Entries By sam hoffman
Posted by: Dave Hahn, Sam Hoffman, Sam Marjerison, Nick Sinapius
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Wednesday June 12, 2024 11:29pm PDT
A big day in Talkeetna. It was cloudy and rainy, but that didn’t prevent us from starting out with a breakfast meeting at the Swiss Alaska Inn, introducing the team and discussing expectations and strategies for the climb. We carried on by regrouping over at the airplane hangar to sort equipment and get packed. We broke things up with an excellent briefing from the National Park Service. Denali climbing ranger, Alan Davis spoke to us about current conditions and the need to prioritize safety on the mountain. K2 Aviation - our flight service- then let us know what to expect in regards to getting on and off the mountain via ski plane in variable weather conditions. We then buckled down and put in a few serious hours getting organized for the climb. This was capped off with a formal weigh-in, a prelude to loading up the airplanes -which we hope will take place tomorrow morning. The team then relaxed at Mile High Pizza Pie in the heart of Talkeetna. Enjoying dinner and the drizzle from low clouds. We are set and excited to get on the mountain.
Best Regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn & Team
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Denali Expedition June 11, 2024
Posted by: Dave Hahn, Sam Hoffman, Sam Marjerison, Nick Sinapius
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 348'
Tuesday, June 11, 2024 - 10:17 pm PT
Our climbing team came together today. After years of planning and anticipation and training… twelve of us got together in the Anchorage airport and got started on RMI’s final Denali Expedition for 2024. We made it with all of our gear and without flight cancellations… it all worked out. We boarded the Denali Overland van for the big drive up to Talkeetna. The windshield wipers were on for much of the journey and the spectacular mountain vistas were… shrouded, for the most part. We broke up the trip with a stop at the last big supermarkets -in Wasilla- where we rounded out the trip menu with some fresh food for down low on the mountain. We got back in the van then and made it up to Talkeetna by 5:30 PM. Having settled our gear in the airplane hangar, we checked in to the comfortable Swiss Alaska Inn and then made the short hike over the railroad tracks and into downtown Talkeetna. The rain seemed to be keeping the tourists in check so we had a quiet dinner at the brewery and then walked down to the mighty Susitna River to gaze at the water and the clouds (where there might normally be mountains). The team then walked past a few perfectly good bars and watering holes to turn in early and be ready for what promises to be a big day of packing and prepping for the climb tomorrow.
Best Regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
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Denali Expedition June 11, 2024
Posted by: Seth Burns, Sam Hoffman, Jackson Breen, George Hedreen, Will Ambler, Raymond Holt
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 11,200'
The Four Day Climb teams led by RMI Guides Seth Burns and Sam Hoffman reached Ingraham Flats, 11,200', this morning on their summit attempt. Due to unstable snow conditions the teams decided to call this their high point today and returned safely to Camp Muir. Climbers are packing up their gear and enjoying a bit more time on the mountain before starting their descent to Paradise. They will return to Rainier BaseCamp this afternoon.
I was in Sam’s, George’s and Ray’s group and I am extremely impressed and grateful for their service, professionalism and courtesy. I received more than I could have hoped for in my need for great and safe guidance in this adventure!
Posted by: John McGrath on 6/6/2024 at 2:55 pm
Posted by: Steve Gately, Sam Hoffman, Raymond Holt, Ben Siegel, Ben Thorneycroft, Avery Stolte
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
The Four Day Climb led by RMI Guides Steve Gately and Sam Hoffman reached the summit of Mt. Rainier early this morning. The team climbed with clear skies, cold temperatures, and arrived on the summit at sunrise to enjoy the views.
Congratulations Team!
Congrats to all!! Especially Jonathon for making it on his third try. And you ladies rocked it!! Proud of y’all and was happy to be a small part of the experience. There is a bar tab waiting for y’all. Enjoy and safe travels.
Tucker
Posted by: Tucker Graves on 5/31/2024 at 12:31 pm
Posted by: Brent Okita, Sam Hoffman, Drew O’Brien, Nick Sinapius, Raymond Holt, Ben Siegel
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
The Five Day Climb May 23 - 27 reached the summit of Mt. Rainier today. RMI Guides Brent Okita and Sam Hoffman led the teams. The group reached the crater rim around 7:45 am PT. This is our first Mt. Rainier summit of the 2024 season.
Nice work team!
Yay! Congratulations
Posted by: Kim Uncapher on 5/30/2024 at 7:35 am
Nicely done. Heading there June 25. Are all summit attempts via the cleaver vs. Ingram direct?
Posted by: Ed on 5/29/2024 at 5:44 am
Posted by: Dave Hahn, Sam Hoffman, Seth Burns, Nick Sinapius, Calvin Jiricko, Claire Pennell
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 11,500'
The Mt. Rainier Four-Day climb led by RMI Guides Dave Hahn and Sam Hoffman turned around at 11,500 this morning due to deteriorating weather. They are currently enjoying a sunny Camp Muir morning. They will recollect themselves at Camp Muir before their descent back to Basecamp in Ashford this afternoon. Nice work team!
Posted by: Casey Grom, Sam Hoffman
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 11,200'
The Four Day Climb led by RMI Guides Casey Grom and Sam Hoffman climbed to Ingraham Flats at 11,200' on Mt. Rainier. The team had the most amazing views of the Northern Lights, and Sunrise. They spent the morning practicing their mountaineering skills at the flats before descending back to Camp Muir.
That is gorgeous!
Posted by: Some guy from Puyallup on 5/12/2024 at 1:16 pm
After two successful summits of La Malinche and Ixta, team Mexico Volcanoes took our show back on the road to the small town of Tlachachuca to prepare for our climb of 18,500' Pico de Orizaba.
Our perfect sunny weather continued as we gear exploded and sorted on the lawn of our Mexican outfitter Servimont. After a quick lunch we loaded into the 4x4 trucks and 1964 Dodge Powerwagon that take us to our basecamp. A couple bouncy hours later, we unloaded, dusted off and set up the tents for a quick sleep.
11:30pm dawned calm and star-lit, and we made quick work of the lower part of Orizaba. As we neared 17,000 feet, the sun came up and gave us the spectacular and classic pyramidal mountain shadow that Orizaba is famous for.
As we climbed higher, it became clear that rumors of a very icy summit section were true. We watched as multiple teams above us on the steep summit headwall found more of the bullet-hard ice we’d found lower on the glacier, and winds strong enough to put them down on that ice multiple times.
We had a chat as a group and concluded that our 18,000 foot high point (highest for all but the guides!) was certainly the best spot to turn around. It was a hard decision as Orizaba was our biggest goal. But ultimately we all agreed that safety on this huge exotic mountain was number one.
We descended into a hot sunny afternoon and enjoyed our final evening with a delicious dinner, then made our way to the airport in the morning to some fond farewells.
Until next time Orizaba!
Thanks to the team for a great trip and way too many memories to list here!
RMI Guides Joe Hoch & Sam Hoffman
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Mexico's Volcanoes February 3, 2024
A needed rest, headed to Orizaba!
After our success on Ixta, Team Mexico Volcanoes settled into a very well deserved couple of nights and a day of rest in beautiful Puebla, Mexico.
Everyone got some sleep, washed off the mountain, and checked out the colonial buildings and many cathedrals and artisan markets.
After a great team dinner and another night of rest we got up early and hit the road to Tlachichuca, and our final and largest mountain, 18,500’ Pico de Orizaba.
Wish us luck!
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Mexico's Volcanoes February 3, 2024
100% Summit on Ixta!
After welcoming us to La Joya basecamp with a lovely warm sunset and delicious dinner from our Mexican host company, 17,160’ Ixtaccihuatl showed us that she is still a huge wild mountain. Out of the calm starry night sky, winds suddenly gusting 40-50mph forced us out of our sleeping bags and we scrambled to move our tents in the dark to the shelter of the old basecamp refugio. But our crew laughed it off as ‘adventure!’ And the next two days on the mountain showed everyone what a Mexican wilderness alpine experience can be. Complete with a spectacular high camp, billowing ash from our volcanic neighbor Popocatéptl, and the best sunset some of us have ever seen.
On summit morning the crew climbed strong and right before sunrise, 100% of the team stood on Ixta’s summit. A new high point for the majority of the team!
We’re headed now to the colorful colonial city of Puebla, where we’ll enjoy a well earned rest day and prepare for 18,500’ Orizaba.
RMI Guide Joe Hoch
New Post Alerts:
Mexico's Volcanoes February 3, 2024
This is so cool! Great job Clay and team, impressed and proud of you!
Posted by: Stephanie Colton on 2/8/2024 at 1:28 pm
So proud of you Christopher! We love you!!
Posted by: Leslie on 2/7/2024 at 6:23 pm
SOOOOO exciting!!!!! thinking of you all on the way up, and can not wait to see the summit pictures! love you KATIE!!!! mom
Posted by: barbara theiss on 6/13/2024 at 8:39 am
Step by step, all the way to the top! You’ve got this Tony!!
Posted by: Brenda on 6/13/2024 at 8:20 am
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