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Hello again everyone,

The team had a good night's rest last night and today was just a short 2.5hr hike up to 15’000ft to our high camp. Everyone is excited and maybe just a touch nervous, which is very normal! 

The team has just wrapped up lunch and discussed in great detail the plan for tomorrow’s climb. Everyone knows what we’ll be wearing, what will be in the pack, as well as the schedule. 

Our game plan will be to wake at 10:30pm and have a quick breakfast at 11, then hopefully hit the trail around 11:30pm. It’s a bit busier, hence the slightly early departure tonight. Hopefully that will get us out in front of the majority of the other climbers. 

The team has been doing great thus far and I’m expecting us to reach the summit in 7 to 8hrs if things go according to plan. 

We had a trivia challenge, as per usual, and one lucky winner will get a phone call from the summit. (maybe everyone)

So friends and family back home please keep your phones handy and if you receive a call from a strange number please answer. We hope to be on top around 7. 

Which is 10pm east coast time Thursday evening. 

Casey and the RMI summit bound team!

We started the day in our fancy hotel, enjoying eggs and sausage and coffee as well.

The van had arrived, the gear was all packed and our guides diligently made up for what we lacked

The bus swayed and vistas were scanned, 3 hours more to begin what we planned

But when we stopped to pee we heard the news, one weather day we had to lose.

We decended the highway trying not to be crass, Aconcagua had told us, you shall not pass

The city came close and I remembered my luck, I was in South America no other place I'd rather be stuck

Another night in the land of sun and good wine, another joke about chubrub would not be out of line

RMI Climber Colin Young

Due to heavy rains the Aconcagua National Park closed today. (Jan. 8) The team will start their trek tomorrow to Base Camp.

Hello from Ecuador!

We had a beautiful first day on our Ecuador adventure. After introductions and a quick team meeting we set off on a tour of Quito.

Our first stop was at the equator, where it’s hard to walk in a straight line, easy (for some people) to balance an egg on the head of a nail, and water swirls this way and that. Our tour guide explained the physics being all these things correctly enough to meet the approval of Paul, our Astrophysicist. Most of us were just happy to see the water swirl in different directions.

We finished our sight seeing with a walking tour of the historic district and a panoramic view of the city from the base of the Virgin off the Panecillo.

Overall a really strong start with a great group of people.

RMI Guide Walter Hailes

RMI Guide Tatum Whatford and team reached the summit of Mt. Shuksan via the Fisher Chimneys route.  Tatum checked in from the summit around 9:30 am PT.  They will return to camp for some well deserved rest, enjoying another night on the mountain before descending to the trailhead tomorrow.

Congratulations to the team!

Why we come to the mountains? I believe we find challenges here that make us feel alive. I feel alive in the mountains. This is my first season on Aconcagua, and I feel very much alive and ready to accept new challenges. Now a new challenge begins for me: try the summit while guiding and speaking English. Speaking English has always been a big challenge for me. The little English I know I learned on the mountain, talking with people from other countries.

This expedition definitely has everything I come to the mountains to find. I'm very happy to share this experience with this team.

I know it's just beginning, but I'm sure that in the worst-case, it will be a beautiful challenge and that's why I'm in the mountains.

Grajales Guide Batti (Tomas Battistin)

Apologies for the short and sweet blog entry, but I promise Jared will make up for it tomorrow. Today our team carried gear and food to cache at Cholera, Camp 3. At 19,600ft above sea level it was a high point for almost all on the team. The slog uphill in snow was peaceful with beautiful views all around, but damn hard. Elevation gain of 1600ft in 3 hours at the altitude we’re at had us utilizing our rest steps and pressure breaths the entire way up. 

Returning to camp for an afternoon nap was what we all needed, or maybe that was just me. Yes, Brian, I actually took a nap in the middle of the afternoon. Please mark the occasion. We spent the rest of our time mentally preparing ourselves for the next two days which will have us moving to high camp and making a summit attempt. 

As I lay in my tent reflecting on the last 10 days on this mountain, I am again filled with gratitude. I’m grateful I get to spend yet another night on the mountain in good health and spirits. I’m grateful for my gear that is going to keep me warm and moving on summit day. I’m grateful for my teammates who are always encouraging each other. I’m grateful for technology that can get sick climbers off the mountain and to the help they need quickly. I’m grateful for the incredible views from the pee spot at Camp 2. I’m grateful for strong legs to carry me up the mountain. I’m grateful for my tent mate Andrew who doesn’t give me a hard time about having to unzip the tent in gusting winds to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night (sometimes twice). I’m grateful for all my people who love and support me and never tell me to stop doing this thing I love. And lastly, but most importantly- I’m grateful for a guide team that calmly snaps into action and handles urgent situations with the utmost professionalism. Ben, Ray and Batti continue to give us all the confidence we need to get up this hill. I can’t imagine there are finer guides on this mountain than the ones we get to call ours. 

Jojo, CMan and IzBiz- thank you for giving up your mama for a few weeks. I’m almost there! BPerk- paint a picture…

RMI Climber Christine Perkinson 

Jambo from Kilimanjaro,

Today the team did a fantastic job climbing the intimidating looking Barranco Wall. It is the technical hurdle of this expedition and everyone did great and everyone enjoyed the challenge, of course the porters made it look easy as they climbed the wall with their loads carefully balanced on their heads.

Once above the wall we took a well deserved break to enjoy the views of the valleys below. The team climbed slow and steady as we made our way up and down a few ridges before finally arriving in the Karanga Valley where we will camp for the night.

Everyone is in good spirits and are looking forward to heading to our high camp tomorrow where we will start our summit bid from.

RMI Guide Casey Grom and the Kilimanjaro crew

Ben, Ray and team carry to Camp 1. 

In a way, today was the official start of the climb portion of this adventure. Each of us has different motivation and reason for being here. Each of us, a different climbing background. Each of us, a different training regimen. However, today more than ever it was apparent that we are in total unison in moving toward our shared goal of standing atop South America. 

Teamwork was on full display with the fist bumps, high fives, and words of encouragement throughout our entire 4 hour ascent to cache gear and food at Camp 1. Walking up the last section of very loose scree and dirt is indescribable. Every step you took, the ground gave way beneath your feet. With my seriously heavy pack, I struggled to get footing. The frustration was high inside my head as I felt like a hamster in a wheel. Before I knew what was happening, Big Scree cut in front of me and kicked the most glorious steps I have ever seen as he turned his head and said “I got you”. Team work made the dream work. 

As we rolled into Camp 1 we all eagerly emptied our packs into the cache sacks and took a seat on the camp chairs inside the Grajales dome tent. When all were seated around the table, we were presented with a challenge to move as quickly but as controlled as possible down the scree fields. We were told it was a test and we were all down to take it. With a little bit of excitement in the air at the challenge at hand we took off for base camp. Scree skiing was just the fun we needed after our heavy push uphill. There was giggling, laughing, more encouragement and a feeling of freedom I can’t really explain. With the test behind us and A’s all around, we got the afternoon to relax and celebrate our own little personal victories today. 

You never know what the mountain is going to give you on any given day, or what Mother Nature is going to present you with. Heck, you don’t even know what your own body is going to throw at you. We have learned this firsthand as a group. Every day we get to spend on this mountain is a gift, including the hard and heavy days like today. We are all so grateful to be here and to be with two amazing, positive and encouraging guides- Ben and Ray. 

Jojo, CMan and IzBiz- I want you to know that what I did today was hard, but I did it. And I’ll do it again and again and again because there is no better feeling than not giving up on your goals. They’re worth it! Shoot for the moon and see where you land. BPerk- thanks for ALWAYS encouraging me, you are the best thing.

RMI Climber Christine Perkinson

Day two on the trek to base camp here in the Vacas Valley.

After a night of team building around the table playing some Farkle, “BIG C” and “Half Calf” claimed the first two victories of the trip. We were treated to an incredible night sleeping under the stars, with a bright half-moon and even a coyote running through the campsites.

After a wonderful breakfast, we applied another layer of sunscreen and “Chub Rub” and hit the trail a little after 8 AM. As we hiked through the Vacas Valley, the scenery was breathtaking, and we were treated to a ton of Guanaco sightings. Some in our group—who shall remain nameless (Johnny)—even tried to stalk one down.

With Scooby at the helm and his very capable sidekick, Ray, we trekked the 10 miles to our second stop, Casa de Piedras. Before finishing the second leg of our journey, we were able to lay eyes on Aconcagua, a.k.a. The Sentinel of Stone. It is a stunning, daunting, and beautiful sight to behold. Full of respect and nervous excitement, we are one stage closer to seeing if we are worthy to pass.

RMI Climber Tim Schafer

We have broken free from the city and made our way into the highlands. Today we drove north through the rain to hike around Lake Cuicocha. Fortunately, the last drops of rain fell with our first few steps on the trail, and by the end of the hike we were rewarded with clear, sunny skies. Hopefully, that good weather luck follows us to the big peaks ahead.

We’re becoming fast friends—laughing almost constantly as we trade stories on the trail and around the dinner table.

RMI Guide Walter Hailes