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RMI Guide JJ Justman checks in while the team prepares for Orizaba summit.
On The Map
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Categories: Guide News Guide Grant
Posted by: Dave Hahn
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro
It is always tough to leave the Plantation Lodge. It is just too comfortable and the people are way too kind and friendly. But we tore ourselves away because of Tarangire National Park. It is a worthy motivating force… the chance to see incredible numbers and varieties of wildlife on a seemingly unlimited expanse of beautiful land. We got rolling out of Karatu at 8:30 AM but couldn’t resist a fine shopping opportunity for some Tanzanian keepsakes a short distance out of town. We still made it out to Tarangire by late morning and immediately began seeing animals and then more animals and more animals still. At first it was just the flavors we’d already become familiar with (zebra, wildebeest, impala, waterbuck, eagles, vultures, giraffes) but then we started seeing new things. Family after family of elephants, each with a wee one just a few months old. We saw a python up a tree. We saw lions chewing on a zebra. We saw hartebeest and elan and bushbucks and Dik Dik. We looked up every likely tree for leopards… but they are still hiding from us. Then we finished the day at Lokisale Lodge, deep within the park. The staff gave us a friendly welcome and lit a fire for us to enjoy sunset by. They warned us gently of the wild animals roaming through the grounds of the lodge and then showed us to our deluxe tent cabins. We are about to eat our final dinner together, way out in East Africa.
Best Regards
Posted by: Dave Hahn, Mike King, Dominic Cifelli
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Vinson Massif
Elevation: 12,500'
Thursday, December 30, 2021 - 8:38 pm PT
Our run of perfect weather continues on Vinson Massif! We got out of the big sleeping bags at 10:15 this morning when the shadow loosened its cold grip. We weren’t interested in a quick and hectic start or jumping out on the climbing route immediately. Scott and Hannah -our superb ALE guides- cooked up a sumptuous breakfast of scrambled eggs and bacon. We ate, we looked each other in the eye, we polled the gang as to how the night had gone and how each climber felt about pushing higher. And then we pushed higher. We put on our crampons and got ice axes in hand and headed for the fixed ropes. This section would be the “meat” of the day, roughly 2,000 vertical feet on steep and firm snow slopes, protected by a continuous line of rope, anchored every 200 feet or so. We spent a good three or four hours on the wall and a few more on the lesser angled glacier above it. The lead ropes pulled in a little after 8 PM and got busy building camp for those who would follow. We climbed in fine weather, but things are on the cold side, with our estimates centering on about -30 F. It was quite challenging to climb safely in such conditions with the odd 3 mph breeze coming through. The team rocked it. We ate a long dinner and drank hot beverage after hot beverage to rehydrate and regain energy. It is 1:30 AM now, the sun is still beaming on the tents and everybody has turned in, excited to be here -close to 12,500 ft- and excited for a rest day on the final day of 2021.
Best Regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
We left Puerto Natales this morning and enjoyed a scenic drive into Torres del Paine National Park. Along the way we saw some guanacos, a wild cousin of the llama & alpaca. Some condors, rhea(emu/ostrich like) and flamingos. The Paine Massif was clouded over but lots of new snow blanketed the lower slopes. Our hike was approximately nine miles through rolling hills and fields. This part of the park is still on private property and is a decommissioned cattle & sheep ranch. There was some nice creek crossings and the views of the Paine river, emerald green from the glacial till meandered in and out. Camp is an old ranch house that now has a kitchen and dining room. The Team did well and enjoyed the sunny and at times windy afternoon to enjoy being out of the boots and telling stories, reading and a few naps. The salmon and rice accompanied by some Chilean wine made for a nice end to the first day of our trek. Tomorrow we’ll head to Lago Dickson.
Thanks for following along.
Today was a fine and calm, sunny day from start to finish. Just perfect for resting. We took it easy and tried to catch up on napping and hydration. This camp is 9300 feet above sea level and so it was a good acclimatization day as well. The sun hit camp at about 10:40 AM and melted the frost collecting overhead in the tents… the perfect alarm clock. We ate a leisurely breakfast in our small dining tent and then retreated to the warmth of the tents for the day. Dinner was in strong sunshine at 8:30 PM. We intend to put in a good hard day tomorrow, carrying loads up the fixed ropes.
Best Regards,
I’ve really enjoyed and appreciated your updates. May you have safety and success
Posted by: Don Huntington on 11/30/2021 at 3:51 pm
The wind came in at 2:50 this morning. It had been up above, already working high camp since 11 or midnight but we hoped it would forget to come down to visit. Thankfully it didn’t blow hard down here, although we could hear it howling elsewhere. And it eased off of camp by sun up at 10:40 AM, making it a bit easier to get out for breakfast. We were getting sunshine but there were big and serious storm clouds raking the peaks above. It was an easy decision to sit put… a storm day was declared. There was plenty to do, as far as toughening up our little camp. The kitchen/dining pit needed to get deeper in the ice for protection, snow block walls needed to be quarried for the tents. We alternated between snacking, napping and working hard. Forecasts call for the storm to continue tomorrow (Thursday) but there is reason to believe that things will be better on Friday. Cold fingers crossed.
Best Regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn and Team
Posted by: Jeff Martin, Pete Van Deventer
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Elbrus Northside
Elevation: 12,300'
On The Map
Hello Jess and team.
Great to hear you all had a great day.
We are all doing well here at home.
Love you sweetie!!
Posted by: Hector on 8/8/2014 at 4:15 pm
Sounds like a great day!
Hello to Bruce from all back home!
Isabelle is missing her buddy.
Go conquer that glacier.
Posted by: Joyce Pully on 8/8/2014 at 3:38 pm
Posted by: Nikki Champion, Jess Wedel, Josh Geiser, Sam Hoffman, Tom Skoog, Will Ambler
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
The Five Day Climb July 13 - 17 led by RMI Guides Nikki Champion and Jess Wedel chose today as their summit day. The teams reached the crater rim this morning with clear skies but windy conditions. The teams will return to Camp Muir for a well deserved rest and enjoy another night on the mountain. They will descend tomorrow to Paradise and return to Rainier BaseCamp.
Congratulations to today's climbers!
Aislinn and Ali,
Congratulations on your successful climb! Elation at Elevation 14,410”
We are so proud and happy for you❤️❤️❤️
I posted this earlier on the 4 day climb blog
Posted by: Mom/Shane and Dad/Stanford on 7/16/2023 at 5:37 pm
Way to go! Congratulations!
Posted by: Marguerite Riley on 7/16/2023 at 1:49 pm
Posted by: Ben Luedtke, Augi Fleer
Categories: Expedition Dispatches North Cascades
Elevation: 10,781'
Friday, August 5, 2022 7:15 am PDT
Baker Easton Glacier100% summit! Great day of climbing with a Strong Team!
Thursday, Augsut 4, 2022 6:31 pm PDT
We woke up this morning to some light rain that started sometime during the night. We remained in our tents most of the day taking advantage of the time to nap, rest, and enjoy some of our snacks. Before dinner we freshened up on some more skills in preparation for our climb. We are now cozied up in our sleeping bags and will try for the summit early in the morning. All is well and everyone is excited!
RMI Guides: Ben Luedtke and Augi Fleer
Glad to see you doing well. Nice way to ease in through ranch house and good wine!
Snow dissipating here in Taos.
Posted by: Lana & Jim on 2/8/2022 at 6:17 pm
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