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Tuesday, June 17, 2025 - 9:12 pm PT

Rest day, what a glorious phrase, after 6 days of moving ourselves and our supplies up and down this mountain, we were able to sleep in. We awoke at the late hour of 9:30 am to a leisurely breakfast of bagels, cream cheese, and salmon. After that per our leader Dom’s insistence, we all took laps around the 11,000' Camp or up to Motorcycle Hill to get our blood pumping and make sure our “gears didn’t rust up”. The afternoon was a mix of reading, chatting, napping, grazing on our heaviest snacks, and playing games, the hottest dice den on the mountain is right here at 11,000' Camp.  Tonight we prepare for tomorrow for our move to 14k and to the next stage of our journey up this mountain. 

Today is also extra special for this blogger, I want to wish a happy anniversary to my wife Sophia here on the mountain with me. It’s been an amazing 8 years of marriage with my adventure partner for life. I’m so lucky to be here with you tackling this challenge together. I’ve loved spending every day of the last year with you through all the training, debating every ounce, gram, and calorie in our packs, and supporting each other at home and on the mountain.

I love you dearly Sophia, and am thankful for every moment we get to adventure together.

- RMI Climber Tait

Sunday, June 1, 2025 - 7:20 pm PT

We have arrived at the base of Ski Hill after flying on yesterday evening. Due to our late arrival, we setup at Basecamp and spent the evening reviewing skills and learning how to build an expedition glacier camp. Now our heaviest move of the trip is complete and we are hoping to carry tomorrow.

RMI Guide Dustin Wittmier

We continue to progress up the mountain. The cold windy night gave way to light winds and warm tranqui panki sun today. Camp 1 (16,400') is where we pitch our tents and we carried and cached gear today at Camp 2 (18,000'). The group continues to move quickly and the nicer weather acted as chubrub, smoothing the way. Soon enough we will call Camp 2 our home.

As we walk up the mountain to accomplish our goal, I can't help but notice another, other worldly thing on its journey down the mountain. A journey that is measured in Eons. These are the stones of the Sentinel and there are many kinds. There are sharp edged stones, smooth rounded stones with inclusions that glint in the shine of the light. Stones that get overwhelmed and buried by others. Dull stones that go unnoticed and stones that are the source of postcards. The life of a stone is long and hard. It begins as part of something larger, but like all those on a journey, it too must find its own way. The path, the goal is mostly the same for stones. To reach the ocean. The way is filled with change, with treachery, pain, success, and help. Sometimes it is a burrowing animal that dislodges the stone that is stuck under the weight of others. Bringing it to the surface where it can see the light again and continue down the mountain. The pull of gravity keeps the stone on its path. Once separated from the slab, the stone searches out the creek, the creek that twists and bends towards the next goal, the river. This is the gathering place of stones. This is where the stone can finally see its destination in sight. One big rainstorm or snowmelt could transport the stone to paradise in one quick rush. But no stone knows if they will be the lucky one. The one that still has some life left when it reaches the ocean. Some shape of its former self that is recognizable.

You see, the journey itself grinds the stone, buckles it, scars it and takes from it. Many stones slowly break down into the sands and gravels that litter the river bed and they never reach their destination. But the lucky stones, the stones that reach the end goal intact, enjoy peace on the ocean floor and take in colorful corals and strange animals swirling around them. There, The stone can reflect on its journey and contemplate the meaning of it all. For when it is finally done, the stone will be transported deep under the ocean floor where it will be melted down into its component parts by an unending pressure. where it will be transformed into something new. Something that will form new mountains in another part of the world. Once cooled, these new stones can start the journey all over again. And so the cycle continues.

RMI Climber Colin Young

Here at camp 2 (18,000’) while enjoying the views of this Sentinel of Stone - There’s a moment on every expedition that I live for - we’ve reached it. 

When Strangers Become a Team

It happens somewhere between the initial introductions and the summit push we have ahead of us, in that subtle shift when a group of strangers transforms into something more. We’re not just individuals sharing a mountain anymore. We’re a team.

You can feel it in the way we move now. Tasks that once required coordination or instruction just happen. The little things that make life at altitude manageable—we just get done, because we’ve all started thinking as one unit rather than separate climbers. We have the same goal in mind, but it takes a team to reach it.  

And when someone struggles—whether it’s battling altitude sickness, fumbling with tying a tent knot in 40 mph wind, or simply having a rough day—the response is immediate. We help each in those moments. There’s no judgment, no hesitation. Just hands reaching out to help, encouragement offered freely, and the quiet understanding that today it’s them, tomorrow it might be me.

This is what I love most about mountaineering. Not the summit, not the views (though both are incredible and Yes, the ultimate goal). 

It’s this: the alchemy of shared hardship that turns strangers into teammates, and teammates into something that feels a lot like family.

RMI Climber Andrew Hall 

Climbing High 

Ultimate Battle

Reaching Up & Beyond

The rain delay yesterday didn’t take the wind out of our sails. We woke up bright eyed and bushy tailed ready to start our trek. On the way to the trailhead we enjoyed (yerba) mate, empanadas, and Carlos’s 80’s rock playlist. The meat and Malbec of Mendoza felt like an oasis but getting on the trail today reminded us of why we had travelled all this way.

A cool breeze and breathtaking views helped us up the Vacas Valley and a condor soaring high above the snow capped peaks was a good omen for the start of our trip. We are now sitting at Las Leñas patiently awaiting an asado from our kind Argentine hosts. We had a lovely first day and are excited for what is to come.

Peace, Love, Gratitude.

RMI Guides Ray Holt, Ben Luedtke, and Team 

The Team is Packed and Ready for the Flight in!

Welll we did it. We packed. We’re ready….. we hope. 

Today is quite the bear of a day. What starts as a nice leisurely breakfast at the Swiss Alaska quickly turns into a packing, sorting, repacking, resorting conundrum. We have to pack for a 3 week trip with all of our food, gear, and shelters for the trip. It’s a task. BUT, we did it in style. 

The team worked through the maze of duffels, carabiners, and a million ziplocks to finally weigh in and separate our gear for the flight tomorrow. We’ll be eating up and soaking in the last bit  of creature comforts that Talkeetna has to offer. We’re excited to let the gun go off and the trip to officially start. Once we’re on the mountain, the jitters fade and the fun begins. Wish us luck and be sure to look for your climbers name at the bottom of these dispatches. We’ll pass this blog around the team so that you can hear about the journey from your loved ones. 

Be on the lookout and talk to you all following along from Kahiltna Basecamp! 

RMI Guide Dominic Cifelli 

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!

In my brief mountaineering experience over the last 3 years, the quality of these journeys have largely been influenced by the quality of the guides and the people you are climbing with. We have been fortunate to hit home runs on both. 

On day 10 of our adventure as we attempt to summit Aconcagua. Today was a rest day at camp 2. We stretched our legs with a short hike up to 18,500’ where we had a crampon tutorial with guides Ray and Bhati. Ray even let me try his crampons on. We returned to camp 2 to rest, and prepare our gear for the push to camp 3 a.k.a. “high camp“. 

I’ve often compared climbing a mountain to a football season and how fitting that analogy is for this time of year. The trek to base camp is like the regular season. In terms of distance it’s the longest part of the journey just as there are more games in the regular season than in the playoffs. For those fortunate enough, the regular season/trek to base camp is only the preamble for why we do this. We didn’t come here just to get to basecamp and we don’t play football to put the pads away when the playoffs start. 

We do this to push ourselves, to see what’s inside our competitive souls. To join forces with other like minded individuals to work together so we can all stand on the mountain top or hoist the championship trophy. And for some of us, it’s to see if maybe we can shine the sun on our physical accomplishments once more before Father Time starts the slow sunset of our bodies. We are not looking for an easy path, we are looking for a challenge that requires our individual & collective best.

As the playoffs/push up the upper mountain began. Each climb to the next camp or round of the playoffs gets tougher. When climbing every step we take will be greeted with less oxygen, less sleep, more wear and tear on our joints and muscles. Unlike a football game the action is slow and monotonous. It is tedious work. We have to overcome the mental hurdle of knowing that each and every step will be harder. To the point of pure exhaustion, and yet we push on. Why, many will ask. Why would you put yourself through that? The reality is those who ask such questions will never quite understand the answer. In simplest terms I would sum it up like this; if you want to have “Fun” go to Disney World or the beach. If you want an incredible sense of accomplishment, one that few people on this earth will ever know, grab a pack, a pair of boots, a few friends or meet some new ones, hire some experienced guides and hit the trail!

As we stand here at camp 2 looking up at the highest peak in the Western Hemisphere, 22,842’ in sky stands the summit of Aconcagua. The next round of our playoff push is the carry and move to camp 3. Survive and advance is the motto we use during a playoff run and that certainly applies to climbing Aconcagua. Regardless of how our bodies feel and our mind telling us to tap out and return to a hot shower and good night’s sleep in Mendoza, we WILL press on. The “Mountain Don’t Give A F*<£” (MDGAF) and we are determined to “Find A Way!”

It is a battle of ultimate respect between the mountain and the climber. I don’t know if I/we will be turned around or if I/we will dance on the summit in the next few days. I do know that regardless of the outcome, the thousands of hours training we have put in and years of preparation are worth it. Life is about your process and your approach day after day, month after month and year after year. The score/outcome will take care of itself.

I want to thank everyone who has supported my teammates and myself on our respective journeys to this point. The collective commitment of time and resources is substantial. To Shelley, Avery, TJ and Luke I love you all! To the CGG it’s been an amazing 30+ yrs doing life together…it truly is a great day to be alive!

RMI Climber Tim Schafer

The Four Day Climb led by Jack Delaney and Jackson Breen reached the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning under spectacular conditions. With clear skies above a thick marine layer and light winds of 10–15 mph, the team stood atop the 14,410’ peak, greeted by breathtaking views.

Congratulations to today’s team for a safe and successful ascent!

Rest day in Pheriche. Or so the team thought.

We woke up to more fresh snow and a ceiling of clouds so thick it felt like the mountain was telling us to go back to bed. We kept drifting to the windows during breakfast, watching, waiting — and then, right on cue, a sliver of blue. That was all we needed.

We headed uphill on an acclimatization hike, which sounds gentle until you are climbing up a steep, snow-covered slope at 14,000 feet in the cold. The snow made every step a small negotiation. We used it as a chance to run through some walking technique refreshers — footwork and movement that becomes essential when the terrain gets serious. We even invented the rest step jitterbug (full credit to Brian, who may or may not have a future in choreography).

We pushed up to 15,300 feet before the clouds started rebuilding and we made the call to head down. The views on the way — snow-draped valleys, moving clouds reshaping the peaks every few minutes — were, as we say every single day, genuinely stunning.

Back in Pheriche, we ate lunch in the sun room and lounged like lizards soaking up every degree of warmth. Cards were played. Snacks were consumed. And then came the highlight of the day.

We visited the doctors at the Himalayan Rescue Association clinic just as they were arriving for the season — two physicians who are basically Everest Base Camp royalty (headed up in a week to work at EBC all season). They give altitude talks every day during peak season, and we were their very first group of the year. Lucky us. The talk was excellent and a good reminder of why we’re taking this acclimatization business seriously.

The evening wound down the right way: hot chocolate, mint tea, dinner, and a team that’s sleeping at 14,000 feet and handling it well. Everyone is feeling the altitude (that’s normal, that’s expected) but the group is strong and in good spirits.

Next stop: Lobuche.

— RMI Guide Jess Wedel and the team

P.S. Jen says Happy Birthday Gord!