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Posted by: Jack Delaney, Abby Westling, Leif Bergstrom, Daniel May, Charlie Harrison, Nick Sinapius
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
The Five Day Climb teams July 30 - 3 August led by RMI Guides Jack Delaney and Abby Westling made a sunset climb to the summit yesterday evening. The teams reached the crater rim around 8 pm and quickly began their descent as fairly strong winds accommpanied them the entire climb. The climb went well and the team was stoked to summit even with the constant winds. As of 7 am the climbers were sleeping in at Camp Muir with plan to start their descent to Paradise around 10 or 11 am.
Congratulations team!
We made the all important break from basecamp today. The day began sunny and calm and we were feeling good, so the decision was easy. We began stirring at 9 AM and made it a leisurely morning of packing and sorting. Our rope team of three pulled out of Vinson Base Camp just after 12:30 PM. At first, the sun was strong and we stripped a few layers so as not to sweat, but as we neared yesterday’s high point, some clouds intervened to make it a little cooler again, but not desperately so. Our faces weren’t freezing but we couldn’t lounge around at rest breaks. We took on the sleds full of supplies that we’d stashed yesterday and made the tricky pull up and around the Branscomb Glacier’s big 90 degree corner and made it under the two great ice streams pouring 2,000 meters down Vinson’s West Face. Walking conditions weren’t the easiest, the surface was alternatively rough or super smooth and firm. We put on crampons to gain better purchase, which helped but which isn’t exactly the normal way of things below Low Camp. We made it in to 9,300' Low Camp just after 7 PM and set to work building platforms for the tents, setting up and anchoring tents, and getting moved into them. That and digging a kitchen and dining area in the super hard packed snow/ice took a good chunk of the evening. The sun finally pulled out of the clouds to make our 10 pm dinner a bit more pleasant. This camp gets direct sunshine until 2 or 3 in the morning, making the tents comfy in the evening, but then it gets a seriously cold shadow until 11 AM, making mornings cold and slow. But since we’re in the comfy phase now, we won’t worry about tomorrow.
Best Regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
Posted by: Christina Dale
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Everest BC Trek and Lobuche
Elevation: 9,350'
Posted by: Nikki Champion, Jackson Breen, Charlie Harrison, Bo Torrey
Categories:
Elevation: 13,200'
The Expedition Skills Seminar - Emmons July 3 - 8 led by RMI Guide Nikki Champion spent two days training at Rainier BaseCamp and at Paradise, prior to starting their climb. On Tuesday, they left Ashford for the White River Ranger Station. They donned heavy packs and started up the mountain to their first camp. Yesterday, they ascended to Camp Schurman and continued their training. With an alpine start this morning, they made their summit attempt but were turned back due to high winds, low visibility and challenging walking. The team returned safely to Camp Schurman around 1 pm where they will spend their last night on the mountain. Tomorrow the group will descend to the trailhead and return to Rainier BaseCamp.
Congratulations little brother (Jon)!! You never cease to amaze me. One more thing off the bucket list. You rock!!
Posted by: cleep on 6/29/2012 at 8:26 am
Racheal we are so pround of you and we are all waiting for your return. we wanna hear all about it. we know you were gonna make it. Lots of love from your team in preadmit.
Posted by: Annett on 6/29/2012 at 7:42 am
The Mexico Volcanoes Team arrived yesterday with all their equipment. Today we left Mexico City for a two and a half hour drive through the scenic country side on our way to La Malinche. Along the way we got great views of Orizaba, Ixta and Popo. In my eight trips I’ve not seen the air quality this clear for such long distances. Which makes having our hike cut short around 12,000’ due to the park police turning hikers around all the more disappointing. This area is known for afternoon thunderstorms and apparently the park is instituting a strict turn around time now.
We decided to listen to the tactically dressed officer with the gun and not end up in a Mexican jail. The group got a chance to stretch their lungs and legs some, we all would have hoped for a longer hike. The remainder of the day will be spent in the former Olympic training center that now hosts tourists and locals. We will look forward to heading to Ixta tomorrow for a hike and gear check.
Thanks for following along,
Great job dad, keep going. Moms says hi.
Love, Daniel
Posted by: Daniel Kovatich on 11/10/2021 at 6:10 pm
Posted by: Pete Van Deventer, Mike Uchal
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Elbrus Northside
Elevation: 8,300'
On The Map
We did it!!!
All team members are safely back to high camp after standing on the “Roof of Africa”.
The team did a great job climbing and stayed positive, even though it was tough at times. It was slightly chilly, and the route was busier than we would have liked. However, our early departure saved us from the more than 100+ climbers all stuffed together. We even had the summit to ourselves for a little while!
We spent about 30 minutes on the summit celebrating, taking photos and even made a few phone calls to loved ones back home.
We are headed down the mountain to our final camp in the thick warm air at 10,000’ where we’ll have dinner then head off to bed for some well-deserved sleep.
Casey and a happy Kili team!
Way to Live your dreams!! We are so proud of you Cory and Team!!
Love Auntie Jugee
Posted by: Julie Anne Hoegger on 9/18/2022 at 11:45 am
You did it! Congrats! See you tomorrow. Love all of us.
Posted by: Tabetha Kallsen on 9/18/2022 at 9:10 am
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
Matt,
We’re thinking of you and your team and praying that you all stay safe.
Love,
Mom and Dad
Posted by: Polly and Ed on 1/15/2013 at 7:17 am
Have a safe and rewarding climb.
Posted by: Albert on 1/14/2013 at 8:52 pm
our son, Glen Zilly, was in the group attempting to climb Mt. Reiner. A wise decision but he plans to return next year.
Our son is a 43 yr. old self employed
Architect who lives with his wife & daughters in Scottsdale, AZ.
Posted by: Patricia Zilly & Richard Zilly on 7/9/2022 at 12:22 pm
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