Entries By tatum whatford
Expedition Skills Seminar – Kautz Update:
Led by RMI Guide Tatum Whatford, the team made a strong push up the Kautz Route on Mt. Rainier, reaching an impressive altitude of 12,900 feet. Facing the technical challenge of the Kautz Ice Chute and incoming cloud cover, the team made the prudent decision to descend back to camp.
They’ll spend one more day on the mountain refining their mountaineering skills before returning to Rainier Basecamp in Ashford, WA.
Great effort by all involved!
Posted by: Joe Hoch, Tatum Whatford
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
The Four Day Climb teams led by Joe Hoch and Tatum Whatford stood on the summit of Mt. Rainier at 6:15 AM this morning!
The team left under a beautiful full moon and summited with perfect sunny skies. We also had a proposal on the summit. Rumor has it, she said YES!
Congratulations to all climbers for reaching the top of the Pacific Northwest!
Posted by: Tatum Whatford, Joe Crawford, Raymond Holt, Dylan Anderson, Julian Kral, Ben Porter, David Rathbun, Nina Bridges
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
The Five-Day Climb teams, led by RMI Guides Tatum Whatford and Joe Crawford, reached the summit of Mt. Rainier early this morning! After taking in a beautiful sunrise above the clouds, the climbers began their descent from the crater rim around 7:00 a.m. They'll pause for a well-earned break at Camp Muir before continuing down to Paradise, with plans to return to basecamp later this afternoon.
Congratulations to today’s climbers on a successful summit!
Posted by: Tatum Whatford, Felipe Guarderas, Mitch Valaitis, Ben Thorneycroft, Miles Watson, Avery Stolte, Matt Kelly, Ben Porter
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
RMI Guides Tatum Whatford and Felipe Guarderas led their Five Day Climb teams to the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning. The guides reported an amazing day with light winds and clear skies. The route is busy with climbers so the teams reached the crater rim and have started their descent to Camp Muir. Once back at camp the climbers will enjoy a relaxing afternoon on the mountain and celebrate their accomplishment. The team will spend tonight at 10,080' and continue the remaining 4.5 miles/4,500' down to Paradise tomorrow.
Congratulations to today's climbers!
Such a wonderful trip! Still reeling. Looking forward to the next one ;)
Posted by: Alex Trimpe on 7/1/2025 at 11:12 am
Wonderful accomplishment! Congratulations.
Posted by: Joyce Metcalf on 6/29/2025 at 8:17 pm
Posted by: Tatum Whatford, Eric Frank
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
We’re excited to share that the Four-Day Climb led by Tatum Whatford and Eric Frank reached the summit early this morning! The team reported encountering some wind but otherwise enjoyed a beautiful morning high on the mountain.
After taking in the views from the summit, the climbers began their descent and are currently en route back to Camp Muir. They’re expected to return to Basecamp in Ashford, Washington, later this afternoon.
Congratulations to the entire team on a successful climb and summit!
Posted by: Casey Grom, Tatum Whatford, Brooks Ordway-Smith
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
The Five-Day Climb led by RMI Guides Casey Grom, Tatum Whatford, and Brooks Ordway-Smith reached the summit of Mt. Rainier today at 12:50 p.m. Taking advantage of calm winds and clear skies, the team successfully ascended to Columbia Crest at 14,410 feet. They spent about an hour on the summit soaking in the views before beginning their descent.
The team is now safely back at Camp Muir, where they will spend one more night before continuing their descent to Paradise in the morning. Congratulations to all climbers on a fantastic summit day!
What an amazing journey to the summit of Mt. Rainier, a majestic treasure of the lower 48.
Posted by: Lyn on 5/28/2025 at 3:46 pm
Posted by: Tatum Whatford, Bailey Servais
Categories: Expedition Dispatches North Cascades
Elevation: 10,741'
RMI Guide Tatum Whatford and the Mt. Baker Leave No Trace (LNT) team were on the summit of Mt. Baker at 6:41 am today. The team climbed via the Coleman Demming Route.
This program equips participants with the skills and knowledge needed to achieve an LNT Level 2 Instructor certification, and empowers them to effectively teach and certify individuals in Leave No Trace Level 1 Instructor courses and Awareness Workshops. The terrain covered on Mt. Baker serves as an ideal classroom, offering diverse environments such as old-growth forests, heather meadows, and immense glaciers, allowing us to focus specifically on LNT techniques relevant to alpine environments.
Reaching the summit of Mt. Baker is a great way to end the week! Congrats Team!
Way to go Benjamin! We are so happy for you and proud of you!
Posted by: Julie Andrews on 8/7/2024 at 12:44 pm
Posted by: Alan Davis, Tatum Whatford
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Peru Seminar
Holà from Huaraz!
We arrived back in the bustling mountain city last night after an adventurous egress on the ever winding remote backroads and unexpected road construction. Nevertheless, our bus driver Levian got us back safely despite having to build a few modest bridges over fresh concrete in the process...Always a good time!
Our week in the Ishinca Valley was surely not one to disappoint. Below are just a few captured moments of our last six days spent learning skills and climbing in the heart of the Cordillera Blanca. Tonight we celebrate our hard work and a great team effort on our last night in the mountains before we head back to Sea Level tomorrow as we begin the long journey to Lima.
Salud!
RMI Guides Alan Davis & Tatum Whatford
PC: Alan Davis
Posted by: Alan Davis, Tatum Whatford
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Peru Seminar
Elevation: 17,782'
The team left Base Camp at 2:00 am and summited
The team left Base Camp at 2:00 am and summited Urus Este at 7:45 am and was back in Base Camp before noon! We enjoyed the day resting in the beautiful Ishinca Valley and lying in the sun near the creeks watching the horses, burros, and cattle graze.
We will check in tomorrow from Huaraz
RMI Guide Alan Davis, Tatum Whatford and Team
New Post Alerts:
Posted by: Alan Davis, Tatum Whatford
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Peru Seminar
July 22, 2024 - 5:25 pm PT
Rest day in Ishinca basecamp. Woke up as the sun hit the valley and were welcomed into the dining tent with omelettes and coffee. We spent the day at our training crag just down the creek where we practiced more knots, hitches, fixed rope ascension, crevasse rescue, anchor building, and haul systems. Early to bed for a final summit attempt of our last peak of the trip, Urus Este.
RMI Guide Alan Davis
Congratulations everyone (especially Trishita)! Great job and you continue to inspire us!
Posted by: Sanjay Banerjee on 7/7/2025 at 7:20 pm
Great job, everyone (especially Trishita)! So glad you got to summit
Posted by: Connor Boyle on 7/7/2025 at 4:27 pm
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