Hola! Billy here back at Camp 1 chilling (out) and filling (up on food) after a flawless carry to Camp 2. We moved well and had little trouble putting in our cache of the usual food, fuel, and cold weather/summit gear. We bumped into friends and acquaintances all along the way enjoying the better than decent weather. There were a few minutes of flurries and even a little thunder in the distance but nothing of consequence. As I write this we're basking in the sun, satisfied with the day's work.
Oh, we also met our third guide who traversed the mountain from the other base camp (Plaza de Mulas) and descended with us back to camp. His name is Pato, which means "duck," and he's a pretty cool dude. Not much else to report other than some inclement weather in the forecast, hopefully it doesn't slow our roll too much...
Until our next dispatch,
RMI Guide Billy Nugent and team
Randy…sounds like things are going well so far. In fact with all your chilling and filling and basking in the sun it sounds like you are on a very leisurely vacation…makes me a little jealous…haha. I know better but I hope you are enjoying the challenge. Lucas wanted me to tell you his great news that he just passed his MIG certification for a vertical up weld. He is so excited!
I miss you and I’m hoping Mother Nature remains kind to you.
Love Lisa
Posted by: Lisa Irwin on 1/21/2016 at 10:26 am
It’s National Hug Day, so a great big hug with warm thoughts to Dr. H from all of us! Have a good climb today!
Hey, this is Dave Hahn calling in from safari in Tanzania. Hey, we had a great day in Tarangire National Park. We saw hundreds of elephants. We saw a million zebras, gazelles; we saw a couple of male lions sleeping. It was great day, wonderful day. We're at Kikoti Camp, just outside the National Park right now. Unexpectedly, we don't have internet tonight so I'm not sending a dispatch but thought I'd give you a yell and let you all know that we're all doing just fine. And we're looking forward to the very last day of our trip. Tomorrow, we'll go back through Tarangire and we'll make our way back to Arusha. But all is well and we'll be in touch. Thank you.
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
RMI Guide Dave Hahn checks in from Safari in Tarangire National Park, Tanzania.
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!
We woke today to a frosty morning. Items left outside were damp and crispy. As we packed up camp you could see your breath. We are getting closer to the snow, which makes all of us happy. The trail weaved through the jungle along side the Seti River. You have to be careful for the stinging nettle like plant as you walk. If it pokes you it stings for hours. I've been poked many times. The scenery reminds us of a magical place. A place like the shire from the Lord of the Rings. Little shanty homes pop up here and there. The trail we are on is a trail to people's homes. Once again after a handful of hours walking we have arrived to our next home for the night, our own little shantytown. A bonfire has been made, which adds comfort to the chilly evening air. Tomorrow we may arrive to Base Camp, but as stated, we are on Nepali time, so who knows what tomorrow will bring.
Goodnight,
RMI Guide Hannah Smith
Namaste Everyone!
Today is a day that will never be forgotten. It started early in the morning as we made our way to the airport. We boarded the plane for a 50 minute flight. The views were amazing! The Himalayas are so magnificent...it sparks a desire to climb out there. Upon arrival to Dhangadi we were greeted by the Chaliya dance. A dance blessing the Burga Goddess, to give us all power. We then engaged in three more welcoming celebrations, one by the Minister of Tourism, another by the Prime Minister of the region, and the final one by the town of Khodpe where we are spending the night. With music, dancing, scarves, lays, and red smears on our foreheads it was an experience like no other. After many hours on the windy mountain roads with the drivers laying down their horns to signal we are coming around the blind turn we are ready to get some sleep before another day of driving and celebrating tomorrow.
Goodnight everyone,
RMI Guide Hannah Smith
RMI Guide Eric Frank reported in from the summit of their first peak: Sahale Mountain. Sahale requires a strenuous glaciated climb up the Quien Sabe Glacier and a 300' scramble up a 4th class rock pyramid. Eric reported that the wind changed direction last night and the wildfire smoke rolled back over them; which made for tough, smoky climbing. However, the team is happy with their first successful summit and ready for more.
Friday, June 29, 2018 9:53 PM PST
We weren’t feeling it today. Although we’d prepared to carry up onto the West Buttress, the morning weather didn’t look all that inviting. We watched and waited and ate breakfast, but then declared a rest day. The forecasts had predicted a snowstorm coming onto the mountain and we figured they were getting it right this time. Luckily though, it came in slowly enough for Mike Haugen and his team to climb down from 17 camp. We were certainly happy to see them pass through 14 in the latter part of the afternoon. The really heavy snow began to fall just as they were leaving to go a little lower. It seemed to be coming down at about three inches an hour while we were eating dinner in our well fortified dining tent. The good news is that it is coming down without any wind... so far. By bedtime we could hear avalanches beginning to pour down regularly on the steep -and thankfully distant- slopes surrounding our flat basin. We’ll each be taking turns digging out the camp tonight.
Best Regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn & Team
That is a lot of snowfall. Back in the lower 48, a one inch per hour qualifies as a snow emergency. Stay safe all of you and hopefully by the time you read this, you will on your way again.
Posted by: Roger Coffey on 7/1/2018 at 8:02 am
So proud of all of you and happy things are going well! Wish I was there. It won’t be long now before you’re all standing on the Summit!
Love,
Sue
After a getting an inclement weather forecast last night our team was excited to awaken to blue skies which held for most of the day. Feeling strong, we took advantage of the clear morning and started up towards Aconcagua Camp 2. With our packs filled we climbed up to our future camp at 18,000 feet in a little over four hours! Congratulations were shared throughout the team, Whynde and Brittni had reached a new height. After stashing food and gear we boot skied back down the loose rock to Camp 1 in no time.
RMI Guide Mark Tucker
Greetings from High Camp on Artesonraju. After our forced carry to high camp on Saturday, we had yet another rainy and snowy day at base camp yesterday. Regardless, today was as clear as we have seen so far this trip, and we moved to high camp early this morning, to beat the other awaiting teams to the prime real estate at this moraine. Tents are pitched, food and fuel stashed and gear ready. We're going to take another day here at 5100m to acclimatize better and be in position for launching later this week. Everyone is doing well, and the excitement is high!
RMI Guide Elias de Andres Martos and team
Great to hear you are ahead of the pack and getting ready to take advantage of the better weather. Rest up and acclimatise well! best wishes to all for the rest of the climb!
Posted by: Peter Williamson on 7/3/2017 at 5:17 pm
June 25, 2017
Our weather was just plain old "good" today. No winds, some high cloud and some low cloud, but no clouds that mattered. We were up at a leisurely 7:30. The sun came around about 9:30 (from behind the mountain) and we set out to retrieve our 13,500 ft cache at 10AM. It only took twenty easy minutes of downhill walking to reach it, but it was a full hour of climbing to get back up with loaded packs. So our workout was done by noon -the approach to the mountain is now complete with the team and the precious (and heavy) fuel and food all in place for the climb. In the afternoon, we reviewed techniques for climbing the "fixed rope" section between 15,000 and 16,000 ft. as well as working through methods for climbing along the exciting ridge to 17,200... our high camp. Dinner was relaxed and relatively comfortable in our dining facility. The team stood outside enjoying views and conversation right until the last warm rays quit as the sun ducked behind the West Buttress. We'll look at carrying up onto the buttress tomorrow.
Best Regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
Continued weather blessings! Sounds like things are going very well there for you all. So pleased! everyone here is getting ready for the Fourth of July. Weather over the upcoming weekend looks a bit mixed with high chances of rain and storms, but we’ll hope for the best.
Posted by: Sherry McFall Porrello on 6/26/2017 at 12:37 pm
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Randy…sounds like things are going well so far. In fact with all your chilling and filling and basking in the sun it sounds like you are on a very leisurely vacation…makes me a little jealous…haha. I know better but I hope you are enjoying the challenge. Lucas wanted me to tell you his great news that he just passed his MIG certification for a vertical up weld. He is so excited!
I miss you and I’m hoping Mother Nature remains kind to you.
Love Lisa
Posted by: Lisa Irwin on 1/21/2016 at 10:26 am
It’s National Hug Day, so a great big hug with warm thoughts to Dr. H from all of us! Have a good climb today!
Posted by: Linda Sitton on 1/21/2016 at 6:55 am
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