As we look up to the higher elevations, there is a cloud cap and it appears to be windy. We have decided to rest comfortably at our 14,000' camp where it is calm. It ruined our plan for a carry but there is always tomorrow.
Today was a beautiful day for a summit bid, but sometimes beautiful weather isn't enough. Due to some logistics of one climber needing to descend to lower elevation, the team took a rest day at 17,000' Camp. All climbers are doing well and their bodies are adjusting to the altitude. Tomorrow, the two guides who went down with the climber will rejoin the team to try for the summit on Wednesday. The weather seems to be holding. Fingers crossed the winds stay at bay and we can pull this off. Keep sending all the calm winds, good weather, healthy bodies vibes our way!
Hey, everybody this is Casey Grom checking in again from here on Kilimanjaro. We wanted to let everybody know we woke to a beautiful clear sky and had an incredibly nice breakfast in our camp this morning. Our route ascends a ridge line and then as we just get out of the trees the route veers to the north and we make our way towards what's called the Shira Plateau created by a very long ago eruption. It took us about 4 1/2 hours to get up here. It was sunny all day and the team did great. The trail was a little busy because there are quite a few folks climbing this route with us, but we did really well. We spent the remainder of the day hanging out and our giant dining tent being catered to here in Africa. We just wrapped up dinner. The sky is full of beautiful stars and the team is headed off for bed and looking to get a good night's rest before getting up in the morning and going for another walk. I will check in again tomorrow. No cell service today, but should have it tomorrow, so hopefully we'll get some fresh photos up for everybody back home. Thanks for following.
RMI Guide Casey Grom
RMI Guide Casey Grom calls in from Shira Camp on Kilimanjaro.
Hello, this is Eric Frank. Just giving you a call from Mount Shuksan. Wanted to let everyone who is following along that we are safe and sound back in camp. We had a good day of climbing up on the glacier and the summit pyramid. Unfortunately we were not able to reach the summit. The rain from yesterday kind of lingered late into the evening. There was a big, wet cloud that hung over the glacier that didn't let us get out of camp until mid morning today. But we did climb up the glacier, got to the base of the pyramid, and got to go through a little bit of that terrain, and experience what that climbing is like. We then made the safe call to come back down before things got too late in the day, and we had to come down in the dark. We enjoyed ourselves. We're all happy and doing quite well. Hope everyone out there is doing well, take care.
RMI Guide Eric Frank
The clouds disappeared last night and stars were out in full force. We left the Karanga Camp a bit after 9 and landed here at high camp right at noon. Lunch went well at 15,000ft and we have been busy preparing for the summit push tonight. Preparations, which seem to be a long time ago back in the states, are paying off here with the team in fine shape along with a great attitude. Some down time in the tents for now before an early dinner then a good nap right into early wake up call around midnight. Weather is nice- fingers crossed. I will try and give a call from the summit tomorrow.
RMI Guide Mark Tucker
RMI Guide Andy Bond led the Five Day Summit Climb Team June 8-12 to the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning. It is a beautiful day on the mountain with winds 10-15 mph and cold temperatures. The cloud deck below is at approximately 8,000' so the team enjoyed great views from the summit. After spending two nights at Camp Muir they will return to camp and re-pack gear before continuing their descent to Paradise. We look forward to seeing them at Rainier BaseCamp this afternoon.
Congratulations to today's Five Day Summit Climb Team!
This is Mike, JM and Mauricio letting you all know that the Aconcagua Summit Team is back safely at Cholera. We had a warm morning but due to a 20mph wind most of the day, we climbed in our parkas and warm pants. The route was desolate considering 100+ people went up on Thursday. We got to take in the magnificent South Face along with hundreds of glaciated Andean peaks.
Team members are hydrating, eating and napping. The summit day is always difficult but the route conditions make a sizable difference. We were fortunate to have snow and frozen scree/mud for the majority of the Gran Traverse and Canaleta which makes for a more direct and cramponable route. Yes, We just made up 'cramponable'; we are at 19,600' with five camp stoves cranking out memory reducing gases.
Tomorrow we head back to Base Camp to de-rig the climb and transition to trekking mode. Steak, red wine, empanadas, laundry mats and pool time is what preoccupies our minds.
"La Montania abrio sus puertas para nosotros" - Mauricio
Congratulations on the effort and reward. Hope all arrive back safe. Kevin please fill any space in your pack vacated by food with snow. Our winter here has been abysmal since you’ve left and the snow is badly needed for the Nordic trails.
JV
Posted by: Jan Vanderdonk on 1/14/2017 at 6:45 am
Congratulations to you Kevin, your guides and team for this extrodinary achievement. BZ
Posted by: Lloyd &smart;-Lou Graham on 1/14/2017 at 6:22 am
Hola mis amigos!
El equipo esta todo marcado...oh sorry wrong language. Hey all! The team is all checked in to the Hotel Colonial Puebla. Today started with an early wake up at 2:30am in hopes to go to the summit of Ixta, but was thwarted by relentless clouds, snow, and wind. After numerous checks out the vestibule for a break in the weather, we settled in for a casual morning of hot drinks and breakfast, followed by a break down of camp. Our hike out was among the clouds but still very beautiful and enjoyable. With a reshuffle of gear and farewells to our local guide Carlos, our two porters Daniel and Jose, and our favorite driver Rogelio, we loaded the bus. One bathroom break, a movie, and many bumps later, we arrived in Puebla. Tonight we will meet for another delicious dinner and tomorrow we will spend our day exploring Puebla and relaxing.
Hasta luego,
RMI Guides Mark Tucker, Hannah Smith, and Team
Our team just finished an amazing feast and celebration at the Dik Dik Lodge after a very special seven-day adventure. Easy hike out of the 10,000ft Mweka Camp this morning under clear skies and nice, dry trail conditions. My team didn't need me for any coaching or inspiration, these hardened mountaineers were horses heading to the barn. Had to stop at the park gate about 6,000ft, pick up a whole bunch of summit certificates, then sign out to mark the the team as officially down and clear of the mountain. Game viewing of some of the finest parks in all of Africa starts tomorrow. Sleep is sounding pretty good right now.
RMI Guide Mark Tucker
Hello! The team has moved camp once again and everyone is doing well. We had a long-ish (6.5 hour) day today and everyone handled it really well.
We left the Shira Plateau at 8:00 AM under cloudy skies. After a little bit we started to get some rain and I was sure we were going to get poured on all day but it tapered off after about 1/2 hour. The weather for the rest of the day was what I would call misty as we were in a cloud for the most part.
Our route climbed about 2500' from our camp at a gentle grade. Our high point was 14,900' at the base of a large lava tower. We grabbed lunch up there and the walked the steep downhill trail to our camp.
The team thought we might see some R.O.U.S.'s at one point on the way down but we did not.
We are all looking forward to another great dinner provided by the Dik Dik staff and then a good night's rest
That's all for now.
RMI Guide Seth Waterfall
Go, Tommy, GO! You. can dooooooooo it! Prayers for safe climb and descent!
Posted by: Teri MacKenzie on 6/20/2024 at 10:41 am
You all got this! Sending positive vibes to the team.
Posted by: Subbu Aiyer on 6/19/2024 at 9:10 am
View All Comments