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Posted by: Jake Beren, Leon Davis, Josh Maggard
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 20,320'
RMI Guide Jake Beren calls from the Mt. McKinley summit!
On The Map
On The Map
Doug and Audrey - we’re thinking of you every step of the way. Hope you’re enjoying it and seeing remarkable views. Love, Mom and Pops
P.S. Twins are losing to Detroit
Posted by: Matt and Sue on 5/26/2012 at 1:31 pm
Please tell Phil Usher: uphill and into the wind! Heather
Posted by: Heather Grahame on 5/26/2012 at 10:04 am
Posted by: Tyler Reid
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Elbrus Ski
Ryan, guess it’s going to be difficult for you to NOT stand out in a crowd in Moscow. This is such an exciting adventure and you are the perfect one to do it! Have a great experience and take it all in.“Time of your life kid.”
Posted by: John & Leslie Cooper on 6/18/2019 at 7:05 pm
Posted by: Ben Liken, Seth Waterfall
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 14,410'
Hey Wilder and Dink and your team - Wow! We look forward to hearing all the stories! Yes!!
Posted by: Beth Morningstar on 7/10/2012 at 8:37 am
Great job Wayne, Phil, Brennan and Scott. Can’t wait to hear all about it. Cheers!
Posted by: Barbara Johnson on 7/10/2012 at 8:35 am
Posted by: Jake Beren, Elias de Andres Martos
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 11,200'
On The Map
Yo Eric & Elias! Keep up the good work. We’re pulling for you! Can’t wait to see the summit pictures! Wayne, Ian & Zach
Posted by: Wayne on 6/14/2012 at 5:17 am
Ross and K. Hopefully everything is working out in the tent. Fate kept me here for this one. I cant wait to hear the stories. Remember to keep your water bottles and the tuna salad in your bags!! Stay warm guys! - Dave
Posted by: dave kolar on 6/13/2012 at 8:06 pm
Posted by: Hannah Smith, Devin Guffey, Erika Birkeland
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 11,000'
Wednesday, May 31, 2023 - 10:50 pm PT
Hello trusty readers,
Sorry for the gap in dispatches. Things got a little busy with logistics. We took two rest days at 14,000' Camp figuring out weather and logistics on who wanted to continue up and who wanted to go down. With weather being finicky most of the team decided to focus on getting off the mountain. For those that desired uphill movement it was the weather we needed to figure out. After many ominous forecast with only small windows of calm we decided our best option was to stay together as a team and make our way down the mountain. Its always a hard decision to go down, especially when you still have time. But sometimes, the cards just aren't in your favor. It's been a great trip even without the summit. We have made it back to 11,000' Camp and are taking a quick nap before we make our way to the airstrip. Tomorrow is suppose to be the best weather day so figures crossed we make it off the glacier.
Goodnight all,
RMI Guides Hannah, Devin, Erika, and Team
Hey Hannah and Team,
That is a bummer but like you have always said, “its about the experience!”
Posted by: Dave Kestel on 6/2/2023 at 4:01 am
To go as far as all the teams went is to say they made it to the top…like many who expressed…thank you for your wisdom in playing it safe. So impressed. Bethany ...you did a spectacular display of strength and determination and so many have expressed how inspired they are of your accomplishments. Looking forward to hearing details.
Love M❤M
Posted by: Jan L. Gray on 6/1/2023 at 2:25 pm
Posted by: Kel Rossiter
Categories: Guide News Guide Grant
Thompson Pass is part of the storied Chugach Range, the setting for more extreme skiing videos than perhaps anywhere else on the planet. Jagged, flat-iron peaks are flanked with row upon rows of steep and deep powder couloirs that spill into massive glacial basins, with easy access provided by the Richardson Highway running through it, connecting the port town of Valdez with the rest of The Last Frontier. This makes it the perfect place for the Advanced course. Whereas the introductory Ski Guides Course focuses on safely moving groups through backcountry avalanche terrain and finding the best skiing along the way, the Advanced Ski Guide Course brings in the components of safe travel on glaciers (e.g., navigating in white out conditions, avoiding crevasses, dealing with crevasse rescue, etc) and managing skiers in technical mountain terrain (e.g., roped travel through steep rock and snow, belayed entry into steep terrain, effective group management in narrow couloirs, etc).
But there's more to it than just the technical aspects—because, after all, in ski mountaineering the focus of climbing a peak goes beyond just the joy of standing on the summit—there is the consideration of finding the most enjoyable line to ski on the way down. Having completed AMGA certifications in Rock and Alpine Guiding, I'm versed in the technique and mindset needed to successfully climb large objectives, and that mindset could be generally summed up with the word “efficiency”. Moving into the world of ski mountaineering has been an exciting shift of paradigms, working to also incorporate in the concepts of “aesthetics” and “enjoyment”. In the world of alpine climbing, enjoyment is often seen as what you experience upon completing the goal, standing on the summit and coming back down safely. In the world of ski mountaineering, standing on the summit is a necessary pleasure before the true pleasure of ski descent can be attained. A greater focus on both product and process that I'm finding increasingly attractive.
I'm not the only one finding this product and process increasingly attractive: backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering is among the fastest growing segments of the outdoor world. And RMI is at the forefront in developing programs to help its audience enjoy the sport. RMI Guide Tyler Reid leads ski descents of Europe's highest peak, Mt. Elbrus, and explores Chile's renowned skiing with RMI Guide Solveig Waterfall. In 2018, I'll be doing a Mt. Baker Climb/Ski as well as a custom ski/climb program. RMI, long at the lead in helping climbers reach their summit goals, now has a range of excellent ski options to ensure that the descent is both safe and extremely rewarding.
For a look at some of my other experiences with backcountry skiing, ski mountaineering, and the AMGA Ski Guide program, check out these links:
• Mammut Athlete Team Blog about my ski experiences in the Alps prior to the Ski Guides Course.
• RMI Blog post about my experiences in learning snow science during the American Avalanche Institute's Level 3 Avalanche Course.
RMI Guide Kel Rossiter
Posted by: Ben Liken, Pepper Dee
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
checks are in the mail to Ben and Pepper, they are sent to RMI c/o Ben and Pepper at the Ashland washinton address.
hope this note finds you well, it was a great experience!! My urine has gone back to its normal yellow as opposed to the dark rusty red color it was at high camp. Nothing but cheery memories from here on out!!
dave folsom
Posted by: dave folsom on 2/25/2017 at 2:41 pm
Pepper,
I need an address so I can send your tip. This was an amazing adventure for me, and you and Ben were great guides. I will be reliving the adventure again and again, probably getting a little closer to the top each time. After a year or two who knows I may have summited. Get me your address so I can send some $$, you guys deserve it.
P.S. you will always have a warm bed and good food if passing through Medford.
dave folsom
Posted by: dave folsom on 2/21/2017 at 9:40 am
This is Mike checking in for the Ecuador Team. Apologies for missing yesterday, we just had to much fun getting to know each other and walking around Quito. We went to the equator and watched a bunch of parlor tricks relating to the Middle of the Earth. We also learned about the art of Amazonian head shrinking. We concluded the day walking through the beautiful streets and plazas of Old Town which was built in the mid 1500’s.
This morning we met up with one of our Ecuadorean guide,Pablo, for an acclimatization hike on Rucu Pichincha. We rallied up in taxis to the teleferico (gondola) which takes you to 13,500’. The views of the greater Quito valley were spectacular. From there we hiked to 15,700’ and got some views but we were mostly in the clouds with cool temperatures. The goal today was to stretch the legs and lungs a bit and just get out to see the beautiful Ecuadorean countryside. The trail wandered through grassy slopes and a lot of flowering shrubs.
Everyone is back at the hotel for some rest and packing. We will head out tomorrow for another day hike and travel towards Cayambe for our first climb of the trip. Thanks for following along
On The Map
Wow
Posted by: Bernie lanigan on 12/5/2019 at 4:09 pm
Posted by: Hannah Smith
Categories: Guide News
Wow!!! So totally impressive and so happy for the whole team. Congratulations on a great trip up and have a safe trip down!
Posted by: Nina Baj on 6/19/2013 at 10:14 am
We woke up on the East Coast to your most welcome audio clip from on high. How sweet the sound!
Posted by: Bill and Kathleen on 6/18/2013 at 5:30 am
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