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Posted by: Dominic Cifelli, Jack Delaney, Jess Wedel
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Elevation: 16,200'
When I first climbed a mountain years ago. I did it to help a friend with a late life mid life crisis. After that I continued to climb but never had an answer to the question “why”? Today I found my answer. Today we trekked from Camp 1 to Camp 2. A gain of around 2,000' in elevation. On the walk it came to me that we have formed a mountain family. We have Dom the Dominating. The father figure and leader of the group. Toothpick, the moral foundation.Gator. Charles Darwin. Origin of species. THE living fossil. David, the doc. Jack, the nephew that always says one more rep at the gym. Rossi, the long lost cousin from Europe. Mary Beth, the aunt that always knows if your telling the truth or not.Hudson, hair = Epic!, Tim, the crazy uncle willing to medically treat your cats for everything. Cam, the strong but silent type. Today as we moved up the mountain. We did it as a group with everyone matching speed and ability perfectly. No one was left behind and all were in good spirits and willing to help anyone with anything. There were words of encouragement, and a sense of belonging - the likes you do not see very often. It is in this spirit that I can say everyone here is a Lion King compared to what you will see in an average day of work. Except Gator, he is more of a Gator King.
Signing out from Camp 1 with everyone in good spirits and health.
P.S. Jane I’m fine.
Climber Shane Chidester
Congratulations to Dustin on reaching the summit! What a dream come true! We are so proud of you and can’t wait to celebrate! - Shanon and Ira
Posted by: Ira on 8/31/2019 at 8:58 am
Congratulations to my daughter Mari and Fred! Well done, your my hero’s!
Posted by: Marcia Monk on 8/31/2019 at 8:42 am
Posted by: Ben Liken, Brent Okita, Leon Davis
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
That was the strongest experience of my life. I was overflown by emotions of so many kinds. Special and the hugest THANK YOU go to Brent, Ben, and Pepper - our guides who kept planting confidence and motivation in the team along all of these 4 days. It’s inspiring and uplifting to work with so passionate and professional people, I took quite a few learnings from you guys back to my normal life. Another thank you goes to the whole team – it’s amazing to experience how completely strangers become a tag team and overcome difficulties with the right leadership.
Posted by: Alik Levin on 8/17/2014 at 9:38 am
Just a note to express a heartfelt “THANK YOU!” to our awesome guides: Ben, Brent and Pepper. What an amazing climb! Ben, Brent, Pepper, you were so dedicated, patient and professional throughout our experience, I have no words to express how much I learned and how much I admire you.
Thank you so much!
Christian.
Posted by: Christian Molnar on 8/16/2014 at 9:40 pm
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RMI Guide Jake Beren calling in from the Mt. McKinley summit!
RMI Guide Jake Beren calls in from high camp after successful Mt. McKinley summit.
On The Map
HURRAY, George!! BRAVO - what a celebration - You are a GREAT GUY !!! LOVE YA !~~~ R ‘n L
Posted by: Rosemary and Larry on 6/23/2014 at 12:42 pm
Congrats Jared!
Posted by: James on 6/23/2014 at 6:19 am
On The Map
Hurry home. You are missed. Michelle and I are already planning our girls trip. Love you Clubbie.
Posted by: Kathy Guyette on 6/14/2013 at 3:59 pm
Now this is what I call a 14er “Ground Hogs’ Day experience…reliving it over and over! How fun…each day you can make it more perfect and more perfect then you can proceed to summit!~ Remember, Lori, we all expect you having a jumping picture on top of North America :)! Have fun mountain bonding!!!
Posted by: Sue Lopez on 6/14/2013 at 3:44 pm
On The Map
Larry S - Glad the climb is going so well. Continued good wishes to you and the team. Mom
Posted by: Gerri Seaton on 2/14/2013 at 8:33 am
Larry—your call was very clear from up on the Mt. The flowers are beautiful, you made my day and once again you are my champion! A safe journey to you and all.
Deb
Posted by: debby on 2/14/2013 at 7:23 am
Posted by: Ben Liken, Jake Beren
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Ecuador
Congrats to the team for a successful climb today, complete with a Carunculated Caracara sighting! Very cool bird! Keep up the good work!
Posted by: Caroline on 2/11/2013 at 2:36 pm
Me too—sending good thoughts to my hubs and friends on this adventure. Keep us posted!
Posted by: Christina on 2/11/2013 at 9:26 am
Posted by: Dave Hahn, Dustin Wittmier, Michael Murray, Sam Marjerison
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 14,000'
Wednesday, June 28, 2023 - 9:41 pm PT
We celebrated Tibor's birthday with a storm day and a no-bake cheesecake. Familiar weather to us, clouds and snow with winds aloft kept us confined to 14,000ft Camp. We slept, we ate, we dug snow and cut snow blocks. We talked and we read... we passed time. Looking forward to going climbing again when the storm quits.
Posted by: Dominic Cifelli, Jack Delaney, Jess Wedel
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Elevation: 13,800'
As the clouds dissipated and the grapple settled, we awoke in our tents and decided to hit snooze. We waited for the warm kiss of the sun to dry our tents and only then, did we creak our sore muscles and joints into working. Our walk down was a welcome change from the cold, damp weather of our night spent at Camp 3. The cool breeze, sunny skies, and grand vistas made our travel easy as we descended to Basecamp into open arms and champagne showers.
We’re settled into Basecamp after a delicious asado and will sleep soundly tonight. Tomorrow, we start the walk out of the Vacas valley. It will be our final full day on the mountain. As pretty and rewarding as it’s been out here, we’re excited for the creature comforts that Mendoza has to offer.
Tomorrow is a long day, but we’re excited to see the views and experience the valley without the nerves and trepidation that the beginning offers.
Thanks for following along!
RMI Guide Dominic Cifelli
Posted by: Mike Walter, Nikki Champion, Ben Luedtke
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 11,200'
Tuesday, June 22, 2021 - 4:45 pm PT
We "slept in" to a normal hour today; being up at 11,200' we no longer have to be on an alpine start schedule, traveling at night when the glaciers are frozen. The sky was clear above us as I fired the stoves at 6am, and clouds filled the glacial valleys below. After coffee and a Pop Tart, we headed back downhill to retrieve the cache of supplies we buried a couple of days ago. A quick jaunt downhill and forty minutes of climbing back up hill, and we were back at camp with all of ours supplies. We enjoyed a big leisurely brunch of eggs, hash browns, bacon, and, of course, more coffee. Meanwhile the clouds that had been below us earlier had risen up to our level and it began to lightly snow. That was fine by us, as the rest of the day we lounged in our tents, resting, napping, and reading.
If the weather cooperates, we plan to put in a cache up above Windy Corner tomorrow, somewhere above ~13,600'.
We'll be in touch tomorrow and let you you know how it goes.
I am following to see progress, my good friend Rob Millman is part of this adventure.
Posted by: Anthony Walker on 6/24/2021 at 7:13 am
Whoop whoop!
Posted by: Emilee on 6/23/2021 at 8:55 pm
Mary Beth is the best! So proud of you! Ten cuidado y te amo cuñada!
Posted by: Angela Spinner on 1/29/2023 at 5:01 pm
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