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On The Map
Happy New Year G$! I love you and miss you and hope you are well.
Xo,
Barbarina
Posted by: Barbarina on 1/1/2014 at 10:43 am
Happy New Years on the mountain. You 3 climbed while we 4 went bowling. SPOT working well.
Keep going up
Skipper
Posted by: Skipper on 1/1/2014 at 9:56 am
Onward and upward, Steve! Thinking of you, bernie
Posted by: Bernadette Johnson on 5/25/2011 at 2:37 pm
Sergey, wow I didn’t know you had it in you! Good luck and enjoy your adventure!
Posted by: Barbara H on 5/25/2011 at 5:48 am
Posted by: Dominic Cifelli, Daniel May, Seth Burns, Drew O’Brien, Tom Skoog
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 10,080'
The Five Day Climb led by RMI Guides Dominic Cifelli and Daniel May completed their Orientation and Climbing School days and then ascended to Camp Muir on Saturday. Today they were able to do some training at Camp Muir, then packed up their gear and descended to Paradise. The team will conclude their program this afternoon at Rainier BaseCamp.
Posted by: Pete Van Deventer, Henry Coppolillo, Tatum Whatford
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 7,800'
Saturday, May 13, 2023 - 7:03 pm PT
A gentle shushhhh of snow falling on the tent woke us this morning. We were the central theme in the snow globe as snow fell quietly and windlessly down. We lingered over coffee and bagel sandwiches letting the day progress. We really couldn't see much, but it was calm, warm enough, and we had a nice camp to return to, so we finally sorted some loads out, loaded packs and sleds, and turned uphill again to go cache. We walked through a milky white world for several hours before we decided that we had done enough, and further walking was going to involve a lot of feel and not much sight. So we dug quite a large hole and left our loads there under the snow to be retrieved in a few days time. The walk down went quite quickly, and after an hour we were back at camp where the clouds were lifting and the sun was blazing at max intensity. We are currently enjoying a short siesta, before a hearty dinner of reindeer gumbo. We plan to pack up camp tomorrow and trade up to an abode at 11,000'.
We'll be in touch.
I’m with you, Mama Goltry! Looks like our daughter is the only female on the trip besides the guides. Quite an adventure but I am looking forward to the “we made the summit and are on our way down” post.
Posted by: Karlyn Sullivan on 5/14/2023 at 8:18 pm
From 94 degrees in Tucson, I am doing my best work with tequila to not think about hubby on a glacier in the freezing cold. But alas, there are not enough margaritas in the world to keep me from missing my mountain man. Reindeer gumbo is right up his alley. Keep on trekking! Enjoy the journey! Can’t wait to see the photos. Mama Goltry
Posted by: Tory Goltry on 5/13/2023 at 9:51 pm
Hello readers,
Sorry for the delay in dispatches. With some wonky internet and busy days it looks like we forgot Tuesday. So here is a recap of Tuesday and Wednesday.
Tuesday we left Pheriche for Lobuche (the town). We woke to a new dusting of snow over the trail and mountains. The new coat made everything so white and fresh looking. The sun quickly started to melt the frozen earth as we made our way further uptrail. One teahouse stood between our two towns, so we stopped there for some tea and popcorn before we tackled a 700' vertical hill. On top of this hill is an emotional place, a climber's memorial. Many climber's names sit here. They came to climb the mountain but never made it back home. We all know how luckily we are to come out here and be among this beauty but also know this beauty has a wicked side and our ultimate goal is to make it home to our loved ones. It's a quick flattish walk to our next teahouse. It emerges from the rocks without warning. We rested for the afternoon before gathering for dinner and doing it all over again the next day.
Today we picked up where we left off and left Lobuche for the last town before Everest Base Camp, Gorak Shep. There terrain takes on a different look as we get closer to the start of this valley. It's rocky and moon scape. Reminents of glaciers carving their paths. It's a relatively short distance vertically and horizontally to get to Gorak Shep. We make fast work of it and arrive for an early lunch. After lunch we do one more acclimatization hike up Kala Patar. On this hike we get amazing views of Everest and partial views of the ice fall. It is so beautiful and scary all at the same time. A scamper down as clouds roll in and a few snowflakes dance from the sky, wraps up our day. The team optimizes on a rest before dinner. It's cold and frosty up here when the sun disappears. Teams gather in the dining hall where the wood burning stove are but there is no wood to burn up here so instead dried Yak dung does the trick (and no it does not smell). After warming our bodies and filling our water bottles with hot water we lay down for one final rest in a teahouse before we hit Base Camp.
Tomorrow is our day and Base Camp is our destination.
RMI Guides Hannah, Abby, and Team
Today was a logistics day with a hike to continue our acclimatization. We left La Malinche around 8 am and had a delicious breakfast enroute to the town of Amecameca where we bought our water and remaining supplies for the Ixta climb. From there we drove up a winding road to Paso de Cortes which lies between the 2 volcanoes Popo and Ixta that dominate this area of Mexico. With rain lightly bouncing off our jackets, we walked the 4.5 miles from the park entrance to the hut located at 13,000’. We are packing and enjoying the new dusting of snow on the surrounding peaks. Dinner and a good night's sleep will have us prepared to head up to high camp tomorrow morning.
On The Map
Best of Luck to you and your team Mike!!! I’ll be following along!
Posted by: Farmer Dave on 11/12/2019 at 3:05 am
Posted by: Zeb Blais, Kel Rossiter
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
What An amazing view and even more amazing accomplishment!! Congratulations to the team! Shar I knew you could do it! We’re so proud of you
Posted by: Tina on 6/20/2018 at 2:47 pm
Wow! this must be one of the most demanding activities one can undertake…both physically and mentally…Congrats to all on your courage and determination.
(So proud of you Shar! You rock!)
Posted by: Alex & Suzi Mikaelian on 6/20/2018 at 2:28 pm
Hi Will, We have been following your progress everyday and keeping the family informed. We are all rooting for you and your team. The pictures we have seen are incredible. Look forward to hearing all about the climb when you return. Keep up the good work! Love and prayers, Mom & Dad
Posted by: Pat & Bill Ivy on 6/17/2014 at 6:20 am
Jake- Maggie was excited to hear how much you miss her :)Hope the weather cooperates for you and the team, stay warm!
Posted by: Alan Wander on 6/16/2014 at 9:29 pm
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