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Thursday, January 11, 2024
Hello again everyone -
The Kili team is still hanging tough!
We left our second camp called Shira this morning just after 8am and didn’t make it to far before the rains returned. The team made it to our high point (15’000) thus far called Lava Tower where the rains turned to heavy wet snow. Unfortunately the usual beautiful views were obscured but the team did great and everyone is feeling good, minus being a little more damp than we’d like.
We continued down valley to our new home for the night in Barraco valley. And thankfully the rains have tapered and we are enjoying a little break in the very abnormal weather we are having.
Fingers crossed the weather will break and we can dry out a bit and enjoy some much needed sunshine.
RMI Guide Casey and the Kilimanjaro swim team!
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Kilimanjaro January 6, 2024
Saturday, October 14, 2023 7:11 am PDT
Summit Orizaba. High clouds, cool, light breeze. Nice day!
RMI Guide Dustin Wittmier & Team
The Five Day Climb August 15 - 19 reached the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning led by RMI Guide Nikki Champion. It's a beautiful day on the mountain with moderate winds and cool temperatures. After enjoying two nights on the mountain before their summit climb, the group will return to Camp Muir to pack up and then will continue down to Paradise. Their program will conclude with a celebration at Rainier BaseCamp this afternoon.
Congratulations to today's Five Day Climb team!
Way to go, everyone!
Chandra….FINALLY! 4th time was a charm!
Love you to the mountains & back!
Mom
Posted by: Kari on 8/19/2019 at 8:02 am
--Update--
Wake up was at 11:30 PM last night, breakfast was at midnight. We set off for the summit at 12:45 AM in perfect conditions for climbing. It was cool at 15,000 ft Barafu Camp, but not terribly cold. The sky was clear and the air was calm. As expected, there were plenty of teams going for the top, but we didn’t encounter much in the way of traffic jams. We went 90 minutes before our first rest break and then kept it to just ten minutes so as not to get too cold. Basically, we climbed for nearly six hours in the dark with the air getting progressively thinner and colder. The team handled it all quite well and we rolled onto the crater rim at Stella Point at 6:30 AM, just as the sun tipped over the horizon. We had a magnificent walk along the crater rim in the light of the new day, arriving at the true summit, Uhuru, at 7:24 AM. It was time for a few hero shots and handshakes. We spent nearly a half hour at Africa’s highest point and then began the big descent to thicker air. We dropped down dusty scree fields and pulled back into high camp at 10:45 AM. It was a relief to get out of all the cold weather clothing, since it was now hot, and back into hiking clothes.
Our staff served us up a great “brunch” and then we packed up once again and skedaddled. We got headed down at 12:30 PM and dropped a further 5,000 vertical feet to reach Mweka Camp at the start of the forest. To be sure, our gang worked hard and folks were tired, but everybody made it in to camp by 4:00 PM, which is quite a respectable finish to a big day. Appetites are returning, headaches are fading and hopes are high for a full night of sleep in low altitude, well humidified air. People are starting to talk about showers...the end is near.
We did great things today, but not without a huge boost from our local staff. From our guides, to the kitchen crew, and porters.. many went the “extra mile” in every sense to help us achieve, and enjoy, our dream.
Best Regards,
Dave Hahn
--Original Post--
Hey this is Dave Hahn calling from Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. We summitted today. We were on top of Uhuru, the highest point in Africa, at about 20 minutes after 7 this morning 25 minutes after 7. Pretty good - excellent conditions, nice and calm, beautiful day. Now it's ten minutes after 11 in the morning and we are back at High Camp. We are going to rest up here a little bit and then go down to Mweka Camp, way down there at 10,000 feet. That will be a full day. We have been up since 11:30 last night. I'll check in when w are down at Mweka Camp. We are all good here.
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
RMI Guide Dave Hahn calls to report reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro.
On The Map
Well done!! Jeff Tracy, we willl celebrate at Boma at WDW in your honor tonight!-Team Falls
Posted by: Team Falls on 8/12/2019 at 4:57 am
Congratulations, Mike, to you, your team, your RMI guide, and the staff on reaching the summit!
Posted by: Pat Winiarski on 8/11/2019 at 2:12 pm
Hello all,
Life is great here in Huaraz! Hotel Andino is one the my all time favorite places to wake up due to the incredible sunrise views and the delicious breakfast buffet, both of which our team indulged in this morning.
After our leisurely start, we spent some time checking over our climbing gear in advance of our upcoming trips into the mountains. We also took the opportunity in the afternoon to stimulate some acclimatization by going for a hike above town to ‘Puca Ventana’, or Red Window. The views of Huaraz from this high plateau are spectacular! And after two days of sedentary travel, getting outside and working the legs and lungs was just what this team needed. Cafe Andino did the trick for a big post-hike lunch and we were off to enjoy the city for the rest of our afternoon. Living our best lives down here in Huaraz.
Tomorrow, we’ll take our hiking legs a little bit higher to Lake Churup at an altitude over 14,000’. We’ll send pics!
RMI Guide Robby Young and Team Porch Life
Posted by: Robby Young, Nick Scott, Joe Hoch
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 14,000'
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Friday, June 7, 2019 10:18 PM PT
Greetings all!
A beautiful sunny day, finally! We woke to sun and were only interrupted by some quick snow showers during the dinner hour. We were able to fully complete our move to 14k Camp this morning by heading back down and retrieving our cache at Windy Corner at 13.200’. We were up and at em early and were back at Camp a little after noon, in time to nap and rest, and finish up our day with some fixed line practice.
Tomorrow, we’ll rest! It’s an important rest day as we continue our acclimatization process in preparation for our future travels to upper reaches of this grandiose mountain. We’ve got big plans for big meals, big naps, and possibly a trip to take in the views at the ‘Edge of the World’. We’ll report back and tell you all about it tomorrow! Til then, good night!
Robby, Nick, Joe and Team Pebble Beach
Steve, It’s great to follow along. I wish you guys the best and stay safe. See you when you get back my friend. .
Posted by: Al on 6/10/2019 at 10:50 am
Stevie
We hope you make it to the top of the mountain. We hope you will have enough food and get lots of rest. We hope you make it down the mountain safe. We miss you a lot and we love you!
Love Grace and Lucy
Posted by: Grace and Lucy on 6/9/2019 at 7:30 am
Posted by: Mike Walter
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Ecuador
After a relaxing evening last night at the Hacienda Casa Sol, we are currently enjoying the world famous market in Otavalo. Otavalo is an indigenous kichwa town in the Andes highlands north of Quito. The Otavalos are known for their woolen woven goods, art, jewelry, and music. The market here is a sight to behold, with both native Otavalos and tourists shopping side by side.
We're enjoying the morning roaming the streets and exploring the market. After lunch we'll drive up to the climbing hut on the volcano Cayambe. The hut sits above 15,000' at the toe of the crevassed glaciers of Cayambe. It will be our home for the next two nights as we train and prepare for our ascent of Cayambe.
Cayambe is the third highest peak in Ecuador at nearly 19,000', and the highest point on earth through which the equator passes. The mountain is situated in the eastern ridge of the Andes and, as such, is influenced by weather rising up from the rainforest of Ecuador and the headwaters of the Amazon. Over millenia the snowfall on Cayambe has formed a massive network of glaciers that we hope to climb.
We'll have our work cut out for us over the next few days on Cayambe. But for now we're enjoying the colorful culture of Ecuador.
RMI Guide Mike Walter
Summit of Antisana! Adam Knoff and team called in to let us know they were at Antisana's Basecamp after a successful summit. They had great route conditions clear skies, stars and a beautiful moonrise. The climb was engaging with steep headwalls and crevasse crossings. The team did a fantastic job. At about 17,000ft the winds picked up and temperatures dropped enveloping the summit in a cloud layer. As the team started their descent, they broke out of the clouds. They are breaking down camp and will be taking a short walk back to the bus, which will take them to Chilcabamba Eco Lodge where the team will have well-deserved rest for the night.
RMI Guide Adam Knoff
Great job Dusty!
Posted by: Mark on 1/16/2015 at 12:22 pm
So proud of you Anne!
Posted by: JVS on 1/15/2015 at 7:27 pm
Hola amigos y familia,
Today team Ecuador finally got some needed exercise. Yes I will admit, curling cervesas and walking around Quito does count as calorie burning activities but after a long travel day and substantial city tour, we were ready to go up! And up we went.
After breakfast today we met one of our local guides here at the hotel, his name is Henry. Henry owns a beautiful old Toyota Land Cruiser which unfortunately fits only four team members. This space deficiency created a need for two taxis to shuttle the rest of us to the starting point of the day's hike. I had luck working on my side it seems when myself and three others loaded into one yellow cab and Nick and his team piled into the second. Why were we lucky you might ask, because we made it to point B from point A without an accident. Nick's cabby thought "all street signs, traffic lights and street lines were merely suggestions". Three close calls and a fender bender with another cab later, we were all together. I always say let the adventures start as soon as possible.
From our gathering point, the next mode of transport was a cable car or gondola starting at 10,000 feet which swooshed us without even breaking a sweat to 13,000 feet. Luckily no accidents on this stretch. Those might be less forgiving. From the top of the gondola, the 15,400 foot summit of Pinchincha Rucu, which was the day's objective, looked sunny and inviting. A rare case in my experience. With a bit of heavy breathing and 60 minutes walk time, 6 of our team's 10 climbers had reached a new personal altitude record. With a bit more breathing, two more hours walk time and all of our warm cloths on, the entire team reached the summit. It was a glorious start to what should be one grande adventure. Barring the vans and jeeps keep between the lines.
We are now preparing for a well deserved dinner and otra cervesa. Follow along tomorrow to hear about mountain number two.
Adios de Quito,
RMI Guides Adam Knoff, Nick Hunt and Team
The Four Day Summit Climb August 2 - 5, 2014 with climbers from Eddie Bauer and led by RMI Guide Solveig Waterfall reached the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning. Solveig reported light winds and great weather. As of 7:20 am the team was reaching the top of Disappointment Cleaver on their descent.
Congratulations to today's summit climb team!
Way to go Jason and Harumi! Congrats to all - Godspeed!
Posted by: SueWilliams on 8/5/2014 at 8:02 am
Way to Go Dustin and Team!! Great Job !!!
Posted by: Dave Kestel on 10/15/2023 at 3:50 am
You did it!! Congratulations!
Know you are all stoked it worked out! Well done!
Posted by: Judy collins on 10/14/2023 at 5:17 pm
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