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Hey everybody, it's Billy calling in with another dispatch here from the Jose Ribas Hut on Cotopaxi. We went out on the glacier today out and did some training. Got ourselves back up to speed with all the fun stuff in a typical climbing school: cramponing, ice axe arrest and basically getting used to working with our tips. The crew did really well despite the high elevation. We just had a great meal here, courtesy of the caretakers at the hut and we are going to be early. We are getting up in the middle of the night to take a crack at the summit. So right now I'm outside looking at nothing but stars. We are hoping this weather holds for us... We'll see what happens and we'll give you a call tomorrow and let everybody know what came of us. Signing off for now. RMI Guide Billy Nugent

On The Map

The Expedition Skills Seminar - Emmons July 7 - 12 team led by RMI Guides Leif Bergstrom, Erika Birkeland, Thomas Skoog and Claire Pennell, reached the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning around 6 am. The team will descend to Camp Schurman for their final night on the mountain.  They have completed additional training during their days together including rope travel, cramponing, ice axe arrest, crevasse rescue, and expedition camping skills. Tomorrow they will return to the trailhead and make the drive back to Rainier BaseCamp in Ashford.

Nice work team!

It's another great day on safari! Right now we're in Tarangire National Park and the animals are out in full force. There have been tons of elephants of course as this is 'the garden of the elephants'. In addition to the animals there are tons if really cool Baobab trees. We're all having a blast on the penultimate day of our trip. RMI Guides Seth Waterfall and Peter Whittaker

Update 10:30 a.m. PST: Success! It was a wonderful albeit tiring day for all. We started our climb with a 1:00 a.m. wake up call and hit the trail by 3:00. It was a beautifully clear and calm night for climbing. The team did an amazing job at taking care of themselves and pushing hard to reach the highest point in Europe. It took about seven hours to reach the summit and less than half that to descend back to camp. We had a quick lunch and headed downhill for showers and a great celebration dinner with our local support. Everyone is extremely happy and tired! RMI Guide Casey Grom and crew Casey Grom and team reached the top of Mt. Elbrus this morning! After spending some time on top to enjoy the views and take some photos, the team began their descent. At 3:00 a.m. PST and back at the Garabashi Hut, Casey sent the photo below showing the team on the summit!

On The Map

At 9:30am the Four Day Summit Climb teams led by RMI Guides Billy Nugent and Geoff Schellens we descending from the crater rim. They reported 60+ mph winds on the summit. The teams are making their descent back to Camp Muir and will be back in Ashford late the afternoon. The Expedition Skills Seminar – Muir is beginning their ascent to Camp Muir where they will spend the week training. Congratulations to today's summit climb teams and good luck to the Expedition Skills Seminar!

Dave and Linden are resting at Camp 2. Kaji and Dawa up to Camp 2 with last loads of equipment to help support the summit push. Dave, Linden, Kaji, Dawa, and Tsering up early tomorrow for the climb from Camp 2 to the South Col. Yubarj will support the effort from Camp 2 and one of the three climbing sherpa are slated to stay at the South Col in support of the Summit team. Bill, Sara and myself made the early morning trek to the Heli pad with a ship headed our way till it ran into clouds. It started in Lukla, then returned to Lukla without Sara and Bill, but still on standby. At these altitudes, and good sized mountains near by, best to fly a bit conservative, you know what I mean. So Bill and Sara along with Lam Babu started hiking to Pheriche after lunch. They kept an eye on the weather and a hand on the phone in case they could fly from either Gorak Shep or Lobuche. Neither option happened and last I heard they were getting near Pheriche. They were enjoying the hike today and have no problem trekking all the way to Lukla in three days. Maybe tomorrow, weather permitting they will fly out of Pheriche enjoying one of the most spectacular flights you can imagine. Base Camp keeps getting less and less tents around but that's what happens around this time of the season. We are all getting very excited about the next couple of days. Forecast is good. Team healthy and strong. Camps in place. A bit of luck, will make good chance at the summit. RMI Guide Mark Tucker

On The Map

The Four Day Climb led by RMI Guides Dave Hahn and Alan Davis reached the summit of Mt. Rainier at 7 am today.  Alan reported light winds, clear skies. It took the team just under 6 hours to top out via the current route up Disappointment Cleaver. The team is en route back to Camp Muir.

Congratulations to today's team! 

The team left Basecamp today and descended all they way back to Pheriche at 14,000ft. We were excited to meet the Everest climbing team on their way up and wish them luck. Everyone is doing well and looking forward to the thicker air and warmer temps that lies below. Well do our best to send some photos tomorrow. RMI Guide Casey Grom and crew

On The Map

RMI's Expedition Skill Seminar - Winter is a go! And the first thing we are doing is the 1st principal of Leave No Trace...plan and prepare. Adam Knoff and I are busy with the team organizing and packing gear, practicing knots and hitches, and teaching various self rescue techniques all in the comfort of RMI BaseCamp in Ashford. We have a decent forecast and our hope is to make a big push up to Camp Muir tomorrow. Will we summit? How high will we get in the frigid snows of Rainier? Stay tuned to find out. One thing is for sure, we will be having fun while going through advanced training for big mountain climbing. RMI Guide JJ Justman

Here we go! It is official! Team 3 on Aconcagua is on its way. The entire team made it into Mendoza with all their climbing gear. However, the first order of business is enjoying the good life in Mendoza. We are at one of the new, hidden gems...Siete Cocinas Restaurante. After our bellies are full we will return to our hotel and relax getting ready for acquiring our climbing permits. Stay tuned to see what Aconcagua has in store for our team. RMI Guides JJ Justman, Geoff Schellens & Garrett Stevens