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We deserved a leisurely start to our rest/acclimatization day in Pheriche. So we dragged feet and drank coffee until 9 AM before heading outside. The morning weather could best be described as "splitter". As in, it was perfectly blue sky and ultra clear air. We were looking for light activity at altitude to enhance our acclimatization. Right out the back door of the lodge there happens to be a hill that is perfect for such activity. Up we went with a plan to be back by lunch. Immediately we had a view of Cho Oyu, the sixth highest mountain in the world. That compensated us for the loss of Everest, which we can no longer see. Before long we were seeing the craggy summit of Makalu, fifth highest, and we'd regained a view of Lhotse (#4). We bumped into a number of other teams that we've come to know on our little trek circuit, each out for the views and the exercise. Those views only got more incredible as we worked our way up the giant stairmaster to about 16,500 ft above sea level... 2,500 feet above our lodge. We were being circled by eagles and cooled by breezes so we couldn't stay too long to enjoy the view... Lunch and an easy afternoon were calling. The team trooped to the nearby Himalayan Rescue Association (HRA) clinic to receive a great lecture by one of the docs on altitude and common trekker illnesses but spent the rest of the day napping, gaming and chatting. Tomorrow we hope to push on to Lobuche. Best Regards, RMI Guide Dave Hahn

On The Map

Back safe and sound! Today we hiked the last few miles off of the mountain and are all freshly showered (thankfully) and are awaiting the feast that the Dik Dik Hotel is preparing for us. Everyone is happy to be back off the mountain and are looking forward to sleeping in beds, hot showers in the morning, cotton clothes and fresh coffee! We have had a great last few days with the whole team getting to stand on the summit of Kilimanjaro. It was a wonderful, if maybe just a little exhausting, week full of beautiful views and amazing weather. We'll spend the night resting here then we will be off again in the morning to enjoy the rest of this beautiful country on safari. RMI Guide Casey Grom and a happy crew.

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.

Mark Tucker checking in from Camp 2, Kilimanjaro, the Shira Camp. Well over 12,000'. You can see your breath tonight, a little bit chilly. What a great day. Perfect climbing conditions. We received a little sprinkling yesterday so the dust has been settled. We had a little cloud cover so it made quite comfortable climbing up to camp today. Then it started to rain just a little bit when we arrived so we are already in the tents. We were fortunate enough that the mountain popped out right at sunset tonight. We have now seen the peak. Everybody is quite thrilled with that. Lots of pictures as you can well imagine. The team is doing very well. Everybody's healthy and we've been moving nice and smooth and we're all developing these great techniques for the summit to come. We have a clear night and we'll talk to you tomorrow after a pretty good-size day. We're all looking for it. RMI Guide Mark Tucker

On The Map

Hello to all from the June 19 Denali expedition. If the saying "make hay while the sun shines" applies to mountaineering, this team could feed a lot of cows. I am thrilled with our team dynamic and progress. Yesterday we ate breakfast, got ready and were blessed with clear conditions at base camp. K2 Aviation worked hard to get us all on the glacier which allowed us to pack up and move out. We arrived at the base of Ski Hill by dinner. Today we woke to perfect weather and the team again showed great enthusiasm to get moving. By 6:45 a.m. we were marching up Ski Hill with full loads. We arrived at 9,800 feet by 11:30 and are now enjoying a steamy afternoon sun bathing. Stay tuned for tomorrow's next episode. This is Adam Knoff signing off.

On The Map

As the phone call from earlier today said, we had an absolutely phenomenal day climbing Cotopaxi. The team as a whole was saddened by the withdrawal of Ginger from the climb itself but but we were all so impressed by her selfless decision to remain at the hut and not attempt the climb do to a nagging chest infection. When climbers put their team first over their ego and personal ambitions, it reveals much about their true character. Ginger we missed you today. After descending from our surreal summit, we quickly packed up at the hut and marched the 15 minutes downhill to the waiting van. Our amazing local guide, Jaime Avila went home to Quito to prepare for his return to Chimborazo and the rest of us are now resting peacefully at a 400 year old hacienda south of Quito. I simply can't remember a nicer day in Ecuador. Voicemail Message: Hello! This is Adam with Casey, Jaime and the crew on top of Cotopaxi! Ginger stayed behind at the hut this morning as she was not feeling well. Everyone else is on top on the most beautiful day we could have asked for. It is almost a fair trade - I would give a day like we had on Cayambe to have a day like this on Cotopaxi. It is a beautiful, beautiful place to be. Everyone is feeling great and all is well. We will check in later from La Cienega. RMI Guides Adam Knoff & Casey Grom

On The Map

Hi there this is Seth checking in for the Mt. Elbrus Northside Expedition. Our friend the wind finally gave us a break today! At around 2 am the big gusts died off and by sunup everything was calm. Everyone was stoked to get up and finally get on the glacier. By 9:00 we were cramponed up and climbing. The route was great and JJ set a nice pace. We made it to our high camp in 4.5 hours. We dropped off some food, fuel and a little gear there and then boogied back down to Camp 1. If the weather allows we will move up to high camp tomorrow! RMI Guide Seth Waterfall

On The Map

Sometimes things work well, efficiently, smooth as silk. And, sometimes, well, one hits a few speed bumps. We're in the speed bump zone. Yesterday, we had high hopes that the weather would clear tomorrow, allowing the Ilyushin - with its new fuel pump - to cross the Drake Passage and drop onto the blue-ice runway to shuttle us all back to Punta. But, weather is indeed a fickle element, and generally prefers to surprise rather than be predictable. To the surprise of some 100 people here now at Union - clients and staff alike - the forecast today is for 4 more days of bad weather, unflyable. So, we're stuck. It snowed all day today, with a low, grey ceiling of cloud, and will most likely do it again tomorrow. Some people have been waiting for a flight out for 2 weeks. ALE is doing everything they can, but the weather is out of even their control. So, we sit. We wait. We play cards, we laugh, we go out for a climb, a ski, something to pass the time and keep our minds off loved ones and family far, far away. It could be worse, much worse, so there are no complaints. We all appreciate you're tuning in these last few weeks and following along with our little adventure. I thought I'd leave you now with one of my favorite quotes from a hero of mine, and a figure of Eddie Bauer history and lore: Dr. Charlie Houston. Leader of the 1953 American expedition to K2, Houston and team had an epic op the peak. The barely survived, and one member, Art Gilkey, sadly perished on the peak. Later, Houston reflected on the climb in his book, "K2: The Savage Mountain", and wrote thus of climbing: "Why climb mountains? The answer cannot be simple. It is compounded of such elements as the great beauty of clear, cold air, of colors beyond the ordinary, of the lure of unknown regions beyond the rim of experience. The pleasure of physical fitness, the pride of conquering a steep and difficult rock, the thrill of danger controlled by skill…How can I phrase what seems to me the most important reason of all? It is the chance to be briefly free of the small concerns of our common lives, to strip off non-essentials, to come down to the core of life itself. On great mountains, all purpose is concentrated on the single job at hand. Yet the summit is but a token of success. And the attempt is worthy in itself. It is for these reasons that we climb. And in climbing, we find something greater than accomplishment." Again, thank you all for following along. Happy adventures, and a deep Namaste from the far south.

All Team Members Safely Back at Camp 4 After Successful Summit Voicemail 12:48 a.m. PDT - Hi RMI, it's Linden calling. It is 12:42 a.m. your time - here in Basecamp. We just got the radio call that our entire team is back in Camp 4. They are settling in for the evening and are going to descend to Camp 2 tomorrow. Everyone made it back safe and sound. It sounds like they are happy to be back and in fine spirits. We will give you another update tomorrow when they get closer to Basecamp. Group on Top at 8:00 a.m. - Nepal Time All Five First Ascent Team Members and their Sherpa team were on the summit May 19, 2009 at the following times (Nepal Time): Peter Whittaker - 8:00 a.m. Jake Norton - 8:00 a.m. John Griber - 8:00 a.m. Ed Viesturs - 8:50 a.m. Gerry Moffatt - 9:15 a.m. They are descending to Camp IV now. More video, audio, and pictures to be posted in the morning. Congratulations!

Howdy everyone back home.

All is well in Tanzania. We’ve had great weather and the team is humming along really well.

We hit the trail just after 8 am and hiked for an hour before taking our usual 15 minute break, then back on the trail for another hour and so on. In total today we hiked for just over 7 hours before reaching Barranco camp. Our gracious Kilimanjaro porters and staff have been working very hard and we arrived once again to a camp set up and ready for us.

Along the way we passed around the famous Lava Tower reaching just over 15,000ft setting new altitude records for many. We also passed by many of the giant groundsels and towering Senecio trees that made us feel as if we were in some crazy Dr. Zuess story.

The team is in good spirits and doing great.

RMI Guide Casey and the Kili crew