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Yesterday was our second summit of the trip, and the first time above 6000m for several members of the team! We had the luxury of being the only group in the refugio on Sunday night so it was easy to get to bed early in advance of our midnight wake up.
We left the hut at 1 am under a beautiful starry sky. A short rock scramble brought us to the toe of the glacier, which started out as the loud, crunchy ice we’d become accustomed to on Tarija, but quickly transitioned to grippy neve. The night was cold but dead calm, and it was a really pleasant few hours of climbing in the darkness until we finally caught the first rays of sun at the base of the summit pyramid.
The final few hundred feet to the summit made for the hardest climbing of the day. The challenge of steep, at times rocky and loose walking was compounded by the thin air at almost 20,000’! The team took it in stride and soon we were all on top, admiring the views of La Paz and the surrounding peaks. After high fives, photos and a brief rest we began making our way back down to the hut. Everyone moved well and we made it off the glacier well before noon. With showers, comfy beds and cold drinks in La Paz in mind we only spent about 45 minutes resting at the hut before continuing the descent all the way back to the road. A few hours later we were enjoying a delicious dinner at Hotel Mitru Sur before turning in early for a well deserved night of sleep.
This morning everyone headed out to explore the city and do some site seeing and souvenir shopping. This afternoon we’ll pack up for Illimani and head south to Pinaya first thing tomorrow.
RMI Guide Andy Bond & Team
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Bolivia Expedition, August 3, 2024
Posted by: Dave Hahn
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro
It was worth another predawn start to get into Ngorongoro Crater first thing in the morning. The animals are a bit more active in the cool morning than on a hot afternoon. We wanted action. The drive to the gate from Plantation Lodge was brief, but then the drive on rough roads up to the crater rim and along that rim was a good deal longer. It was slightly surreal as well because we did it in thick fog. We got under that cloud layer though as soon as we began our descent into the “crater” (which is really a caldera). At first there was some enthusiastic pointing at individual zebra and wildebeest… until our team realized there were thousands of zebra and wildebeest… not to mention gazelles and cape buffalo.
Our guide Jacob made the sighting of the day, pointing out four lionesses. We watched them move and rest… but they were clearly hungry and making their moves with breakfast in mind. We were all watching when one of them charged a Grant’s Gazelle. The Gazelle was moving fast but the lioness had cut off his exit possibilities and took him down before our wide open eyes. The other three big cats made their leisurely way over to enjoy a snack as we watched. It was a cool day in the crater, the clouds never really did go away. But that seemed to be fine conditions for viewing wildlife. We saw everything from hyenas to hippos… lots of hippos. But we weren’t seeing rhinos. They exist in Ngorongoro but they are notoriously shy. Finally, we spotted a pair of black rhinos from the crater rim on our exit. Emmanuel, our guide found the pair with binoculars and we each ticked them of… making four of the “big five” down… elephants, lions, cape buffalo and rhinos. Just missing leopards.
On the crater rim we visited a Maasai village and saw some fine dancing and chanting, watched the men make fire and throw spears and then entered their small huts to try to understand what it really is like to hold on to traditional ways and means in a modern world.
We were back at Plantation in plenty of time to enjoy the sunset, some excellent cocktails and a perfectly prepared and presented dinner.
Best Regards
RMI Guides Dave Hahn & Team
Wow! How cool was that to see!! What a great description we felt like we were right there with you witnessing it all go down! Wish my aunt would have done that with me instead of take me cruising downtown and make us hide in the back of her VW bug! #geauxcindeeandamanda
Posted by: Allie Frankie and Tillie on 9/2/2023 at 3:04 pm
Wow, what an awesome day! Love that you saw all those animals; what an experience! Love Dave’s descriptions; they make it easy to imagine being there! What a memorable trip for Cindee and Amanda to share!
Posted by: Kasey Oldham on 8/30/2023 at 2:53 pm
Posted by: Pete Van Deventer, Henry Coppolillo, Tatum Whatford
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 17,200'
May 27, 2023 7:28PM PT
Things were exactly as we hoped this morning, calm, and blue above.
We woke earlier than most, and had our chores taken care of quickly to get out of camp.
We were roughly the second team out, which turned out to be the right move as it seemed like nearly everyone at 14 headed to the fixed lines today. From the top, we could see a near to continuous line that stretched back to 14.
We made good time and rolled into camp at 17 around 4pm. Then started the laborious work of building camp. It's hard to do anything up here quickly - walk, shovel, stand up too fast, so it took some time, but we are now settled in - working on melting snow for water and hoping that tomorrow gives us our summit shot.
Pete, Henry, Tatum and Team
Go Bailey! Hope the weather window is good and that you get an amazing summit push! Stay safe!
Posted by: Cecilie on 5/28/2023 at 9:29 am
Posted by: Mike King, Dominic Cifelli, Jack Delaney
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Elevation: 16,200'
Today we carried food, fuel & a few personal items to Camp 2 at 18,000'. Pardon the typo of elevation yesterday (we had it 17,000'). We had a clear morning to begin the day. Heavy snow began to fall with a light breeze while we were putting together our cache. The team got back to camp and is waiting for a break in the snow. This weather pattern is forecasted until the 9th when strong winds are expected for the 10th & 11th. We rest tomorrow and hope the storm abates.
Weather prayer
Posted by: Waltero on 1/7/2023 at 3:50 am
I bet goggles are adjusted the moment you open that tent flat. Remember Enos Mills’ story “Snow Blind”.
Posted by: Renate Fernandez on 1/6/2023 at 3:36 pm
Posted by: Hannah Smith, Avery Parrinello
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Elevation: 18,000'
On the road again! We said goodbye to Aconcagua Camp 1 today and hello to Camp 2. It was a beautiful morning for breaking down camp, with virtually no wind and the sun shining down on us. As we waited for the porters to come help carry some gear, we saw a furry critter scamper across the slopes above. Our guess is it was a fox. Its always exciting see wildlife. After jamming out to tunes in our respective earbuds, we arrived at camp. Camp was a lot quieter from when we left it on our carry day. Other teams moved to high camp, creating space for us. Once again we set up camp and began nesting in our new home. Summit day is just around the corner, but first we will do a carry to high camp tomorrow and rest the following day. The air is a little colder at our new camp. The zipper on our sleeping bags will go a tad higher tonight to keep in the warmth.
Happy friday everyone,
RMI Guide Hannah Smith and team
On The Map
Doing great Pops! Wonderful to see your progress and a picture of you! Keep up the good work! We love you!
Love, Noel, Xander, and Nora
Posted by: Noel Imfeld on 1/18/2020 at 1:42 pm
Keep on Trucking Sue! You are going to nail this one!
Posted by: Russ Frederickson on 1/18/2020 at 7:25 am
Posted by: Mike Walter, Solveig Waterfall, Ben Liken
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 11,200'
On The Map
Mike, I went to the book store and asked the clerk where the self help section was. She said she could help me but that would defeat the purpose. Then I tried to buy a camo jacket but I couldn’t find one. I bought a vest . If I didn’t have arms it would be a jacket. Extra medium. Be safe. Excited to climb with you again. John
Posted by: John on 5/20/2013 at 7:37 pm
Good call. Hunker down and get back to some sport eating. I’m on Otdoor Ed until Thursday night but I’ll try to shoot off a weather report before I go. Be safe. xoxo
Posted by: K2 on 5/20/2013 at 4:31 pm
Posted by: JJ Justman, Geoff Schellens
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Go Cousin!!
Posted by: Holly on 1/6/2013 at 9:18 am
Go get em Mike.
Posted by: Jason Vaillancourt on 1/5/2013 at 7:44 pm
Posted by: Billy Nugent, Geoff Schellens
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
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I’m so proud of you! Now hurry up and get some safe and sound :)
Posted by: Julia Gulia on 9/10/2012 at 2:47 pm
great job guys. i can only imagine the suffering going on in those conditions and how strong you all are to give that a go. i was really wishing you a blue bird summit, but i know you’ll have epic stories to tell from probably an even more spiritual adventure.—ethan
Posted by: ethan kutzscher on 9/10/2012 at 12:03 pm
Posted by: Casey Grom, Solveig Waterfall
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
Awesome job, Kevin!! With two climbs on Rainier under your belt, Bob and I expect you’ll carry our packs the next time we tackle Katahdin and Mt Washington!
Best,
Joe
PS. I was going to send you flowers and a fruit basket, but then I realized this blog was a lot cheaper.
Posted by: Joe B on 8/3/2012 at 10:59 am
Posted by: Mike Walter, Pete Van Deventer
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 358'
That TV and those speakers!!!! The best part is the fireplace. Glad you got time to rest before the next climb!
Posted by: Sheila Forsyth on 8/13/2024 at 8:18 pm
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