Most Popular Entries


Jake Beren checks in from Ixta High Camp
On The Map
Posted by: Peter Whittaker, Mike Haugen
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'


On The Map
Posted by: Hannah Smith, Kiira Antenucci, Daniel May
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 14,000'
Monday, June 20, 2022 - 8:39 pm PT
Hello all,
Well today is a low reporting day. It was a rest day. We rested. We ate. We napped. We reviewed skills. And we ate dinner. Rest days can be hard. Hard to not think about home. Hard to not think about the summit, on whether you have what it takes or not. Just hard to not get inside your head too much. That's where napping comes into play. One can simply dream of something else. These rest days are important though for our bodies to recover. Recover so we can have a good carry day and later a good move and summit. Tomorrow, as long as the weather holds, we will carry our gear higher so that we are in position to move to High Camp. Snow flurries have danced all day, so hopefully they take a rest from their twirling, dancing fall from the sky and allow us to have a good day.
Talk tomorrow,
RMI Guide Hannah Smith and Team
Sending Strong thoughts for a Strong Team and and make sure you tell your Team they have an Awesome Guide Hannah!!!
Posted by: Dave Kestel on 6/22/2022 at 4:55 am
Enjoy your well deserved day of rest! Sending positive thoughts your way - you are all going to make it!!!
Love from IngaLisa’s Mom
Posted by: Irene Wickstrom on 6/21/2022 at 9:52 pm
Posted by: Dave Hahn, Mike King, Dominic Cifelli
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Ecuador
Elevation: 19,348'




Tuesday, May 31, 2022 - 6:39 pm PT
This day won’t be forgotten soon by our team. It was longer than most, to begin with. We were drinking coffee at 10:30 PM and loading the buses at 11. The rough road took us plenty high, but then we were out and trudging uphill by headlight for hours. It was cold and a little breezy, but we were looking at stars… and Jupiter and Neptune. We stopped in a hut long enough to put on helmets and harnesses and then marched up to the snow, where we donned crampons and ropes. The walking got easier on the snow, except it was all getting to the kind of heights that are just plain hard to climb and breathe in. We transitioned onto a glacier, still in pitch darkness. By daybreak the team had reached above 18,000 ft. All of the magnificent volcanoes of Ecuador were lined up for our viewing pleasure. There were plenty of clouds at different levels but it was evident that we were going to get lucky. Things steepened for the final 800 ft to make the team dig down deep for energy. But by 8:40 the gang was on the summit of Cotopaxi at 19,347 ft. 13 of our 18 climbers made the top, along with 6 of our excellent Ecuadorian guiding staff. The team was back at the lodge by midday and packing for departure. By 2 PM we were in our buses and headed for the jets. Now -at 6:30 PM- we’re high over Cuba, pointed toward Miami and a celebration on the water. A big day indeed, much of our team shattered personal altitude records and found inner strength they hadn’t imagined.
Best Regards

On The Map
Go Nikita!!! I can see you in your blue jacket. Cheering for you and stay safe. XOXO.
Posted by: Nicole on 12/23/2012 at 1:38 pm
wow! beautiful pics, especially that first one. thanks for diligently posting. such an adventure! love following your dispatches.
Posted by: michelle on 12/22/2012 at 7:10 am
Posted by: Tyler Jones, Seth Waterfall
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 10,060'
Michelle we are all so very proud of you and the rest of the team.
Please know that we’re keeping you in our prayers. Glad to hear the weather is good.
May God keep you all safe!!
Posted by: Flor Frei on 9/19/2012 at 3:26 pm
On The Map
Hi Brandi and Elizabeth its time to put all that prep to work. I’m sure that there is a lot of hard work ahead but remember to take some time to enjoy it all along the way.
Miss you Poo. -Chris
Posted by: Chris on 5/19/2012 at 10:32 am
Hi Gilbert-
Plow that road for me! We’ll cross paths in a couple of weeks. Looking forward to seeing you again (do you still have that boyfriend?)
Posted by: Larry Seaton on 5/18/2012 at 9:29 pm
Posted by: Joe Hoch, Kiira Antenucci
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 10,080'

The Mt. Rainier Four Day Climbs led by RMI Guides Joe Hoch and Kiira Antenucci remained at Camp Muir overnight. The teams did not make a summit attempt due to poor weather. They will be descending from Camp Muir this morning and we look forward to seeing them in Ashford this afternoon.
Posted by: Brent Okita, Leah Fisher
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 14,200'

On The Map
Keep up the good work Derek, bet your getting some amazing photos. Climb hard and stay safe. Huw
Posted by: Huw on 6/1/2013 at 1:01 am
Jeff Hooper
Love reading the blog and seeing the pictures as you make it up to the top. keep putting on the sun block ;)
Veronica
Posted by: Veronica Hooper on 5/31/2013 at 7:48 pm
Hi Jeff, Thanks for sending the snow!! We have snow coming down this a.m. yeh, hope you are staying warm & breathing is getting easier. I feel like I’m climbing w/you when I read the blog, pics are great to see. Luv to you, live it love it, keep going, mum
Posted by: Norene on 1/17/2012 at 8:00 am
View All Comments