Most Popular Entries
Posted by: Dave Hahn
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro
In short order, we went from walking uphill in snow to walking downhill in mud to riding in comfort in Toyota Landcruisers. First day of Safari went just fine. Breakfast and packing at our Usa River Hotel was easy and familiar. At 8 AM we loaded up with our safari driver/naturalists, Ibrahim and Francis, and got out of town. In truth, we actually got a little more into town first, driving through the outskirts of Arusha to get out west into the wide open Tanzanian countryside. Gradually we came into Maasai country and began to see more and more of the tribe known best for their adherence to traditional ways of living. After a few hours, we entered Lake Manyara National Park and began seeing monkeys and baboons, and eventually Cape Buffalo, Hippos, Zebras and Wildebeest. We saw egrets and ibises, storks and eagles. We saw plenty of signs of elephants having been in the area, but we didn’t actually see the big pachyderms or the lions hiding in trees that Manyara is known for. Even so, it was a fine, relaxing day of exploring exotic forest and lakeshore terrain. By the hot part of the afternoon, the animals were sleepy and shy, so we left them and drove up out of the Great Rift Valley to the highlands near the town of Keratu and found our way to the gardens of the luxurious Plantation Lodge. Folks then hit the swimming pool or simply relaxed in comfy veranda chairs as the sun set. We met for the evening in the splendid bar and dining room of the lodge and talked of the possibilities for wildlife encounters tomorrow in Ngorongoro Crater.
Best regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
Good evening,
The team spent the day hiking up with big loads on our backs to our high camp on Ixta, with the goal of going to the summit tomorrow morning. The team looked as strong as they have the whole trip and the weather forecast is looking quite nice for us.
We arrived at around 2 pm to camp here at 15,400 feet and have been relaxing and breathing the thin air. It's been generally cloudy all day but this evening the clouds have settled down below us and opened a gorgeous view of Popo, the other volcano in our vicinity.
We'll be getting up before the sun for our summit bid, wish us luck!
RMI Guide Chase Nelson
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
Hello all,
Just checking in from our camp at over 12,000ft in the barrels here on Elbrus. We had a mellow day resting up before our summit attempt tomorrow morning that we used to brush up on some crampon techniques and run through an ice axe arrest refresher. The weather has been funky for the last 24 hours with everything from snow and rain, thunder and lightning, to sunshine and blue sky. The forecast for tomorrow is good so our fingers are crossed. Not much else to report, headed to bed early for our early wake up.
RMI Guide Billy Nugent
On The Map
Posted by: Mark Tucker
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro
The whole team received an A+ for their homework. They aced the final exam and summer vacation starts tomorrow. What a treat for us as guides when a team takes training serious prior to a climb. A very diverse group when it comes to experience and age. The fact that they all came to the class in the best shape possible puts the chances for a safe summit much more reasonable. What you learn up high is a very unique skill set. The physical and mental demands you are faced with and have to deal with can change your perspective on many facets of our everyday lives down in the low lands. To subject you self to a lack of usual creature comforts by your own submission takes a different sort of duck. I Am very proud of my Tucklings.
A nice send off from our local staff at the Meweka Camp, what a great local crew we had the pleasure to share the mountain with. Three hour descent thru the cloud forest ,get that ,it was cloudy and cool, go figure! A few final pictures at the Kilimanjaro exit sign gate, and then all aboard for the two hour transfer to the Dik Dik lodge for the night. Cleaned up and fired up for the banquet ahead. We will probably cut a swath through our lodge that may take awhile to heal. That's just what the thick air can do to you.
RMI Guide Mark Tucker and Team
Enjoy the safari! Again, take lots of pictures!!!!
Odette
Posted by: Odette Hankins on 7/18/2016 at 12:10 pm
CONGRATS TO TAYLOR AND THE WHOLE TEAM. So glad that you made it up safely. Looks like an amazing experience was had by all. (Taylor, now all you need to do is not getting eaten by any wildlife. I am gonna win that bet with Andrew….I know it.) Enjoy the rest of your trip!
Best,
Sean
Posted by: Sean Free on 7/18/2016 at 10:23 am
Posted by: JJ Justman
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Elbrus Southside
The July 15th Russia team has officially begun with a great day touring the great city of Moscow. The team is great and we certainly are looking forward to heading to Cheget to get the climb underway tomorrow. However, today we had a relaxing day seeing some of the highlights of this great city. Check out the video below and we will check back in from the little ski town of Cheget soon.
RMI Guide JJ Justman
Posted by: Brent Okita, Christina Dale, Chris Ebeling
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mt. McKinley
Elevation: 14,000'
May 31, 2016 - 12:03 am PT
Our day was a resounding success! A cold, early start had us ahead of the madding crowds as everyone was determined to take advantage of some perfect weather. It had snowed 6-8" overnight, and ours were the first tracks up the pristine slopes leading to the fixed lines and the start of the West Buttress.
By far the steepest climbing we've encountered, the Buttress is also the steepest, most dramatic climbing most of our group has ever done.
The team performed well, with us getting a cache at 16,800' and another one at high camp at 17,200'.
Everyone is pumped by the day and really looking forward to our first rest day.
It's getting late and cold, so adieu from 14,200'.
RMI Guides Brent, Christina, Chris and the team
On The Map
I look forward to this email every day!!! I am with you in spirit! Climb Strong Dawn!!! :)
Posted by: Dave on 6/1/2016 at 4:12 am
Nice work, Mike P!! It’s great to track your progress. Short hop to 17 and you’re almost there. Wishing you some clear weather. Hang tough, buddy! Frank M
Posted by: Frank Marini on 5/31/2016 at 1:14 pm
Posted by: Seth Waterfall
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro
Hello, I am emailing from our safari at Lake Manyara National Park. We are having a great afternoon of game viewing.
The day started at the Dik Dik Hotel where we said goodbye to some of our team. About half the team is either headed back home or doing their own safari.
The rest of us have successfully shifted gears from mountain living to wildlife viewing. We were on the road just after 9 am and a few hours later we pulled into Lake Manyara. We had lunch just inside the park and then started the game drive. True to the nature of the trip we had 45 minutes of rain but now the clouds have parted, the top of the truck is open and there are animals everywhere.
Tonight we will stay at the Plantation Lodge, home of the best margaritas in Tanzania. We'll check in again tomorrow.
RMI Guide Seth Waterfall and the Safari All Stars
Jambo! This is Seth checking in from Karanga Valley. Only one more day to high camp!
We have broken out of our daily pattern of clear mornings and rainy afternoons. Today it was cloudy and with rain showers all day. Even though we are not having ideal weather the team is in very high spirits.
Everyone did great on the Barranco Wall this morning. We let most of the people in our last camp get out early and then started up the 800-foot wall. The bottom part of the wall has some really fun scrambling and we all had a blast climbing through that section. We were lucky in that the rain held off until we topped out on the wall.
We hovered around 13,000' all day and the terrain is really cool at this elevation. It's right at the edge of where plants live and so sometimes it looks like a barren waste land. But then you turn a corner and there can be a giant heather forest. It's great trekking here.
Light showers started up after we topped out on the wall and continued to build into a real rainstorm as we pulled into camp. Our tents are nice and dry though and the cook made us a great pasta lunch. We are doing good.
I'll check in again tomorrow from our high camp.
RMI Guide Seth Waterfall
On The Map
Bobby- we are so proud of you! Just a few days until you can sip tequila!
Love Annie, Grace, Davis and Susan
Posted by: Susan Gallagher on 1/16/2016 at 7:28 am
Annie and team,
I have only seen Kilimanjaro from a distance; cannot imagine the extraordinary experience of being on that awesome mountain and climbing towards the top! Thinking of you today and tomorrow, hoping for fair weather, safety, and boost of energy as you near the summit. Thanks for staying in touch through these blogs and photos!
Posted by: Helen (Gillette) on 1/16/2016 at 7:01 am
Today we woke to slightly milder winds that allowed us to breakdown our camp at 16,400ft and move Guanaco 3 camp, our second camp at 18,000' on Aconcagua. All teams above Base Camp are trying to figure if the current weather system will allow for a summit bid. The Team has been updated on the weather pattern that is moving onto the mountain.
From the beginning of the expedition the guides have been stressing taking care of daily items that are in our control like hydration, rest, proper clothing choices and breathing, a lot. At the same time this expedition has been marked by items we have no control over, for example, tall penitentes to navigate, hot temperatures, wind and a deteriorating weather pattern.
We will continue to evaluate our options, in the meantime, It's New Years Eve on Aconcagua. We'll miss the party at base camp, but not the pan flute chiming in during the porter drum circle until 4am.
RMI Guide Mike King
On The Map
Mike, praying you get to stand on the top! All good things in 2016! Love from all the Isaacsons
Posted by: Carol Isaacson on 1/1/2016 at 9:54 am
Happy New Year Michael! Keeping my fingers crossed the weather gets better. Stay strong! Thinking of you everyday . Love, Mom
Posted by: Lisa Hughes on 1/1/2016 at 5:40 am
Hi Sue & Team!
Hoping for good weather on your climb to the summit tomorrow! Have fun!
Laura & the gang back home!
Posted by: Laura Thompson on 8/11/2016 at 3:34 pm
View All Comments