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Sunday, October 26, 2026 - 6:05 pm PT
Welcome to Ecuador!
The team made their arrival and assembled this morning for their first time as an expedition. After morning introductions, the team talked through trip details before heading out to explore the lovely city of Quito. The team explored the city and visited the equator, getting our first taste of the beautiful South American culture that is Ecuador.
The afternoon lead into a team gear check before heading off to dinner and resting for the evening. Tomorrow's day will be an early start for our first acclimatization hike, Rucu Pichincha.
RMI Guide,
Mike Bennett
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Cotopaxi Express October 25, 2025
Today the Team took off after breakfast for Camp 1 located at 16,400’. We carried food and fuel with a little personal gear up to continue our acclimatization. The route from base camp winds through a series of scree slopes and the Relinchos glacier. This day is typically one of the more difficult stretches on Aconcagua due to the distance, elevation gain and first day with heavy packs above 14,000 feet. The weather began with a strong breeze that would bring gusts of 40 mph at times. The Team got to Camp 1 and put in the cache of food and fuel. With strong gusts of wind sweeping through camp there wasn’t much incentive to hang out. Everyone is back in Plaza Argentina and looking forward to our last rest day here before moving up the mountain. Tomorrow we’ll take it easy.
RMI Guide Mike King
On The Map
Posted by: Casey Grom
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Kilimanjaro
Tuesday, September 4, 2018
Hello Everyone -
We awoke early today and left behind the comforts of our beautiful lodge and have headed to the mountain towards the start of the climb. Starting shortly before 8am we drove along the rural country side for two hours to reach the Kilimanjaro National Park entrance. Most of the area surrounding Kilimanjaro has been cultivated and primarily used for coffee production and for a variety of other agriculture needs, but there are still some areas that have been untouched and resemble more of a savanna that Tanzania is known for. The base of Kilimanjaro is more forested and resembles a jungle or cloud forest. Traditionally it supports a large part of the banana production for this area.
Once at the gate we had all of our gear weighed and divided into loads for our porters to carry before hitting the trail. Once everything was in order we started our climb slowly making our way up the winding trail. The team hiked for a little over 5 hours to reach our camp for the night. Everyone did great and enjoyed finally getting some much needed exercise.
After settling in the team was served a nice warm meal and then headed off to bed for a nice full night of rest.
RMI Guide Casey Grom
On The Map
RMI Guide Bryan Mazaika led his Five Day Summit Climb June 30 - 4 July to the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning. Bryan reported light winds and partly sunny skies as the team was on the summit. They were able to enjoy some time in the crater rim before beginning their descent to Camp Muir. After a stop at Muir to repack the team will continue down to Paradise. We look forward to seeing them at Rainier BaseCamp later today.
Congratulations to the Five Day Summit Climb team!
The skies cleared overnight and we were treated to the first truly blue bird morning of the trip. Cotopaxi was out in full glory. A leisurely morning lead to another fantastic breakfast served up by our Master Chef Josè. After breakfast we took a short stroll around the area to stretch the legs. It is climber Aaron D.'s birthday today and upon our return from our walk we surprised him with a cake equipped with candles and all! Happy Birthday Aaron! After enjoying our Ecuadorian pastel we hopped onto the bus and took the short drive to Tambopaxi where we will stage for our summit climb. With the weather looking good the team is excited to tackle our last objective! Off to bed here shortly in preparation of an early wake up. Wish us luck!
RMI Guide Steve Gately
On The Map
This is RMI Guide Mike King checking in from Cusco. Our team has arrived with high spirits and all luggage accounted for. We spent the day touring 3 Inca sites and admiring the phenomenal rock work and immense size of the what the Inca accomplished without iron and wheels in just 80ish years. Cusco sitting at 11,400ft elevation requires the Team to acclimate before we reach 16,010 ft on our second day trekking. Tomorrow we will tour the Sacred Valley along the Urubamba river.
We will check in tomorrow, thanks for following along!
Yet another nice weather day here on Kilimanjaro. We are looking down at a sea of clouds below us but it's all clear up here at 15,000' Barafu Camp, our high camp. After a nice breakfast the team took yet another big bite out of the mountain. After just a few hours of walking we are situated less than one vertical mile from the top of the "Roof of Africa". We have been eating, lounging and trying to not get too excited about the adventure ahead tonight. We spent some time this afternoon readying for our climb, putting fresh batteries in the head lamp,a gallon sized lunch bag, boots dried to perfection, special saved pair of summit socks pulled out and put in position. We are planning for an 11:30 pm wake up call. A lot of preparation and sacrifice has gone into getting us all here. Thank you all back home for the support on this great adventure. We will have an early dinner then it's into the tent for a few more hours of rest before we begin our summit attempt. The mountain has been very friendly so far and a we have a high level of confidence for it to continue for another 48 hours. Wish us luck!
RMI Guide Mark Tucker
On The Map
We are so excited and happy for all of you !!!! Congrats !! The beach misses you ! xxxoo JC and LB
Posted by: JC and Lizzie on 7/30/2016 at 7:28 pm
Woop woop!! So excited.
Posted by: Cassie evering on 7/30/2016 at 12:08 pm
Posted by: Robby Young, Eric Frank
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Peru Seminar
Elevation: 15,400'
Greetings loyal RMI Blog Followers,
Today, our team had the privilege of driving up the Quebrada Llanganuco. It is surely one of the most beautiful places in the world. Laguna (Lake) Llanganuco is the centerpiece, a massive alpine lake right along the road, with the most vibrant turquoise color any of our team members have ever seen. From one of the switchbacks in the road, we met our donkeys and their drivers, and made quick moves up to 15,400' to Pisco Base Camp. From here, the highest peaks of the cordillera are on display, including Huascaran, Chopicalqui, Chacraaju, the Huandoy massif, and our objective, Pisco Oeste. Tonight's dinner of Chifa (Peruvian Chinese dish) nourished our bodies as we prepare for a move to our 16,200' high camp tomorrow. Stay tuned for more! Our highest summit attempt of the trip is only 2 days away!
Todo es tranquilo. Buenos Noches,
RMI Guides Robby Young, Eric Frank, and your Peru Seminar Crew
PS - Spanish climbing word of the day is "guantes" which means gloves.
Posted by: Robby Young, Eric Frank
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Peru Seminar
Elevation: 14,400'
Hello from our beautiful camp in the Ishinca Valley. This morning the team packed up our gear, and bussed two valleys to the north of Huaraz to the Pashpa trailhead. There we loaded the equipment onto our trusty little mountain burros and hiked along a turquoise blue stream to the very top of the valley at 14,200ft.
After multiple hours of hiking at altitude to get to camp, the team was ready for a solid dinner and our cocinero (camp cook) didn't disappoint. We were treated to a hearty meal of beef, potatoes and rice, plus desert!
Currently we are tucked into our sleeping bags being lulled to sleep by a nearby glacial river and anticipating a full day of training tomorrow. Thanks for following along.
RMI Guides Robby Young, Eric Frank and the Peru Seminar Team
Jambo from Kilimanjaro-
We are checking in from Camp One, Machame Camp at 9,800' and everyone is doing great.
We woke early this morning and had a nice breakfast at the Dik Dik. We loaded the vehicle and after a quick stop at the open air meat market we reached the Machame Entrance Gate at 6,000'. After some photos and the fun began as we started on the trail. Being a cloud forest it held true for most of the climb but now here at 10,000' the skies are clear and beautiful. We have clear views of the summit and associated glaciers and life is good here in the very comfortable dinning tent.
Have a nice day,
RMI Guide Mark Tucker
On The Map
Glad to hear things are going well. I am certain that the views are breathtaking and that the climb is strenuous but exhilarating. My best to all of you!
Odette Hankins
Taylor’s mom in Cleveland, Ohio
Posted by: Odette Hankins on 7/13/2016 at 7:33 am
Congratulations Brittain and the rest of your team for successfully making it to the top of Mt. Rainer.
We had our fingers crossed the whole time with the weather. How lucky to have light winds and to have
time at the crater rim.
Way to go team! Make it down safely.
Thank you Bryan for your hard work and being their guide.
Congratulations again.
Maria Mason
PS I’m Brittain’s Mom.
Posted by: Maria Mason on 7/4/2018 at 10:27 am
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