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Posted by: Mike Walter, Nikki Champion, Taylor Bickford
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 7,800'
Saturday, June 15, 2019 - 1:51 PM PT
When we hit the sack after dinner last night the weather was beautiful and we expected much of the same today. But the weather threw us a curve ball and at 3 AM we woke to snow and wind. We felt like we were inside of a Ping Pong ball, and the cloud cover prevented the snow from freezing last night. So, all in all, not an ideal morning. We pumped the brakes a little and decided to postpone this morning's climb for tonight. Instead, we had a great breakfast of bagels, cream cheese, and smoked salmon to pass the morning. We're currently still in the Ping Pong ball and wet snow is still falling. Hopefully tonight's weather will treat us better and we can get a cache of supplies up to around 10,000'. We'll keep you posted.
RMI Guide Mike Walter
On The Map
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 winds picked up during the night and brought four plus inches of snow to Mt. Everest. Our plan was to move up the Lhotse face to Camp 3 for a day climb/acclimatization and then back to Camp Two for another night of sleep. But after breakfast the weather had not cleared and snow was still falling so we decided to join Dave and Leif (who had climbed to Camp 3 the day before) and head back down to Base Camp ending our second rotation on the mountain. We will start a rest "block" while we wait for better weather and head back up to Camp Two and then to Camp Three once the weather settles.
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Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mexico
Hey everyone. Hope all is well...
A quiet Sunday morning graced Mexico City as our team headed out towards La Malinche.
As we furthered ourselves from the capitol's carbon footprint, we stopped at a great vista of both Popo and Ixta, our first climbing objective.
We reached the resort of Malintzi and headed out for our first acclimatizing hike. We walked through pine forests and then up a broad slope to a ridge. Here we enjoyed the views of the surrounding valley.
A wonderful Mexican dinner awaits our group now...Tomorrow we head to Ixta. Everyone is excited for our first climb!
RMI Guide Dustin Wittmier and his team reached the summit of Mt. Shuksan via the Fisher Chimneys Route. With the forecasted weather, the team was able to summit a day early and is continuing with some training through the rest of their program. They will descend from the mountain tomorrow.
Congratulations to all on their success- 100% to the top!
Posted by: Steve Gately, Ross Morgan, Jessica Keil
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
The Four Day Climb July 13 - 16 reached the summit of Mt. Rainier on a beautiful day. RMI Guide Steve Gately and team were approaching the crater rim shortly after 7 AM. Clear skies and warm sunny temperatures were the report.
Nice work team!
Posted by: Mike King, Nick Scott, Gloria Roe
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Elevation: 18,000'
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
On The Map
Posted by: Mike Walter, Robby Young, Lucas Haaland
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 14,000'
May 29, 2017
Greetings all - this is Robbie Young and Mike Walter with the RMI Denali Team. Today was another day of waiting out some weather here at 14,000' Camp. We had snow and some winds this morning and it's just now starting to improve this afternoon. We're on Day 25 and we are looking forward to hopefully a break in this weather over the next few days to give us an opportunity to summit or at least make an attempt if the weather holds out. If not, we're probably looking at coming down at the same time in the next few days here. Looking forward to our opportunity and look forward to checking in again tomorrow, hopefully in 17000' Camp.
Thanks. Ciao.
RMI Guide Robbie Young
RMI Guide Robby Young checks in from 14,000ft Camp on Denali.
On The Map
Hi Mark - I have been following your expedition on the blog, and thinking of you and the others up on the mountain. Those are remarkable photographs and incredible descriptions of the severe weather conditions. You and the team are pretty damn impressive. I sure hope the weather finally cooperates, but whatever happens you have accomplished something mighty. I will look forward to seeing you upon your return. —Geordie Vining (from Crossfit)
Posted by: Geordie Vining on 5/31/2017 at 5:28 am
Hey Mark, Kev sends me to the blog about every other day to check on your summit progress…for some reason he can manage an RX Murph (we missed you!) but can’t navigate the blog ;) Hoping the weather cooperates for y’all. Catch you on the flip side, H + K
Posted by: heidi + kevin murphy on 5/30/2017 at 8:20 pm
Posted by: Casey Grom
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro
Hello once again everyone
This was a marvelous day as we visited the famous Ngorongoro Crater, considered by some to be the 8th wonder of the world. We started early with hopes of catching more of the elusive wildlife.
Today we saw more Zebras, Cape buffalo, wildebeest, gazelles than anyone expected, in fact at such close range that we could almost touch them. We also saw plenty of hyenas, ostrich, Impala, hippos and got very close to a few lions, which was a highlight for everyone and even managed to spot a Rhino off in the distance. Needless to say it was a wonderful day of well deserved safari.
We then wrapped up the day with a visit to a working Maasai village. The Maasai are the local nomadic people that have inhabited this area for more than a thousand years and still try to exist with their same way of life.
Finally we returned to the amazing Plantation lodge to relax and enjoy another wonderful meal.
All is well!
RMI Guide Casey Grom
All members of our team made it to the highest point in Mexico this morning- el Pico de Orizaba! We lucked out with perfect weather and great snow conditions. Warm temperatures and great views coaxed us into spending a good chunk of time on the summit . We'll follow up soon.
RMI Guides Zeb Blais, Robby Young and team
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Stumbled across this blog on the website. Good luck and happy holidays!
Posted by: Chris Fowler on 12/27/2018 at 6:35 am
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