Wednesday, June 27, 2018 - 8:39 pm PT
As mountaineers, we tend to take things one day at a time. It just so happens that this was one of the best climbing days ever.
After an early start, we climbed into the gorgeous sunshine that we have not had enough of this trip. The views of the glaciers below and the rocky ridge we were ascending made for stunning photos and memories we will not soon forget! We are pretty sure that Joe Horiskey scheduled a fly-by and wing wave from a F-35 fighter jet just as we topped out on the fixed line! Spectacular!!!
We are currently residing at 17k Camp in the late evening sunshine. This camp stays particularly sunny since there is not much above us to block the Alaskan midnight sun.
Our plan is to go to the summit tomorrow if the mountain allows us! I think the mountain may owe us a good weather summit day after all the Super Crew has been through so far. We will see if Denali agrees!?
RMI Guide Mike Haugen & Super Crew 6
Hope all the hard work and preparation paid off today with a successful “visit” to the summit.
Congrats to all for what you have accomplished.
Posted by: Molly Frishmuth on 6/28/2018 at 6:35 pm
Josh, rooting for you and the team for a great summit day. Very proud of you. Love following the team’s progress. Will talk soon. Much love from Mom and Dad
The Four Day Summit Climb led by RMI Guide Kel Rossiter reached the summit of Mt. Rainier today. Kel reported clear and cool weather with light winds. The Four Day Summit Climb team left the crater rim at 6:50 am to return to Camp Muir.
We look forward to seeing all the climbers at Rainier BaseCamp this afternoon.
Congratulations to today's Summit Climb teams!
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
May 24, 2015 - 9:30 pm PT
The wind and snow continued through the night and into today. We spent the night listening to the roar of a freight train of wind above us on the West Buttress. The max gust through camp, according to the NPS weather station was 52 mph. That wind and snow put a few holes in our posh tent, and knocked over a few walls, so we spent the morning stitching up holes and rebuilding walls. Otherwise we fared pretty well through the blizzard. This afternoon things started to subside, and by evening the sun was showing, sparkling off of the small snowflakes that are hanging in the air. Our hope is that that trend will carry through tomorrow, and we'll have the visibility to head back down and retrieve our cache from Windy Corner. Fingers crossed. The change in weather has also caused a change in the general mood of camp, and we're listening to laughing, joking, jovial voices all over camp. We'll let you know how things go tomorrow.
RMI Guides Pete Van Deventer, Josh Maggard, Robby Young, and team
Hi Renee and team! I have my fingers and toes crossed for the weather to continue to improve - keep up the mac ‘n cheese consumption and look forward to the climb ahead! Cheers, Anna.
Posted by: Anna on 5/26/2015 at 6:02 pm
Jon, guides and team,
Sorry to read that you were pounded by the wind and snow but glad that all of you are safe and survived the blizzard. Hopefully tomorrow will bring you better weather.
Stay safe and healthy.
Hugs,
Mom
June 9, 2014 - 9:52 pm PT
The team remained at 7,800' on Mt. McKinley and chalked it up to a weather day. Apparently they spent the day composing poetry. A copy of their work is below:
We're below Ski Hill
Snowing, blowing, eating here
Hope to move up soon!
Cheers from 7800,
Katie, Leon, Jake, and Crew
RMI Guides Jake Beren, Leon Davis & Katie Bono
How about posting a group picture with the guides in front?
I want to see all you mountain climbers.
Posted by: scott's mom on 6/11/2014 at 1:11 pm
Curious about what you all do all day waiting for the snow to blow over ? Wishing you sunshine all the way to the top! Missing you Scotter Potter!
Love, mom
The clouds parted long enough for our team to fly onto the Kahiltna Glacier today. We have been packed and ready for this day and now we are ready to climb!
Once we are settled in at Kahiltna Base, we'll check in again.
RMI Guides Eric Frank and Geoff Schellens
Jake Beren, Gabriel Barral, and our Four Day Summit Climb Teams reached the summit of Mt. Rainier early this morning. They reported a beautiful day with great views and not a breath of wind.
Congratulations to today's Teams.
Friday June 19th 11:11 pm PT
On Thursday, June 18th, RMI Guide Jake Beren and his June 2nd Mount McKinley Expedition reached the summit!!!
After our spectacular day on the roof of this continent, we have to come down. Waking to calm winds and warm(ish) temperatures, we packed up our high camp and bid our snow walls and tent platforms adios. Leaving 17K Camp we cruised the Buttress and made it down to 14K Camp where we dug up a cache and wished the ascending RMI team bon voyage before heading to 11K camp to grab a few winks while the glacier sets up for our walk out to the runway.
Amazing how just last week we were camped here with a huge mountain ahead of us filled with so many unknowns. Now we are on the other side of the mountain, grateful for the exploration of an amazing place on planet earth.
RMI Guide Jake Beren
This is Dave Hahn with the RMI Everest team and we are calling you tonight from Phakding. We made the flight in this morning from Kathmandu into Lukla. Conditions were pretty clear once we got out of the smoke and smog of Kathmandu. And we got a great view of the mountain. A beautiful day when we landed in Lukla and we got on the trail and were walking by about 9:30 this morning. We reached Phakding and Joe's Garden, our tea house by the river, at about 1 o'clock. Quiet after noon, resting and relaxing down along the river among the pine trees. Looking forward to tomorrow and a climb up the Namche Hill and our goal for tomorrow is to get to Namche. We will keep you informed.
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
RMI Guide Dave Hahn checks in from Phakding en route to Everest Base Camp.
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Hope all the hard work and preparation paid off today with a successful “visit” to the summit.
Congrats to all for what you have accomplished.
Posted by: Molly Frishmuth on 6/28/2018 at 6:35 pm
Josh, rooting for you and the team for a great summit day. Very proud of you. Love following the team’s progress. Will talk soon. Much love from Mom and Dad
Posted by: David Levy on 6/28/2018 at 10:24 am
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