Most Popular Entries
Posted by: JJ Justman, Katrina Bloemsma
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Elevation: 13,800'
Posted by:
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Elbrus Southside
Posted by: Pete Van Deventer, Jackson Breen
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 14,200'
-640x480.jpg)
We went to bed last night really warm. The sun was still on the tents, and temps through camp were warm. That lasted until early morning, when suddenly the clouds dropped, and the temperature plummeted. This morning therefore was one of the coldest of the trip, properly bone-chilling cold. Halfway through breakfast the sun finally hit and our fortunes changed, thawing us out and warming up conversation. This was hopefully our last rest day. We took the opportunity to walk the short jaunt to the Edge of the World, where the edge of Genet Basin in which 14k camp is located, plummets to the NE fork of the Kahiltna 7000' below.
Otherwise, we’ve rested and organized for a hoped for move to 17,000’ tomorrow. The forecast looks promising, and we are excited to enter the home stretch! We'll send a progress report tomorrow.
RMI Guide Pete Van Deventer & Team
New Post Alerts:
Denali Expedition, May 7, 2024
We love reading about your expedition! We’re thinking about my brother, Scott and hoping for good weather and a successful climb!
Posted by: Julie Joyce on 5/24/2024 at 7:09 pm
Great updates! And best of luck to the team. Jackson, we’re rooting for you all!
Tracy and Bruce
Posted by: Tracy and Bruce Wilhelm on 5/24/2024 at 1:35 pm
Posted by: Dominic Cifelli, Ben Luedtke, Michael Murray
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Elevation: 18,000'
“It’s a funny thing about life, if you refuse to accept anything but the best you very often get it.” W. Somerset Maugham
And that’s what we have with this group, the best. Each person brings something unique which together creates something greater, something which makes the team keep giving their all as we make consistent progress on our push towards the summit.
Today, the team bid goodbye to Camp One and moved to Camp Two on Aconcagua. We had a “record-breaking“ moment right before we left Camp One. The team looked forward to moving to Camp Two as we had caught a brief glimpse of the camp yesterday, dropping off our cache, refueling our bodies, maybe sneaking in a little internet and finally heading back down the mountain while surfing the scree on our boots. Now, camp two is our home for the next few nights.
This trip, at least for me and I’m sure this also echoes the sentiments of a few others, has been all about learning, not only learning about each other, but learning about our own individual physical and mental obstacles we face and have overcome and yet to be overcome. The mountain is only there to test the fortitude we already have inside and to make us stronger.
One of my favorite books is Robert Fulghum’s “Everything I Needed To Know I Learned In Kindergarten”, and so, in the spirit of learning, I now present to you “Everything I Didn’t Want To Know But Learned Anyway On Aconcagua”
1. The words Chardonnay and shower can sound remarkably similar at high altitude.
2. Adults still love story time.
3. When you’re having a hard time with the climb and searching for reasons to continue, all you have to do is remember Guide Michael’s words “Whatever motivates you”
4. No matter what you do, no matter what people may say, always keep your spoon……..and in some cases, your fork.
5. Be wary of unknown salt shakers.
6. Make sure you pass food around the table until it gets back to the person who it was originally handed to.
7. And finally, the most important thing to remember, the one thing that you must always keep in mind, especially when you need someone in your corner to help you with that final push to the summit…… Andy Always Wins.
Climber Benjamin Koch
New Post Alerts:
Aconcagua Expedition January 12, 2024
Powerful post and you all have the fortitude to reach the top. Now I’m really curious what is in that salt shaker. Crushed Diamox?
Posted by: Ed DaPra on 1/24/2024 at 6:56 pm
This has been amazing to read through! What grit you all have and I am truly inspired! I have no doubt that you are all strong, prepared and will get ‘er done! Looking forward to following the rest of the adventure :-) “Somewhere between the bottom of the climb and the summit is the answer to the mystery why we climb.” ~ Greg Child
Ben. Also in the spirit of learning I leave you with this, “Learning is the only thing the mind never exhausts, never fears and never regrets.” ~ Leonardo Da Vinci
Be badass!
So proud of you!
Posted by: Donna (Mackinac/Philly) Scialanca on 1/24/2024 at 8:51 am
We began the day with a team meeting over breakfast. The intention was to get everybody squared away on the details of preparing for our Gokyo trek. But the coffee was good and plentiful, so our business meeting just turned into a story-telling session as caffeine levels rose. At 10 AM we set out with Naraj for a tour of the city. During the ride through busy streets, Naraj explained the mix of Hindu and Buddhist religions and the various ethnic groups making up Nepali Society.
Our first stop was the Swayambhu Temple -known as the monkey temple for the great number of monkeys scaling the stupas and Buddha statues. We were lucky -on this partly cloudy day- to get great views of the city from the hilltop temple. Next stop was Boudinath Stupa. We made a circuit and then visited a school for artists constructing mandalas. We finished our outing with a relaxing lunch on a rooftop overlooking the giant stupa.
Back at the Yak and Yeti, we used the afternoon to finish organizing gear for an early trip to the airport tomorrow morning. With all preparations complete we set out in a downpour bound for dinner. Luckily the walk was only 5-10 minutes. An impressive amount of monsoon rain fell while we were eating. And an even more impressive amount fell as we were walking back to the hotel afterward.
Best Regards
Glad everyone arrived ok. I am a friend of Catherine Rossbach’s and will be following your blogs, I hope she is doing well. Thanks for doing this!
Posted by: jim kidder on 10/5/2023 at 6:49 am
Posted by: Dominic Cifelli, Seth Burns, Daniel May
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 7,800'
-640x480.jpg)
June 17, 2023 8:56 PM PT
The weather had other plans for us up here at the base of ski hill. We woke up to wet snow hitting the tent and an ominous cloud staring at us from our intended path.
When Denali speaks, we listen. After a lot of watching and waiting, we turned our move into a rest day. We ate, slept, played cards, and read books to pass the time. Luckily, it’s in one of the most beautiful places on earth. Tomorrow, we’ll try again. Wear your pajamas inside out for us.
RMI Guide Dominic Cifelli and Team
Thank you for the updates!!
Posted by: Jenni on 6/19/2023 at 5:56 am
Looks like a tuff climb. I know you could do it Trey. You’re up to the challange.
Posted by: Phyllis Craig on 7/25/2019 at 7:48 am
Congrats Paul! I’m stoked you went back and looks like a summit or two. :) Enjoy Pisco! It’s amazing!
Posted by: Rue Beyer on 7/23/2019 at 9:30 pm
Posted by: Pete Van Deventer, Robby Young, Josh Maggard
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 14,200'
Wishing all of you great weather…it’s time to climb!
Posted by: Nick Spanakis on 5/31/2014 at 2:50 pm
Get it Dad!!! Wish I was climbing up there with you! Love you!
-Ezra
Posted by: Ezra on 2/8/2014 at 1:40 pm
Way to go Casey! Enjoy your adventure. We are thinking of you and praying that you get up and down the mountain safely and with incredible memories.
Posted by: Emelie Kallen on 2/8/2014 at 9:42 am
View All Comments