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We reached Mweka Camp at 2:50 PM to finish our 16-hour climbing day.
The “day” began last night at 11 PM when we woke for our summit bid. After a little breakfast, at 12:05 AM we hit the trail behind Naiman - our lead guide.
Our team made rapid progress, passing several other teams on the dirt and rock switchbacks. It was a fairly cold night, and that was before the winds started up. By our second rest break, a few hours into the climb we were adding clothing layers and putting on bigger gloves. By our fourth break, most of the team had all available clothing on. We hit the crater rim at Stella Point by 5:40 AM and took just a brief pause there for food and water before pushing on toward Uhuru - Kilimanjaro’s summit. The light of day came slowly and beautifully on as we walked on the rim at 19,000 ft. Sunrise was most welcome at 6:30 but by then our attention was on the phenomenal shadow cast by Kilimanjaro in the skies to the west… exactly over the summit of 15,000 ft Mt Meru.
We hit Uhuru at 6:40 AM and shed a few tears, shook hands, hugged, and snapped photos. It was an amazingly beautiful time of day. But it was also bitterly cold and windy, so we got out of there at 6:55 and headed back to Stella without delay. Winds were really picking up at Stella then and putting a lot of dirt and dust in the air, so we cruised right on over the edge and started dropping altitude. The descent was a combination of careful steps and full-on boot skiing through steep gravel and pumice.
We were back to camp at a respectable hour 9:40 AM, rubbing our eyes and wiping dirt and dust off our faces. Our fabulous staff treated the team to a full brunch/lunch of 15,000 ft pizza and coffee, after which we left camp bound for Mweka - 5000 ft lower. The trail down is direct and rough, we certainly were cautious and ready to be done for much of it.
Now it is a relief to be camped in the forest for one more night. The air has moisture again… and oxygen in abundance.
Best Regards
RMI Guide Dave Hahn & team
Posted by: Pete Van Deventer, Mike Uchal
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Elbrus Northside
Posted by: Dominic Cifelli, Abby Westling
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mexico
We did it. The Team has arrived in Mexico City safe and with all of our gear. We just wrapped up our first official team meeting where we discussed logistics, gear, and our various experiences today. Some of us enjoyed sightseeing, some of us saw a sword fight in the park, and others got some much needed rest. The group is in high spirits and ready for the adventure ahead.
Now we’re off to go eat tacos and enjoy a good nights rest.
RMI Guide Dominic Cifelli, Abby Westling and Team
Posted by: Jake Beren
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
On The Map
Hi Katie and Adam, Happy Holidays!!!! I can’t imagine all the beauty and awsome sites your seeing. Hope all is going well, Stay safe and enjoy. :)
Posted by: Heidi on 12/26/2011 at 5:33 pm
Katie and Adam, that’s awesome. 16,000 ft. The highest I got was about 14,000, and only on a chairlift. Scenery must be fantastic.
Good luck and have a wonderful holiday.
Frank
Posted by: Frank Hui on 12/20/2011 at 1:28 pm
Posted by: Casey Grom, Dominic Cifelli, Trevor Katz, Joey Manship, Evan Redman, Robert Whyte
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
The Five-Day Climb with RMI Guides Casey Grom and Dominic Cifelli reached the summit of Mt. Rainier early this morning. Our Five-Day Climb ascends Mt. Rainier's classic route while providing an additional day on the mountain to allow the flexibility to adjust the summit schedule to take advantage of the best window. With great weather all week, the team took a short acclimatization climb to Ingraham Flats on Tuesday, choosing to climb last night. The team had clear skies and light winds on their climb.
Congratulations team!
Posted by: Mike King, Jack Delaney
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Machu Picchu
Elevation: 14,300'
We awoke hours before the sun was up to begin our journey to the start of the Salkantay trek. Hours of winding Peruvian roads and a beautiful sunrise later, we arrived!
Our local guides and cooks made us a fantastic breakfast to start our trek off right. The first part of the trek began with a gradual uphill that gave us phenomenal views of the valley below. We followed an impressive trail alongside an aqueduct for several miles until we got to the town of Soraypampa. Here, we enjoyed the last porcelain throne that we would see for several days. Leaving town, we headed up a valley with soaring views of both, Tucarhuay and Salkantay peaks! The gradual ascent up the valley was difficult but rewarding as the beauty around us only increased as we got higher. Camp was graciously already set up for us by our guides and their assistants. We enjoyed a great dinner, drank cocoa, tea, and did our best to adjust to our new altitude of 14,300 feet. It was the highest most of us had ever slept, and it looked to be a cold night. Thankfully the cooks made us all wawa's (bladders of hot water) for bedtime!
Goodnight from the Andes!
Posted by: Andy Bond, Grayson Swingle, Ben Luedtke
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 17,000'
Tuesday, June 28, 2022 - 11:42 pm PT
Let me tell you about the pain cave. It’s made of self doubt stalactites and poorly spaced foot buckets where you think you have found purchase with your crampons and yet they slide again and again. It’s got stalagmites forged from the tears of mountaineers who came before you. It’s a fearsome place indeed. But we are a powerful team and WE CARRY ON.
That is right readers, this intrepid group scaled the hairy fixed lines once again to move our camp to 17,000' today. What stroke of luck to have such incredible weather for our move day. To be traversing the airy Washburns’s Thumb in nothing but a sun hoody is the stuff of dreams. Our RMI guides continue to provide important services such as lying to us about the steepness of the grade on the trail we cannot yet see, and assurances that today will likely be considered a harder day than our planned summit day tomorrow. Andy, keep up the bluffing, it’s working like a charm.
Todays highlights included Steve’s reunion with his hula hoop, the view from 17 Camp when we finally arrived, the fact that most of us are higher than we’ve ever been, and the team spirit embodied by Yann who selflessly swung into action helping his teammates set up tents when they arrived exhausted. There was also the traffic on the running belays which was reminiscent of Seattle’s I-5, but really, who can complain when it’s a fraction of the normal peak season crowd.
With a bit of rest this evening, some much needed calories (an entire mountain house plus snacks), and a continuous deep well of motivation to draw from, we sit eager with anticipation for tomorrow - the big day!!!
RMI Climber Holly
Love that you guys are embracing the suck! Go team, Go!
Posted by: Steve Polovick on 6/30/2022 at 7:01 am
Team Bond you’re crushing it! Keep pushing through the pain and moving forward. Looking forward to hearing about you conquering summit day.
Posted by: Cortney on 6/29/2022 at 5:53 pm
Posted by: Dave Hahn, Josh McDowell
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
The Four Day Climb reached the summit of Mt. Rainier at about 7:45 am PDT. RMI Guides Dave Hahn and Josh McDowell lead their teams up the Ingraham Direct Route on what Dave Hahn described as a near perfect climbing day. They crossed the crater to reach Columbia Crest, where they celebrated with high fives and selfies before starting their descent.
Congratulations Team!
It’s been an honor and pleasure climbing with you all yesterday. I will never forget the moment. Thank you again Dave, Tom, Cal, Team B guides, and all the climbers.
Posted by: Indradjit Harbani (Aji) on 6/3/2023 at 5:07 pm
Great job, everyone!
Posted by: Steven Danskine on 6/3/2023 at 2:40 pm
Posted by: Dave Hahn
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Vinson Massif
Posted by: Dave Hahn, Mike Walter
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
Way to go Adrian and your team!!!
Posted by: Rick H. on 8/31/2012 at 10:36 pm
Brian if this is your team I hope you make it to the top of the mountain safely you are in my prayers.
Posted by: Wanda Manderson on 8/29/2012 at 7:08 pm
Congratulations! Enjoy the safari!
Posted by: Jeff Tracy on 8/8/2022 at 12:43 pm
Congrats to all! I am in awe…
Posted by: Mnica on 8/7/2022 at 2:39 pm
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