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Posted by: James Bealer
Categories: Expedition Dispatches North Cascades
This weekend our Backcountry Ski and Ride course had an excellent time learning the fundamentals of backcountry skiing. Saturday gave us a light dusting of fresh snow as we practiced our rescue skills and learned how to move as a group in the backcountry.
The next day, we practiced making terrain decisions and students navigated the group through the ascents and descents of our long tour. We ended up having beautiful weather for most of the course and had the whole mountain to ourselves on Sunday.
Our students are excited to use their new skills for upcoming ski descents of local Washington mountains as well as skiing corn with their friends.
RMI Guide James Bealer & Team
Posted by: Mike King
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Torres del Paine
We had a nice short day today. The sun was out and made for the quick 4 1/2 hour hike. We are back in Puerto Natales and looking forward to a nice dinner and some story telling from the eight days in Patagonia. Thanks for following along.
Posted by: Dave Hahn, Mike King, Dominic Cifelli
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Vinson Massif
Monday, December 27, 2021 - 5:32 pm PT
The news was mostly about canceled flights and snarled travel as our Vinson climbing team headed to a dozen different US airports to kick off the expedition. Incredibly, we were able to gather in Miami yesterday evening -With all our climbing gear- and board the Gulfstream 7 for the easy and pleasant part of our journey -a ten hour ride to Punta Arenas in the far South of Chile. We’ve been COVID testing several times a day now to satisfy immigration requirements and to be extremely careful with regard to going to The Ice healthy. Even quarantine for the afternoon in our hotel on the shores of Magellan’s Strait was relaxing and beautiful as we looked out at the summer light on the water. We organized gear and clothing with the high hopes of flying tomorrow morning once glacier conditions and negative test results allow. Our all star team of 12 includes astronauts, entrepreneurs and some of the world’s most accomplished and acclaimed climbers and guides. It is a happy reunion in a familiar place for a number of us and a brand new set of continents and experiences for others.
Best Regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
On The Map
On The Map
We’ll have those fresh squeezed margies waiting for you on your return!!
xo, Jean and Lily
Posted by: Jean Richards on 4/25/2012 at 4:43 pm
Posted by: Ed Viesturs, Peter Whittaker, Solveig Waterfall
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
Awesome job Matt; I am so happy for you! It looks like you had perfect conditions too. I look forward to hearing about it when you get back.
Posted by: John Boyce on 6/26/2014 at 7:54 am
Well done Dave,Mike and team! Thanks Ed and Peter for keeping them safe:)
Posted by: Nat Turner on 6/26/2014 at 3:20 am
Posted by: Brent Okita
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro
Our first day got off to a successful and fun start. For one, after 2 1/2 days of flight delays and less than stellar performance by my airline, I finally arrived in Arusha in time for our team meeting and a little breakfast. Our last two teammates got to the hotel just as we were beginning our orientation. Everyone's baggage even made it!
It was fun getting to know everybody and I think we all agree we have a pretty fun group. With equipment checks all done and a great dinner we're excited to get underway and start making our way up this beautiful mountain.
Sunrise on the mountain from 25,000' this morning has done nothing but pump me up to start our climb of Kilimanjaro. We're ready!!!
--RMI Guide Brent Okita and team
Joe and I are amazed again at you! Have a great trip with Nick!
Posted by: Terry DeCola on 7/21/2022 at 9:46 am
Hi Norm! We are at the Qatar airport in Doha. All is well and everyone is doing fine! We all miss you guys and hope you’re having a wonderful time! We love you! XO Val, Christian, and Jess
Posted by: Valerie Cognetto on 7/21/2022 at 8:04 am
The team left the comfort of Puebla for the more rural town of Tlachichuca. Here is where we met back up with our climbing equipment and got to work. Packing and sorting for the climb ahead.
We ate a quick lunch and hopped in the 4x4’s for a rough ride. Long, dusty, and hot we swayed back and forth on what seems like the bumpiest road in Mexico. After two hours of that intense discomfort we arrived at Pico de Orizaba Basecamp and are now settled in to our tents, resting for the climb ahead. We’ll eat some carne asada and head to bed. It’s a clear night here at camp and we’re hoping for that trend to continue till we get back down.
Wish us luck!
After a great night of sleep, we slowly made our way down the mountain. The team was motivated and made quick work of the descent. Motivated by the thought of hot showers, delicious meals, and communicating with loved ones. A nice evening at Aconcagua Basecamp was had rehashing memorable moments of the trip. We are all very fond of the experience Aconcagua has allowed us to share together.
Till next time,
Congratulations on what must have been a really challenging, yet incredibly rewarding journey. Can’t wait to see pictures and hear stories. Well done.
Posted by: Levert on 2/8/2022 at 5:34 am
Posted by: Ben Liken
Categories: Guide News Guide Grant
Over the next three days we practiced and perfected rescue and rope skills as the rain fell nonstop all around the pavilion we were under. It was fun to focus purely on the timed drills and creating one handed hitches as they were called out. Looking out we could see the rock getting wetter than it had been in months. The sandstone in Red Rocks is porous and thus absorbs water like a sponge. Even in the warmest months the rock needs 24-48 hours to dry after a soaking rain and we had a lot of soaking rain with cool temps and low sun. The issue with climbing on the damp rock was not going to be its slipperiness but rather the danger of holds breaking and a leader falling onto protection in that same type of rock that just broke. As the sun rose for the last three days of the course we had to turn down perfect climbing weather because of poor route conditions. I sympathized with the climbers I work with on Mount Rainier: they come from across the country after months of training, time, and money spent, only to be shut down by avalanche hazard or icy conditions on a beautiful, sunny day. All was not lost however; we were able to learn and practice new skills in the horizontal plane, on very sunny aspects, and in steep off trail terrain. We agreed that we learned just as much if not more in this manner than we would have high on the rock.
This was my first AMGA experience and it could not have been a better one. It solidified many skills that I can put to use in my current guiding and climbing. It was a great opportunity to develop myself in my profession and has opened the door for more courses and certifications. These courses and certifications are not required for guiding in the United States and many great guides are fully qualified through experience. This program and others offered by the AMGA however, get guides on the same page and forces us to be the best we can be, whether it be on Red Rocks sandstone, Mount Rainier Glaciers, or a remote peak in the Andes. Thanks to RMI, Eddie Bauer/First Ascent guide grant, and all the guides on the course for making this possible. Climb On!
Visit & Discover Morocco
Posted by: brahim ait on 9/15/2017 at 3:20 am
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Posted by: Terri L. Jennings on 12/30/2021 at 7:34 am
Positive vibes for everyone!! Wishing you all a safe journey!
Posted by: Monica Isaacman on 12/29/2021 at 8:16 pm
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