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Posted by: Tyler Jones, Eric Frank
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 11,200'
We awoke today to subzero temperatures at 17k camp and are now enjoying the thick air at 11k camp. After a quick breakfast, the team packed their belongings and headed downward. Despite some fatigue from our successful summit bid yesterday, the team safely negotiated the descent to 14k camp. There, the team was met by another RMI team. Jake Beren and team topped off our bottles with water and our stomachs with warm quesadillas. After this hour long break we headed down to 11k camp.
While the air was thick and warm, Denali was quick to remind us that we aren't out of the woods yet. While snow fell and wind blew around us we consolidated our left over meats and cheeses for a quesadilla smorgasbord. We enjoyed these tasty morsels until we were full, then ate some more. Then we had dessert.
We are now snuggled into our sleeping bags, staying warm and hoping to fly out tomorrow. While we are all set to walk to the runway, the weather is not ripe for a speedy flight to Talkeetna. We are still at the mercy of the big one, Denali.
RMI Guide Tyler Jones
On The Map
Good evening from Talkeetna. The weather didn't cooperate with us today, and we were unable to fly in to Base Camp. The snow and clouds never lifted from the Kahiltna Glacier, making it impossible to fly planes into the Range.
We were all suited up and ready for show time this morning, but our plans got put on hold. We waited around all day, hoping that the weather would lift and let us begin this adventure. We have all spent countless hours training and preparing for, and dreaming of, this climb. And we're all excited to see this adventure start and our dreams come to fruition. But we also know that this is a long expedition, and we must be patient. For now, we'll enjoy the creature comforts of life for another night...a good dinner, a warm bed, and a hot shower.
We'll touch base again tomorrow.
RMI Guide Mike Walter
On The Map
Hope you are on the way up so you can come down soon
Wishing you sunny days and good times. Be safe.
Posted by: mary doyle on 5/14/2012 at 10:19 am
tell coleman to take his time——we lost the goldman line any way….. all the best smoker
Posted by: josh jacobs on 5/11/2012 at 11:43 am
Hi there,
This is Gabi and the RMI Aconcagua team checking in from Pampa de Leñas (9,200').
We had a great hike today. We started at Punta de Vacas (7,900') and walked for almost five hours. It was an 8.7 mile hike and the group did a great job keeping a nice and steady pace. During the hike we experienced moments of sunny and cloudy skies, and some showers. Right after we arrived in camp, it started to rain steady for one hour, something that's pretty unusual around here. This weather was predicted by the forecast and the good news is that it is predicting a sunny day for tomorrow. Perfect for our hike up to Casa de Piedra (Rock house).
Posted by: Brent Okita, Leah Fisher
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 9,500'
Weary though we were last night, everyone bounced back after a good nights sleep. Looking up at Ski Hill and knowing we needed to haul these loads up it had us a little anxious in the morning, but we all found the strength and spirit and we made it up to camp at 9,500' by 3:00 p.m.. We were pretty happy and relieved to get here, and it was wonderful to have another perfect day for it.
We've been enjoying the warmth of the afternoon to make camp, and perhaps more importantly, to relax a bit and even get out of our boots.
Tomorrow we start ferrying loads up the mountain, moving only half our gear at a time. This means that we'll be spending at least two days at a time at each camp. Tomorrows plan is to pack up camp and bring just a few days of food and fuel with us, caching the rest here in a deep hole and away from the ravens who have developed a taste for candy and ramen. We'll make camp at 11,200', then come back the next day with empty packs to bring up what we left. What does all this mean? Light packs! Ok, perhaps I should be realistic and call them 'lighter pack.'
Anyways, we're firing on all cylinders here and things couldn't be much better. What a treat it is to climb with a fun, strong team.
We'll talk again tomorrow.
RMI Guides Brent Okita, Logan Randolph and Leah Fisher
On The Map
Off to a good start!
Ferry away and get set for all. Joe (USFS Ranger) is hoping to see you. Carry on….
M&M
Posted by: Mike and Karen Fisher on 5/25/2013 at 8:48 pm
Good luck guys! Those sleds look fun!
Posted by: Jack on 5/25/2013 at 7:15 am
Today we hiked 11 miles through rolling forest and grasslands. The views of the Paine River and Lake were enjoyable. The team enjoyed sun, wind & rain. Often these happened all at once.
We are relaxing at Lago Dickson, a beautiful camp along a glacial lake that often has ice floating in it. All is well in Southern Patagonia.
RMI Guide Mike King and Team
Posted by: Tyler Jones, Jess Matthews
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 12,600'
Today's Mt. Rainier Four Day Climb teams turned around at 12,600' today due to avalanche danger. RMI Guides Tyler Jones and Jess Matthews and their teams enjoyed a beautiful morning on the mountain but conditions just didn't allow for them to ascend higher. The teams will be returning to Paradise later this morning and we look forward to seeing them at Rainier BaseCamp this afternoon.
Super proud of y’all! Enjoy those views! Thankful for the awesome guides!
Posted by: Rachel on 5/27/2019 at 8:39 am
Buenos Dias from Team Mexico,
We are all tucked in safe and sound at La Malintzi resort a few hours down the road from this planet's second largest metropolis, Mexico City. Of course half the time getting here is spent literally getting the 20 kilometers out of town but witnessing the traffic of Mexico City is a great adventure in and of itself.
Our morning started as most mornings do. Coffee, breakfast and lots of Europeans. Well the European thing probably more so in Europe but the hotel did feel very international. After food and packing it was off to our first mountain, La Malinche. At a height just higher than Mt. Rainier, reaching the summit was not our primary objective. Starting our at 10,000 feet and cranking out 4500 vertical feet on our first go seemed a touch ambitious. Although we did crest the 14k height, we left the summit in peace because of tired legs and threatening storm clouds. The hike was beautiful nonetheless. Everyone did great and are bonding well as a team. Now we are ready for bed and the move to bigger mountains tomorrow.
Until Then, this is team Mexico saying good night.
RMI Guide Adam Knoff & Team
Posted by: Jake Beren, Leon Davis, Zeb Blais
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Elevation: 9,000'
Hola from a stone's throw from the Chilean border! Our team is currently relaxing at our hotel, enjoying coffees and catnaps before dinner. Our gear is packed and weighed for the mules who will help us out by schlepping our kit all the way to Aconcagua's Basecamp. Tomorrow we will hit the trail, tagging in after our friends with RMI Team the First (who we stopped on the road to visit on our way here). Time for one last meal without doing our own dishes and an evening in a "real" bed.
Tomorrow we ride,
RMI Guide Jake Beren
PS. After a fantastic meal here at the Hotel Ayelen the team discovered the hidden ping pong table. Dios mio man. Turns out the entire team is pretty darn good with a paddle. Let's call it our first acclimatization cycle.
Posted by: Casey Grom, Mike Walter
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
Casey Grom and Gabriel Barral led their Mt. Rainier summit climb teams to the summit this morning. The guides reported light winds and mostly clear skies. Both teams began their descent from the crater rim at 8:00 a.m.
Mike Walter left this morning for the Five-Day Emmons Climb. Mike and his team will spend four days on the mountain as they summit from the Schurman/Emmons Route.
The Expedition Skills Seminar - Paradise began their climb yesterday. The team had a great day yesterday adjusting to the heavy loads of multi-day packs. They arrived at Camp One in great shape and did a general mountaineering school before dinner. We will be moving to Camp Two at 9,000 feet today. All is well on the Paradise Glacier.
Go, Eric! Love you! Be careful up there. And don’t forget to take a picture!
Posted by: Tamara on 8/15/2012 at 9:49 am
go dan love you
Posted by: sheryl dean on 8/13/2012 at 8:09 pm
Posted by: Brent Okita
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro
Our long summit day yesterday was rewarded with a deep, well deserved slumber last night. It was good to be back in the thick air of 10,000', but our return to the rain forest seemed relatively abrupt after having spent the last five days in the arid conditions up high on Kilimanjaro.
Camp was abuzz with activity early this morning as the staff from all the teams awoke on this last day with the anticipation of returning home, taking showers and seeing loved ones overwhelmed any desire to sleep in. As per tradition, we were bid farewell by our mountain staff with song and dance. Amazing voices and an appreciation for each other was obvious as the team went back and forth between chorus and lead singing, performing some traditional Tanzanian songs.
The hike out to the trailhead was quick as this strong cast of climbers grew stronger with every foot of elevation lost. Our last mountain lunch - a traditional Tanzanian meal - was taken at the trailhead before our 2+ hour drive back to our hotel. Showers were foremost on our minds to wash the seven days of dust, sweat and Kilimanjaro dirt off our selves.
We'll be celebrating tonight at dinner, enjoying each other's company before starting off on our next adventure, the safari. Unfortunately, we'll be losing Darren from the group as he'll be flying back to loved ones and life back home.
So... next up we'll be reporting from the wilds of Africa. The stuff we've marveled at on TV or the National Geographic.
Until then,
RMI Guide Brent Okita
Congratulations!! I can’t imagine what everybody had to go through to Summit. I hope everybody found what they were looking for on that mountain. My heart goes out to everyone , And to you Mary,wow you are something else.LU .
Posted by: David Workman on 7/29/2019 at 10:43 am
Congratulations to JB and the whole team for a strong and safe climb! Your friends here at AMC looking forward to hearing all about.
Posted by: Rick on 6/19/2012 at 9:52 am
Hope you had a long and profound sleep for a significant recuperation. It should help for the descent. Wishing you a smooth return. Hélène
Posted by: Hélène Larocque-Nolin on 6/17/2012 at 7:45 pm
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