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Posted by: Peter Whittaker, Jess Matthews
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Ecuador
July 11, 2022 - Huaraz to BC: The team loaded up the bus from the hotel this morning and after about an hour through pleasantly rough and rocky roads arrived at Pashpa. Here we loaded up our burros with duffels, food, climbing gear, and base camp infrastructure then promptly began our 4-hour trek up the Ishinca Valley. Through high grassy knolls, green forests, and boulder fields leftover from glaciers many millennia ago, we reached our basecamp at just over 14,000.’ Ishinca Base Camp is quite the spot. Surrounded by steep rocky walls with the mighty Tocllaraju sitting in front as a majestic skyline at just under 6,000m (19,797ft).
After we got our tents set up and moved in, we enjoyed a delicious meal of fresh caught trout and potatoes, prepared by our wonderful camp cook Emilio and his assistant Romel. With tired eyes and full bellies, we happily crawled into our sleeping bags and drifted off to the sound of babbling glacial stream
July 12, 2022 - BC Training Day: Today we slept in and let the warmth of the sun wake us up. After a breakfast of omelets, we began working on some rope skills and practice with knots and hitches. We took advantage of good weather and did another acclimatization hike after lunch up the moraine to Laguna Milluacocha. Along the way we saw views of Ranrapalca and our objective Urus Este. We were welcomed back with some afternoon tea and popcorn. Not a bad day living at 14,000’
July 13, 2022 - Snow School: We left basecamp early this morning to head up 2,000’ to the toe of the Ishinca glacier to get some more acclimatization in before we attempt our summit bid of Ishinca tomorrow. There we practiced cramponing, roped travel, anchor building, and crevasse rescue at 16,000’. It was back to basecamp for an afternoon of rest and an early dinner of Lomo Saltado before bed. Tomorrow (tonight will come early) …
RMI Guides Alan Davis, Emma Lyddan & Team
Posted by: Peter Whittaker, Hannah McGowan
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
Posted by: Dave Hahn, Seth Waterfall, Mark Tucker
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Everest
Elevation: 17,575'
On The Map
Good luck on your summit push. Your Sherpas and your entire team are heroes, very brave. Blessings for a safe summit.
ABQ Uptown #985 NM/AZ/CO
Posted by: Rachael C. Lujan on 5/7/2013 at 3:49 pm
Good luck to your team. Hoping you can summit.
Posted by: Kevin on 5/7/2013 at 10:16 am
Posted by: Brent Okita, Leon Davis, Lindsay Mann
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 17,200'
On The Map
Kristin, We are rooting for all of you !...keep us posted…..safe travels…..Debbie, Rich, Sean and Jen
Posted by: Debbie Collins on 6/11/2012 at 10:56 am
Brent and Kristen, keep it up! You’re being thought of by many down here at sea level.
Posted by: Bob Maher on 6/10/2012 at 8:13 pm
Posted by: Nikki Champion, Michael Murray, Bo Torrey
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
The Four Day Climb July 16 - 19 led by RMI Guides Nikki Champion, Michael Murray and Bo Torrey reached the crater rim around 7 am today. They took six hours to climb from Camp Muir to the summit and reported calm winds and clear skies. As of 8 am they were on their descent returning to Camp Muir and then continuing the remaining 4,500' to Paradise. They will conclude their program this afternoon with a celebration at Rainier BaseCamp.
Congratulations to today's climbers!
Congratulations climbers! Way to go Christopher!
Posted by: Jane Green on 7/19/2022 at 3:44 pm
Posted by: Taylor Bickford, Joe Hoch
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
The Mt. Rainier Summit Climb teams, led by Taylor Bickford and Joe Hoch, reached the summit! They reported nice route conditions but windy and cold temps this morning. The teams are currently on their descent back to Camp Muir and we look forward to congratulating them this afternoon.
My son climbed today with this group. So proud that he fullfilled one of his dreams. Great job see you this afternoon!! Dad and I love you. Thanks to the great leadership for the team.
Posted by: Nancy Hanson on 6/19/2021 at 5:46 am
Congrats! Say hi to Lindsay Boo Kibler .
Posted by: Steve Kibler on 6/18/2021 at 2:52 pm
Bill, Sara and team, This is the verse that popped out at me when thinking of you and your team. Ephesians 2:10 We are his creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them. What an amazing walk you are having. What a comfort to know all was planned, and who better to walk with? Praying for you, and enjoying reading and seeing all that you are doing. Janet Kresser
Posted by: Janet Kresser on 5/5/2011 at 7:37 am
We are a class of 5th graders in Taos that have been following the blogs as part of a social studies project. This new development made a really big impact on them when it was decided that Sara would go for the summit if possible, but that Bill would not.
Here are some thoughts that the students wanted me to try to share with Sara (their new hero) and Bill, and of course, Dave. As usual, the teacher disavows any knowledge of what might come out of her students’ mouths at any given moment…
- It’s good that he’s staying down because if he got hurt it could jeopardize everyone.
- It’s pretty brave of Sara to keep going without her dad. I hope they make it!
- I think that Sara is really strong and is doing her best. She’s always smiling in her pictures!
- It’s good that he’s not going, so now Sara doesn’t have to worry about her dad getting hurt.
- It isn’t worth the risk if he isn’t feeling up to it.
- Sara needs her dad on AND off the mountain. I am glad he’s staying safe.
- Even if he doesn’t go, I’m glad Sara’s going to try.
- Sara’s the awesomest climber in the world (except for Dave Hahn and a bunch of other old(er) people)!
- I think Bill is the bravest dad I have ever heard of. First of all, he’s up on Everest, which not a lotta people do. Then, he trusts his daughter and is there supporting her even if he can’t go himself. I think that’s very brave and I hope my dad would do the same for me to help me accomplish something I wanted to do.
Bottom line: Sara, you have a pint-sized fan club here in Taos cheering for you; Bill, I think they are ready to give you a “coolest dad on the planet” medal, and Dave, all of us send love and best wishes from home.
Posted by: Ms. E's Class on 5/5/2011 at 7:30 am
Posted by: Brent Okita, Leif Bergstrom, Sam Hoffman, Michael Murray
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
The Four Day Climb Led by RMI Guide Brent Okita reached the summit of Mt. Rainier early this morning. Brent reported clear skies above and a great climbing route.
Congratulations team!
That was Kristian Whittaker’s 25th Birthday - climb. How cool he summited with his sister, Gabriella and her boyfriend Leif. I, Erika, was so fortunate to meet up with the kids at Camp Muir and walk back to Paradise with them and with Brent Okita and my good friend, Anne M. So grateful for this day back on Mt. Rainier with both my kids. :). Sorry I didn’t get to see any of the RMI office staff when I was at Basecamp. Maybe next time.
Posted by: Erika Whittaker on 11/17/2022 at 9:36 pm
Way to go boys! Well done. Cant wait for the stories! #HillBilliesproud
Posted by: Bill price on 7/13/2018 at 9:42 pm
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