Entries By will ambler
"Hard weather says the old man. Wrap me in the weathers of the earth, I will be hard and hard. My face will turn rain like the stones." Cormac McCarthy
In our efforts of acclimatization our team enjoyed frosty wet winds, an in-depth tour of the grand interiors of a cloud. Our climbers bedazzled in rime; hooded migrants iced for a birthday. Happy birthday Nate! The summit of Volcan Malinche reached and no grand views but the middle floors of our gaseous estate. Soggy and satisfied we descended through scree, sand, and mud. Lungs and legs the better for it. Welcomed by the quadrupedal locals back to our interim homes at La Malintzi, we find the sub cloud world refreshing and rewarding. Another feast at 10,000 feet. Another cozy night in beds and cabins. Onward now to Iztaccíhuatl. Vamos viajeros.
RMI Guide Will Ambler
New Post Alerts:
Mexico's Volcanoes November 8, 2025
The Mexico Volcanoes team led by RMI Guides Dustin Wittmier and Will Ambler arrived in Mexico City on Saturday. The team headed out of the city the following morning to La Malintzi resort, located at 10,000ft. They enjoyed a relaxing afternoon and began their acclimatization process. Today the team stretched their legs and lungs on a hike to the summit of La Malinche, 14,636', it was cloudy and a bit cold. They will return to the cabanas at the base of the mountain for a second night. Tomorrow they will make their way to the base of Ixtaccihuatl.
New Post Alerts:
Mexico's Volcanoes November 8, 2025
Monday, September 1, 2025 - 4:19 pm
From RMI Guides Alan Davis and Will Ambler on the Easton Glacier: We caught a windy but stunning sunrise on the summit of Mt. Baker this morning. 100% of the climb reached the top. We are back at camp and plan to walk out tomorrow.
Congrats to the team!
Posted by: Jess Wedel, Alan Davis, Jackson Breen, Will Ambler, Dylan Anderson, Rosie Hust, Celeste Wilson, Erika Barrett
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
This morning at 6:15 AM, the Four-Day Climb teams, led by RMI Guides Jess Wedel and Alan Davis, reached the crater rim of Mt. Rainier. The teams were rewarded with perfect weather and improved route conditions, allowing for a safe summit experience.
After taking in the views and celebrating on the summit, the teams made their way back to Camp Muir. There, they took time to rest, refuel, and reflect on the morning’s achievement before continuing their descent.
Now en route to Paradise, the teams are expected to arrive back at RMI Basecamp later this afternoon.
Congratulations to today’s climbers for their determination, teamwork, and a successful summit.
Posted by: Leif Bergstrom, Ben Luedtke, Will Ambler, Mac Nolde, Fitz Elder, Kat Porter
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 12,800'
The Four Day Climb August 16 - 19 led by RMI Guides Leif Bergstrom and Ben Luedtke reached 12,800' today before high winds and a descending cloud cap forced them to turn around. The teams returned safely to Camp Muir around 8 am. They will repack and continue the remaining 4,500' to Paradise later this morning.
Posted by: Will Ambler, Bailey Servais
Categories: Expedition Dispatches North Cascades
Elevation: 9,131'
RMI Guides Will Ambler and Bailey Servais led their team to the summit of Mt. Shuksan via the Fisher Chimneys route. The team enjoyed clear skies and a bit of sunshine as they climbed above the clouds. On the descent, a rainstorm moved in, making for a soggy finish. The team picked up the pace — even running at times — and made it safely back to the trailhead this afternoon.
Congratulations to the team!
Posted by: Dave Hahn, Will Ambler
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
At 5:45 am this morning, the Four Day Climb led by Dave Hahn and team successfully reached the summit of Mount Rainier. The climbers were greeted by clear skies and a stunning sunrise, making for a truly memorable moment at 14,410 feet.
The team reported encountering some wind while ascending the Disappointment Cleaver, but conditions improved as they neared the summit. By the time they reached the top, the winds had calmed, allowing for a peaceful and awe-inspiring views.
Currently, the team is on their descent, working their way back to Camp Muir. Congratulations to Dave Hahn and the entire team on a safe and successful summit!
Posted by: Brent Okita, Will Ambler
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
Congratulations to the Four Day Climb team led by RMI guides Brent Okita and Will Ambler for reaching the summit of Mt. Rainier!
With clear skies and breathtaking views, today’s climb was nothing short of spectacular. Huge kudos to the team for their determination and teamwork on this unforgettable journey.
Posted by: Will Ambler, Casey Grom, George Hedreen, Raymond Holt, Avery Stolte, Celeste Wilson, Margo Kerr, Erika Barrett
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
The Four Day Climb June 30 - 3 July led by RMI Guides Will Ambler and George Hedreen reached the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning. They enjoyed some time in the crater before starting their descent around 7 am. Will reported sunny skies and light winds. The teams will return to Camp Muir for a short break and repack, then continue the final 4.5 miles down to Paradise. They will conclude their adventure this afternoon with a celebration at Rainier BaseCamp.
Congratulations to today's climbers!
Posted by: Dustin Wittmier, Lacie Smith, Will Ambler
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Alaska
Elevation: 0'
Wednesday, June 18, 2025 - 10:16 pm PT
Well, this one is a couple days late. Like most members of the team, I have also been through quite a time warp. As I sit here tonight and am thinking about the trip, it occurs to me that just four nights ago we were still making our way back down to 17,000' Camp from the summit. Time flies when life is just a series of naps in between hard walking, unpacking, repacking and digging up caches. Truly the final 72 hours of a Mt. McKinley expedition is one of the hardest pushes most of us will make in the mountains. In that amount of time we: move from 14 Camp to 17 Camp, sleep, have our summit day, sleep, descend from 17 Camp to 11 Camp, sleep just a couple of hours and then descend from 11 Camp to Base Camp. All of that is assuming good weather.
This time around we had the fortune of great weather for a summit day and for our exit. Upon our arrival to Base Camp we waited only a short amount of time for the planes carrying Dave Hahn's team onto the glacier to arrive and take us off. It's quite a funny position to be in, tired and haggard from 17 days on the glacier and looking at another team with fresh clothes on, perfectly packed and with a bunch of empty CMCs (poop cans) just arriving. It feels like there is so much to tell them, but they will all learn their own lessons in due time.
Anyhow, the next moment you find yourself in a small plane, diving through a hole in the clouds and speeding along at the edge of a cloud ceiling about 1,000 feet above the Tokositna Glacier, which your pilot is using as a handrail as you take a long exit from the range. Your cell phone finds service and depending who you are and where you work, you have some incredible amount of unread messages and emails and normal life comes roaring back in an instant. There is still unpacking to do in Talkeetna, checking out with the National Park Service, returning the full CMCs and a celebration dinner in a town full of tourists, at which I could barely keep my eyes open, the past few days catching up to me.
The next day we all headed for the airport in a van driven by the only guy keeping it low key at the Fairview the evening before. I think Bill is mostly there to sing karaoke and may have just been having a cranberry juice, straight. Having booked a flight just a day prior, both Will and I sat in middle seats for the flight back to Seattle, the people to my right and left having to deal with the sunbaked guy next to them sleeping open-mouthed.
Finally, most of us had our first day back at home or first day of an extended vacation in Alaska today. I'm sure we all tried to find our way back in to some routine, just to be reminded by the burnt lips, tongue and nostrils that we just had one of the wildest and most memorable experiences of our lives. I know that for myself, those nights walking down the lower Kahiltna Glacier to basecamp are forever etched in my mind as some of the most rugged beauty I have ever witnessed.
RMI Guide Dustin Wittmier
New Post Alerts:
Mt. McKinley Expedition May 29, 2025
Congratulations Dustin & Team! Proud of your accomplishments and inspired by your grit!
-Joe
Posted by: Joseph Mueller on 6/20/2025 at 7:57 am
It is Great to read this Dustin!! Your Team was lucky to have an Awesome Guide!!! (You)
Posted by: Dave Kestel on 6/20/2025 at 3:56 am
So stoked to be a part of this summit team! Thank you to all the guides! You all did such an amazing job keeping us on course and safe. I can’t thank you enough for this most beautiful experience!
Posted by: Michael Giardina on 7/19/2025 at 10:50 am
Congratulations Team for reaching the top. Take in the beauty.
Posted by: Maryann Marzo on 7/18/2025 at 3:31 pm
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