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Posted by: Jake Beren, Ben Liken
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Ecuador
Posted by:
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mexico
Hey everyone, Great job - You are all awesome!Thanks to Jake for keeping us posted along the way. Safe travels home.
Posted by: Deb on 2/20/2011 at 6:51 pm
Friday, February 28, 2025 - 5:20 pm
Checking in from just over 14,000' on the side of Pico de Orizaba!
We said goodbye to cutie Puebla this morning and drove to Servimont (our local outfitter) headquarters.
We were greeted with big smiles by Dr. Reyes adn team We reshuffled our gear (one duffel to the mountain, and one duffel stays behind), had a delicious lunch and then loaded the 4x4 vehicles for what would be an adventurous drive up to Orizaba base camp.
Everything was going as smoothly as possible while on the wildest 4x4 road until it wasn't. The steering on hte truck we were in snapped and next thing know we were standing on the side of the road coming up with a new plan. Some of us started walking toward camp and some of us waited for the new truck. It was there before we knew it and we were off. We picked up the walkers along the way and finally made it to base camp. We got the tents set up, dinner cooked and ended with a summit talk about what to expect for the climb.
Everyone is doing well and we are all excited to see what the mountain has to offer tomorrow.
RMI Guides Jess Wedel, Josh Geiser and Los Chivos
New Post Alerts:
Mexico's Volcanoes February 22, 2025
Posted by: Mike King, Pete Van Deventer
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Elevation: 13,800'
Posted by:
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Vinson Massif
Posted by: Andy Bond, Henry Coppolillo
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Bolivia
It's been a whirlwind of a last couple of days for us,
Once we arrived at basecamp of Illimani and saw the conditions up close, we realized how icy, firm and steep conditions were on the route. Our local IFMGA guide Javier who has been guiding in Bolivia since 1982 said it was the worst conditions he's ever seen. Climbing Illimani is a serious undertaking that has taken the lives of numerous climbers over the years. With the conditions we were faced with, it was clear then that the risks associated with making a summit attempt were simply too high, and that Illimani would have to wait.
We decided as a group to not attempt the climb but take the next day to all climb to high camp at 17,800' (called the Condor's Nest). On our hike up the rocky ridge, we were graced by a rare sighting of an Andean Condor overhead. We enjoyed another beautiful night in basecamp next a peaceful creek, where llamas grazed in the fields around our tents.
The next day we made the long trip back on the windy dirt roads to La Paz where we enjoyed some really good pizza and not so good beer (unless you like sours). With the program drawing to a close a day early, it gave people an extra day to explore everything Bolivia had to offer. Most of our time here had been spent in the high mountains and the highlands that are typically over 14,500'. Yesterday we made the long descent some 3500m down into the rainforest and jungle on the eastern side of Bolivia, where we wound up at a wildlife refuge. Breathing the thick heavy air at 4000' and lush green jungle and coca farms it felt like we had entered a different country.
Although we weren't able to summit our last peak, the group was able to climb Pequeno Alpamayo and Huayna Potosi, which are two impressive peaks in one of the most underrated parts of the Andes. Bolivia is home to some of the most amazing mountains and friendliest most welcoming people. It was great to be back here after 5 years and to share it with such a great group of people. We're looking forward to returning to Bolivia in 2025!
RMI Guides Henry and Andy
New Post Alerts:
Bolivia Expedition, August 3, 2024
What an amazing time you had!
Posted by: Sheila Forsyth on 8/18/2024 at 8:06 pm
Posted by: Dave Hahn, Dustin Wittmier, Sam Marjerison, Michael Murray
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 14,200'
Thursday, June 29, 2023 10:25 pm PDT
Not much of a break in the weather today but we made the best of it. We watched, waited, and slow-rolled and then went for it, leaving camp at noon. There was still snow falling, but the wind had quit. We trudged up to the fixed lines and then ascended them with little difficulty, reaching 16,200 ft. Nobody got to enjoy the spectacular views as we were still locked in cloud and snow, but we cached our supplies and dropped back down, reaching camp at 6PM.
Hoping for some clearing tomorrow (as usual) we would like to move to 17,200ft.
RMI Guide Dave Hahn and Team
Sending Best wishes for a break in the weather for you Dustin and Dave and Team!!
Farmer Dave
Posted by: Dave Kestel on 7/1/2023 at 7:23 am
Keep up the great effort team! Hoping for a window so you can top this off soon and get down safely.
Posted by: Dan Murray on 6/30/2023 at 2:49 pm
Posted by: Dave Hahn, Dominic Cifelli, Matt McEttrick
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 11,200'
Monday, June 28, 2021 - 9:59 pm PT
We were up by six this morning, braving the chilly shadows (the sun hits 11,000' Camp at 9:15) in order to get on the trail early. Although it was tough to tell just what the weather was going to do, it seemed there wasn’t much wind evident on the ridges we wanted to be around. After a deluxe breakfast in the dining tent, we geared up for climbing. So nice to be putting on crampons instead of snowshoes, so nice to have an ice axe in hand for the steeper terrain we were getting on. We were able to do our carry without hauling sleds, so -although the packs were heavy- it felt like a day of freedom in some respects. The first hour got us up Motorcycle and halfway up Squirrel Hill. After a long week down in the valleys it was wonderful to have the views from the ridges and rises we were topping. Just about the time when the sun might have hit us and warmed things up, the clouds began to gather, which kept us pleasantly cool. We took a second rest break in the Polo Field and by just after noon we were sitting at a windless Windy Corner. A shorter stretch took us up and around the corner and into our intended cache site. We spent a pleasant hour there at 13,500 ft, getting some good views of the South Peak of Denali and the West Buttress while we dug in and buried our supplies. We worked extra hard to make the cache raven-proof. It then took just ninety minutes to descend with lightened packs to 11,000' Camp -most of that was spent walking in thick cloud. We rested and ate dinner as it snowed lightly through the afternoon and evening. We’d love to move up to 14,000' tomorrow, but we shall see what the morning brings.
Best Regards
Hello Dave & Matt:
My email system has been down for a few days. So I have not contacted you.
You are making progress. Have you made it up to the 14,000 feet level?
I hope the weather co-operates,
Joe McEttrick
Posted by: Joseph P McEttrick on 6/30/2021 at 7:05 am
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
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
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