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Posted by: Nikki Champion, Steve Gately, Emma Lyddan, Nicole De Petris, Roland Scott, Cal Seeley
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14, 410'
The Five-Day Climb led by Nikki Champion and Steve Gately reached the summit at 6 am this morning. After a warm walk uphill to Camp Muir on Saturday, teams enjoyed a good night's rest and a beautiful day of training before their ascent this morning.
The teams are currently on their descent and will return to Basecamp this afternoon for a celebration of their accomplishments! Congratulations team!
Hello everyone!
Right out of camp we were faced with the only significant technical obstacle for this climb. This hurdle is the great Barranco Wall, which rises about 1,000 ft and looks as intimidating as it sounds. Thankfully there is a nice narrow trail that weaves its way up and through the wall and all the way to the top. Most of it feels more like steep hiking, but there are a few places that require the use of our hands to help us climb up.
The team did a good job of moving steady and allowing a few porters through with their loads precariously balanced on their heads. Which was astonishing to see!
After reaching the top we took a nice break and enjoyed the amazing views of the ice-ladened south face and valleys below. The team continued our hike for a few more hours up and down through a few valleys before reaching today’s endpoint.
All in all, it took only about 4 hours for us to reach our next camp called Karanga, named for the big and beautiful valley which it overlooks.
Casey and crew
You’re reaching new heights of both the mountain *and* your life. Way to go, and keep those steps humming!
Posted by: Gloyboy on 9/3/2022 at 5:17 am
Congratulations on scaling Barranco wall! Continued prayers for all the crew.
Posted by: Elaine on 9/2/2022 at 2:25 pm
We made progress.
It was definitely colder in a tent at 7,000 ft on an Antarctic glacier than in a hotel room in Punta Arenas, but we were happy and comfortable enough for the night. Local conditions (shadows and breezes) dictate a slower start in the mornings, so we didn’t get moving around until after 9 AM. We ate breakfast and then did a bit of training and review and of course -gear sorting. We took a last COVID test (our sixth in six days) and then roped up and went walking up glacier. We carried loads for two and a half hours, to “half camp” our intended cache point. Most of our journey was in murky glacier fog, but we broke out of clouds near our cache point and could look up on Vinson’s great western wall. We could see neighboring peaks Shinn and Epperly, but they had a few clouds stuck on and around them as well. We secured the food and gear we’d carried and then walked back down into the cold and frosty clouds. Glacier conditions were reasonable and we didn’t sink into the snow too much or slip and slide on ice. There were some crevasses visible here and there, but we didn’t have any openings to step over.
Back at camp in the clouds, we ate dinner and turned in for a well deserved rest.
Best Regards,
The Expedition Skills Seminar - Kautz team led by RMI Guide Mike Haugen reached the summit via the Kautz Glacier, a remote and technical climb on Mt. Rainier. The team had clear skies and 30 mph winds.
This team participated in a week long training course designed to educate them to the mountaineering skills needed to tackle the world's greatest peaks. Successful completion of the Expedition Skill Seminar - Kautz makes these climbers eligible for many of our expeditions around the world, including Denali, and provides the team with a foundation for other major glaciated mountains.
Congratulations Team!
Way to go, Team! The RMI guides made each challenging goal achievable and safe. I wanted to acquaint myself with alpine climbing, but this seminar provided much more.
Posted by: Thomaz Nestlehner Cardoso de Almeida on 7/17/2022 at 10:54 am
What an amazing and emotional journey! Very appreciative for the experience and knowledge from all the guides.
When you can please email all photos as I’m excited to revisit these moments. Thank you!
Posted by: Brian Danney on 7/16/2022 at 1:24 pm
Posted by: Luke Wilhelm, David Price
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Day 15
Our team is so resilient. This storm continues to pound the mountain, but our positivity is overwhelming it! It was another really windy and cold one. Despite the bad weather, we were able to get out and stretch our legs a bit. It felt great to move around! The team kept themselves busy this afternoon sorting and preparing gear. If the weather allows, we plan to move to Camp 3 tomorrow.
Till next time,
RMI Guides Luke, David & Team
I’m in awe of both the physical and mental strength you all have to push forward! Stay strong team. You can do this!
Posted by: Amanda Schimkus on 2/5/2022 at 4:05 pm
Hey Pop/Tim,
It wouldn’t be an adventure if everything went as planned! I know you will be persevere these hardships and conquer this challenge. Just know that we are all rooting for you and miss you. I’ve got a laundry list of “man” projects around the house for us to complete upon your return which should motivate your prolonged stay in Aconcagua. Take care and be safe!
Love your favorite son-in-law,
Chris
Posted by: Christopher Nicholson on 2/5/2022 at 12:42 pm
Posted by: James Bealer, Luke Wilhelm, David Price
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Elevation: 18,300'
We huffed and puffed our way up to Camp 2 today, which sits at 18,300 feet. The team did a great job with the move! Arriving at camp this afternoon, everyone felt a major sense of accomplishment. Ear to ear smiles, and hugs all around! Our hard work today will be rewarded with a much deserved day of rest tomorrow. We have now situated ourselves perfectly for a summit attempt in the coming days.
Till next time,
RMI Guide Luke Wilhelm and team
I have wonder and excitement for you on what it must feel like for this to be accomplished. What a life changing event for you. I am so excited for you all. Keep going! Love you Tim!
Teri
Posted by: Teri Derr on 2/1/2022 at 8:43 am
Richie, you da man! I’m super proud of you for pursing your life passions and adventuring to new epic heights. I’ve been reading the blogs and it sounds like you’re surrounded by amazing human beings with enormous hearts. Keep blazing upward! GO TEAM!!!
Posted by: Joey Collazo on 2/1/2022 at 5:55 am
It was just a little on the cold side this morning at Shira Camp. Kibo -Kilimanjaro’s main peak- was between us and the sun. But we were far above the clouds and it was clear up high, so the views more than made up for the cold temps. The sun was on us by the time breakfast had finished and so things were comfortable when we got walking at 8:30 AM. Our path led directly toward Kibo and the terrain was easier than what we’d dealt with yesterday. We worked up broad, gently angled slopes. Old lava flows. Obsidian chunks were easy to find amongst the sagebrush and wildflowers. By 11 AM we were higher than Mount Rainier and a short while later we were higher than Mt Whitney… thus breaking altitude records for everyone on the team (except Kim who has been to 19,000 ft). We made it to the Lava Tower -at 15,200 ft- just after noon. Clouds had formed up again and so it was cool, but not so bad that we couldn’t enjoy some lunch. We began working downhill at 1 PM. It felt good to drop altitude and to get back into warmer air. We took a break just as we got into a garden-like grove of giant senecios and lobelias… the “Dr Suess plants” of Kilimanjaro. Another careful hour of descent had us walking into 13,000 ft Barranco Camp just after 3 PM. We settled in at the base of tomorrow’s main objective -the great Barranco Wall.
We napped and read and sipped tea through the remaining afternoon hours. Dinner finished up by 8 PM and we marveled at the stars on this moonless night.
Best Regards
Looking string, Kim! It looks like you, Bella and the team are just cruising along. I know better though. The effort is real - so is the joy. Keep on keeping on!
The boys are still wondering were you actually are and are a little concerned that you would go on an adventure without us.
You amaze me everyday. I love you.
John
Posted by: JOHN GILMAN on 8/19/2022 at 6:48 am
Everyone looks psyched to take on the challenge. You all have got this! Thank you, Dave, for the great daily accounts.
Posted by: Michael Brewer on 8/18/2022 at 8:31 pm
Posted by: Casey Grom, Ben Luedtke, Mike Bennett, Will Nash, Leif Bergstrom, Evan Redman
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
The Four Day Climb with RMI Guides Casey Grom and Ben Luedtke were on top of Mt. Rainier at 6:30 am. It was windy morning, but a good 6 hour and 15-minute climb of the Disappointment Cleaver route to reach the 14,410’ summit. The team is on the descent and in route to Camp Muir.
Congratulations team!
Congratulations everyone! It looks absolutely gorgeous up there. Can’t wait til I get the details from Joseph Rodriguez “Joey”
Again congratulations.
Posted by: Lisa on 7/1/2023 at 7:01 pm
On The Map
Enjoy Tibet while you guys are still there! It’s a beautiful place and I wish I had enjoyed everything while I was still there. Hope everything’s going well!
Posted by: JonathanL on 4/14/2011 at 6:04 am
Great Job Bill McGahan and Sara Rose McGahan (as Adam and Owen now refer to you guys :))! What an awesome adventure!
Posted by: izzy on 4/12/2011 at 12:34 pm
Posted by: Ed Viesturs, Peter Whittaker, JJ Justman
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
Congratulations!! Can’t wait to hear more about it! :)
Posted by: Meg on 7/25/2013 at 8:48 am
Way to go team!!!!! I’m Riley’s Mom and I’m so happy he accomplished this challenging
climb on his 3rd try. Congratulations to all of you!! Have a safe climb down.
Posted by: Crista Boyle on 8/1/2022 at 12:45 pm
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