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Categories: Expedition Dispatches Everest BC Trek
Posted by: Dominic Cifelli, Ben Luedtke, Michael Murray
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Elevation: 18,000'
Today was a “rest day,” which in Spanish apparently means “do your chores, pack your bag, unpack your bag, repack your bag, go for a hike up a steep hill and move rocks back and forth until you can hardly breathe.” And at 18,000 feet, just putting your shoes on can leave you breathless.
We did find some time for relaxation, however, with euchre, naps, confessions of past dating catastrophes, exchanging pro tips, and the best views we’ve had yet.
We also practiced making our camp look like we’re on a proper expedition rather than having a yard sale.
And we continued working on our hand tans.
Most importantly, we had time to ponder the important questions we’ve been debating over the last couple of days:
Why do mountain guides value a Coke more than the Hope diamond? And why do they carry only one trekking pole while we all carry two? What do they know that we don’t? And why won’t they tell us.
How much stuff can you squeeze into your sleeping bag at night so it doesn’t freeze?
How can 10 Brazilians take up so much space?
What did the Russian climber do with the other Russian climber’s body that night?
Do blue bags come in other colors … or would that be confusing? And why don’t they have scatalogical humor printed on them so you’d have something to read at night?
How can I get rid of all my extra food so I don’t have to carry it up … and then down … the rest of the mountain?
And why do they call this camp TWO, even though the sign says camp THREE and it’s actually our FIFTH camp?
In any event, as much as we miss the daily comforts of home, there is something liberating about simplifying your life down to the contents of a single backpack - a bed that packs down into a cubic foot, one pair of shoes (as uncomfortable as these mountain boots are), a single bowl, a single spoon, one shirt, one pair of pants and in many cases a single pair of underwear. No decisions about what to eat for dinner. No traffic. No TV. No politics. Just endless, unparalleled views and good company. Liberating.
Wish us luck.
RMI Guide Dominc Cifelli and Team
Postscript: What do you call a mountain guide without a girlfriend?
Homeless.
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Aconcagua Expedition January 12, 2024
Posted by: Dave Hahn
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro
What a difference a day makes! No more camping and no more climbing. Today we woke to rainy skies in Usa River, but we woke in comfy hotel beds and got into nice, dry Toyota Land Cruisers. Our Safari guides: Jakob and Ng’orongo took us west through Arusha and out of the rain into the Maasai country beyond. We made it to Lake Manyara National Park by midday. Things started out slowly… a few baboons. A bird or two. The odd bushbuck. At our picnic lunch, the mountain guide on the team suggested there was nothing much remaining to be seen and that we should call it a day and head for the hotel swimming pool. Nobody listened. Our safari guides then found a lion asleep under a tree. Which turned into seven lions when we looked a little closer. Which turned into seven hungry, hyper, and hunting lions when a cheerful, clueless zebra came strolling along. Our guides kept us alongside a protracted hunt as the zebra got smart and began to move away along the lakeshore. The lions - actually five lionesses and two lions - finally pulled the trigger and sprang after the zebra. We couldn’t quite see that but somehow, they switched prey in the middle of the attack, coming away with a couple of warthogs in their jaws. The mountain guide on our team admitted that the swimming pool idea had been a poor one and that in ten years of visiting Manyara he hadn’t seen one lion let alone seven making multiple kills. To drive home the point, we then saw Cape Buffalo, giraffes, and elephants at close quarters and in quick succession. And THEN we went to the pool. We were at the Plantation Lodge for sunset and an excellent dinner. Safari Day One, in the books and exceeding all expectations.
Best Regards,
Dave
Congratulations to all!!! Absolutely amazing!!
Enjoy this part of your adventure, you rock Allison and team:)
Posted by: Allison Fisher on 8/17/2023 at 12:54 pm
Enjoying every word, following along on this AWESOME experience. So awesome
Posted by: Deb Beechy on 8/15/2023 at 4:40 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
Posted by: Pete Van Deventer, Matias Francis, Chase Halbert
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Alaska Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 11,200'
Friday May 21, 2021 - 10:28 pm PT
We had a bit of a false start today. When e got up the winds that have been storming through camp were absent, the sky above clear, though thick, high clouds shrouded the upper mountain. As we finished breakfast, the side started to creep back, the clouds crept up and down to meet at us, and things started to look more marginal. We dragged our feet and started to see an improving trend, so we decided to go for it, knowing we could turn around and head for a snug camp if it didn't work out. We climbed Motorcycle Hill our of camp in some low visibility, but otherwise pleasant conditions, but as we crested to the ridgeline, the wind found us, cooler than a polar bears toenails. With less than optimal visibility, increasing winds, and a significant stretch of climbing in front of us, we decided to retreat back to camp.
In the end, it was nice to stretch the legs and we'll be ready when the mountain opens her arms and says come on up.
RMI Guides Pete, Matias, Chase, and Team
Looks so unbelievably beautiful!!! Keep sending pics - we can at least imagine we are there with you. :D
Posted by: Monica Deckard on 5/22/2021 at 10:28 pm
That image of the mountain opening her arms to your group is quite lovely. May she see fit to do that sooner than later. Nice to stretch your legs, Hope better weather arrives soon.
Posted by: Bethany on 5/22/2021 at 10:45 am
On The Map
Posted by: Eric Frank, Pepper Dee
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 11,900'
Can’t wait to hear about the climb! Hoping for good weather on the descent.
Posted by: Rupali on 6/20/2019 at 11:23 am
Posted by: Adam Knoff, Lindsay Mann
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 14,200'
On The Map
Go Andy! Exciting to see a guy from PA on such an awesome adventure.
Posted by: Matthew Nebzydoski on 7/2/2014 at 5:14 pm
You almost have this mountain conquered. Keep on and up and take care of yourselves!
Posted by: susanlampas on 7/2/2014 at 3:49 am
Posted by: Seth Waterfall, Geoff Schellens
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mexico
Hope everything went smoothly today. Waiting to hear about the climb…
Posted by: Brad and Lori Briggs on 1/24/2014 at 3:51 pm
That’s my hubby!!! So proud!!! Good luck everyone with your last summitt!! Fingers crossed the weather is awesome!
Posted by: Jen Jezak on 1/24/2014 at 5:44 am
Hey, incredible team! We’re so proud of you for taking on this monumental challenge. Remember, few people dare to chase their goals with such determination, but you are doing just that.
As you conquer Aconcagua, know that you’re not just climbing a mountain – you’re proving to yourselves and to the world that dreams are worth chasing!
Keep pushing forward, and know that we’re cheering you on every step of the way!
-Sandra & Marion Champlain (Ben’s cousin & auntie)
Posted by: Sandra Champlain on 1/25/2024 at 6:23 am
That is a hilarious joke. “Homeless.”
Posted by: Ed DaPra on 1/24/2024 at 6:58 pm
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