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Posted by: Pete Van Deventer, Nick Sinapius, Ben Thorneycroft
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Alaska
Elevation: 20,310'
Monday, May 26, 2025 - 12:07 am PT
Summit success for the Mt. McKinley May 8th Expedition! Yesterday Pete Van Deventer and team reached the highest point in North America. Pete checked in when the team had safely returned to 17,000' Camp. More details will be coming soon (we hope).
Congratulations team!
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Denali Expedition May 8, 2025
Posted by: Dave Hahn
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Vinson Massif
Dear Dave, hang in there! We wish you a flight home soon, when it is safe. Your team is lucky to have you as their leader. Maybe you can get started on your book? Very fondly, Ingrid & Lou
Posted by: ingrid Whittaker on 12/23/2018 at 10:01 am
On The Map
Best of luck to Pat and Lynn and the rest of the team for a safe and fun climb !
-Mike
Posted by: Mike Sowa on 9/21/2017 at 10:03 am
It’s great to wake up and see how the day has gone for the team! Hope there are clear skys the next few days. Sending lots of love to Colin and Steve <3
-Jacqs
Posted by: Jacquelynn on 9/21/2017 at 8:08 am
Posted by: Billy Nugent, Hannah Smith
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Hello Everyone,
Tommy and I wish we could be there for the celebration. It was great being with all of you. It was a truly amazing trip. Reaching the summit and enjoying the time on the trail with each of you was terrific. Congrats on a successful trip back to Mendoza. Thanks again for being willing to help me when the injury occurred.
A special thanks goes to Billy, Hannah and Rolo for being the best guides ever!!!!
Posted by: Rick Jordan on 2/2/2017 at 8:57 am
Posted by: Tyler Reid, Pete Van Deventer
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
Janet and Bett you are both amazing! I can’t wait to hear your stories!
Posted by: Mary on 8/21/2015 at 6:28 pm
Way to gooooo!!!Congratulations!
Posted by: Patti Thomas on 8/21/2015 at 2:20 pm
Elias de Andres Martos calling in from the Machu Picchu Trek.
Just want to shout out a big “HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MICHAEL”, we’ll celebrate when you get home. love, Patsy & Bob
Posted by: Patsy Hollie on 8/2/2014 at 12:44 pm
Whenever someone would ask me what my favorite mountain to climb was. I’d beat around the bush, answering in vague “it depends” that guides often use to avoid concrete answers in an ever changing arena. Nowadays, it’s Aconcagua. Something about the amalgamation of the people, the food, wine, expedition demands, and luxurious accompaniment makes me come down every year. It’s hard to describe, but in the theme of our early Gen Z style posts, it’s a vibe. You just have to come see it for yourself before you believe me.
We set out today to summit said peak. “The Stone Sentinel” it’s commonly referred to. It was a breathtaking morning, altitude pun? Still, crisp air, the Milky Way painting the sky with a dull hint of moonlight. Excitement, nerves, anxiousness fill these summit mornings too as you watch fellow tents and teams gearing up to face the same hardships you will. A certain sense of camaraderie is palpable, even if that climber was yelling to their tent mate 2 ft away from them about juice or something.
Our climb starts at 19,600ft and it certainly feels it as we switchback up toward Piedras Blancas, Independencia, and then onto the grand traverse. A bitter cold wind trap that chills me just typing about it. But we chose today for the lack of wind, and it didn’t disappoint. The usually windy traverse was calm and snowy, making for easy foot placements even if the climbing itself was anything but. Just our Luck. As we ascended and climbed we then reached the cave, the canaleta, and the shoulder of Aconcagua. All daunting and hard features in their own right, but combine to make one hell of a final push.
I am happy to say that we did summit today, right before the clouds rolled in. And even though we couldn’t share the summit with all of our teammates, we expect them to be back and we can’t wait to hear about their version of summit day.
We’re safely back at Colera (High Camp) in our bags listening to the heavy snow fall from above. We’ll head down to see our friends at Basecamp tomorrow and we can’t wait.
RMI Guide Dominic Cifelli
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Aconcagua Expedition January 8, 2025
Thursday, August 8, 2924 - 5:11 am PT
Hola!
We left Cusco early this morning, taking a bumpy and winding road into the heart of the Andes. We were all a little queasy from the bus ride but when we opened the door to views of Tukarway (19,499ft) and Salkantay (20,574ft) all was okay. There are no words for the feeling of being surrounded by jagged peaks with glaciers, snow and ice. The views were beyond beautiful.
After a second breakfast, we started our trek. Winding through the valley with mountains reigning above us at every turn. After a few hours we stopped for lunch. We promise not to tell you all because we want you to think we’re hardcore but we did indeed have a 3-course meal seated at a table right in the middle of the trail. Fresh avocado and vegetables, warm soup, followed by mashed potatoes and beef medallions. Okay, okay, okay. I’ll move on, but it was divine.
After lunch we had a steeper climb for a couple hours to our camp at 15,500 feet!! Right at the toe of the Salkantay Glacier. Our tents opening up to the mountain before us, we saw ice falls and avalanches cascading down the slopes. We are all exhausted after little sleep last night and our first big day on the trail.We’re tucked in now with hot water bottles and sleeping bags fully zipped - it’s likely our chilliest night of the whole trek.
Tomorrow we’ll head over Salkantay Pass at nearly 16,000 feet and then descend around the mountain to our next camp.
With tired feet and big smiles,
RMI Guides Jess, Casey and team
New Post Alerts:
Machu Picchu Trek, August 3, 2024
Posted by: Dave Hahn
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro
Congratulations to you all! This Nana is so proud! I have prayed each day of this adventure for your safety, wisdom, skill and success. Will continue the prayers until I hear that you have “touched down”.
Posted by: Nancy Berry on 5/26/2025 at 8:50 pm
Congratulations to all of you! This mom is incredibly proud! Come on home!
Posted by: Maxine Hill on 5/26/2025 at 8:37 am
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