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Thursday, June 24, 2021

It clouded up a bunch in the night, just as the forecast said it would. By 1 AM when we hoped to get up and climb, it was snowing and socked in, just like they said it would be.  We kept checking it for a few hours and it kept seeming wet and a little ugly -poor conditions for moving camp.  We stayed put and then conditions improved.  But we were already a little past what we’d calculated to be the optimal time of day for traversing the sometimes tricky lower glacier.  Then conditions improved considerably.,. Where we’d been led to believe that we’d have a snow/rain day to wait out, instead we had a “bluebird” beauty of a day -to rest- when we hadn’t really thought we needed a rest.  Oh well.  We slept, we read, we ate, we drank.  We went through our gear and supplies one more time, thinning out and weeding excess weight wherever possible.  We listened to a thousand giant avalanches.  We heard so many rocks fall off nearby Mt. Francis, that it was something of a surprise to come out for dinner and see her still standing.  We bided our time.  That forecast was still calling for cloud and sloppy weather at basecamp tonight… perhaps we’ll see that, but otherwise it looks perfect for moving this time when the cool hours roll around. 

Best Regards,

RMI Guide Dave Hahn

The second day of the trek took us ever higher into the desert valley on our way to Aconcagua Basecamp. The trail wound it’s way through the high desert of the Andes, past scrub brush, and the occasional Guanaco. Today also provided us with the first views of the mountain. It was a beautiful bluebird day and the upper reaches of Aconcagua were in full view as they towered over the surrounding peaks, including Amighino, a mountain that tops out at the same elevation as Kilimanjaro. Tomorrow we make the final push to basecamp at 13,800 feet and start acclimatizing for the upper mountain.

RMI Guide Nick Scott

On The Map

On The Map

On The Map

On The Map

The Five Day Climb July 24 - 28 led by RMI Guides Jack Delaney and George Hedreen reached the summit of Mt. Rainier today.  Jack reported a very cold and windy climb.  The clear skies and sunshine were appreciated by the group and they enjoyed some time inside the summit crater before starting their descent. The teams will return to Camp Muir for their second night on the mountain and enjoy a well deserved rest and full night's sleep after their alpine start this morning.  The team will conclude their program tomorrow, descending the remaining 4,500' to Paradise and ending with a short celebration at Rainier BaseCamp.

Congratulations to today's climbers!

Our first Expedition Skills Seminar – Muir of the season wrapped up a productive and rewarding week on Mt. Rainier.  Led by RMI Guides Henry Coppolillo and Dominic Cifelli, the team came together on Saturday for a comprehensive gear check and began their foundational skills training at Rainier Base Camp.

With full packs and high spirits, they made the ascent to Camp Muir the following day. Throughout the week, the group focused on essential mountaineering techniques, including glacier travel, ice axe arrest, and cramponing. They also practiced crevasse rescue skills, learned how to set up tents in alpine conditions, and took a windy acclimatization hike to Ingraham Flats.

Today, the team set out for their summit attempt and reached an elevation of 12,500 feet before making the decision to turn back due to potential avalanche hazards. They returned safely to Camp Muir and will continue their final 4,500-foot descent to Paradise.

It’s been a great start to the seminar season, with valuable experience gained and strong teamwork throughout.