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Everest BC Trek & Lobuche Climb: Dale & Team Ready for an Alpine Start

March 30, 2019

Posted by: Christina Dale

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Everest BC Trek and Lobuche

Elevation: 17,716'

We are perched high above the Khumbu Glacier watching the clouds roll by. The hike to high camp was short but a challenging rocky scramble. Unfortunately, some of our team had to make the hardest decision in mountaineering and head downhill today. The health gods are not on our side this climb and a bad cough has hit us. Making the right decision in the mountains is always the safe decision. We are so proud as a team to have made it to Everest Basecamp together as one of the many highlights of the trip. The rest of us have fingers crossed for good weather for our alpine start and climb tomorrow. RMI Guide Christina Dale

Ecuador Volcanoes: Team Enjoys Rest Day at Chilcabamba

February 2, 2022

Posted by: Dustin Wittmier, Avery Parrinello

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Ecuador

Good morning,

The team is getting a final bit of relaxation at Chilcabamba Eco Lodge this morning. It's blue skies and the mountains are out. The group seems to be in good spirits as they prepare to head to the Jose Ribas Refugio today, where they will rest for the evening before a very early start tonight. The summit of Cotopaxi and the climbing route is visible from Chilcabamba this morning, giving everyone some additional motivation!

RMI Guide Dustin Wittmier

Leave a Comment For the Team (2)

All the Best for clear skies Dustin!!

Posted by: Dave Kestel on 2/3/2022 at 4:34 am

Good luck, Dustin, Avery, and team!

Posted by: Dylan Richey on 2/2/2022 at 9:27 am

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Kilimanjaro: Grom & Team Ascend Lava Tower

January 27, 2022

Posted by: Casey Grom

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro

Elevation: 13,030'

Hello from Africa,

Today we woke to beautifully clear skies again with even better views of Kilimanjaro since moving up on the mountain. The days route took us up and around the well known and beautiful Lava Tower reaching just over 15,000', setting a new altitude record for some.

We also passed by many of the giant groundsels and towering Senecio trees that made us feel as if we were in some crazy Dr. Seuss story book.

All in all it was a really nice day with clouds gathering in the afternoon to help keep the temperature comfortable for hiking.

RMI Guide Casey Grom and crew

Mt. Rainier: Teams Reach Summit!

June 17, 2021

Posted by: Pete Van Deventer, Seth Burns, Connor Mullady, Dan Windham, Stephen Inman, Tatum Whatford

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier

Elevation: 14,410'

After several days of high winds and unstable snow conditions, the RMI Teams were greeted with light winds, clear skies and good route conditions. RMI Guides Pete Van Deventer, Dan Windham and their Four Day Climb teams reached the summit of Mt. Rainier shortly after 7 am today. The teams enjoyed some time in the crater getting all the photo ops before descending from the crater rim.

Congratulations to today's teams!

Leave a Comment For the Team (2)

Go Lindsay Kibler and team congratulations!

Posted by: James Newman on 6/18/2021 at 8:29 am

Congrats! Say hi to Lindsay Boo Kibler

Posted by: Steve Kibler on 6/17/2021 at 1:35 pm

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Mt. Elbrus: Grom & Team Acclimatize on the Ski Slopes of Cheget

July 16, 2019

Posted by: Casey Grom

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Elbrus Southside

Elevation: 7,500'

We had a nice relaxing start to the day with a traditional Russian breakfast of porridge, eggs and bread. We then made our way to the local ski lifts to help give us a jump start on our acclimatization hike. I didn't hear a single complaint about riding up 1,500' before we started our hike to nearly the top of a local peak called Cheget. It was a bit cloudy today so we didn’t have the amazing views that we had hoped for, but it was beautiful nonetheless. Normally we get to hike to the top of the peak but, being so close to the border with Georgia, the Russian military had the upper part closed to climbers. Regardless, we enjoyed the views and stretching our legs and lungs a bit.

After our hike we made back to town relatively quickly thanks to the ski lifts, where we had a hot lunch waiting on us. After lunch we dropped off our gear and made a quick stop to pick up a few extra items and did a little exploring on our own. We wrapped up the evening with another nice home cooked meal here provided by our ever so gracious local outfitter. RMI Guide Casey Grom and team

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Denali Expedition: Gately & Team Summit!

May 29, 2019

Posted by: Steve Gately, Ben Ammon, James Bealer

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 20,310'

Wednesday, May 29, 2019 - 5:00 PM PT Hey all this is the Denali Expedition with RMI Steve Gately. The team and I are on the summit! 100% of the team made it so everybody's up. Everybody's doing well. We had a wonderful morning- blue skies, warm weather. We picked up a little bit of wind towards the summit. We had to work for it at the end there. We're all here safe and sound. We'll give a shout via email to the blog when we are back safe and sound at [17K] Camp. That's all. RMI Guide Steve Gately

RMI Guide Steve Gately calls in from the Denali summit!

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Leave a Comment For the Team (2)

Steve! I’m so proud and happy for you for making the summit! I’ll give you a call when you’re on the bottom so I can tell you about the light indoor rock climbing I’ve been doing. Can’t wait to hear all about it.

Posted by: Robbie Snow on 5/31/2019 at 1:55 pm

Congrats! Keeping you in prayer.

Posted by: Molly Bealer on 5/31/2019 at 9:06 am

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Mt. Rainier: May 27th Summit!

May 27, 2017

Posted by: Kel Rossiter, Ben Liken

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier

Elevation: 14,410'

The Four Day Summit Climb Led by RMI Guides Kel Rossiter and Ben Liken reached the summit of Mt. Rainier early this morning. The teams reported a beautiful day for climbing with clear skies and light winds. They have started their descent and are en route to Camp Muir. Congratulations to today's teams!

Mt. Rainier: Expedition Skills Seminar - Muir Makes Summit Attempt

May 26, 2021

Posted by: Hannah Smith, David Price, Tatum Whatford, Dustin Wittmier, Kiira Antenucci

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier

Elevation: 13,000'

After getting delayed by the rain we were able to make a dry push to Camp Muir yesterday. The stars looked to be aligning for a great summit day. We left the ridge at Camp Muir looking back at the lunar eclipse, psyched to be walking on the Cowlitz Glacier on a warm windless night. The team worked their way up the route feeling the altitide but also feeling determined to reach the top of Mt. Rainier. At 13,000' however, the mountain spoke to us telling us today, in fact, was not our day. Snow instability prevented us from climbing higher. We did not get the perfect day we were hoping for but we still got a gorgeous morning with beautiful views.

RMI Guide Hannah Smith

Kilimanjaro: Hahn & Team at Machame Camp

September 17, 2013

Posted by: Dave Hahn

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro

Elevation: 9,800'

It was raining at the Dik Dik Hotel this morning when we woke. Light, but steady rain kept falling as we ate a 7 AM breakfast and got ready to board the bus/truck. But 15 minutes down the road, our driver shut off his windshield wipers. Low clouds still disguised the mountain we believed was hiding somewhere out to our northeast, but things were looking up. The variety of crops in the "cultivation" zone at the foot of Kilimanjaro was quite impressive. We saw coffee, corn, avocado, mangos, and bananas all growing in a lush mix close to the Machame Gate. It took some time to get the group properly registered and permitted with the National Park but then at around 11 AM we began our ascent through a forest of tall trees. Our starting point was at about 5,900 ft, and our destination for the day was close to 9,800 ft, so there was little doubt we were in for a workout. At first we were in fog and humid clouds, but after several hours, the sun got strong and the sky got blue. We traveled on an excellent trail through the "forest" zone and into the "heather" zone and we began getting great views of Kilimanjaro and her glaciers. At around 4:30 PM we strode into a cluster of tents and admired the work of our porters and kitchen crew as we took packs off in our new home. We ate dinner in our grand dining tent and turned in early under what appears to be a magnificent full moon. Best Regards, RMI Guide Dave Hahn

On The Map

Leave a Comment For the Team (2)

Happy and safe trails. Looking forward to reading about your progress.

Posted by: rachael c lujan on 9/18/2013 at 3:35 pm

Happy and safe climbing. Looking forward to your updates. ABQ Uptown/RS 985 NM/CO

Rachael

Posted by: rachael c lujan on 9/18/2013 at 3:33 pm

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Mountaineering Training | Managing Varying Temperatures

June 17, 2013

Posted by:

Categories: Mountaineering Fitness & Training

Climbers commonly joke that it’s either “freeze or fry” in the mountains. Some moments of a climb can feel like a winter ascent of Denali while others are more like the afternoon heat of a safari in Tanzania. Rarely do the temperatures in the mountains stay at a comfortable level. Even though we are often traveling on glaciers and permanent snowfields in the summer, the days can be hot - especially on the approaches to climbs. Yet, at higher elevations and in the dark hours of the night when we begin our ascents the temperature drops. Throw in a light breeze at 13,000’ and it’s downright cold. While the temperature does indeed vary between bone chilling cold and bewildering heat, our goal as climbers is to manage those swings in temperature to keep ourselves at a comfortable, even level. Our bodies are pretty good at managing heat and most of us know how to do so well. Protecting ourselves from the intense sun of higher elevations and staying hydrated and replacing lost fluids is critical. It can be a challenge to carry enough water for an all-day climb and a good trick many climbers and guides use is to “pre-hydrate” beforehand by drinking lots of water while it is readily available and then rationing the water you have at your disposal throughout the day so that it will last. For example, climbing to Camp Muir on Mt. Rainier typically takes about 5 hours with 4 breaks on the way. If you’re carrying 2 litres of water then aim to drink a ½ litre at each stop so that you are still hydrated on your last stretch of the day. Afterwards, re-fill your bottle and drink plenty of water to rehydrate and recover for the climb the next day. The cold temperatures can have a negative effect on our performance as well by diverting the energy we have for the climb to keeping our bodies warm. Careful, conscious clothing choice is the best strategy to keeping your body at an even temperature level. It’s not uncommon to feel chilly around camp and add an extra layer when you begin climbing only to find yourself overheated in minutes. Then, when you stop for a water break all that perspiration cools and you find yourself shivering. Be strategic in your clothing choices when climbing, wearing the right amount of layers that you need to stay comfortable while climbing and adding layers at breaks to preserve that heat. A hat is great temperature regulator as it is easy to take on and off as needed without having to stop to take off your pack. The cold, dry air of high altitude also dehydrates you, making the need to stay hydrated all the more important. As you head into the mountains, whether climbing or training, keep these strategies in mind. Begin hydrating before you hit the trail and keep an eye on how much water you have so that it will last throughout the day. Also, try to use the gear you plan to climb with in your training to experiment with different clothing layers and get a feel for the layers that work for you to maintain an even body temperature despite the changes in environment. Questions? Comments? Share your thoughts here on the RMI Blog!

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Most Popular Entries

Everest BC Trek & Lobuche Climb: Dale & Team Ready for an Alpine Start

Ecuador Volcanoes: Team Enjoys Rest Day at Chilcabamba

Kilimanjaro: Grom & Team Ascend Lava Tower

Mt. Rainier: Teams Reach Summit!

Mt. Elbrus: Grom & Team Acclimatize on the Ski Slopes of Cheget

On The Map

Denali Expedition: Gately & Team Summit!

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Mt. Rainier: May 27th Summit!

Mt. Rainier: Expedition Skills Seminar - Muir Makes Summit Attempt

Kilimanjaro: Hahn & Team at Machame Camp

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Mountaineering Training | Managing Varying Temperatures

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