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Friday, August 23, 2019 7:11 PM PTThe rains came shortly after we finished our breakfast this morning, and refused to let up until 3 o'clock this afternoon. We spent the majority of the day passing the time in our tents before finally getting out for a little training this evening. The views cleared in time for us to enjoy them while eating dinner, and we're all ready to head for the summit tomorrow! RMI Guide Ben Ammon & Team
Posted by: Dave Hahn, Seth Waterfall, Mark Tucker
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Everest
Elevation: 17,575'
Done and dusted! The team just crushed what is objectively the most difficult day of the trip outside of summit day. The packs are the heaviest, the altitude change is the hardest, and nerves and anxiety are usually pretty high. Everyone is always wondering how they will perform. Well, every member of this crew absolutely styled the carry! I couldn’t be prouder of all of them and all of you friends and family at home should be equally as proud. Now they have the rest of the afternoon to chill and enjoy a huge BBQ lunch prepared by our killer basecamp crew. Woohoo! Feels good to have the first one done. We will be taking another rest day tomorrow to help increase our chances of better acclimating before making the move to Camp one. High fives all around!
Ode to the Rest Step
My dearest rest step, you are the absolute best
With every foot placement you give us a micro rest
These tests that make climbing the alpine possible
Even with the heaviest pack you make us feel invincible!
And when you remember to pressure breath we can climb with no reprieve.
Oh rest step, with you we will never stop,
And we will always make the mountain top!
Signed
-unknown 42yr old Portland Poet
Go TEAM GO!
Especially Jake!
Posted by: Team Pizza on 1/15/2022 at 9:47 pm
Congratulations everyone! The rest is well deserved!
Posted by: Coeli Scott on 1/15/2022 at 6:54 am
Posted by: Hannah Smith, Dustin Wittmier, Devin Guffey
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Alaska Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 14,200'
Friday, June 25, 2021 - 9:51 pm PT
Good evening,
Winds continued today with the first half being rather cloudy. Camp remained quiet with very little climbers out and about. As the clouds faded and the wind lessened, camp came alive. With a bit of nicer weather for the second half of the day, everyone was excited to get out of their tents and enjoy the sunshine but most of all not to be horizontal. All our tent platforms are no longer flat and smooth but now have troughs, bumps, and tilts from the warmth of our bodies melting away at the snow. This is a sign we need to move to a new camp. We are still monitoring the weather for our moment to move to 17K Camp. Once the winds calm down we will take our chance at the summit. We are getting antsy and ready for a change of scenery but we are also committed to being patient. Our patience will pay off.
Patiently waiting,
RMI Guide Hannah Smith and team
Do Well Hannah + team, Waltero
Posted by: Walter Glover on 6/28/2021 at 9:13 am
Happy birthday to Mike!!! I hope you get at least a bit of a celebration with your group, but I hope even more that mother nature will give you the best gift possible with clear weather so you guys can summit soon! I miss you and can’t wait to hear all about your trip! The pups and I send our love!
Posted by: Alex Ament on 6/26/2021 at 12:26 pm
On The Map
David and Heidi,
We are following your trek each day. Congratulations
on your progress this far.
Best wishes,
Dad
Posted by: Craig Berkman on 2/17/2012 at 6:49 pm
I think I can, I think I can, Your almost there. Awesome pictures!
Posted by: Bradley Hegman on 2/17/2012 at 12:58 pm
Posted by: Brent Okita
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro
I'm continually amazed with the Ngorongoro Crater each time I visit. The variety and sheer number of animals we see blows my mind. Today might have surpassed what I've seen in prior trips.
It started with a bang as one of the first critters we encountered was a hyena feeding on a carcass with a jackal and vulture looking on. A Nat Geo moment if there ever was. It got better from there on. The animal we all wanted to really see, simba, popped into view not terribly long after the hyena. A big male showed itself for us looking as regal and mighty as only a big cat can look. Later, we got closer looks at a pride of four or five lions, including a young male, resting by a river, content to relax before they go hunting again. Perhaps the coolest thing was just being in the middle of hundreds, if not thousands, of animals like wildebeest, zebra, gazelle, warthog, Cape Buffalo, and more. All just milling around, some just inches from the vehicle and more as far as the eye could see. Things were so active we were delayed in reaching the designated picnic area for lunch because we had to stop and gawk so much.
Finally, we made it to our lunch site and were treated to a great meal centered around chicken shishkabobs. On our way out we stopped by a Masai bomba, or village, where we were invited to learn about their culture and how they live. Sure, we pay for the privilege, but I think it money well spent as it helps support these people who are caught between keeping to their traditional ways while existing in a world so unlike theirs.
The day ended with another gourmet dinner, the likes of which none of us commonly partake. A nice South African Cabernet seemed an appropriate pairing to the wonderful meal. The great company only made the evening perfect.
Tomorrow: Tarangire National Park!
Cheers,
RMI Guide Brent Okita & Team
Posted by: Brent Okita, Dominic Cifelli, Dustin Wittmier, Seth Burns, Jess Wedel, Lauren Macklin
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 10,080'
What a difference a day makes. 40mph snow and wind at Camp Muir. A perfect day to train inside.
After a cloudy walk up the Muir Snowfield on Monday we enjoyed two gorgeous, sunny days of training on Tuesday and Wednesday, learning the basics of snow and ice climbing, glacier travel, crevasse rescue and ice climbing.
This morning the weather has changed! Blowing snow all night and day has us thankful for the shelter of the bunkhouse at Camp Muir where we're learning about avalanches - how to avoid them, use the tools of the trade and perform a rescue.
We'll continue with other topics of interest and get out for some hands on training if and when we can do it safely outside.
Everyone is doing great and happy we got so much training in even though our summit aspirations are no longer realistic after finding serious signs of avalanche hazard on the slopes leading to the summit.
We'll be headed down tomorrow morning after some training and packing up in the morning.
Thank you for all of the updates for those of us at lower elevations here in the Twin Cities and others! I am sorry to hear you won’t be able to summit but am glad you all are taking precautions. Enjoy the views from up there, it’s something not everyone gets to experience in their lifetimes. Good work team!!
Posted by: April Londo on 5/13/2022 at 4:34 pm
On The Map
240Z I have an awesome nephew! Congrats! So proud of you. 240Z
Posted by: Bev Trauba on 2/21/2012 at 2:21 am
I know this was your dream (a crazy one at that) I am so proud of you KIM AND BOB HEGMAN. Excited to hear all about it.
Safe trip home-
Love, Susan
Posted by: Susan on 2/20/2012 at 11:38 am
When 6:30 rolled around this morning, the clouds were all gone at Shira Camp. Kibo stood out clear as a bell and so did Meru, the 15,000 ft volcano to our west. There was still a sea of clouds down below, but they were well below our lofty 12,500 ft camp. We were walking uphill by 8:30, straight toward Kibo. It was an easy day for climbing with gentle breezes to keep us cool. The trail was easier than those we’ve experienced so far and we made good and steady progress. We reached the Lava Tower at around 12:30 PM and sat down at 15,200 ft for a leisurely lunch in the sun. Our nine climbers had each broken their personal altitude records. It was amazing to be so close under Kibo’s gigantic rock and ice faces. Finally we geared up and started walking down. We came gradually back into the zones where plants live and then it was wonderful to stroll down through the gardens of Barranco with Giant Senecios and lobelias and Heather. We made it to camp at 3:30 and ducked into the dining tent for coffee and popcorn. Coming into camp it was hard not to look over at the Barranco wall and wonder about tomorrow’s climb. But the beauty of Kibo at sunset and the amazing stars that came out a bit later helped to settle our minds on the present. We’ll worry about the wall tomorrow.
Best Regards
Wow you guys are doing great! You’re almost to the summit! You can do it! Love and prayers coming to you Steve, Lynn and Peter! Looking forward to hearing all about the trek!
Posted by: Ardy and Bob Schopf on 8/6/2022 at 3:12 pm
15,200! You’re feeling it now, I’m sure! Take it all in and stay strong…and hydrated!! Hoping for clear skies for you all.
Posted by: Rob Schopf on 8/6/2022 at 1:13 pm
Posted by: Mike Walter, Abby Westling, Henry Coppolillo
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 14,200'
Sunday May 22, 2022 – 3:21pm PT
We're enjoying another rest day in Genet Basin at 14,200'. The weather is pretty agreeable down here: light cloud cover and calm wind. Lenticular cloud caps have formed over Denali and Foraker, indicating higher winds aloft.
Our team is in a good position, rested, acclimated, and with a cache established up high. Now we're on standby for a favorable weather window to allow us to move to high camp and have a shot at the summit. The forecast is not terrible, but there are a series of disorganized low-pressure systems moving in from the NW. We're optimistic that there will be a break between systems and well get some good climbing weather.
Until then, we're comfortably enjoying the views, the rest, the snacking, and the comradery. We'll keep you posted on our status as we monitor the weather trends and receive forecast updates. We'll be in touch again tomorrow.
Hope the weather clears and wishing everyone the best. Godspeed for a safe ascent to the peak. I know Mr. Corona has several great stories to keep moral high :)
Posted by: Carlos Coro on 5/23/2022 at 12:26 pm
Hey Dan,
Get healthy!!
I am still with you guys in spirit!
James
Posted by: James Fitch on 5/6/2013 at 7:06 pm
Get healthy and strong. I’ll be watching as you ascend to Camp III. Much luck with your overnight stay there.
Posted by: Terri Kinney on 5/6/2013 at 2:01 pm
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