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On The Map
Posted by: Dominic Cifelli, Jack Delaney, Jess Wedel
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Buenas from Camp 1 family and friends!
We have began our ascend up Aconcagua with the first familiar, yet challenging, climb to our new temporary home on the mountain. The day began with quick and strategic balance between gear packing and tent breakdown to allow for some overnight frost to melt. We devoured one of our last five star breakfasts for the next week, provided by our basecamp support team Ezikiel, Nadine and Laura! Truly the unsung heroes of expeditions. See you laters and thank you’s exchanged shortly after, the uphill climb started. Familiar zig zags and moraines appeared, quick breaks to refuel followed and meaningful conversations made the hike up enjoyable! Basecamp team had one more surprise for us upon arrival - tents already set up. With gear secured and camp established, we are all enjoying a new viewpoint of the Rallenchos valley below and a pristine snowfield above. Alternating between naps, reading, or podcast listening we are all replenishing energy. As we get ready for dinner and a restful night in this new rugged environment to my teammates I say ‘ Po paten vqtur’ / may the wind be with you/ , and those at home Obicham te/ We love you.
Camp 1 over and out.
To Pops and team, Amazing work everyone! You had a group of 10 yr old boys all very impressed. Xander was telling his friends how his grandpa is climbing the tallest mountain outside of the Himalayas. One friend said he imagined his grandpa climbing a mountain and there NO WAY he could that. He said he’d like to meet you when you return from your expedition. I think you’re starting a fan base. Keep up the good work.
Love, Noel
Posted by: Noel on 1/29/2023 at 9:59 am
Really appreciate the updates!! -Be careful - don’t slip - take lots of pictures!
Love my John, Jack R’s mom
Posted by: Elizabeth Roelofs on 1/28/2023 at 9:59 pm
Posted by: Hannah Smith, Dustin Wittmier, Devin Guffey
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 11,000'
Hey-O,
A day of rest and preparation was what we needed. We started the day with a casual breakfast of breakfast burritos and coffee followed by a lot of down time. If we weren't napping, eating, or reading we were going through our gear and food separating it into piles, one that would stay with us and one that we would cache higher up. It is always a hard decision trying to decide what food to part ways with but it is always a fun moment when you are reunited in a couple days. Later in the afternoon we reviewed some cramponing techniques before heading to dinner. One of the highlights of the day was the evening entertainment, watching skiers manage their sled down motorcycle hill...lets just say there were some wipeouts but the skiers were all good sports as they skied into camp knowing they were the reality TV show of the night. As the sun started to hide behind some swirling clouds the temps dropped and it is time for bed. Tomorrow we will carry to 13,500' to off load some of our gear to make our move to 14,000' Camp lighter.
Till tomorrow,
RMI Guide Hannah Smith and team
Hey Sami/ Hector
Is nice to hear all is going well with the team. I hope you are enjoying all that beauty. I wish I could be there.. perhaps one day.
Devin and the kids went backpacking this weekend to the Adirondacks they were going to be thinking on you so they said.
Father’s Day is approaching so hopefully Sunday gets to be an awesome day for you up there. Stay strong and listen to your body.
Sending you a big hug of strength .
Your sister !
You know which one .
Love you !
Posted by: Priscila Hernandez on 6/18/2021 at 4:31 pm
Great work Team Smith! It’s so worth all of the suffering, keep your eye on the prize!
Best wishes for great weather!
Ron Richmeier
Posted by: Ron Richmeier on 6/18/2021 at 1:23 pm
Posted by: Jake Beren, Ben Liken
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Ecuador
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
On The Map
Posted by: Dominic Cifelli
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Torres del Paine
The last day with our turtle shells came and went. In our lucky nature, of course it was a gorgeous day completing the last bit of the full circle around Torres del Paine National park. We walked along beaches of crystal blue water, saw condors that got so close I questioned how bad I really smell, and gawked at the peaks like we always do.
Luckily we have one more hike left on the amazing journey on the circuit. The Towers or Torres. The namesake of the park and the dessert we've been waiting for for quite some time now. Breakfast will be at 5 to avoid the crowds that come to the park to day hike the route but we'll be looong ahead.
I would say wish us luck, but we're all full.
RMI Guide Dominic Cifelli
New Post Alerts:
Torres del Paine Trek February 1, 2025
Posted by: Dave Hahn, Dominic Cifelli, Matt McEttrick
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Alaska Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 14,200'
Wednesday, June 30, 2021 - 10:06 pm PT
At long last, we made it from the lower mountain to the upper mountain. The weather was perfect all day long, although forecasts hadn’t given any indication that it might be. It was a bit of work to get packed up and moving out of 11,000 ft this morning… we tend to put down roots, but by 9AM we were stretching the ropes out and walking toward Motorcycle Hill. The snow surface was firm and perfect for crampons. We moved on up over familiar terrain, but this time with unlimited views of tundra and rivers to the north. Views were spectacular as we turned Windy Corner, but of course we couldn’t gaze at them too long -lots of climbing stuff to concentrate on at the Corner. There was little or no wind to be had as we made our way into Genet Basin and the fabled Fourteen Camp at 2:30 in the afternoon. Our expedition experience changed markedly as we hauled through camp. As one of the last guided teams of the season, we’ve been mostly on our own or around one or two other teams at most. It was nearly overwhelming to be seeing so many teams coming and going from 14 Camp. Socially it was exciting -for both guides and climbers- to be seeing friends and co-workers from various companies -many for the first time since before the pandemic. A handful of teams were coming down into camp after summit bids yesterday. Briefly, all three RMI teams on the mountain were in the same place at the same time. The National Park Service B3 helicopter was in action conducting rescues high and low. As we dug in to establish our camp we felt like we’d come into the center of everything. For a short time at least. Many of those we saw will shortly go lower or higher. We still need to drop down tomorrow morning for our cached supplies parked just above the Corner. But tonight we are sleeping at fourteen-thousand-hard-earned feet.
Best Regards.
You’re almost there!!! Hope someone brought the fireworks !! Safe travels :)
Posted by: Mom and Cindy on 7/2/2021 at 4:38 pm
Congrats on the 14K level. It sounds like the camp was as busy as downtown Boston here.
The views sound tremendous & worth the effort. Good luck with the summiting.
You can ask Matt McEttrick how Denali compares with his first family climb here in Milton MA
at the top of Great Blue Hill (elevation 635’) overlooking Boston and Massachusetts Bay.
Joe McEttrick
Posted by: Joe McEttrick on 7/1/2021 at 12:47 pm
Posted by: Mike Walter, Avery Parrinello, Luke Wilhelm
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 7,800'
Thursday, May 13, 2021 - 9:57 pm PT
We had warm and sunny weather today and we took advantage of it to single carry all of our loads to the Base of Ski Hill. It took us 5 hours to get here, traveling on the Kahiltna Glacier with heavy packs and pulling heavy sleds.
The plan for tomorrow is to bump a load of supplies up Ski Hill to around 9800' and create a cache. Then we will return to our current camp for the night. The weather is looking good and everyone is doing well.
I am thinking about and praying for all of you! Focus on the spectacular beauty!
Posted by: Julie Morris on 5/14/2021 at 8:15 pm
We are all watching. Hang in there and have a good time. Love you.
Posted by: Eve Stern on 5/14/2021 at 5:33 pm
RMI Guide Eric Frank calls from the summit of Orizaba, Mexico.
On The Map
I am beyond thrilled for you Dave, and the team! Sending great vibes for your descent of Orizaba! Enjoy!!
*L
Posted by: Lori Macaluso on 3/9/2019 at 11:24 am
DJ - Looking good - good chance for summit soon - go for it guy but stay safe - Love Mom & Dad
Posted by: norm uhlir on 6/3/2013 at 8:29 pm
Jessica,
From your hubby. Hope you all had a good rest day. Look forward to reading more. Safe climb!
Until the next post. Hector
Posted by: Hector Valle on 6/3/2013 at 7:16 pm
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