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Thank you, Lord, for good weather, healthy bodies, kindred spirits and that sense of accomplishment. Take care.
Posted by: Martha Snyder on 2/9/2011 at 7:01 pm
Take care and good luck, at least it’s warmer then Antarctica
Posted by: Tom on 2/9/2011 at 2:50 pm
Posted by: Casey Grom, Nikki Champion
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
The Four Day Climb Teams led by RMI Guides Casey Grom and Nikki Champion successfully reached the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning! They started their descent from the crater rim a little after 7:00 am, they will enjoy some breakfast during their short break at Camp Muir before descending to Paradise and arriving back at BaseCamp this afternoon.
They reported some slight winds but, overall, a beautiful morning to be on top of the mountain!
Congratulations on an incredible achievement climbers!
We woke before 8 AM a wash with a lingering sunrise. Hughes of pinks, oranges and blues, a stark contrast against the black volcanic dust around and below us at base camp. Within just a few minutes of the groups rousing the dust was above us too, as Popo erupted with fury, more violent than we've seen since arrival in Mexico, we watched as smoke and steam billowed into the sky, becoming a dark cloud inching in our direction while we hoped it was a good omen. lt certainly was a sobering one. A reminder that we are merely guests here in every sense.
We ate a hearty breakfast of refried beans, corn chips, eggs, potatoes, and ham thanks to our team at Ixta base camp, coffee and tea were had as well. The anticipation and excitement among the group were as thick as the ash and at 10 AM we dawned our packs and jettisoned from the Basecamp led by our local guide Allan, 300 summits of Ixta, including many by running, with Dominic and Ben in the rear. We kept an eye on the clouds of smoke, but it didn't phase us on a spectacular and reasonably effortful climb to high camp at 14,500 ft we faced only a little
scree, and instead moved through an ocean of golden grass. Its fine blades seemed to hug us as we passed. People had the energy and breath to discuss life's most important philosophical questions like Buddhism, the true nature of millennials, and Gen Xers, and how one defines a soup versus a stew and what is chili and cereal with milk, and while we are still trying to determine the conversions for the Dominic unit, the climb was indeed three hours as promised, which was met by applause at high camp. We were greeted by the cheers, laughs and smiles of our incredible Porter team, who ran ahead of us to get camp ready for our arrival which marked personal high points for the majority of us.
We rested and relaxed, had a nourishing dinner of chicken Ramen, hot chocolate, cookies, and various preparations of, and some questionable, of spam, and after a final briefing retreated to our tents and sleeping bags early in preparation for our Alpine start to the summit of Ixta.
RMI Climber, Eric Obscherning
New Post Alerts:
Mexico's Volcanoes February 24, 2024
Posted by: Casey Grom
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro
Posted by: Mike Walter, Robby Young, Lucas Haaland
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 14,200'
<3 thank you!!
Posted by: Vanessa on 5/26/2017 at 3:58 pm
Posted by: Casey Grom
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Elbrus Southside
Good job, Kim, Liz, and everybody! Be nice to the folks in St. Petersburg. Remember: you represent America.
Posted by: Eric Y. on 8/5/2014 at 9:19 am
You all look great. Hope you get a chance to see some of the Hermitage.
Posted by: Eddie & Shuyu on 8/4/2014 at 2:51 pm
Posted by: Tyler Jones, Geoff Schellens
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 11,200'
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On The Map
Dave!
I can’t begin to know how you feel about what you’ve accomplished! Can’t wait to see you and hear it all through your eyes. Besides we need you…Tristan can’t keep up the pace and is buckling under the pressure of trying to fill your shoes :-)
Posted by: Suzanne on 6/23/2014 at 2:34 am
John, so proud of you and the rest of the team, have been helping you along, knew you could do it! See you soon here in the nice hot valley. Farmor
Posted by: Farmor on 6/22/2014 at 7:14 pm
Message for Kristen Bennett and the rest of the team: stay focused and keep the faith. I’m sure you will summit. Keep us posted, Be Well.
Posted by: Jason conroy on 7/1/2014 at 12:59 pm
As always, safe travels—and enjoy the snow day!!!!
Posted by: Mary on 7/1/2014 at 3:50 am
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