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Posted by: Henry Coppolillo, Leif Bergstrom
Categories: Expedition Dispatches North Cascades
Elevation: 10,781'
The RMI Mt. Baker Team led by RMI Guides Henry Coppolillo and Leif Bergstrom were standing on the summit of Mt. Baker at 1:15 pm PDT today. Henry, Leif, and Team traversed the stunning North Face of Mt. Baker to scale the ice cliff of the North Ridge route. Leif reported clear skies, light winds, and great day of climbing. They will descend via the Coleman-Deming route and make their way back to camp for the night.
Congratulations Team!
Waking up in Barranco Camp under the massive headwalls and fading glaciers of the upper reaches of Kilimanjaro was just beautiful this morning. We slept in an hour because the hike to Karanga was just 4 hours and it gave time for many of the porters to get ahead of us ascending the Barranco Wall. Our climb up some of the Wall's scrambling sections went well, with everyone moving competently. Even the most apprehensive of us got stoked climbing this section. Three valleys later we arrive at Karanga Camp. Lots of up and down today to arrive at a camp only 130' higher than our last, but this is part of the planned magic of acclimatizing for our summit bid that's coming up pretty quickly.
It's amazing how well everyone's doing with the altitude. The fun little tests we do measuring our bodies ability to process oxygen and our pulse reveal that we're all doing better than expected. Great news with the climb looming on the horizon.
Okay, are you ready to hear about what we had for lunch when we arrived? Wiener schnitzel, German Potatoes, sauteed vegetables, vegetable soup. For dessert, watermelon and a home baked chocolate nutty fudge type thing.
Living larger at Karanga Camp,
RMI Guide Brent Okita and Team
On The Map
Posted by: Mike Haugen, Mike Uchal
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 11,200'
Saturday, June 29th, 2013
After a good sleep, we woke up and started packing. The goal for the day was to get as low and as far as possible to set us up for flying off the mountain tomorrow. The crux of the walk out is timing the walk out on the lower Kahiltna Glacier. We have to walk across this part while the snow bridges over the crevasses are frozen. This means a late night/early morning walk to the air strip. We made it all the way to 11k Camp so we are set up to walk the glacier at the right time...as long as we only sleep for two hours!
Wish us luck and good weather so we can fly tomorrow!
RMI Guide Mike Haugen and the RMI Summit Team 6
P.S. Grasshopper wants to thank Annie and Rose for the support and sacrifices!
On The Map
big concern from little calgarians: is there any chocolate left??
Posted by: elisabeth on 6/30/2013 at 4:35 pm
Posted by: Billy Nugent, Tyler Reid
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
The Four Day Summit Climb teams led by RMI Guides Billy Nugent and Tyler Reid reached the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning just after 7 am.
Tyler reported a cloud deck below at around 8,000’ and a cloud layer above. The teams were experiencing moderate to gusty winds and cold temperatures. They will descend to Camp Muir and then continue to Paradise this afternoon.
We look forward to seeing everyone back at Rainier BaseCamp later today.
Congratulations to today's summit climb teams!
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Greetings from the Kahiltna Glacier! Our team flew from Talkeetna onto the mountain this morning and we've been busy setting up shop, pitching tents and dialing in camp. Our sleds are ready and it's an "early to bed, early to rise" type of morning in our future, provided the weather stays workable. Tomorrow we ride for the base of Ski Hill and start climbing.
RMI Guide Jake Beren
On The Map
All reports sound good for the recent summits. Safe journey to all of you as you begin the climb. Our prayer flags are hung in the backyard for your summit and return. xoox, Bonny
Posted by: Bonny Rogers on 6/7/2013 at 12:01 pm
Good luck Everyone!
Love,
Your LA Fans
Posted by: S Brownie on 6/6/2013 at 10:57 pm
Posted by: Seth Waterfall, Solveig Waterfall
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mexico
Elevation: 13,000'
13,000! That's our sleeping elevation tonight at the Altzimoni hut. We started the day with the best breakfast in Mexico at the Mission Tlaxcala. Then we drove back to the west and around Ixta, with a few pit stops along the way. Once we reached the town of Amecameca we loaded up on water and drove to the Altzimoni hut. After getting settled the group headed out for a light hike. After that we made dinner and now everyone is tucked in their bunks and getting ready to move to high camp tomorrow. We will check back in from there.
RMI Guide Seth Waterfall
On The Map
Hi!! We are so excited for you.I am glad I finally found your blog. We love you and pray for you and the team everyday. Especially at night wondering if you are warm.
All our love,
Mom&Dad;
Posted by: nancy mccalley on 2/12/2013 at 8:43 pm
Posted by: Jake Beren, Ben Liken
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Ecuador
Hello Everyone,
We are off to a good start here in Quito! Everyone (and all their bags) has arrived and today we are hitting the streets to check out Ecuador's capital city. We will also take a jaunt to the Equator,the Mitada del Mundo. We'll let you know how the day's adventure unfolds when we get back, but it sure feels good to be off to a good start.
RMI Guide Jake Beren & Team
good luck, looks great, happy to see pictures
Posted by: ann nolan on 2/2/2013 at 2:48 pm
Good luck to the team from new Hampshire. Give our best to Wilson!
Posted by: Jim dunn on 2/2/2013 at 5:41 am
Posted by: Adam Knoff, Casey Grom
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Ecuador
This morning was a welcomed departure from the hustle and bustle of Ecuador's largest city. Despite the plush hotel, easy Internet access and wild night life, our team was ready to relocate to the country getting us one step closer the big mountains we came here to climb. Although we haven't seen any glaciated peaks yet because of the constant cloud coverage, the guides have thoroughly convinced the team they do exist. Such confidence was not instilled in our team when our driver today told us he knew where the trail head was to our second acclimating hike on a mountain called Fuya Fuya. Doing his best to convince us he was not indeed lost, it became undeniable when the road, if one could call it that, ended in the face of a giant bulldozer actually clearing jungle so the "road" could go further. Always expecting the unexpected, we made the best of the situation by pushing headlong up a muddy, steep trail hoping to find a lake we knew existed somewhere up in the mountains above. Surprisingly we did not find the lake but instead stumbled across the main road we should have been on in the first place. With a good laugh we headed back down the muddy trail to the waiting van and then got settled into our beautiful hacienda. Chuck, Jan, Albert and I had a great soccer match and the rest of us simply relaxed. A quick packing lesson prepared us for tomorrow's departure to the mountains and a great dinner has now prepared us for sleep. The team is doing very well and in good spirits. Hasta mañana.
RMI Guides Adam Knoff & Casey Grom
Our time in the Alaska Range finished wrapped up just a couple of days ago. We had an extra 2 bonus days in the mountains. Our fly off date was set, but the weather determines our true fly off date. The snow began to fall the night before our scheduled departure date, it kept snowing for the following 2 days. Veteran climbers stated that this had been one of the biggest snowstorms, at Base Camp, that they could remember in the past
7 years. Over 3 ft of snow fell in a little more than a 36 hr period. We woke up on Saturday morning to crystal clear skies, soon the planes began to fill the skies. Everyone at base camp looking for a flight out spent the previous evening stomping out the run way for the planes. Still, when the planes landed it was obvious how deep the snow was for the planes. I think the pilots were getting faceshots, as the snow was hitting the windshields of the planes. We all arrived back in Talkeetna in the early afternoon, on Saturday.
The week consisted of lots of information being uploaded and downloaded to a very enthusiastic group of climbers. Us guides were very impressed with how much information this group of climbers soaked up. Topics covered a wide variety of mountain tactics, how to simply live comfortably in an environment that was cold and snowy, how to set up a camp, crevasse rescue, snow and ice anchors, climber responsibilities, avalanches and rescue, ice climbing and the list continues.
Everyone had a great time experiencing the Alaska range. Ideas have already been hatched for future trips to visit Little Switzerland, the Ruth Gorge or other objectives around the base camp area, from members of this group. Climbing around the Kahiltna base camp area offers a great experience for your first time to Alaska. Hopefully we will see you up here soon.
Everyone is on their way home now but memories will last a long time of this very special place.
Thanks again from Jason, Andres, Anne Gilbert and RMI
The Four Day Summit Climb led by Casey Grom returned safely to Camp Muir at 8:53am. The team left Muir for their summit attempt at 3am, by 7am they had reached their highpoint of 12,000’. Casey reported inches to feet of new snow with drifts, “It’s like winter up here!”
The Five Day Summit Climb just arrived to Rainier Basecamp in Ashford. They are enjoying some breakfast and warming up after a rain and snow descent from Camp Muir this morning.
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“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.”
You have legions of love sending waves of strength and support Mary.
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Posted by: Katie Holland on 7/27/2019 at 8:54 am
You came. You saw. You are conquering. We are awed by your courage and determination.
Posted by: Bill and Cheryl on 7/26/2019 at 1:19 pm
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