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Posted by: Dave Hahn, Hannah Smith, Avery Parrinello, Nikki Champion
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 7,800'
Friday, June 22, 2018 - 8:57 pm PT
The snow just kept on coming down last night. It didn’t pile up all that deeply, but it was persistent and wet. We kept checking through the early morning hours, and then through the mid morning hours after a team breakfast, but it went right on until the early afternoon. By then we’d determined to take a hint and declare a rest day. Things actually cleared up nicely by mid-afternoon and Denali came out in all her glory. By then it was unbearably hot in the tents and would have been about ten times hotter walking uphill with big packs and sleds. We rested. It was burrito night in the main dining tent and after a great feed and some storytelling, we returned to the tents under once again cloudy skies. We’ll hope for a better morning tomorrow.
Best Regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
On The Map
Good afternoon from Gokyo.
What a day we had! We woke up early to cloudy skies, which made us doubtful of the views we might get on our hike. But as we started gaining elevation and covering the distance between our lodge by the lake, and Cho Oyu Base Camp, we punched through the layer that was coveting the valley. The Himalayan giants we saw from the distance yesterday, towered above us today, and walking along the lateral moraine of the Ngozumba Glacier (the longest in the area) was really something. The feeling of being so insignificant overwhelmed us as much as the beauty we were discovering. We did reach the vicinity of what has been Cho Oyu's Base Camp on the south side for the less than half a dozen expeditions that have dared to attempt this impressive face. After lunch and pictures, we turned back penetrating into the cloud layer that still was covering the valley bellow. We're now enjoying dinner and getting ready for tomorrow's stage.
RMI Guide Elías de Andres Martos
Posted by: Elias de Andres Martos
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
RMI Guide Elias de Andres Martos and team hit the crater rim at 11:15 a.m. via the Kautz Glacier Route. They had 100% success to the summit! Elias reported good conditions, a tired team, and an extremely crevassed Nisqually Glacier.
Summit! RMI Guide Mike King was on top at 5:00 a.m. this morning. The warm temperatures are making for early alpine starts as the team left Mt. Rainier's crater rim at 6:00 a.m. They are progressing well on their descent back to Camp Muir.
Congratulations Team!
Hoorah, team! Glad that the vintage crampons got you to the top, Nathaniel. :-)
Posted by: Deb on 7/30/2017 at 2:54 pm
Congratulations Nathaniel. Love You.
Posted by: Dean K-F on 7/30/2017 at 1:03 pm
Turned out to be a great day to carry group and personal equipment to our high camp of Aconcagua at 19,600ft. We made good time up and down and round tripped it in about five hours. At one point I was down to just a thin poly-pro top. Not bad for being exposed to the elements at 19,000ft.
Big decision time tonight. Weather reports are calling for some unsettled pattern ahead. Need to put all the factors in the hopper and come up with a plan. Excitement is rising and a major buzz going on around camp. My team continues to be a solid unit and so proud of what we have accomplished so far. All is well up on the hill.
RMI Guide Mark Tucker
On The Map
Safe summit to all. A fine accomplishment for all. Enjoy
Posted by: Mike Albrecht on 1/19/2017 at 5:11 pm
Hi everyone. Today was a tough day. The team departed camp just before 3AM with moderate winds. As we climbed along the traverse above 17,000 feet the wind was getting dangerously strong. As the the team stopped to clip into climbing ropes for safety, another climber NOT on our team slipped, fell and slid down the mountain nearly a thousand feet. I was relieved to see the climber get to their feet but I am still not sure of their condition. I believe and hope they are ok. Her local guide climbed down and assisted and again, I believe all is fine.
I was extremely thankful our team did not get sideswiped as the climber fell. Needless to say, there were a few team members with very shocked expressions. Being roped up for safety we continued to climb higher. As we were approaching the long traverse into the saddle, four hours from the summit at our pace I witnessed another climber get knocked off his feet by the wind. Luckily he slid a hundred feet and stopped.
It was at that point that I needed to quit thinking and just trust my gut. Our team turned at 17,700 feet and we focused on getting back down safely. And we did.
We are all back at camp and we are now making the decision if we give the summit another shot. The forecast is not in our favor. Either way, up or down, we are focused on safety and I am sure a little fun is in store for us one way or another.
RMI Guide JJ Justman
On The Map
Safety first! What a harrowing experience the summit attempt must have been. I glad everyone on the team is safe.
Posted by: Shirley Tharp on 7/9/2016 at 2:11 pm
Posted by:
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro
Team Orlando was in full safari mode as we explored the Ngorongoro Crater and all the wildlife and beauty it had to offer. We visited a Maasai Mara village to learn the great history and culture of such a strong and beautiful people.
RMI Guide JJ Justman & Team
Posted by: JJ Justman
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Elbrus Southside
Hello from Moscow -
Our second RMI Team has gathered in Moscow to begin our trip to Mt. Elbrus. New beginnings for me and a new adventure for all. Today we had a beautiful sunny day here in Moscow and spent the morning exploring the beautiful sites on a great city tour. Check out the video to see what we saw!!
RMI Guide JJ Justman
Thanks for the updates! We’re following along from Seattle, WA! Hope the weather cooperates & you Reach the top! GO Team Elbrus!
Posted by: Grotjahn Family on 7/27/2015 at 12:49 pm
What a great adventure that lies ahead. We miss you SO MUCH Daddy! we love you so so much! We are praying for your climb!!
Posted by: Kylie, Jake, Cait & Kristen on 7/26/2015 at 11:16 pm
Posted by: Mike Walter
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Ecuador
Our Ecuador Volcanoes team has all arrived in Ecuador without complications. We started our first morning in country with a team breakfast and then departed on a city tour of the historic, colonial are of Quito and a trip to Mitad del Mundo (literally the middle of the world), or the Equator.
We had good views of our climbing objectives, Cotopaxi and Cayambe, from El Panecillo, a hill in southern Quito that looks out over the city. From there we toured around “old town” Quito, visiting churches, parks, and the presidential palace, all while learning about the rich cultural history of Ecuador.
The last stop on our trip was to the equator, where we visited an ethnographic museum. In addition to information and exhibits about the many different cultures of Ecuador, we stood on the equatorial line, with one foot in the northern hemisphere and one in the southern.
We’re headed out for a team dinner before getting some rest in preparation for our first acclimatization hike of the volcano Rucu Pichincha, which sits on the flanks of Quito. We’ll check in tomorrow to let you know how our first venture into very high altitude goes. Thanks for checking in!
RMI Guide Mike Walter and Team
At 12:36 pm RMI Guide Christina Dale radioed from the Mt. Rainier summit. Her team reached the summit via the Kautz Glacier during their six-day seminar. The team will check in from their high camp and descend the rest of the way off the mountain tomorrow.
Good job team! Descend safely today and enjoy yourselves when you are done. Way to go Reiss!
Posted by: Alexis Walter on 6/15/2018 at 12:13 pm
We are so enjoying following your journey and the pictures are magnificent. Continuing to pray for good weather, safety, and health of all of you! Godspeed!
Posted by: Shari Ramsey on 6/24/2018 at 9:28 am
Jon & Margaret - Stay healthy and in good spirits. I check this blog every day.
Posted by: Joy Reuter on 6/24/2018 at 8:29 am
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