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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

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

The Early Gaunaco catches the Mula.

It was an early start, but an exciting start for the team. Today, we made our trek to Base Camp to start our next phase of our expedition.

We said goodbye to our amazing Grajales Stone House hosts at Casa de Piedra and started our pilgrimage to the base of this awe inspiring mountain.

Nothing wakes you up quite like your trip’s first frigid river crossing. Switching our crocs in 4x4 mode, we quickly made the crossing. It was a refreshing way to continue our journey through this mystical country. From the beautiful valley scenes, the curious Guancos, to the Arrieros wishing us a safe journey while passing us on their way down from delivering our gear to base camp; these are only a few highlights of what we experienced leading up to BC.

Spirits were high as we made the 6 to 7 hour trek (that’s for you Wells) to accomplish today’s Plaza de Argentina. We are now settled in at 13,800’ preparing our minds and bodies for the climb ahead. It’s time to strap up, clip in, and go full send.

Thank you to our amazing RMI guides and our local Grajales crew for making this a special experience. But more importantly, thank you to all our families and friends at home who are taking up the slack while we are on this amazing expedition. (Particularly Lauren, Winn, & Wells)

Till tomorrow.

RMI Climber Andrew Hall

Plaza Argentina Basecamp rest day number one. 

We had a relaxing morning, waking up to a thin layer of frost covering our tents and gear. Schaffe and 1/2 calf proudly entered the dining tent for breakfast knowing they were the evening winners of Farkle. This meant the rest of us schemed of personal strategies that would give us the honor of being a future Farkle champion.

Even without the prestige of a Farkle win, I woke up with an extra bounce in my step knowing that the 49ers won last night.

After breakfast we divided the group gear that will be used on the upper mountain. Ben and Ray weighed our packs, and then we individually decided if using porters was right for us. At this time we made personal choices on how much snack weight is too much snack wait or how much chub rub was too much chub rub.

With a delicious lunch meal in our stomachs we made a short group hike above Basecamp to 14,300’ to see the spectacular view of Plaza Argentina.

Games of hacky sack and cribbage with some others enjoying books and naps were used to pass the time until we tackle the upper mountain.

Spirits are high, we are anxiously awaiting the unknown challenges in our immediate future. This desire to explore the unknown to see if our bodies and minds are capable of adapting is nothing short of addiction.

RMI Climber Shane Francis

Monday, January 12, 2026 - 5:30 pm PT

Our 6th day in Ecuador actually started on day 5, as we “woke up” at 11 pm for an alpine start and our first summit day of the trip. We left the hut at 12:10 am and climbed through clouds until we reached the toe of the glacier at around 16,000 feet. From then on, the clouds steadily cleared leading to great summit weather and incredible views of the sunrise. The entire team reached the summit of Cayambe around 7am, once again setting new high points for many in the group. A highlight of the day was having the hut, mountain, and summit all to ourselves as we were the only group climbing Cayambe today. We’re now back in Quito and looking forward to a well earned rest day before heading to Cotopaxi.

RMI Guide Nick Sinapius

It’s rest day here. The last day at Plaza Argentina Basecamp before we assail the defenses of the Sentinel of Stone, Aconcagua. Little left to do. Everything in our possession either comes with us or goes to Mulas. Eat, rest, see the doc, stretch our legs. Wait. As I sit here in anticipation, I am struck by a simple fact: There is no control on the mountain.  

I’d love to tell you that there is control on the mountain, but there are only degrees of influence and occasionally getting what we intended. But control? El no existe. 

I’d love to say we control our actions, but if we had control of our actions we’d simply sprint up the mountain to the summit. If we had control we’d never bend or slacken to lack of oxygen, muscular fatigue, or the dangerous effects of high altitude sickness. 

I’d love to say we control our thoughts on the mountain, but if we had control of our thoughts on the mountain we’d never doubt ourselves, never experience the effects of low oxygen on our thinking skills, never need checklists, never need an encouraging word from another to keep us focused on the task at hand.

I’d love to tell you we control our emotions on the mountain, but if we controlled our emotions we’d never fear failure. It wouldn’t hurt to miss our mark. We wouldn’t experience angst watching a fellow climber getting airlifted off the mountain via helicopter. Our confidence would never falter no matter how much snow, ice, wind, or elevation Aconcagua throws at us. 

Control is not a concept that exists on the mountain. There is only influence. And our lack of control is not a problem. In fact, our lack of control is an essential part of the challenge. The unknown, the lack of control, the formidable defenses of the mountain, are precisely why the challenge of Aconcagua is so tantalizing and coveted. 

Aconcagua, sacred mountain, Sentinel of Stone, Centinela de Piedra, what defenses will you throw at us? What toll will you ask? What price will you require us to pay? 

Ask what you will, Aconcagua, despite our lack of control, we are prepared to do what we can. 

We are ready to climb with a great plan, the best damn guides a crew could hope for, and tremendous support staff.

We have trained our asses off to make your summit, and we will fight fatigue with a tenacious spirit and love for the challenge you present. 

We will find a way to replace momentary doubt with the confidence that we have an indomitable will to put one foot in front of the other again and again and again. 

Most of all, we will climb with joy in our hearts from all the support we share in this group, and the tremendous sum of support we have from home. We are ready to pick each other up and find a way no matter what defenses you present to us. 

Are you ready, Centinela? Here we come.

RMI Climber Jared Wood

Monday, March 30, 2026 - 3:30 am PT

The RMI Lobuche team reached the summit of Lobuche peak at 20,075' today with seven climbers and four Sherpa.  RMI Guide Jess Wedel reported a great summit day and by far the most sun they have had this trip. Everyone is tired after a hard effort, but doing well.

They have returned to High Camp to spend another night. Tomorrow they will descend to Pangboche.

Nice work team!

Photos courtesy: Guide Lopsang - High Altitude Dreams

Ecuador continues to deliver beautiful scenery as we travel south of Quito. The long driveway for the hacienda was lined with 100’ tall eucalyptus trees providing a refreshing smell as we drive out this morning. The country side is covered with verdant fields dotted with cows or greenhouses growing red and yellow and pink roses. The roads are lined with vendors selling ice cream and hot snacks and the freshest fruit. And the skyline is dotted by the giant glaciated volcanoes we came here to climb. We’re lucky to enjoy this beautiful country with a group of lovely people.

With a little spare time at our new hotel we enjoyed some more training in the warm sunshine.

Tomorrow we begin our final climb on this trip to Ecuador, the tallest of the Ecuadorian volcanoes: Chimborazo.

RMI Guide Walter Hailes and team

First and foremost, with great honor, we want to congratulate this team for reaching the summit of Aconcagua! For those of us that made it, however, I believe we would all agree that it came with a cost and it was very bittersweet. This team truly became a family, and it's rough given that not all of us made it. We are so happy and excited for those of us that did, but heartfelt and bummed for those of us that didn't. Not having all of us stand on top left a mark on us, but it also brought out a bond in us that was truly inspiring.  

As guides, we couldn't be more proud of this team from start to finish. Everyone busted their asses, supported each other, and we are all better climbers because of it. We look forward to climbing together again, and what brought us together wasn't just a goal to climb a big mountain. We are a team consisting of an author, a coach, a mother, an entrepreneur, a father, an adventurer, someone going through a mid life crisis, an explorer of life, and someone living their dream. 

We will let all of you decipher who is who. ;)  A huge thanks to this team for coming together in every situation, pushing on, and being part of something even bigger than Cerro Aconcagua herself. 

Congratulations team!! :)

RMI Guide Ben Luedtke