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Posted by: Joe Hoch
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mexico
Summit Success on Orizaba!
Our week of soggy climbs and long walks up closed access roads paid off yesterday. Around 9:30am, we all walked onto the summit of Pico de Orizaba!
When we woke around midnight, the gusty winds pushing us around in camp made a summit seem iffy. But as we left camp the winds died and we climbed under beautiful starry skies. The sun rose as we made our way up the Jamapa Glacier toward the summit, and gave us the classic pyramidal shadow of Orizaba over the valleys and towns bellow.
Everyone pushed hard as we passed 18,000 feet, and as we walked onto the summit, we were alone in the sun to take photos and take in the spectacular views of many of Mexico’s large volcanos.
Congratulations to Norbert and Etienne on their strong work this week, and a successful summit of the third tallest mountain in North America, and the tallest of Mexico’s impressive volcanoes!
RMI Guide Joe Hoch
New Post Alerts:
Mexicos Volcanoes October 5, 2024
On The Map
Posted by: Lindsay Mann, Chase Nelson
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 11,200'
Hi Brenda the weather is frightful but the climb is so delightful! Let it snow let it snow and then you Go. Blue skies are on the way get ready for another climbing Day, love you , Richie
Posted by: Richard Larscheid on 6/5/2015 at 5:40 am
Snow will fall wherever it may,
As you sit waiting for that clear day
Keep spirits high and don’t dismay,
Mountain climbing is better than work anyway!
Posted by: Jack Frost on 6/5/2015 at 5:18 am
RMI Guide Alex Barber calls in from Aconcagua Camp 2.
On The Map
Hi Julian,
We are thinking of you and Stephen. We wish you both the best of luck as you push for the summit. Love Dad and Mum
Posted by: Elizabeth Bannister on 1/10/2015 at 8:33 pm
As we left Basecamp, we wondered what toll Aconcagua would ask of us. As we sit in high camp, Camp Colera, at 19,600 feet, with just over 3,000 feet remaining to summit, the mountain’s toll is clear.
A different question weighs on us now, “What will we ask of ourselves?” Ultimately, this begins at a simple but complex source: Why do we climb? Do we climb to reach new heights? Do we climb to meet new people? Do we climb to show our kids what badasses they can be if they follow their hearts? Do we climb to check boxes, boxes that we alone create and complete out of our own otherworldly competitiveness? Do we climb because the power of mountain vistas must be experienced through our own eyes? Do we climb because it’s a calling, a career, and we know we change lives by guiding others to the heights we’ve experienced? (thank you Ben, Ray, and Batti, you have our unending gratitude) Do we climb because it changes who we are as humans when we see these sights, bond with our team, and reach deep inside ourselves, to reserves we didn’t know existed, to complete a mission? Do we climb because sometimes you have to risk something to truly feel alive? (special shout out to Jonny and Shane, who we carry with us in heart and soul) Do we climb because in some way climbing makes us feel like we’ve figured out a small piece of the universe? Do we climb simply because, “It’s there.”
Maybe we all hold multiple reasons for climbing. Maybe we don’t even know our own reasons. And maybe our reasons change.
Personally, I first climbed just to hang out with a few buddies. To be honest, I didn’t love the training, and the climb was pure misery. But somewhere between Rainier’s summit and the Paradise parking lot, we all asked each other, “What are we climbing next?” Now I climb because I love the entire challenging process of it, and with each climb, I become a better father, friend, and family member. I become a more compassionate and dedicated person for the world around me.
When you climb, you realize that each time you climb, summit or no, something changes in you for the better. You become a stronger, more confident version of the old you. In a way, you are born again.
It’s fitting that high camp on Aconcagua, Camp Colera, is jokingly called Camp Cholera. One of my favorite quotes about life comes from Gabriel Garcia Marquez in his masterpiece Love in the Time of Cholera.
“..... human beings are not born once and for all on the day their mothers give birth to them, but that life obliges them over and over to give birth to themselves.”
In today’s Argentinian tongue it reads beautifully: “.....los seres humanos no nacen para siempre el dia en que sus madres los alumbran, sino que la vida los obliga otra vez y muchas veces a parirse a si mismos.”
Aconcagua, summit or not, your slopes and peaks and valleys have forced us to become better versions of ourselves. Your people have welcomed us to this sacred place with open arms, and created new love in our hearts for a people and a place. Centinela, we thank you for being you and creating this opportunity to renew ourselves.
RMI Climber Jared Wood
New Post Alerts:
Aconcagua Expedition January 5, 2026
Could not agree more Jared and wishing you a great experience on Summit day. You got this! Had to laugh at your comment on “what’s next after Ranier”. I completed 2 years ago at 64 and put together list on flight back to Canada and hiding from my wife…
Posted by: Barry Milne on 1/21/2026 at 7:12 am
Posted by: Seth Burns, Jackson Breen, Raymond Holt
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Thursday, May 15, 2025 - 9:00 PM PDT
Well, we did not fly today. The clouds around Talkeetna and especially on the Kahiltna kept the planes on the ground. While this is not exactly what we wanted it is not unusual. Our friends at K2 aviation run a professional outfit and do everything they can to get us safely on and off the mountain. While they kept their eyes on the weather, we spent the day enjoying coffee, going over rope skills, eating plenty of food, and even going on a nice run.
If you're reading this, send us clear sky vibes.
RMI Guides Seth, Jackson, Ray, and Team
New Post Alerts:
McKinley Expedition May 13, 2025
Posted by:
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Despite route conditions, RMI Guides Pete Van Deventer, Jess Wedel and their climbing team reached the top of the cleaver this morning. They enjoyed the chance to see the route and route conditions we are currently facing first-hand. They made a stop at Ingraham Flats on their descent to practice crevasse rescue and expand their skills as mountaineers.
They are currently enjoying their descent and will be back at Basecamp soon!
*Ashford boy fulfills dream of climbing with RMI thanks to birthday gift from wife*
Woohoo! Despite unfortunate route conditions preventing a summit, our guides provided an incredible experience in mountaineering and we had an unforgettable adventure! The mountain gives what it gives, and we were gifted with a beautiful sunrise atop the Cleaver and an extremely up-close view of a crevasse on the edge of the Flats!
Special shout-out to Jess and Margo, our primary small-team guides throughout the trip - thanks for your hard work and positive energy you brought to the team every minute. We appreciated your care and reassurance in times of need and also keeping us updated on whether or not we were “there yet.”
Going forward we will look fondly at our backyard mountain piercing the horizon and be filled with great joy at the memories created with our fellow climbers and excellent RMI Guides. Thanks for the safe journey, please be safe yourselves, and we’ll hope to (or even try to) cross paths again someday!
Keep kicking crev-asse, Women of the Mountains!
Most Sincerely, Dalton
Posted by: Dalton on 7/14/2024 at 10:09 pm
Way to go Paige and Dalton!
Posted by: Renee on 7/13/2024 at 2:59 pm
Congratulations team. Job well done!
Posted by: Tideworks Mountaineers on 8/4/2019 at 11:03 pm
Yay! Way to go team!
Posted by: Darla on 8/2/2019 at 7:31 am
Posted by: Steve Gately, Ben Ammon, James Bealer
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 348'
Looks like you are all making great moves and listening to the mountain. Keep it up. Routing for you!
Posted by: Darren Beck on 5/22/2019 at 9:22 am
Posted by: Hannah Smith
Categories: Guide News
Oh yea! Kodiak is very entertained by your stories! I love hearing the daily report!
Posted by: michelle the mom on 10/25/2018 at 10:38 pm
Sounds like you are enjoying yourself. People at work liked your goat sacrifice and marijuana camp story!
Posted by: Shannon Smith on 10/25/2018 at 2:34 pm
Go Dori ! Go Dori ! Go Dori ! Go Dori ! Go Dori ! Go Dori ! Go Dori ! Go Dori !
Posted by: Laurie on 9/5/2015 at 9:45 am
Yay Jenell!! Hope everyone stays safe.
Posted by: Leisa on 9/5/2015 at 8:12 am
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