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Posted by: Brent Okita, Kiira Antenucci
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
The Five Day Climb led by RMI Guides Brent Okita and Kiira Antenucci took advantage of the calm, and clear skies and climbed to the top of Mt. Rainier on Tuesday, July 12th. Brent reported a beautiful day of climbing. The team spent last night at Camp Muir and departed early this morning for Paradise.
Congratulations Team!
Posted by: Mike Walter, Henry Coppolillo, Jenna Burkey, Lacie Smith
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
After several days of training and ascending to Camp Schurman, the Expedition Skills Seminar June 17 - 22 led by RMI Guide Mike Walter reached the summit of Mt. Rainier on Tuesday. The team enjoyed good weather and route conditions. After reaching the summit they returned to Camp Schurman for their final night on the mountain. The team will descend to the trail head and return to Rainier BaseCamp on Wednesday afternoon.
Congratulations to the Emmons Seminar team!
The storm got real last night around 11 or midnight, and sneaky -blowing hard from the previously unprotected side of our tents. Most of the camp population was dressed up and out stumbling around in the storm, laboring to cut and carry more snow blocks to reinforce and extend walls. When the bigger gusts would power on through, people would tend to just stop whatever they were attempting and turn their backs to the assault of wind and ice pellets. It was definitely enough of a storm to break tents, but there was only so much you could do outside to protect them. That done, the other strategy was to get back in them and put a shoulder to the walls to help aluminum poles stand up to the blasts. Whenever there was the perception that things had eased, one could try sleep, but that was a little like trying to nap next to a machine gun in a fire fight. The wind howls and screams through mountains, but when it hits tent fabric, it drums. Hard and loud. It continued well into the morning and finally eased by around 10 AM, making it a little easier to get out at 10:45 when the sun came around the mountain to hit us through clouds. Breakfast was calm enough, but then the winds came in again and the game of snow blocks resumed for a few more hours. By about 2:30 PM, there was a cease fire at Low Camp. The storm was still everywhere else, with fog below and multiple cloud layers on the mountain and wind trailing big streamers of snow off the heights up by High Camp… but it got quiet and calm at Low Camp and we were able to get enough sun through the tent walls to be comfortable through the afternoon and evening. Predictions are that tomorrow (Friday) could be a nice day and if so, we’ll be on the move. We’ll take it step by step though. For the moment we’re happy not to spend the night building snow forts.
Best Regards
Stay safe above all else. How high would you estimate the storm winds were/are ?
Posted by: Michael Madin on 12/3/2021 at 10:56 am
Wishing for clear skies and a safe trip!
Posted by: Chad Burgert on 12/3/2021 at 9:06 am
Posted by: Brent Okita
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro
Our first day got off to a successful and fun start. For one, after 2 1/2 days of flight delays and less than stellar performance by my airline, I finally arrived in Arusha in time for our team meeting and a little breakfast. Our last two teammates got to the hotel just as we were beginning our orientation. Everyone's baggage even made it!
It was fun getting to know everybody and I think we all agree we have a pretty fun group. With equipment checks all done and a great dinner we're excited to get underway and start making our way up this beautiful mountain.
Sunrise on the mountain from 25,000' this morning has done nothing but pump me up to start our climb of Kilimanjaro. We're ready!!!
--RMI Guide Brent Okita and team
Joe and I are amazed again at you! Have a great trip with Nick!
Posted by: Terry DeCola on 7/21/2022 at 9:46 am
Hi Norm! We are at the Qatar airport in Doha. All is well and everyone is doing fine! We all miss you guys and hope you’re having a wonderful time! We love you! XO Val, Christian, and Jess
Posted by: Valerie Cognetto on 7/21/2022 at 8:04 am
Mission accomplished. For today, that is. We had fine weather today, sunny and calm (but you might be surprised to see how much clothing and gear we still put on for sunny and calm conditions). We made a carry up the steep and nasty part of Mt Vinson… the fixed ropes, and put a cache of supplies at 11,800 ft. before returning to our 9,300 ft camp. By intention, we stopped about an hour short of 12,500 ft High Camp. To go up and back is a lot of work, but we hope it is the kind of work that will help with our acclimatization, making us stronger and safer when we go up there for real. The fixed rope section is a continuously steep and firm snow slope which definitely gets your attention as a physical challenge. We normally get up it in three hour long pulls with some dicey rest breaks thrown in on precarious ledges. The views are otherworldly… with ice stretching to the western horizon and then blending with the sky, and jagged peaks of rock and ice increasingly visible to our north. We were out a little more than seven hours, returning to Low Camp at 9 PM. The strong evening sun kept us comfy in our dining tent for a 10:15 supper. Rumor has it that winds may increase on the upper mountain tomorrow. We shall see.
Best Regards,
Hey Dave, Sending good wishes for great weather and strength for you and your team!
Posted by: Dave Kestel on 12/1/2021 at 4:18 am
Posted by: Seth Waterfall, Solveig Waterfall
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mexico
Elevation: 18,701'
RMI Guide Seth Waterfall calls from the el Pico de Orizaba summit!
On The Map
congratulations to the climbing team and their guides on the climbing and summiting of the two mountains in Mexico. I sure wish I was a few years younger as I would have enjoyed those climbs also. Cant wait to see the pictures and hear the stories about your trip.
Posted by: Warren Larson on 3/10/2013 at 1:48 pm
Congratulations!!!!! Have a safe trip back.
Posted by: julie grooms on 2/16/2013 at 9:05 pm
Posted by: Nikki Champion, Joe Hoch, Augi Fleer, Brian Walters, Trevor Katz, Sam Hoffman
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
The Five Day Climb July 21 - 25 reached the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning led by RMI Guides Nikki Champion & Joe Hoch. The teams reached the summit early this morning and were well on their descent around 7 am. RMI Guide Trevor Katz provided the photos from the teams descent from the crater rim. Once back at Camp Muir everyone will repack and continue another 4.5 miles to Paradise. They will then transfer to Rainier BaseCamp for a celebration and conclusion of their program.
Nice work everyone!
Posted by: James Bealer, Luke Wilhelm, David Price
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Elevation: 14,400'
The sun got a little brighter for us today, as we moved up to Plaza de Mulas. One only needed to look up from the trail to realize the unique contrast of the environment we were in. Dusty desert gave way to ice covered peaks, appearing to rocket upwards in an attempt to reach outer space. After a long day on the trail, we were greeted with good food and shade.
Till next time,
Hope y’all are getting plenty of rest and are gently stoking the fire within you for the adventure ahead.
Dad, to six years of recovery and hard work! You are a bad A! Proud of you! We are with you each step of the way!
Rest Easy,
Kelly
Posted by: Kelly on 1/27/2022 at 6:48 pm
So excited to hear about your trip - we are following along hoping for good weather and good companions along the trail. Give us some colors and feelings in your emails so we get the full view from up there in the thin air. Good Luck and be safe. N. and P.
Posted by: Sandy and Dick on 1/27/2022 at 10:53 am
Bill and Sara,
What an awesome trip and pictures and what an accomplishment. Glad you are having so much fun. Saw Lisa, Morgan and Katie in Conn. last weekend. Lots of fun. Be careful, safe and good luck.
Ed, Marian and the girls.
Posted by: Ed Mule' on 4/10/2011 at 2:52 pm
Sending you lots of positive energy for a great adventure. Love being able to follow you on Facebook. Remembering my trip to Basecamp and wishing I were able to be there now.
Best wishes. ~JEN~
Posted by: Jen Petrik on 4/10/2011 at 12:39 pm
Hey all, glad to hear you had a successful trip! I’m looking at climbing via the emmons the week of July 4th and would be interested in hearing how things are looking up there given all the late precipitation this year. Please shoot me an email if you’re able to share any beta! Thanks
Andrew
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Posted by: Andrew on 6/23/2022 at 7:34 pm
Great work! You guys flew right past us, I’m glad all teams were successful that day! What a slog on the way down, though!
Posted by: David on 6/22/2022 at 9:00 pm
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