Jambo
We have just arrived at the Dik Dik resort.
A few hours of down climbing this morning has put us right back into hot showers and nice beds. We had a great trip and are so lucky with all the great local support that helped us achieve such great success on our climb. We head off to some of the National Parks tomorrow for a grand safari.
After 17 hours in the air we arrived at the Dik Dik hotel with all team members and bags to boot. A great way to start the trip with nice accomodations and a good looking crew.
Today we have been checking equipment, both personal and group, also going over trip detail and dates for our safari ahead.
It has been overcast so far today, but may burn off later; if so, we may take a walk to stretch our legs and we should have a great view of Kilimanjaro from on top of the water tower located on the hotels manicured grounds. The trail leads us from the hotel passed the huge organic garden we have been feasting out of since our arrival.
After that slight worry that the weather was going to fall apart on us yesterday, we experienced our calmest and warmest night of the trip so far. Followed by a perfect and cloudless morning at Camp One while we knocked the tents down and loaded up for the move to high camp. The route is now familiar and we chugged along with very few other climbers in our vicinity. First to the pass between Aconcagua and its neighbor, Ameghino, and then up a broad shoulder until we traversed slightly to the North and made our way into high camp in virtually windless conditions. We got our tents up, tried to drink a bunch of water and did some easy review of the climbing techniques we'll rely on for our ascent tomorrow. We sat out in the strong sun for dinner with the Aconcagua veterans on the team explaining that they'd rarely experienced such perfect summer weather so high on the hill. The views are tremendous from this camp, and the remaining slopes of Aconcagua are formidable- towering steeply above us, but the team did great moving up today and everybody seems primed for an alpine start and a chance at the summit tomorrow.
Fingers Crossed,
Dave
Today was big in every way. We woke at 11 last night and got climbing at midnight, as planned. It was a beautiful night with a big moon and not much wind. There were plenty of other climbing teams on the move at the same time. It looked like a big Christmas parade with all the headlights. Thomas, our lead guide, did a wonderful job weaving our team through the traffic on the route.
It was progressively colder as we got higher and closer to dawn, so of course we were interested in keeping moving. We took short rest breaks to add more clothing and to take in food and water. It was still dark as we hit Stella Point on the crater rim a few minutes after 6 AM, but the sunrise was imminent. We enjoyed the victory lap along the rim over to Uhuru (the true summit) as morning broke.
The team hit Uhuru at 7:05 AM. We took pictures and gazed around in wonder from the continental high point. By 7:30 we were headed down. About three hours later, we were back in Barafu being serenaded by our staff as they sang a few traditional Kilimanjaro songs. We repacked and ate a great lunch before taking on one of the bigger challenges of the day - dropping another 5,000 vertical feet to reach Mweka Camp.
It would be a rough hike on fresh legs, which ours were not. But by 5 PM, we'd all made it. Life is considerably easier way down here at 10K.Especially with the excellent dinner our team put together. Quality sleep is next.
A week of training and practicing mountaineering techniques has paid off, and the Expedition Skills Seminar - Paradise team reached the Summit of Mt. Rainier early this morning. RMI Guide Dustin Whittmier reported a touch and go summit this morning as the team climb into a cap with fresh snow above 13,000'. They are on the descent and will be back in paradise this afternoon.
Congratulations Team!
Monday, May 28, 2019 - 9:47 PM PT
You never know what your are going to wake up to in the morning, but today we woke to a fresh blanket of snow and the sun trying to peak through decreasing clouds. We ate breakfast, packed our things for the day and headed to a beautiful crevasse. Crevasse rescue was the focus of today. Everyone on the team got to feel what it is like to catch a person falling into a crevasse, to run the rescue scenario, and got to enjoy the hypnotic beauty of a crevasse as they sat in their harness looking in awe. The weather cooperated all day with bouts of sunshine mixed with light snow flurries. All in all it was a fun day. Tomorrow, weather permitting, we will see if we can go up Radio Tower. A nice objective to use some of our skills we have learned the last few days.
Adios,
RMI Guide Hannah Smith and team
Well well well, another good day up here on Mt. Elbrus. Most of the team woke with the sunrise, which is around 4am. Breakfast wasn't until 8, so we had some time to kill. Jazzersize (I don't actually know how to spell that) kept a few folks busy, while others took part in more traditional activities, such as taking photos and wandering aimlessly about the ridge. After breakfast we had a race to see who could get ready the fastest. Everyone tied for first place. This is the dream team, no doubt.
We set off on our journey to the top of Pastahkov rocks at 9:00am. After an hour, we could hear thunder in the distance, and dragged our feet thinking we were going to retreat. Thunder is no match for this team, however, and after some intense positive energy output the clouds dissipated and we continued upwards. Two hundred feet shy of our target, the clouds started to look ominous again. It is hard work trying to change the weather, and we're going to need that energy for summit day. The best call was to turn around and head back to the hut. We made it to 15,300 feet today, which is perfectly in line with our acclimatization goals. We made it back to the huts ten minutes before it started raining, which is perfectly in line with our goal of not getting wet. Excellent job by everyone today. Rest day coming up tomorrow.
The team sends their best to all back at home!
RMI Guide JM Gorum
May 30, 2017
After a full day packing up, weighing our gear and some serious duffel shuffling we are all set to jet into the Alaska Range tomorrow! Weather permitting we should head in mid morning and take stock of a most beautiful set of mountains. Our fingers are crossed for a grand adventure and we will keep you all posted on our journey. Take care everyone!
RMI Guide Jake Beren
The Expedition Skills Seminar - Paradise led by RMI Guide Mike Haugen reached the summit of Mt. Rainier today. The team spent several nights on the mountain training for their summit attempt on Rainier and gaining knowledge and experience for future climbs. Today is the sixth and final day of this program putting their new skills to use.
RMI Guide Tyler Reid led the Four Day Summit Climb to the summit this morning. As of 7:30 am both teams were at the top of Disappointment Cleaver on their descent. It's a bluebird day on Mt. Rainier, clear skies and warm temperatures. The teams will return to Camp Muir for a short break before continuing to Paradise.
We look forward to seeing both teams at Rainier BaseCamp this afternoon. Congratulations to today's climbing teams!
July 4, 2014 - 11:34 pm PT
In observance of Independence Day, we rested at 11,000 feet. Having put in a pretty full seven days of work and in the hopes of maximizing our acclimatization before making the big jump to 14,000', it seemed smart to take it easy in this beautiful place on a magnificent day. So breakfast was at a leisurely pace once the sun made it around the West Buttress at 9:15. We put a bunch of meat into fry pans over camp stoves for a-mid afternoon simulated barbecue. For fireworks, we watched the sun blaze brilliantly in the Alaskan summer sky. The team is excited for the move to 14K tomorrow.
Best Regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
Go KB and the rest of the team!! The view from the armchair is great!
Posted by: Geoff Clark on 7/5/2014 at 6:02 pm
Dave, Always enjoy your climbing blogs. Good luck and safe climbing to you and your group. (Jeff Olson of Whittaker/Viesturs climb turned Hahn/Tucker).
steve i’m almost jealous! hang tough and godspeed. stay warm!!
Posted by: keith h on 6/2/2017 at 7:51 pm
We love you and wish you and your awonderful safe climb
All the guardian angels are watching over you
Posted by: Mom and Dad zabinski on 6/1/2017 at 11:01 am
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