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Mt. Rainier: Five Day Climb Turns At the Top of the Cleaver

May 16, 2025

Posted by: Eric Frank, Mitch Valaitis

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier

Elevation: 12,500'

The team turned around just above the Cleaver yesterday due to difficult walking conditions and challenging weather, which proved too demanding for the group. Eric and his team departed Camp Muir this morning at 7:40 a.m. and are en route back to Paradise.

Everyone is safe, in good spirits, and coming away with valuable mountain experience.

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Mexico’s Volcanoes: Westling and Team Arrive in Mexico City

January 15, 2023

Posted by: Abby Westling

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mexico

Welcome to our Mexico's Volcanoes blog, where we will keep our friends, family and pets up to date on our travels and climbs.

The team arrived in Mexico City today!

It was a sunny and warm day to explore the city and all it offers. Friendly locals, good food and lots of history. The team stretched their legs after traveling with walks around the city and Chapultepec Park, which provided shade and quiet.

Tonight we prepare and rest for our acclimitization hike tomorrow where our adventure really begins!

RMI Guide Abby Westling and Team

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Mt.Elbrus: North Side Teams Gets to Work at Base Camp

August 12, 2017

Posted by: Pete Van Deventer, Mike Uchal

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Elbrus Northside

Elevation: 8,300'

With little to do today besides organize our gear for the next leg of our adventure, we might have wondered how we would occupy ourselves for a day in Base Camp. The Cunninghams took care of that worry, organizing a barn raising of sorts to build a hut that our outfitter has been meaning to put together. With furring strips, floor boards, and siding located, we went to work, only slightly hampered by dodgy extension cords that didn't always provide enough power from the generator to run a drill. The activity kept everyone occupied, and just as we put up the last siding on the walls and were considering the roof, the clouds moved over and the rain started falling. We've been resting in tents, staying dry since. Chances are this storm quits soon, as each one has throughout our expedition, and we'll enjoy a last night in base camp before returning to Kislovodsk early tomorrow. From there it will be in to St. Petersburg and the finale of our trip. We're looking forwards to showers and Shashlik (the local barbeque) tomorrow. From Russia with love, RMI Guides Pete Van Deventer, Mike Uchal, and team

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These updates have been great!
Good to see that the Cunninghams are doing well. Take care all, and prayers for a safe return.

Posted by: Deb Thummel on 8/13/2017 at 6:18 pm

Congratulations on a great Summit and teamwork in basecamp! Enjoy the rest of your journey and celebrate a great climb.
All good at home but look forward to Lee’s return home!! Love Ya!

Posted by: Diann on 8/12/2017 at 8:14 pm

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Ecuador Volcanoes: Mike Walter & Team Arrive in Quito

June 19, 2013

Posted by: Mike Walter

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Ecuador

Elevation: 9,350'

The Ecuador Volcanoes climbing (and all of our luggage) has arrived in Ecuador! Everyone arrived in the country by early this morning and hit the ground running. We spent the bulk of the day on an interesting and educational tour of colonial Quito, visiting the Presidential Palace, the Basilica, and various other points of interest in southern Quito, also known as Old Town Quito. Our local city guide, Jorge, is extremely knowledgeable and happy to share the wealth of information he has about the history, culture, politics, and religion of Ecuador. As always, it's a pleasure to work with Jorge. After a typical Ecuadorian lunch of empanadas, locro de queso (potato soup with cheese & avocado), and fritada (fried pork with corn and plantains), we headed to the Equator. We visited an ethnographic museum and stood straddling the Equator, with a foot in each hemisphere (see photo). We're all still a little weary from a long travel day to get here, and I'm sure everyone will sleep well tonight. Tomorrow we had head out on our first acclimatization hike. We'll be in touch tomorrow to let you know how it goes. Cheers, RMI Guide Mike Walter

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Ken! Amazing to read, incredible to SEE!! Great job everyone!

Posted by: Carlo Barone on 6/24/2013 at 10:46 am

Thinking about you Ken! Be super careful. What an experience! Jan

Posted by: Jan Swenarton on 6/23/2013 at 3:23 pm

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From the top of Cayambe

December 13, 2009

Posted by:

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Ecuador

Elevation: 18,997 ft.

Hey, hey, hey RMI. This is Casey and crew on the summit of Cayambe! Great day yesterday. Everyone slept well last night and we got up about midnight again. Took us about 6 1/2 hours to summit. Clear, windy and cold today. Both trips have been real tough. These guys are real troopers and did a great job. We'll check in again when we get back to Quito.

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Mt. Rainier: Four Day Climb with Wittmier and Whatford Reach Summit

August 10, 2025

Posted by: Dustin Wittmier, Tatum Whatford, Raymond Holt, Mac Nolde, Kayanna Hopkins, Jack Ritterson, Matt Tucker, Erika Barrett

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier

Elevation: 14,410'

The Four Day Climb August 7 - 10 led by RMI Guides Dustin Wittmier & Tatumn Whatford reached the summit of Mt. Rainier around 6:30 am today. Tatum reported that it was a little windy and a little cold but it was turning into a beautiful morning on the mountain. The teams spent about an hour in the summit crater before starting their descent. Once back at Camp Muir they will take a quick break and repack their gear before contining the final 4.5 miles to Paradise.

Congratulations to today's teams!

PC: Tatum Whatford

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Cayambe Express: Team Acclimates on Fuya Fuya

November 1, 2022

Posted by: Dominic Cifelli, Seth Burns

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Ecuador

Elevation: 13,986'

Today we left the comfort of Quito to start our travels toward the main objective of the trip, Cayambe.

While the trip is originally a Cotopaxi Express the team had to pivot to a new itinerary after Cotopaxi showed too many signs of activity for mountaineering. We're going to trust the scientists on this one and not go take a peek into the crater ourselves.

Today was another day of acclimatization. We climbed the hills outside of Otovalo to summit the second objective of the trip, Fuya Fuya. The weather treated us to cloudy, moody views that kept us the perfect temperature during our climb. While shorter in stature than Rucu Pinchincha it still serves as a great opportunity for acclimatization and sets us up well for Cayambe. Tonight, we enjoy our final night in town.

We ship off to the base of climb tomorrow. Wish us luck!

RMI Guides Dominic Cifelli, Seth Burns and Team

Aconcagua Expedition: JJ and team carry above Camp 1

January 12, 2013

Posted by: Geoff Schellens, JJ Justman

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua

Elevation: 16,200'

Hello RMI Blog Enthusiasts! Today was more of the same. The team did a fantastic job climbing up to Camp 2 at 18000 feet. We cached more food for up high, some white gas and a few personal items. In fact, the team was doing so well that after our cache we took a little walk up higher to get a view towards high camp. We made it to 19000 feet when the snow began to fly. It turned out to be a beautiful walk down back to Camp One. We are drinking hot drinks now and soon we will begin cooking for the team. Tomorrow is a well deserved rest day for all of us here at 16500 feet, which actually is feeling really good for all of us. Everyone here wants to say hi to friends and family back home. RMI Guide JJ Justman P.S. GO PACKERS!!!!

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YEAH Jeff!!!!!!!! Enjoy and stay safe. Looks awesome.
Dick and Kookie

Posted by: Pat Simmons on 1/13/2013 at 8:04 pm

Jeffrey, followed you back up to C1. Glad to see you back in the hunt for the summit with the rest of team. BEST TO ALL.

Posted by: Paula Hall on 1/13/2013 at 9:03 am

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EXPEDITION SKILLS SEMINAR - Ecuador: Ready for Summit bid on Cotopaxi

January 11, 2013

Posted by: Adam Knoff, Casey Grom

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Ecuador

Elevation: 15,000'

Hi Everyone, Thanks to the Chilcabamba Eco Lodge the team has been well fed and all are well rested. After a leisurely breakfast the team finished packing for another climb before our ride arrived. It took as an hour to reach the parking lot at 15,000’. We hiked for about 45 minutes to reach the hut at Cotopaxi which resembles a modern two story house. All is well and the weather is improving. We will spend the next few hours playing cards, getting some sleep and plan to awake at midnight. If things go well we should arrive on the summit of Cotopaxi near sunrise. We will call from there if the mountain allows us to do so. Wish us luck! RMI Guides Casey Grom, Adam Knoff and Crew

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HOOOOOOORAH! Can’t wait to see the Summit picture! and very happy to get the phone call. Congratulations! Rest now and eat…soon you will return to reality with a super accomplishment and memory. Love, Mom

Posted by: Pat Gray on 1/12/2013 at 9:20 am

Glad to hear the weather is cooperating finally. Hope you were able to summit and if not, I’m sure you are having a blast! I am jealous and next time you can take me along just to be your interpreter!
Love you,
Tia Ginni

Posted by: Ginni Fennema on 1/11/2013 at 8:52 pm

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Aconcagua: Justman & Team Rest at Camp 1

December 14, 2012

Posted by: JJ Justman, Geoff Schellens

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua

Elevation: 16,500'

Coffee and Quesadillas is what rest days are all about! This is team #1 here on Aconcagua at Camp 1 (16,500’). After our carry yesterday the team definitely earned a day to acclimatize, rest, and recover after a good long day’s work. Everyone is doing just fantastic. We’re continually eating up quesadillas, drinking coffee, telling stories, and just having a good time. The weather is pretty decent a little bit of wind. It looks like there might be a bit of a change, but overall not too bad. So tomorrow our plan is to wake up early, break camp, and then move to Camp 2 at 18,000’. Everyone wants to say hello to friends and family back home and thanks for following along. We will touch base with you again and let you know how our move to a new altitude at Camp 2 on Aconcagua goes. Take care everyone! Ciao from Argentina, RMI Guide JJ Justman & Team

Rest Day at Camp 1

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