June 16, 2015 3:18 pm PT
Yesterday our team made a carry to 17 Camp. Leaving early, we avoided the crowds and enjoyed one of the more beautiful days the Buttress could serve up. Spectacular views from the Kahiltna to the tundra kept us company all day long and we really got a great sense of our surroundings.
Now we are all set to capitalize on the next weather window and move up! Until then the team is enjoying a well earned rest day here at 14 Camp.
RMI Guide Jake Beren
Hey this is Seth checking in from High Camp on Ixta, that’s just over 15,000’ for us. We came up today from our last camp. We spent about four and a half hours on the trail, everyone is doing excellent. Tents are all set up and we are firing up the stoves getting ready to have dinner. Then we will talk about our strategy for the climb and have an early bedtime. We will be getting up in the middle of the night and will head out for the summit. We will call you when we reach that point. Hope all is well back home.
RMI Guide Seth Waterfall and Team.
The Four Day Climb May 16 - 19 led by RMI Guides Brent Okita and Hannah Smith climbed halfway up Disappointment Cleaver before conditions required them to turn around. Hannah's team climbed to Ingraham Flats and worked on some ice climbing. The teams descended to Camp Muir and will be packing up and starting their descent to Paradise later this morning.
Hello from Yanganuco Base Camp. We are camped on a beautiful meadow at 3900m, currently under the rain, but with high enough clouds that we can see the toe of the glaciers above us. We got here yesterday, and after setting camp up, we spent the afternoon hiking to Laguna 69 for acclimatization; one of the major tourist destinations among day hikers in the area.
Were going to rest today, and get ready for tomorrow's move to our camp at the base of our 1st objective, Yanapacha.
Stay tuned for more!
RMI Guide Elias de Andres Martos
After a calm Christmas rest day we woke early to go for a walk towards High Camp and potentially beyond. The morning was cold with a light breeze out of the West stinging our faces. This was going to be the last calm day for a while. We didn’t make it to far before deciding that we need more acclimatization and the additional terrain would be to big of an undertaking. We returned to Camp 2 at 18,000’ and hung out while the winds rattled the tents and the dry snow shot off the upper ridge lines. The Team is anxious for a summit bid and the winds have arrived but not quite as forecast. Our plan is to move up to High Camp at 19,600’ tomorrow and see what we get. The next window of calm weather isn’t until the 31st and there is plenty that could change by then.
RMI Guide Mike King
The Four Day Summit Climb teams lead by RMI Guides Elias de Andres Martos and Nick Hunt reached the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning under clear skies and nice conditions. The teams began their descent from the crater rim shortly after 9 am en route to Camp Muir. The teams will rest and re-pack then start their descent to Paradise.
We look forward to seeing them at Rainier BaseCamp later today.
Congratulations to today's Summit Climb teams!
June 3, 2015 - 10:10 am PT
Yesterday proved to be a bit bitter sweet for all of us. Despite having the almost euphoric sense of accomplishment for summiting Mt. McKinley, the work left to be done is astounding. Many people may think that when the top is reached it is all downhill from there. In a literal sense that is true, in the big picture that is like saying once you plant a garden food will just appear on your plate.
Nothing is easy at 17,000', especially motivating to pack up the entire camp after only getting six hours of restless sleep coming on the heels of what most of the team considered the hardest summit day they have ever experienced. But as always they impressed me with there drive, attitude and willingness to do what needed to be done. That fact right there is why they all succeeded in this climb.
So after camp was broken, the long tricky climb back down Washburn's ridge began. After those obstacles were over we then needed to descend the fixed lines, stomp down the remaining slopes to camp, dig up the cache and then rebuild a new camp. All while being sleep deprived, hungry, thirsty and utterly exhausted. On top of all that, it is supposed to snow two feet by tomorrow. Ahh, the true colors of this mountain are being revealed.
We will keep you posted on our progress.
Liam, daddy is on his way home soon. I can't wait to see you!
RMI Guide Adam Knoff
It's snowing up here!
Today was a rest day here in Pheriche, and we went on a short acclimatization hike to 15,500' to take in the views. We set a new altitude record for some and even managed to see Island Peak down the neighboring valley.
The weather started clear once again but quickly turned to clouds and even began snowing a little bit right after we made it back and had lunch. At 3 pm the Himalayan Rescue Association (HRA), which is a very small and seasonal hospital had a talk on Acclimatizing which we sat in on.
We wrapped up the evening with another wonderful meal here at the Himalayan Lodge in Pheriche and a few more games of Cribbage.
All is well and everyone is feeling well and in good spirits.
RMI Guide CaseyGrom and crew
Hi this is Seth.
The team is all up at Karanga Valley (13,200'). We started the day at a really relaxed pace with a later breakfast than we are used to. After that we enjoyed the views and sunshine, some dancing and a little frisbee while most of the other climbers jammed up the climbing route. After almost the whole camp moved out we climbed up the steep Barranco Wall by ourselves. After a lunch break on top we hiked to Karanga Valley. The cook made us an amazing second lunch in camp which was well received by this crew. Things really get rolling tomorrow as we head to high camp.
I'll check in when we get there.
RMI Guide Seth Waterfall & Team
WOW!! You will soon be on the summit!!! YAY! Patty, thinking of you as you soon ascend to the top of Africa! It looks AMAZING! Wish I were there! Eat well…Stay strong… and enjoy your summit climb! God Bless you and your team! Love ya
Posted by: Sally on 1/31/2015 at 1:34 pm
Very soon now & you will be Summit bound. So exciting! May the sunshine and clear skies crown your BIG accomplishment! Go Team! Go Carrie! Xoxo
4:50 pm PT Update: Billy called in after the team returned safely to camp. A bit breezy but beautiful views on the summit. Billy's photos below.
Call from the summit:
Hey it's Billy here. I'm checking in from the summit of Mount Shuksan!. We are on top with seven climbers and three guides, enjoying perfect weather. Not a cloud in the sky. Views all the way down to Mount Rainier, out to the Olympic Range and the Puget Sound. We can see Vancouver, up into the Coast Range and over into the thickets of the deep North Cascades. Just spectacular today. We'll give you guys a shout when we are back in camp, safe-and-sound. All for now.
RMI Guide Billy Nugent
RMI Guide Billy Nugent calls from the Mt. Shuksan summit!
I’m following you, Bill. Way to go! It is truly amazing to see what you are doing, on top of the world.
Posted by: Lee Mauk on 6/18/2015 at 7:10 am
keep up the great work, all! meredith, i’m checking in on you every day. so excited for you. be safe and enjoy the view! :-)
Posted by: kristen lacy on 6/17/2015 at 8:54 pm
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