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Hello everyone We have finally returned to Kathmandu! We arrived yesterday in Lukla after a long enjoyable hike down from Namche. It was a beautiful day with sunshine most of the way and just a sprinkle at the end to welcome us back. After a quick shower we stepped out to the local pub and had a drink to celebrate the journey. This morning we were delighted to wake to clear skies and hear that we were on one of the first flights out. And better yet, arrived back in Kathmandu early enough for breakfast. It's been a wonderful adventure and it will be sad to say goodbye to the team. But it's time to get home. Thanks for following! RMI Guide Casey Grom and crew

Hello Everyone, After a severe spanking on our first climbing objective, expedition skills seminar Ecuador has settled into a well deserved day of rest. Here at Chilcabamba, a beautiful rustic Eco lodge located ten miles north west of Cotopaxi, Ecuador's most famous mountain, we have been treated like royalty. Luckily, whatever crazy wind dance some angry jungle tribe did to irritate the mountain climbers has seemed to run its course. So, by this afternoon many of the dark clouds and biting wind gusts seemed to have subsided which by dinner time treated the team to spectacular views of the mountain we are to attempt next. Because Cayambe was such a struggle, we opened today up to doing anything, within reason, each person wanted to do. Armed with the the Spanish speaking skills of a two year old, I did my best to arrange a car to drive five willing folks to Machachi, the nearest town. When a pickup arrived with seating enough for four, shoulders were shrugged, the back seat was packed sardine style and twenty minutes later Ginger's legs were numb. But so goes travel. After a few hours in town the team returned and a quality debrief of our Cayambe experience hopefully prepared us better for what's to come on Cotopaxi. By 5 p.m. more training ensued and Clark was imitating self arrest in the front yard peppered with llama poop while Albert attempted to mock rescue Ginger out of the imaginary grass crevasse. Who needs a glacier? This segued perfectly into dinned and eventually into Jan and Gary kicking the guide's tails in a heated game of cribbage. The team is growing closer every day and can't wait to attempt another climb. Stay tuned. RMI Guides Adam Knoff & Casey Grom

We are enjoying a beautiful bluebird rest day here in the comfort of our second camp high on Aconcagua, after yesterday's trip to Campo Colera at 19,600'. The temperatures have warmed up and the winds have died down, so we are all just refueling and getting mentally prepared for the upcoming push to our highest camp and the summit. For a change of pace, we're going to have each team member share some thoughts today. Without further ado: Sid: rest days are probably the toughest days, though given the push ahead it is welcome. Hello to all and thanks for your thoughts, they make a difference. Keith: VERY tough mountain so far, but Gabi, Garrett and Pete have made it do-able and tolerable so far. Hi to fam and friends! Erin: it's been a difficult climb with high winds, but I am feeling well despite a brief battle with dehydration yesterday. Looking forward to coming home to family and friends, see you all soon! Todd: Looking forward to the summit! Kili ain't got nothing on Aconcagua...go market go!! Dan M.: Awesome team, great climb and scenery. Send more TP. O-H! John: Greetings family and friends, looking forward to the summit attempt. This is a beautiful, awesome and challenging mountain. As in Psalm 19, "The heavens and earth speak forth His glory". Michael: It's all I expected physically and with beauty. Love to Lois and my girls, miss you all. Lisa: Tom, miss you every day. Would love for you to be here. Sheri, your sleeping bag is working perfect. Garrett: Great climb with great people in a spectacular place! Amy, I love you and miss you. See you soon! Pete: The Andes have been showing us their spectacular side! Katie, love you, miss you, and talk soon! Gabi: Having a great time, enjoying the time shared with the team members and my friends Pete and Garrett. Ceci: te amo, nos vemos pronto por Buenos Aires! Thanks to everybody out there for following our progress and sending all those positive wishes. Cheers, The RMI Aconcagua expedition

Today we traveled to the entrance of the Kilimanjaro National Park at the Machame Gate. We registered as a team and began climbing up from 5,900 feet. We left the Cultivation Zone, where bananas and coffee plants grow and we made our way through the Forest Zone. It's lush rainforest made a beautiful day walking in the cool mist. We kept our eyes out for the occasional Colobus monkeys in the canopy above but we only heard their screeching love songs. Approaching camp at 9,800 feet, we entered the Giant Heather of the Heather and Mooreland Zone. Some of the heather grows over 30 feet tall. We are now sitting in our dining tent eating popcorn, drinking tea and relaxing. RMI Guide JJ Justman

On The Map

The day went like clockwork. We had a great breakfast and then hopped in our vehicles for a short drive to the entrance of the Ngorongoro National Park. The day was cloudy and cool to start, but by the time we descended some two thousand feet, to floor of the largest unbroken and unflooded caldera in the world, the sun was a shining. I would guess that we only saw about 20% of the 30,000 animals that live in the crater. On our way back to the amazing Plantation Lodge for another night we stopped into a Masai Village for a tour and some special shopping options. Tomorrow brings us to the home of more elephants per square mile than anywhere else in the world, Tarangire National Park. Somebody has to do it, wish you were here. RMI Guide Mark Tucker

The Four Day Summit Climb August 13 - 16, 2012, led by RMI Guide Solveig Waterfall reached the summit of Mt. Rainier at 6:30 a.m. this morning. They reported a beautiful day on the mountain with clear skies, light wind and warm temperatures. The team began their descent from the crater rim at 7:30 a.m. RMI Guide Adam Knoff and the Expedition Skills Seminar - Paradise completed their six day program with a summit of Mt. Rainier this morning. The team began their descent from the top shortly after 8:00 a.m. They will return to Camp Muir and spend some time repacking their gear before continuing their descent to Paradise later this afternoon. Congratulations to today's teams!

Happy Fourth!!! But actually our sixth day on the mountain and our first rest day. If it hadn't been proclaimed a rest day in advance, it would have become one anyway, but we'd have labeled it a storm day. Light, but continuous snow fell and we were seldom granted views of the sky, the sun or the mountains. Winds were aimless but persistent, making it a fine day for tenting. The team got up with the sun -or at least when the sun came out from behind the West Buttress at 9:15 AM and ducked behind clouds. Breakfast was held in the POSH and consisted of salmon, bagels, cream cheese and hot drinks. Conversation ranged from whales to polar bears and royal families. Cards were played, books were read and iPod movies were watched. Everyone seems to be acclimatizing well -which was the goal in resting here at 11,000 before the hoped for move to 14,200. While camp had seemed quite busy two days ago, it now seems quiet with just three other teams -all on similar schedules, give or take a day or two. Together we represent the end of the guided climbing season on Denali. Our team, although pleasantly diverse and international in composition is proud to be celebrating the fourth by climbing the America's highest peak. Although today we are climbing it from a predominantly seated position. Best Regards, RMI Guide Dave Hahn

On The Map

Hello, this is Adam Knoff and the Upper West Rib Climbing Team. We are established comfortably here at 11,000’ on Mt. McKinley. We moved up today from our camp at 10,200’ in very nice weather. The weather deteriorated a little bit this afternoon bringing some clouds and light snow. We were able to climb above camp for a few hours and found a nice place to do some ice climbing and some training. That got everybody excited and morale is good. Everyone is feeling strong and we expect to make a carry up to 14,000’ tomorrow. Then we will see what the weather is like as the forecast calls for a low pressure system on Tuesday and Wednesday. This puts a little uncertainty into our planning so we'll play it by ear. As our team gets to know each other we have discovered that the never snoring Mr. James Fitch does in fact snore. And that is one of the fun new discoveries of the trip so far. We'll keep you posted as our plans for the upcoming days develop. RMI Guide Adam Knoff

Greetings from our high camp on Ixta at 14,700 feet above sea level. Today we hiked from our hut to this high camp below the Ayoloco Glacier, known here as the Stomach of Ixta, the 'White Woman.' Everyone did very well today and seems to be handling our new high point very well. This afternoon we are reviewing crampons, ice axes and rope travel around camp before an early dinner. For dinner's entertainment we will go over the plan for tomorrow's attempt on Ixta, looking at our route and discussing our strategies for the day. Then it's off to bed for an early start for summit day. Wish us luck! RMI Guide Jake Beren

The weather cooperated yesterday and let us get to the top of La Malinche, 14,636’. The thunder rolled in as we got to the cabins. 

Today we are in transit to Ixta. A few stops to get provisions and register with park at Paso de Cortez puts us between Popo and Ixta. We’ll have a nice hike to our camp to continue acclimating. Once in camp we’ll get our gear sorted for our move to high camp tomorrow and our summit attempt on Wednesday. The team is doing great, lots of laughs and camaraderie. We have clear skies as we drive and got our first views of Ixta and Popo. We’ll check in tomorrow from our high camp.

Thanks,

RMI Guide Mike King