving Puebla this morning we took in more of the countryside and ended up at a century old soap factory turned climber's hostel run by Sr. Reyes. We met his 93 year old father and enjoyed a nice lunch after sorting our gear for the climb.
Our drive up here is on a fairly rough road through pine trees and the grassy lower slopes of Orizaba. We are currently at 14,000' sitting in a light cloud with views of the mountain from time to time.The team will wake around midnight and hopefully have good weather to climb.
Keep your fingers crossed that we get a chance to summit Orizaba!
RMI Guides Mike King & Steve Gately
On The Map
Good Luck ALEX S and team wishing you all the best in your summit attempt…
Jeff and the Gang from the TH53 Project in Northern MN
Posted by: Jeff Hall on 10/21/2016 at 3:12 pm
Posted by: Mike King, Steve Gately
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mexico
This morning around 12:30 we woke for our Ixta summit day. We had a relatively clear sky above us with a bright moon, but out to the east was a small cloud bank with some lightening radiating through the clouds. We got ready to climb since the storm looked to be moving away from the mountain.
As we approached our first break the storm clouds began to creep our way with the lightening increasing in the distance. The guides turned the group around and made the call to pack up camp and head to lower elevations. The team responded and broke camp quickly, transitioning into downhill mode. Carrying heavy packs in rocky terrain at night isn't easy and we all arrived tired but thankful to not be up at Ixta's high camp.
Upon reaching the trail-head all signs of the storm had disappeared, clear above visibility unlimited. Some frustration and confusion pulsed through the team members and guides. When you're in the mountains it is important to take the information available to you and make a conservative decision. Sometimes the storm rolls in and sometimes the skies clear.
We spent the morning resting and sorting gear for the next few days. Like clockwork, the skies turned grey, hail fell and thunder rolled high on Ixta. Our shuttles arrived to take us to Puebla for the next 2 nights.
The Team will enjoy a day off in the historic district and then we are off for Orizaba, the 3rd highest peak in North America.
RMI Guide Mike King & Team
glad everyone returned safely, climbing acancagua with RMI in january and hope to summit, but hope to return home even more
Posted by: Dave Folsom on 11/12/2016 at 7:07 pm
Bummer…Disappointed for you…Enjoy the town…Next mtn please…Waltero
Posted by: Walter Glover on 10/20/2016 at 3:36 am
RMI Guide Mike King checked in from Mexico. Today the team made their summit attempt from High Camp but were forced to turn around at 16,000' on Ixta due to a major electrical storm on the horizon. The team descended and returned to the Altzomoni Hut where they packed up their gear, loaded vehicles and continued their descent. They will travel to Puebla today as scheduled and explore this beautiful colonial city.
We look forward hearing more from them soon.
RMI Office
On The Map
The RMI Mexico Team is nestled in their tents at 15,000' after a heavy move day to our camp. We woke early to beat the heat and afternoon storms. Our route today took us to the base of the "knees" on Ixta over four hours. The camp is dry so we had some porter help carrying water for two days.
We enjoyed views of the expansive golden bunch grass as the hills and rock features making up the lower flanks gave way to volcanic rock and scree. Being in and out of the clouds allowed for cooler temperatures and the team climbed well. We will head for the summit tomorrow morning if the weather holds. Coverage has been troublesome for longer dispatches, we'll get a longer one up from our day off in Puebla.
RMI Guide Mike King
On The Map
The Team has arrived at the Altzomoni Hut on Ixta, 12,000'. The goal today was to pack for our approach to high camp, get a walk in to continue acclimating and relax. While our drive today included a few detours, a late breakfast and some electrical storms, the team is doing well. So much of climbing in the big mountains can be' "hurry up and wait". Patience is tested, storms blow in making everyone stir crazy and it becomes easy to let the scenery just pass by without taking in your surroundings.
Our drive to the hut took us through beautiful countryside with acres of corn being harvested and up through dense forests of evergreen trees and shrubs. After passing through rolling pampas filled with grass we saw Popocatepetl, the neighboring volcano who watches over Ixtaccihuatl. Popo was on display today with steam and ash rising from it's caldera.
Tomorrow we will move up to 15,000' and hope the weather cooperates for a summit attempt on Wednesday.
RMI Guide Mike King
On The Map
OK: Weather Prayer.
Waltero
Posted by: Walter Glover on 10/18/2016 at 6:57 am
Following your progress, plan to follow in your footsteps next month (Nov.5-13). Wishing everyone strength (mental and physical) as well as good weather!
Posted by: Sierra Orr on 10/18/2016 at 5:50 am
have good weather and great climb, thanks mike for the up dates
Posted by: mark and helen walsh on 1/2/2017 at 11:01 am
Love reading the updates! Just want my brother to know I’m thinking of him and enjoying the climb vicariously!! Best of fun to the team…enjoy each day!!! XXOA
Posted by: Andrea on 1/2/2017 at 7:14 am
View All Comments