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Mexico’s Volcanoes: Team Takes Acclimatization Hike on La Malinche

October 16, 2016

Posted by: Mike King, Steve Gately

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mexico

Elevation: 10,000'

Today we left Mexico City for the rolling hills of La Malinche National Park on a clear and beautiful day. Our climbing objectives, Ixta and Orizaba were on display with a light covering of new snow as our shuttle merged in and out of the maze of toll roads. The goal for today was a hike to 14,000 ft to stretch our legs and lungs. On the ascent we passed numerous locals hiking and packing up camp sites from the weekend. As we got to tree line there were large dark clouds billowing over Malinche's summit. With rain and lightening on the horizon we turned around at 13,000 ft and headed back down through a dense pine forest to our cabanas where will stay for the night. The team is doing well and excited to get on Ixta tomorrow afternoon. RMI Guides Mike King & Steve Gately

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Kilimanjaro: Tucker & Team Finish Up Their Climb and Safari

August 5, 2016

Posted by: Mark Tucker

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro

Woke up to a coffee on my porch while watching the bush begin its day. Many a crunch, crack, and snap during the night, below, above, and around our stilted tent platforms. Cloudy and cool as we drove through the park on or way back to the Dik Dik. New contender for shot of the trip, Morgan and her leopard is in the running. Guess a cheetah would have been a shoe-in for a race but we are leaving that shot for next time. Some lions, elephants and a thousand other creatures, we share this amazing world with, bid us farewell during or drive out of the park. The rest of the climbing/safari team is either in the air or going through customs as I write this. My flight is tomorrow. Here taking care of details to set up RMI's next team for yet another safe and successful expedition here in amazing Africa. Thank you back home for allowing these adventurers a hall pass for a visit to this exotic land. It's been a real pleasure spending time with them all. Sharing some insight to our travels in script has been a pleasure, hope they were well received. Get out there when you can. Take care, Safe travels, Safari on! RMI Guide Mark Tucker

Artesonraju: Elias & Team Hike to Lake Churup

August 1, 2016

Posted by: Elias de Andres Martos

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Peru Seminar

Elevation: 14,400'

Today was a great day for the first day of our RMI Artesonraju Expedition- incredible landscape on the acclimatization hike, a stellar crew, and great weather. We hiked up to 14,400’ to our traditional destination of Lake Churup, and we had incredible views of the range, the glacial lake and the mountain of the same name. We hiked back to town and had a team lunch before returning to our hotel for some packing and relaxing. We’re heading tomorrow to the trailhead, at the town of Vaqueria. Everyone is doing great and is very excited. We’ll be checking from the trail tomorrow, as we camp on our way to Base Camp. RMI Guide Elias de Andres Martos

Leave a Comment For the Team (2)

So happy you have such a great team. Enjoy! Rich, I love you. Xo

Posted by: Christina on 8/3/2016 at 7:38 am

So glad to know you’re doing great and had wonderful views! Wish I could see them.

Posted by: Kay Roberts on 8/2/2016 at 7:17 am

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Denali Expedition: Jones & Team Resting at 14,000’ Camp

June 6, 2016

Posted by: Tyler Jones, Blake Votilla, Caleb Ladue

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 14,200'

June 6, 2016 - 7:01 pm PT Today we woke to another gray cold morning! And we're well rested now after another 24 hours at 14 Camp. The forecast has been fickle but we forge on with a few laps around camp for the guys. There was a lot of packing, drying, and fidgeting with our equipment. We're preparing for a summit push . The team is excited and well prepared. With some weather on our side we will try to move to high camp at 17,200'! Now we eat, drink and sleep. Will be in touch tomorrow. RMI Guide Tyler Jones

On The Map

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Psalm 121 -A Song of Ascents-

“I will lift up my eyes to the hills from whence comes my help. My help comes from the Lord . Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved. “

The team remains in our thoughts and prayers. We know you are looking at the top of the “high one”.

Waiting patiently as you have in the cold and snow will make your ascent even more glorious.

Everyone is excited about your return!

“Success is the sum of small efforts day in and day out” Robert Collier

Love,
Mom and Dad

Posted by: Carter Adams on 6/7/2016 at 6:56 pm

“In a sense everything that is exists to climb. All evolution is a climbing towards a higher form.
Climbing for life as it reaches towards the consciousness, towards the spirit. We have always
honored the high places because we sense them to be the homes of gods. In the mountains there
is the promise of ..... something unexplainable. A higher place of awareness, a spirit that soars.
So we climb… and in climbing there is more than a metaphor; there is a means of discovery.”

—- anonymous

Thinking of you Blake….. I’m so excited for you !!!
Love, Mom

Posted by: Maria Votilla on 6/7/2016 at 7:11 am

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Mt. McKinley: Hahn & Team Settled into 11K Camp for an Extended Stay

June 29, 2015

Posted by: Dave Hahn, Steve Gately, JM Gorum

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 11,200'

Sunday June 28th 10:22 pm PT Once again, the weather was a little sloppy in the early hours, so we didn't get out of the tents until the civilized hour of 7AM. It was still pretty well socked in at 9,500 ft as we ate breakfast, but things seemed workable for moving up. We were on the go by 10:00 and in our new camp at 11,000 ft by 1PM. The clouds cleared from time to time, giving us some great views of the end of the West Buttress. Luckily, clouds hung in there enough to keep the sun off the final steeper hills into camp. We dug in and got settled in our new home. It is a relief, after building four camps in four days, to know that we'll get to stay in this one for a few days. The afternoon and evening were spent resting and sorting food and gear. If possible, we'll do a carry to 13,500 ft tomorrow. Best Regards, RMI Guide Dave Hahn

On The Map

Leave a Comment For the Team (2)

It sure is refreshing to think of snow in the heat and humidity of DC. If you get chilly along the way just think of us to warm up. What do you folks do for fun while chilling at 11,000 after the day’s work is done? Peter, if you forget to plant that Swiss flag at the top and take a picture of it, plant it in an olive in a martini when you’re down safe. Cheers to all, Charlie

Posted by: Charlie Thomas on 6/30/2015 at 7:14 am

Kenny Cornett- good luck! Get to the top and be safe! Love ya- Rhonda, John, Meriden, and Morgan

Posted by: Rhonda roberts on 6/29/2015 at 8:31 pm

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McKinley: Day Two - Flying to the Mountain

May 3, 2007

Posted by: Seth Waterfall

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 7,200'

First day on the Mountain! This morning we all met at the Roadhouse again for our “half- standard” breakfasts. The weather was looking good as we walked to Hudson Air to check in with Jay and the other pilots. We had separated and weighed our gear the day before, so when the pilots decided that it was time to fly, we loaded up the planes quickly. Before I knew it we were off and flying. Hudson Air has three full time pilots including Jay and we needed three flights for our group to get in; perfect. The flight in and out of the Alaska Range is one of the most amazing things I’ve ever done. Once you clear the green taiga and forested foothills there is nothing but rock, ice and snow. I often describe the Alaska Range as a “mountain range with cake frosting”, because of the way the snow and ice blankets the entire range. Seeing the mountains from inside a Cessna is to be truly in awe of their grandeur. Landing a Cessna on a glacier is always an adventure. There is something about an airplane with skis that is on one hand very cool, but also a little strange. After unloading the planes and waving good-bye to the pilots, we began to prep our packs and the sleds for the first leg of our journey. One of the nicest things about climbing in Alaska is the amount of daylight that you get. So even after having a nice breakfast in town and flying into the range, we are able to start on our climb. It was great to get started as everyone in our group is very motivated and anxious to get going. After a five and a half hour trek up the lower Kahiltna Glacier, we stopped in a camp site just below ‘Ski Hill’. We then made dinner and jumped into our tents before the cold Alaskan night took over.

On The Map

Mt. McKinley Expedition: Burns & Team Move to Airstrip

June 4, 2025

Posted by: Seth Burns, Jackson Breen, Raymond Holt

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 7,800'

Tuesday, June 3, 2025 11:11pm PDT

We left 14 today. Wind and snow. made it to the base of ski hill. Set up camp, had dinner. Hope to continue to the airstrip tomorrow!

Haikus of a Denali Descent

Downhill we trotted

To the airstrip we plotted

Stopped short at ski hill

Wind blowing so far

Windy corner not that hard

Our team is so strong

Talkeetna awaits

Hopes of flying tomorrow

One more stretch to go

- by RMI Guide Jackson Breen

New Post Alerts:
McKinley Expedition May 13, 2025

Mt. Rainier: Four Day Summit Climb Teams Reach Summit

June 4, 2018

Posted by: Mike Haugen, Zeb Blais

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley

Elevation: 14,410'

The Four Day Summit Climb June 1 - 4, 2018 reached the summit of Mt. Rainier today. RMI Guides Mike Haugen and Zeb Blais led the teams and reported high winds at Camp Muir overnight that decreased enough for them to make their attempt. They reported good weather with increasing winds as they reached the upper mountain. The teams will return to Camp Muir and then continue down to Paradise. Congratulations to today's Summit Climb teams!

Leave a Comment For the Team (2)

Yes!!!!! Fantastic!

Posted by: Lisa Koch on 6/4/2018 at 8:24 pm

Great job ty. We are proud of you and the team. You accomplished a great fear

Posted by: Kathie and joel gardella on 6/4/2018 at 5:16 pm

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Vinson Massif: Hahn & Team Continue to Wait

December 7, 2017

Posted by: Dave Hahn

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Vinson Massif

Elevation: 9,100'

Today was a lot like yesterday. We were up at the crack of 10:30, and despite fine conditions where we were it was windy where we wanted to go. Again, we ate breakfast and watched for some sign of calming. We talked via radio to the three teams holding on at High Camp who confirmed that they were holding on. We bided our time, buffed out our snow camp and chatted with the guides and climbers of the only other group at Low Camp. We read, drank water, watched TV, napped, cut snow blocks and watched the sun collide with the stationary lenticular cloud in the western sky. Just like yesterday, it made for a chilly afternoon and evening. But a pretty one. Each time we came out of the cook tent or one of the sleeping tents, there was the temptation to just stare, slack-jawed, at Vinson’s immense rock wall, or Shinn’s delicate summit, or Epperly’s rarely traveled vertical gullies. We’ll get our chance to go upstairs soon enough and we’ll be ready to make the most of it. Best Regards RMI Guide Dave Hahn

On The Map

Leave a Comment For the Team (2)

Following along! This is fascinating! Hi to Lindsay Z! You’re amazing, Woman! What an adventure!

Posted by: Jeanne Vrabel on 12/8/2017 at 6:26 am

Hang in there team! Your day is coming. As the old man said to his little girl, we didn’t come this far and work this hard to not climb the mountain. Rock on!

Posted by: Les Z on 12/8/2017 at 5:25 am

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Mt. Rainier: Five Day Summit Climb on Top!

July 18, 2017

Posted by: Mike Uchal

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier

Elevation: 14,410'

Today's Five Day Mount Rainier Climb, led by RMI Guide Mike Uchal, reached the summit in cold, clear, and windy conditions. The views were spectacular and the team is currently on their descent back to Camp Muir. We look forward to congratulating them back at Rainier Basecamp later this afternoon.

Leave a Comment For the Team (2)

Congrats to the whole team! I felt lucky to have great guides, and I’m coming back next year in July. July is my favorite month.

Posted by: Yvonne Young on 7/20/2017 at 8:01 pm

I was blown away - literally and figuratively - by this experience. Thank you everyone for your words of encouragement. Our entire team pulled together - all 9 climbers and 3 guides - to make this an event of a lifetime for everyone on the hill. I feel a special closeness to each and every one of them. Who wants to do it again?!? Sign me up!

Posted by: Mary Ann Peterson on 7/20/2017 at 9:00 am

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