Most Popular Entries

Friday May 30, 2025 -5:06 pm PDT

Well, we got everyone ready. Spirits were high, packs were packed, and the skies were crystal clear in town when we woke up… but sadly, the mountain had other plans. Basecamp was totally socked in.

So we got put on standby, crossing fingers and toes for a break in the weather.

And then we waited… and waited… and waited some more.

Unfortunately, instead of a magical clearing, the weather just kept building, and it became pretty clear that our window wasn’t going to open today. So, we shifted gears—found some lodging in town, went on a few sanity-preserving jogs, and then regrouped for dinner as a team.

Wash, rinse, repeat… and hope Friday brings the goods.

Think clear thoughts!

Hola!!

We made it to Campo 3! Got our tents set up (no easy feat at 19,600ft) and just finished a delicious freeze dry dinner - it’s just after 5:00pm and we’re headed to bed soon for an early summit start!

We’ve been so inspired by all the amazing people we have met on this mountain — who day in and day out have inspired us with their insane work ethic and positivity. Who always greet us on the trail with a smile and a word of encouragement. By far, the best part about climbing Aconcagua are the people we have met along the way. 

Anne and I were talking about this on the trail today as one of our favorite porters and climbers, Greggo, came sailing down from Camp 3 to help carry some of our tents back up. We remarked how after months on this mountain guiding, climbing, cooking, carrying loads, he always shows up with such joy and big smiles. 

We decided we want to channel that energy to tomorrow when the going gets tough, when we want to quit or when we are fed up with the cumulative suffering, instead we will remember the positivity and kindness of the Argentinians who have shared their mountain with us and carry that strength with us to a hopeful summit.

Here we go!

RMI Guide Jess Wedel and the team 

Friday, September 13, 2024 - 2:38 am PT

Jambo everyone,

All is well in Tanzania. We’ve had great weather and the team is humming along really well.

We hit the trail just after 8 am and hiked for an hour before taking our usual 15 minute break, then back on the trail for another hour and so on. In total today we hiked for just over seven hours before reaching Barranco camp. Our gracious Kili porters have been working very hard and we arrived once again to a camp set up and ready for us.

Along the way we passed around the famous Lava Tower reaching just over 15,000' setting new altitude records for many. We also passed by many of the giant groundsels and towering Senecio trees that made us feel as if we were in some crazy Dr. Suess story.

The team is in good spirits and doing great.

RMI Guide Casey Grom and the Kili crew

PC: Casey Grom

RMI Guides Seth Burns and Calvin Jiricko reached the summit of Forbidden Peak yesterday afternoon. The team had a beautiful day climbing in the North Cascades Range! The route to the summit of Forbidden Peak consists of climbing a small glacier below the South Face and then low 5th class rock and 40- to 50- degree snow and ice in the West Ridge Couloir. At the top of the couloir the team cached their glacier gear and don rock shoes for the enjoyable 5.0 to 5.6 rock climbing along the exposed crest to the summit.

The West Ridge of Forbidden is a true alpinist's classic. Congratulations Team! 

Day one of our long awaited Ecuadorian adventure has officially begun.  All of the grueling training with unthinkably heavy packs, sweat burned eyes and crippling soreness is finally over and world’s finest mountain climbing team is ready.   It’s been a long time coming, a year at least, for this elite team from Chicago, Minneapolis, San Fransico, Philadelphia and other mountain meccas to unite. 

Today in Quito, Ecuador our team took an incredible tour of this ancient city impressing the locals with powerful, athletic bus riding skills, strong gravitational resistance and uncanny focus.  This is no joke.  Our first stop was 20 miles north of downtown Quito at a mysterious place known as… “The Equator”.   This unique place has exhibits which make water spin in opposite directions twenty feet from the painted red line, make a seemingly simple DUI test almost impossible and miraculously provide magic nails that somehow can balance an egg, the long way, on their tiny heads.  Fortunately, I was able to choose who would be climbing on my rope by each person’s performance and strength.  Those who got an egg diploma, didn’t fall sideways to the south and had the strongest upward pull against our guide’s superhuman strength, passed the test.  

After our interactive visit to the center of the world, we flexed our bus muscles once again and proceeded 25 miles back into the heart of Quito.  The entire ride we were blessed with very rare views of Cayambe, Cotopaxi and Anitsana, three of Ecuadors highest peaks, two of which we are going to climb on this trip.  Thankfully I saw no fear in the eyes of my group indicating nerves of steel and complete readiness.   

After two hours of enjoying grand vistas of the bustling city, visiting beautiful churches and walking the old town streets, the team made it back to the hotel, not even winded, ready for a power nap.  I can’t wait to get on a mountain with them! 

For now, all is well, the group is healthy and excited so we will sign off until tomorrow. 

RMI Guide Adam Knoff