Today was a simple one. We got up at 6 AM, ate breakfast and put on our spikes for a short walk down to the cache at 13,500 ft. The team loved the views of Mts Foraker and Hunter. The Tordrillo Mountains were clearly visible to the South. Ravens hadn’t even attempted to break into our well-buried cache. We had it out and distributed for carrying in minutes. Then we walked slowly back uphill with full packs, reaching camp by 10:30 AM. Rest and rehydration was in order as we got out of the strong sun and into our tents. A storm was gradually forming, first with winds up high on Denali, then with a steadily lowering cloud cap. This didn’t prevent us from conducting a brief review of the climbing techniques we mean to employ on the fixed-rope section between 15,000 and 16,000 ft tomorrow when we carry high.
Monday, July 1, 2013
Our storm got real in the night, with cannon-like broadsides of wind and ice particles assaulting the tents. It was serious enough that the guides were out stumbling around from midnight to 2 AM, cutting snow blocks and building walls, but not serious enough that the whole team needed to be in on the fun. It snowed and blew for much of the night, with the wind changing direction every now and then in order to keep things interesting. Although the alarm had been set early for climbing, it was obvious as the morning progressed that we'd simply have to hunker down and ride out the storm. Around mid-morning we rallied the whole crew to eat breakfast, dig out tents and build more walls. Then it was back into the tents for a few hours. We finished the day with some avalanche transceiver training by Zeb Blais, a fine dinner by Erik Nelson and Mike King, and some tall tales by yours truly.
Best Regards
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
Hope the weather improves so that you guys don’t have to stay cooped up in tents on the side of the mountain. Hopefully the avalanche transceiver training will be for naught, but glad that you have it.
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!
It has been a whirlwind few hours for the team, but we are all safe and sound in Mendoza, about to enjoy the comfort of a hot shower, actual bed and a celebratory meal. These things are certainly fine, but it will be tough to beat the meat cooked by our friends the herreros under the stars. I guess we'll just have to take it as it comes.
It sure has been a great trip with an awesome team. Thanks to the squad and everyone's people back home for letting them out for the holidays!
RMI Guides Jake Beren, Leon Davis & Zeb Blais
So happy for your safe journey and for this safe return. It is just amazing!!! Gives me goose bumps…..not just the temperature but the feat by all!!!
See you this summer, Dawn. Be safe.
Ann
Posted by: ann on 1/5/2013 at 6:54 pm
CONGRATULATIONS, Rockacongua!! Knew you guys would crush it!
The chatter of Sherpa staff waking up and getting going is the first thing I hear, then the sun hits the tent and it is time to get up. Basecamp is a busy place, but I always think of it as the place that is ruled by the rise and set of the sun. As soon as the sun hits, it is too hot to stay in the tent and once the sun recedes, it is too cold to stay out. I like the simplicity of that; I don't have to think too hard about where exactly to be.
If all goes well and the weather holds, this will be our final rest before the summit push. There is still so much to do, but plenty of time. At Camp 3 on the last rotation, it was a great test of how things will work, and what still needs to be done. Today, I look through the gloves that I can choose from for the summit bid. I scan my climbing clothing, seeing what needs to be washed one last time and what is ready to go. I count out the energy gels that I will use for the summit push, and tuck in a few packages of fruit snacks for good measure. Looking at all of this equipment, it is hard to imagine that in less than a week it will be tucked onto my body and my back, on my way to the summit.
Of course, so much has to line up. A week seems close, but in reality, it is still a world away. The weather has to be good, but also we have to feel good as climbers. Your body has to be strong and your mind open to the challenge that is ahead. On the summit push, I need to stay healthy, avoiding any stomach bugs or head colds that might be trying to come my way. If everything does line up, then you have to be open to the mountain's terms. If I have learned anything, it is that you have to come prepared with health and strength but also humility and openness. Nothing is assumed. You have to be prepared to take this experience and enjoy each step of it, knowing that the mountains will give you exactly what they want to - that is the beauty of it.
These are the thoughts that are roaming through my mind as final preparations are being made for the summit. Somewhere between being aware of what the mountain is telling us, and which gloves I should pack, I realize that all the preparations (the mental and the physical) are the part of the experience that I value so much, the part that I can take with me on the next adventure. But for now, I will focus on this adventure.
The Four Day Climb led by RMI Guides Robby Young and Leon Davis were standing on the summit of Mt. Rainier at 7 AM PT today. Robby reported a beautiful warm day of climbing with a light breeze. The team will spend some time on the Summit before starting their descent.
Congratulations to today's teams!
Our Four Day Summit Climb Teams led by RMI Guides Tyler Reid and Garrett Stevens were roped up and ready to go early this morning but the ensuing lightening storm and thunder showers kept the teams at Camp Muir. They plan on leaving Camp Muir at about 8 a.m. this morning and will make their way back to RMI Basecamp early this afternoon.
Congratulations to today's teams.
Juli, Megan, and Wes,
Thinking about y’all and praying for good weather! Send pics when you can.
Much love, Karen and Steve
Posted by: Karen Ghormley on 9/5/2013 at 5:10 pm
Hi Wes, Megan and Juli—not sure how the weather is and how it’s impacting climb, but hope you are having a blast regardless. We have been thinking of you all week. Love, Jake and June bug
RMI Guides J.J. Justman and Leon Davis led their teams to the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning. The Four Day Summit Climb teams reported very warm conditions with little to no wind and clear skies. They were able to spend some time on Columbia Crest before starting their descent. As of 7:37 am they had descended to the top of Disappointment Cleaver en route to Camp Muir.
Congratulations to today's teams!
Congratulations! We are very proud and happy
for you and your team!
We can’t wait to hear your stories.
Take care returning to us.
Love you
Mom, Nick, Bryce and Brett
Posted by: Mom, Nick, Bryce and Brett on 8/18/2012 at 11:25 am
Hello,
We finished our trek of Kilimanjaro today as we hiked the final leg out from Mweka Camp (10,000') to the Mweka Gate (6,000') and said goodbye to our mountain staff.
We met our driver and transferred back to the Dik Dik Hotel. After nice showers we enjoyed a great dinner celebration. We have some tired and sore team mates but everyone is very happy.
We are getting excited for the safari adventure that starts in the morning!
Please check out the photo below of Jan and Clint on the summit of Kilimanjaro on August 11th. The flag they are holding has been flown: on Mt. Rainier, Cotopaxi (Ecuador), Ixtaccihuatl & Pico de Orizaba (Mexico), the U.S. Capital, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, during Desert Storm, Fort Leavenworth, Albania, Germany during the removal of the Berlin Wall, and during Clint's retirement ceremony from the U.S. Army as Colonel.
RMI Guide Mark Tucker
Everyone has made it to Arusha, Tanzania! A few of the team arrived early and the rest of us just flew in. It's a loooong trip from the USA! All of our baggage is here so tomorrow we'll check the gear and pack up for our Kilimanjaro ascent.
RMI Guide Seth Waterfall
Erik can cook?
Posted by: Kurt Nelson on 7/3/2013 at 7:25 pm
Hope the weather improves so that you guys don’t have to stay cooped up in tents on the side of the mountain. Hopefully the avalanche transceiver training will be for naught, but glad that you have it.
Posted by: Vicki on 7/2/2013 at 4:45 pm
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