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Elevation: 10,080'

Today team Expedition Skills Seminar - Paradise was relieved to crawl out of our tents to clear skies and warm temps. Last night, directly after arriving in camp after crevasse rescue training we were graced with a purifying rain burst but then rudely interrupted by a brief but intense lightning and thunder storm. It cleared in time for dinner and a peaceful sleep. After packing up camp this morning, a stimulating walk through a large crevasse field and icy section brought us to Camp Muir at 10,060 feet. Here we will rest and prepare for our summit climb tonight. Folks are happy to be moved into the bunk house here and even happier to hand off some group gear to a guide heading down hill. Yea for lighter packs! Wish us luck tonight on our climb. RMI Guide Adam Knoff

Leave a Comment For the Team (2)

GO Dusty, Rock-N-Roll brother. Many Blessings.

Posted by: Greg Smith on 8/2/2013 at 7:38 am

Good luck! Hope your climb goes well! Love you!

Posted by: Emma on 8/2/2013 at 6:15 am

Mt. McKinley: Walter & Team Staying Put at 14k Camp

June 27, 2012

Posted by: Mike Walter

Elevation: 14,000'

We went to bed with clear skies and a forecast for 12-18" of snow overnight. The clear skies persisted overnight and we didn't get any new snow. There is a lenticular cloud on top of Denali today, indicating strong winds. We're also seeing snow blowing off of the West Buttress between the top of the fixed ropes and high camp. The current winds and the increased avalanche hazard from yesterday's foot of snow are keeping us at 14k for another day. The sunny weather at camp today is welcome, and is helping to keep our spirits high. It looks like some better weather is approaching for the weekend, and we're hoping we'll be able to take a crack at the summit then. With any luck, we'll be able to move to high camp tomorrow and be in position for the arrival of the more favorable weather. We'll keep you posted! RMI Guide Mike Walter

On The Map

Leave a Comment For the Team (2)

Stan - Hope you & Team have continued success today. Talked with your Mom yesterday. She is doing well.

Posted by: Jerry & Kay on 6/29/2012 at 7:11 am

Where at are you buttercup? Busch beer and mayonnaise sandwiches since you’ve been gone. My kids are starving!!

Posted by: Sunshine on 6/29/2012 at 5:06 am

Mt. Rainier: 2024 Rainier Season Begins!

April 25, 2024

Posted by: Dominic Cifelli, Seth Burns, Mike Bennett, Tom Skoog

Elevation: 10,080'

The first trip of the Mt. Rainier season is always a special one and just like that, it has come and gone. We spent the week learning skills like crevasse rescue, rappelling, glacier travel, the basics of snow safety, and even some fixed line travel. It was a busy week! We didn’t make the summit and in mountaineering, that’s part of the game. Sometimes the mountain, no matter how much we want it, just says no to going up high. It’s a tough pill, but a worthwhile one to take in stride and with conviction that the decision was the right one. We’ll take home the skills, the memories, and the bug to come back and try again another day.

The weather is becoming wetter and windier and looks to be trending that way for our descent tomorrow. The hot food, showers, and beds in town will be that much sweeter.

Cheers to a great week and a great start to the season, Team!

RMI Guide Dominic Cifelli

Mt. Rainier: Emmons Seminar Team Reaches Summit!

July 12, 2023

Posted by: James Bealer, Trevor Katz, Josh Geiser, Evan Redman

Elevation: 14,410'

RMI Guide James Bealer and the Expedition Skills Seminar - Emmons July 8 - 13 reached the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning around 8:30 am. It's a beautiful day on the mountain with a bit of wind. The team left Camp Schurman with an alpine start and will return their this afternoon. Climbers have spent the last several days training with cramponing, rope travel and ice axe arrest techniques and additional alpine skills. They put it all together to reach the top. Once back at Camp Schurman the team will spend a final night on the mountain. Tomorrow they descend to the trailhead and will return to Rainier BaseCamp in the afternoon.

Nice work team!

Denali Expedition: Smith & Team Hunkering Down at a Windy 14,000 Camp

June 25, 2021

Posted by: Hannah Smith, Dustin Wittmier, Devin Guffey

Elevation: 14,000'

Hold onto your hats it's windy,

The wind started last night and persisted through the day. The frost in the tents showered down onto our sleeping bags as the tent made a crinkle noise. The snow that had fallen got picked up and tossed into the air creating a snow tornado. It looked magical in a way but our sleeping bags looked better. Its easy to hunker in the tents when outside isn't too pleasant. You can hear the wind up high. It sounds like a waterfall. Luckily at our camp it's only blowing in the 20mph range. As dinner wrapped up the wind and snow caused quite a scene. A scene not too fun to go to the bathroom in. All around the snow whips around. We all waited for a lull in the wind to hustle to our tents and the bathroom. The discomfort is comical and creates some good laughs. If you can't find the funny in the misery than you are in the wrong place out here. Tomorrow is also suppose to be windy so we will hunker in again. We are optimistic that this weekend will be our move date to High Camp. For now, we lay in our tents listening to the snow pitter patter and the tent crinkle in the wind.

Mother nature calm yourself,

RMI Guide Hannah Smith and team

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Hey Hannah and Dustin! I’m sending prayers that Mother Nature gets over her crabbiness so you all can move higher!!! :)
Farmer Dave

Posted by: Dave Kestel on 6/26/2021 at 3:21 am

Wishing everyone health and strength
Hopefully weather will become better
Best of luck Steven and group
Love and miss you

Posted by: Larisa Pivnik on 6/25/2021 at 9:17 pm

Mt. Rainier: July 8th Summit!

July 8, 2012

Posted by: Brent Okita

Elevation: 14,410'

The Four Day Summit Climb teams led by Brent Okita and Andres Marin reached the summit this morning in beautiful skies… and strong winds. Brent said, “It’s windy but best day of the year so far.” Clouds started to form on the summit as the teams began their descent to Camp Muir. Check out the Mt. Rainier live webcams on our website.

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Many thanks to our guides Andres, Leah and Levi for making it the experience of a lifetime.
Can’t wait to do it again on another mountain!

Posted by: Chris Lynn on 7/9/2012 at 8:53 pm

Way to go everyone! Can’t wait to see some pictures!

Posted by: W.B. on 7/9/2012 at 4:21 pm

Mt. McKinley: Jones & Team Enjoy Rest at 14,000’

June 7, 2012

Posted by: Tyler Jones

Elevation: 14,200'

Today was our second day of sleeping in on the trip; it proved to be just as enjoyable as the first. Here in Ganet Basin at 14k, the looming upper mountain of Denali blocks the sun from hitting camp until mid morning. Our group stayed in sleeping bags until the sun's first rays hit our tents. This place is like a desert, when the sun is behind the mountain it's freezing and when the sun is out, it's miserably hot. Once we were up, we enjoyed a leisurely breakfast that lasted nearly until lunch. Here at 14 camp, we are situated in the outskirts of a village of tents. While we are content resting in the shade, others are not. People can be seen and heard at nearly all hours of the day. We see snowball fights as well as people playing hacky-sack and making elaborate castles of snow blocks. High winds and low visibility have plagued the upper mountain for the last few days, keeping many teams from moving uphill. The result is a large group of restless people around camp. While others sit crossing their fingers and rationing food, we are sitting pretty. Because our team has moved efficiently thus far, we are simply enjoying the rest, acclimatizing and getting stronger every day. We are in a great position and look forward to carrying to 17k when we get a chance. We remain optimistic that the weather and wind on the upper mountain will subside. The team says hello to all our friends and family following along on the blog. RMI Guide Tyler Jones

On The Map

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Chris and friends I am sure you are enjoying the expiriance up there as always. Best wishes for good weather ahead and safe climbing, mean while enjoy the
rest. Good job with the updates Tyler.
Thank you

Posted by: voula likourgiotis on 6/8/2012 at 6:42 pm

Thank you so much for the updates Tyler!
Go Nicolas Go!
Hope you are all having a wonderful time.
Keep safe.

Posted by: Louise on 6/8/2012 at 11:57 am

Mt. Elbrus: Team’s Last Day in St. Petersburg

July 31, 2012

Posted by: JJ Justman

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Elbrus Southside

Its a sad day. Our https://Mt. Elbrus Expedition is over. I cannot tell you how much fun I have had with both my teams in Russia this year. I have climbed the highest mountain in Europe with old friends and I have made new friends along the way. Tonight was the perfect way to end the adventure...on the canal waterways of one of the most magnificent cities in the world! Enjoy a glimpse of the beauty... https://RMI Guide J.J. Justman

Mt. McKinley: Okita and Team Visit the Edge of the World

June 2, 2014

Posted by: Brent Okita, Leah Fisher, Nick Hunt

Elevation: 14,200'

June 1, 2014 11:47 pm PT It has been a perfect rest day for us. Not perfect climbing weather, but plenty nice at camp to enjoy the day. Although many climbers took advantage of the relatively good weather to go for 17,200' camp, many others were suspicious of the cloud cap over the summit that threatened winds on the Buttress. In fact, no guided groups went to 17,200' today. But we had no such decisions to make. Instead, we slept in until 9:00 then, as we've done before, and feasted on a sumptuous brunch of smoked salmon, bagels and cream cheese. What decadence! The guides had some chores and logistics to sort out, then we took the short tour east to the Edge of the World to take in the view from 14,000' overlooking the Northeast fork of the Kahiltna Glacier, and affording views way down the glacier to where our very first camp of the expedition was. We've done a lot of climbing since then, and have developed as a strong team caring for the well being of each other as much as ourselves. It's nice seeing the kind of support these guys give each other. Tomorrow brings us our biggest challenge of the trip, and everyone shares the mixed emotions of excitement and nervousness. We got through the headwall and fixed lines yesterday, but the Buttress itself is another beast. As is ascending the 3000' to 17,200', a new altitude record for many of us. That this part of the route is the guides' favorite part attests to the aesthetics of the climbing, and I think the team will get excited when they get on it. We're looking forward to a good, hard day. Because it will be a long day for us, which may even be followed by another even harder day (the summit?), this may be the last post of any length for a while. Wish us luck! RMI Guides Brent Okita, Leah Fisher, and Nick Hunt

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Greg,
The girls and I are home from Alaska. We are thinking about you. Love You!!

Posted by: Robin Wagner on 6/3/2014 at 11:05 pm

Dan - hope the weather cooperates so you and your team can continue with this climb/journey! I’m def. enjoying all the pics and updates thus far! Rooting for you all! Miss you <3 Patricia

Brent - thank you for all the updates and wish everyone a safe return.

Posted by: Patricia on 6/2/2014 at 6:17 pm

Aconcagua: Team Settles in to Camp 1

December 27, 2012

Posted by: Jake Beren, Leon Davis, Zeb Blais

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua

Elevation: 16,200'

Buenos Tardes from Campo Uno! Today the team did a fantastic job moving from Aconcagua's Basecamp in style and we rolled into camp under perfect conditions. Our carry served us well, providing a good acclimatization base for our move today. Tomorrow we will enjoy a little light activity, but mostly rest and celebrate Leon's cumpleanos. RMI Guide Jake Beren

On The Map

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Loving the blog and the first action photo! Josh, look for me near Camp 2—just listen for the cow bell. Until then, keep up the good work!

Posted by: Meredith Hatten on 12/28/2012 at 6:42 am

I hope you’re having fun Jared! Your sister and I sure are! Here’s hoping everything works out with “Opera!”

Posted by: Jon Dudzinski on 12/28/2012 at 6:42 am