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Posted by: Mike Haugen, Andy Bond
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
Posted by: Jeff Martin
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro
Conor, congratulations from all your ConMet buddies! Have fun on the next phase of your visit.
Posted by: John Hodge on 2/4/2014 at 8:07 am
Congratulations to all!! It’s been exciting to follow your progress through this blog and I’m hoping the updates will continue through the safari segment, too. Can’t wait to give you a celebratory hug in person, Barrie, but you have more adventures ahead before we see you here in Richmond. Enjoy the “high” you must be feeling even as you continue your travels at lower altitudes!!!
Debbie Trainer
Posted by: Debbie Trainer on 2/3/2014 at 2:15 pm
Posted by: Hannah Smith, Devin Guffey, Erika Birkeland
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 14,200'
May 27, 2023 9:00PM PT
Hello all,
Not a whole lot to report today since today was a whole lot of chilling. We took today to rest up and review skills for tomorrow’s carry. It will be our first time on the fixed lines and doing running belays. The team looks ready, along with a bit nervous and excited to go a bit higher. Once again, fingers crossed for good weather especially as the clouds begin to roll in from both above and below.
Talk tomorrow,
Hannah, Devin, Erika, and Team
Anna - great to see you’re on the climb and that team is making good progress. I know Hannah has it under control!
Posted by: Alex Grumman on 5/28/2023 at 8:53 am
Great to hear all the plans for the next few days, Anna. Our heartfelt thanks to Hannah for planning carefully and taking weather conditions into such consideration. Also nice to hear that we aren’t the only parents sprouting more gray hairs and adding worry lines! Continuing to pray for a safe summit and trip home for all. Love, Mom & Dad
Posted by: Kathy Hern on 5/28/2023 at 8:19 am
Yesterday as our team of acclimating, moth parenting, cloud touching gringos strolled up Rucu Pichincha, a storm was unleashing 40 miles to the south. In Espanol they might say it was raining perros y gatos, but luckily we never felt a drop. Ever since the team arrived, our weather has been a bit squirley leaving us to wonder if we might actually get wet somewhere along the line.
As we packed Victor’s magic bus today, the clouds swirled above but not as noisily as the traffic around us. Forty-five minutes after departing our gracious hotel hosts, we gathered speed around a four lane roundabout and were literally shot out of the city like something breaking free from a strange orbit. Three hours and 50 miles later we found ourselves at a beautiful crater lake named Largo Mojanda. As Americans we want to pronounce this with a true "j" sound, making this lake sound like some kind of volcanic jelly, but in Espanol, the "j" sounds like an "h" and the "o" is long giving it a more majestic feel.
The mountains we climbed don’t take as much tutoring to figure out. Fuya Fuya is the name of the twin peaks we ascended leaving only images and not so much phonetics to the imagination. Much like yesterday, the weather held and we were blessed with another summit and beautiful vistas of the deep blue lake and surrounding peaks. The climbing wasn’t difficult but watching Jerome plunge into the frigid water was. When he asked me it it was okay to swim, I looked at him and said, “I don’t know, is it?” I certainly wasn’t risking my skin against fresh water volcanic flesh eating trout. He went in but came out quicker.
From the lake we descended the bumpy cobble road to our favorite lunch spot and then to the hacienda for some rest, packing and preparing for tomorrow’s big move to 15,000' on the flanks of Cayambe. This is a big jump so wish us luck. But, before we go to the mountain we will go shopping! All faithful blog followers get a gift.
Stay tuned.
RMI Guide Adam Knoff
Awesome job guys. Sounds like you have an extremely strong team. Wishing everyone a safe and successful summit.
Posted by: Kevin Durbon on 1/27/2020 at 4:29 am
Glad to hear the weather has been good for your journey. Enjoying the pictures that are posted. Save up your energy. Sounds like you all have lots of hard work ahead. Remember…lots of people are cheering for you!!! LUMTA 1TF
Posted by: Geri Kuehn on 1/25/2020 at 10:13 pm
Another summit conquerd. Congratulations Trey. Enjoy being back in civilization.
Posted by: Phyllis Craig on 7/23/2019 at 12:28 am
Love these posts! Congrats on another summit. Can’t wait to see the pics.
Posted by: Bridget on 7/22/2019 at 6:35 pm
Posted by: JJ Justman, Elias de Andres Martos
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mexico
Elevation: 12,000'
On The Map
I am so excited to relive my Kilo moments through you and Jeff. Behind every successful team is a very successful woman! Cheers to all the team. Elsie Bemiss
Posted by: Elsie Bemiss on 1/29/2014 at 6:58 pm
Cheers to Barrie on hanging with what looks to be like a lot of testosterone. Wish you all the best and enjoy each day of the hike as they are all so different.
Posted by: Kathryn LeBey on 1/29/2014 at 5:58 am
Posted by: Mike Walter, Solveig Waterfall, Ben Liken
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 13,600'
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After a relaxing evening enjoying traditionally prepared foods at La Casa Sol, we awoke to a peaceful morning. Most of the team spent some time prior to breakfast drinking coffee and appreciating our perch above Otavalo. Following breakfast we loaded the bus and headed into town to experience one of Ecuador's finest craft markets.
The market in Otavalo is full of traditional goods: alpaca garments, woven bags, various other textiles, chocolate (Ecuador is famous for artisan chocolate) and coffee amongst a variety of other goods. Some team members spent most of their time sipping artisan coffee. Others used a combination of broken Spanish and hand signals to haggle with vendors. Once we all reconvened the bus drove us to our rendezvous with the 4x4 trucks that would take us to the refuge on Cayambe.
We are now moved in and situated for the next two days. Sunday will consist of basic mountaineering skills training review. The plan is to wrap up early and wake up during the night to climb Cayambe. The entire team is getting acclimated and itching to give our first big objective a go!
RMI Guide Adam Knoff
Great news that all are enjoying the culture and ready to roll up Cayambe. Best to all of the team! Keep the pics and news coming!
Posted by: Jill Klores on 1/12/2020 at 8:48 pm
Packers are winning! Safe travels uphill to the team! Sending love ❤️
Posted by: Christine Hoag on 1/12/2020 at 6:36 pm
Posted by: Dave Hahn, Hannah Smith, Chad Gaffigan, Luke Wilhelm
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 14,200'
On The Map
Wow! Truly amazing Meghan! Happy 4th!!
Peg
Posted by: Peg DecFilippis on 7/5/2019 at 3:16 pm
Congrats Mike and team!!! Glad to hear it was a beautiful day and a successful summit!!!
Posted by: Vicki Brown on 7/12/2018 at 10:46 pm
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