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After nearly 6,000 feet of walking downhill, our tired but happy team pulled into Plaza Argentina. It was sunny and calm and perfect for setting up a relaxed camp before a big steak dinner. Everyone descended in style, putting a proud finish to a great climb. Tomorrow we will walk to Pampa de Llenas, a short hop from the road to Mendoza. Talk to you all in a few days.
RMI Guide Jake Beren
On The Map
Day two is coming to a close. Last night we were sleeping at 10,000 feet and tonight is a whopping 2,500 feet above that. For you math buffs that means the comfy Altzomoni Hut sits at 12,500 feet above the sea. It is amazing the power of acclimating. Last night some of us felt a bit tired and short of breath. Right now after a fantastic homemade dinner by a team of local guides, drivers and porters doubling as gourmet chefs, we all feel strong, relaxed and ready for our big push to Ixta's high camp sitting higher than any mountain in the lower 48.
We also feel prepared. Today we had a mellow morning which transitioned wonderfully into Mexico's best breakfast at a hotel 25 minutes down the road from the resort of La Malinche. Breakfast is the day's most important meal you know! Afterwards the soothing 1.5 hour van ride helped digest the massive buffet in our guts and landed us in Amecameca where we finalized our food list and met out local staff. By 2:30 we were running through our gear and getting squared away packing and tomorrow's program at the Altzomoni Hut. A nice hour walk brought us to the trail head and back where our chef crew was waiting. The locals really know how to treat their guests. We are very lucky to have them.
In closing the team has reminded me to mention that they all miss their loved ones. I reminded them it is only day two. Absence makes the heart grow fonder. We will touch base from high camp tomorrow.
RMI Guide Adam Knoff
On The Map
Lukla! Back to where we started after another long day hiking. We left Namche about an hour later than planned to get in some last minute shopping, I'm sure everyone can guess who prompted that decision.....
Lucky enough to have another beautiful day for hiking, we were happy to spend all day on the trail again (but actually)! Making our way down what we lovingly dubbed the 'Namche Hill' on the way up, we encountered way more yaks and porters than last week...due to the Saturday market tomorrow, that some of us are sad to be missing!
What goes down must come up....after a quick stop in Phakding for some lunch, we started back up our final hill to Lukla. Although the lower altitude certainly helped, after so much downhill the past few days I've got to say it was tough switching gears again! About two-thirds of the way up to Lukla, Lakpa's two adorable kids came and met us on the trail - what a wonderful surprise! Lakpa and his family then hosted us at their house for some tea once everyone caught their breath, which was another great surprise.
After showers and some dinner, we said many many thanks and gave many hugs to our wonderful porters and Sherpas (see picture!). Our trip certainly wouldn't have been the same without their hard work, and I know that their smiling faces put me in a good mood each and every day. We were so lucky to have them!
Everyone will be happy to know that a dance party just got started in Lukla! Hello and I love you to all my friends and family (Daddy, Dana, Haley, Scott & Bandit - Mommy is up on the dance floor. Uh oh!). --Allie
RMI Guide Casey Grom
On The Map
We spent the night listening to a wind play through high camp. It wasn't a strong wind, but it was persistent and if anybody got out of the tent to feel it, it was a cold wind. It had eased considerably by morning and so there was hope that our Christmas gift from the universe would be a nice calm summit day. But no. One look at the summits of surrounding peaks (we can't see Vinson summit from high camp) revealed wind driven and sleekly sculpted cloud caps on everything. It could not be a summit day, but it turned out to be a pretty great holiday. We took it very easy and slow; resting, reading, taking pictures, eating and drinking. No parades, no football, no turkey and no tree. But also no complaints. The weather (in camp and up high) got quite nice as the day went on. We each took walks a couple hundred feet to the west to peer over the edge... a thousand meters straight down to Low Camp, and to see where Vinson Basecamp might be hiding under a carpet of low cloud, and to gaze out at the endless ice cap.
We have high hopes for tomorrow.
Best Regards
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
On The Map
Hey Jake and Team #2. Merry X-Mas.I hope that crazy wind carms down for a good chance at your summit bid. Looking forward to our trek with Bill Nugent in Feb. Ken Young
Posted by: Ken Young on 12/26/2012 at 8:02 am
Posted by: Kel Rossiter, Tyler Reid, Ben Liken
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 10,060'
RMI Guide Andres Marin radioed from Camp Muir this morning. The Four Day Summit Climb teams were tucked safely in the bunks at Camp Muir after a windy night. The cold temperatures, new snow and wind prevented the groups from making a summit attempt this morning. At 8:30 a.m. they began their descent from Camp Muir to Paradise. They will return to Ashford in the early afternoon.
High Camp On Phil’s Birthday,how cool is that. Now that you are older Phil take it easy on all those kids up there.
Posted by: Bob & kate Rosso on 6/4/2012 at 4:04 pm
Greetings from Plaza Argentina, our basecamp and new home for the next few days. Today we awoke at dawn, had a quick breakfast and crossed the ice cold Vacas River before heading up the Relinchos River Valley to Basecamp. Some of us waded the chilly waters and the more sensible among us opted for a short mule ride. Good walking weather again made our beautiful approach quite pleasant; not too hot or too cold, but just right. Here at Basecamp we are enjoying a nice siesta before dinner and tomorrow we plan to rest and adjust to this new altitude of just under 14000 feet.
RMI Guide Jake Beren
On The Map
Katie and Adam,
This is so great to be able to track your progess!! Pictures are beautiful!! Hope you are having a great adventure!!! Enjoy it all!!!
Posted by: Carolyn Pugh on 12/21/2011 at 11:46 am
Katie and Adam, were still watching your progress. How very exciting. Hope it is more than you imagined! Enjoy, Dick and Brandie.
Posted by: Brandie on 12/20/2011 at 6:01 am
Posted by: Dave Hahn, Bryan Mazaika
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 10,080'
Strong Winds, cold temperatures, and firm conditions kept RMI Guides Dave Hahn, Bryan Mazaika, and the four Day Team at Camp Muir last night. The weather has cleared up a bit this morning, so the team will take a short walk on the Cowlitz Glacier before descending. We expect them here at Ashford Basecamp in the early afternoon.
Well done Team!
A thick bank of clouds rolled into Namche last night as we left dinner, the fog giving the Himalayan village the look of a Maine fishing village. The cloud bank failed to lift overnight and by morning a light layer of snow lay across the stone streets and blue roofs of Namche with more snow lightly falling out of the mist. The usually vibrant town lay muted beneath the snow as we climbed out of the amphitheater and the world was quiet around us as we walked along the trail out of Namche. Snow continued to fall lightly during the hike and we hardly encountered others along the way, only a handful of porters and trekkers and a few dozen yaks.
For a couple of hours we made a long traverse along the valley's side, the valley floor slowly rising to meet us at the village of Phunki Thanga. There we crossed a brand new suspension bridge built only last year to replace the rickety wooden construction used previously, before beginning the long climb out of the valley floor to the ridge top monastery at Tengboche. Although the clouds never offered to lift, the snow let up for a bit midday before returning half way up the hill to Tengboche. By the time we reached the Monastery several inches of fresh snow covered the ground, capping the white chortens and gilded crests of the large building. We retreated to a nearby bakery where we brushed the snow off of our shoulders and sipped cups of hot tea, gradually rewarming ourselves.
Continuing on from Tengboche, we descended the other side of the ridge for a few minutes to reach our teahouse in Deboche, sitting among the rhododendron trees covered in Spanish moss and new snow. We spent the remainder of the afternoon watching the snow fall and the clouds play among the trees and nearby valley walls. Despite the snow it was a wonderful day on the trail as everything was eerily quiet and calm with few passerbys and the trail largely our own. The team is doing well and sends their best to everyone at home. We have enjoyed everyones comments and well wishes.
RMI Guide Linden Mallory
On The Map
Thank you for the beautiful descriptions and for transporting us from our mid-winter storms to your snow covered valleys. We are savoring following your journey! MM
Posted by: Mirte Mallory on 3/30/2011 at 6:34 am
Hi Mark and Karen, H. and a friend and I are just back from a day in Yosemite—not quite Nepal, but quite snowy and sunny—beautiful.Love, MA
Posted by: Mary Ann & Howard Latimer on 3/28/2011 at 7:34 pm
Posted by: Dave Hahn, Seth Waterfall, Mark Tucker
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Everest
Elevation: 17,575'
We held a strategy session this morning and we set the date for a try on the summit. Weather is expected to improve as the next week goes by, but that was little consolation for those who were at the South Col last night and trying for the top this morning. Our sources tell us it was a no-go day due to high winds.
We are looking for a shot on the top somewhere in the May 22 to May 23 range, which will mean that we have one more day down in Basecamp to pack, sleep and eat.
Each day at the bottom of the mountain has started out with plenty of sun, so it seemed a little unfair that we sipped coffee in a damp, cold cloud this morning. It burned off before long though and we were treated to warm and springlike conditions with ice melting everywhere.
Camp seems very quiet at the moment as many people are already up the mountain and getting in place for their attempts on the top.
Best Regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
On The Map
Ciao papu. good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :):) :) :) :) :)
Posted by: Elena Pellegrino on 5/17/2013 at 4:09 am
Good luck and I hope your window of opportunity opens for you all to have as close to perfect summit weather as can possibly be had.
ABQ Uptown#985 NM/CO
Posted by: Rachael C. Lujan on 5/16/2013 at 2:32 pm
Last night we received another foot of snow, though it wasn't nearly as windy as the previous night. Although it was a significant storm, come morning something about it felt different causing me to check the weather regularly. Sure enough, by the time we got up at 9:30 the skies had cleared and it was beautiful. Except for the winds blowing the new snow around Denali Pass and the ridge above.
It was yet just a little too windy for us, plus all the trail breaking of the previous days was gone, so we hung out at camp and enjoyed our nicest day at 17,200' yet. Another day for the snow to settle will help reduce any avalanche risk as well However, a report by another guide that poked his nose into the conditions affirms what we have been seeing already, and eases my mind considerably.
After a breakfast of grits, Leon, Lindsay and I went down to 16,200' to help out our next group led by Tyler Jones by bringing their cache of food and fuel up to 17,200'. This eases their move day enormously, and gets some provisions up here in case our already less than stellar luck with the weather turns south even further.
And now, for the first time all trip, I'm very optimistic about our chances for the summit. Things seem like they are finally falling info place. Of course, tomorrow is another day ...
Right now it is warm and windless, and we are getting ready for dinner. Wish us luck!!!
RMI Guide Brent Okita
On The Map
Brent, Malcolm and I are thinking of you. Can you believe your mother is following you by EMAIL? Come down safely.
Lots of love from us both.
Posted by: Marjorie Okita on 6/12/2012 at 1:19 pm
Our prayers and high hopes are with you and your team. Good luck, good karma, and good weather tomorrow. Bobcat
Posted by: Robert Bender on 6/12/2012 at 12:41 pm
So glad to see the team smiling and dancing in Lukla. Did Missy bring her birthday presents and use them at the dance party? Retail sales in Namche were at an all time high with members of team waki there. Cannot wait to hear all the gory details.
Posted by: Kathryn LeBey on 4/6/2013 at 5:20 am
Looks like the party was a lot of fun. I’m glad you had a chance to unwind and let loose. All of you, have safe journeys home!
Posted by: Yuki Loritz on 4/5/2013 at 10:18 pm
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