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RMI Guide Mike Walter reported in this afternoon that the team made it to the summit of
Mt. Baker with 100% success! Mike reported that conditions were smoke free starting at 8,700' and were clear and calm on the summit. The team had a long day on a long route with a late season West Ridge variation. They will spend some time on top and begin their descent back to camp.
Congratulations!
Monday, June 25, 2018 - 10:52 PM PT
At six AM, things were looking positive... not much sign of wind and the upper portions of
Denali’s West Buttress were in the clear. We got up and got going slowly in order to keep an eye out for changes... and to enjoy a leisurely breakfast of bacon and eggs. We set out from camp at 9:30 in our crampons and carrying ice axes, feeling a little more like climbers. Nice to take a break from snowshoes and from sled hauling. We carried food and fuel for caching, but each of us elected to put it all on our backs and to give the sleds the day off. First up was Motorcycle Hill, a steep but short (40 minute) glacial slope, next we got on squirrel hill, which brought us to the Polo Field -the glacial basin at the foot of the West Buttress. By then we were watching dramatic clouds beginning to form atop the high mountains. Another hour brought us to Windy Corner, which was just starting to get a little breezy when we turned the corner and reached our destination at 13,500 ft. By the time we were digging a raven-proof pit in the snow to bury our supplies, things had whited out and the snow was starting to fall. We’d taken a respectable 4 hours to reach the intended cache, we spent 45 minutes there getting everything squared away and then took just a further 90 minutes to walk back down through the snowstorm to camp at 11,000. There were plenty of other guided parties from different companies on the route today but we all worked well together and there were no traffic jams. Back at camp by 3:45 we snoozed until dinner time. Several of us admitted to being a little tired after this fine day of climbing... but that is not such a bad thing. We’ve planned a rest day for tomorrow and we’ll hope the snow takes a holiday as well.
Best Regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
On The Map
Monday, June 25, 2018 - 12:14 AM PT
This is Mike, checking in from 11,000' Camp as the team continues their descent to the airstrip. We woke at
17,000' Camp this morning after a long summit day. The team packed up and headed down the West Buttress with spectacular views of the Alaska Range. Once on the fixed lines we baking in the mid day sun and were looking forward to getting our cache sorted and headed to 11,000 Camp for some dinner and rest. We got water and high fives from the other RMI Teams and turned in for some rest, not sleep. We'll plan on hitting the road at 2 am in hopes of getting an early flight to Talkeetna. The weather isn't promising so an extra night or 2 at the airstrip might be in our future.
RMI Guide Mike King
The Four Day Summit Climb teams led by RMI Guides Eric Frank and Christina Dale have reached the summit of Mt. Rainier. Eric reported chilly temperatures and light winds. The teams will enjoy some time on the summit before starting their descent.
Congratulations to today's Summit Climb teams!
It's starting to feel a bit like Groundhog Day here on
Aconcagua. All we needed to accomplish today was a carry of food and fuel to High Camp at 19,600'. Aside from that the group's only other task is to out chill the other groups in Camp. The weather has been getting better each day and this morning we decided to take advantage of a cool wind to aid us in our carry. By the time we descended the wind had died and the temperatures were getting hot on the snow slopes we traversed. We are all back in Camp now and while eager to move up and summit the Stone Sentinel, we'll take a rest day tomorrow to give us another two nights acclimating. Thanks for following along.
RMI Guide Mike King
On The Map
We switched gears today... waking up -not to hiking/climbing- but to a day of being entertained and educated in the back of a Safari vehicle. We piled into two modified Toyota Land Cruisers just after 8 AM and left Usa River heading west. First there was the hustle and bustle of traffic on the outskirts of Arusha. The city has nearly 2 million inhabitants, so our guide/drivers: Juma and Edson had their work cut out for them getting us out to the wide open countryside beyond the city. We cruised dusty roads between herds of Maasai tended cattle as we made our way out to Lake Manyara. This
National Park purports to be the home of the tree climbing lions... who weren't actually home today. We didn't see lions, but we saw baboons, blue monkeys, hippos, Cape buffalo, zebras and wildebeest. The elephants we got to see munching on trees were a highlight, as were about a thousand new species of bird, each accurately identified and described by our amazing guides. At the end of a fine day out in the bush, we headed for the Plantation Lodge and an evening of relaxation and dinner conversation in an extremely comfortable setting.
Tomorrow we'll get up early to see what we can see in Ngorongoro Crater.
Best Regards
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
Jambo from 9,900 ft on
Mount Kilimanjaro. We are happily bedded down at Machame Camp after a great day of walking. The day began with the team shuffling duffle bags back and forth in the dark on the grounds of the Dik Dik. We were eating breakfast at 6:30 AM and then we actually drove out of the hotel compound at 7:28 AM...An unbelievable and unprecedented two minutes ahead of schedule. Our mighty Mercedes truck/bus carried food, gear and a huge number of climbers and staff. It was quite cloudy, so we didn't get to see the mountain during the two hour drive. But we saw plenty of interest along the highway, from villages to towns to cornfields, banana and coffee farms. At the Machame entrance to the National Park, there was the normal hurry up and wait process of getting the team registered and the porter loads sorted. By 11 AM it was all done and we got to start walking. Naturally -in terms of altitude- this was our low point for the day...6000 ft, but all agreed that it was an emotional high point. It just felt so good to start walking uphill through a forest after all the planning, preparing, travel and jet lag. The team did well with Filbert -one of our local guides- setting a perfect "pole pole" pace. (Slow in Swahili). After a couple of hours, we were out from under the clouds and all were surprised and pleased to see Kibo -Kilimanjaro's main peak- through a break in the trees. The forest transformed as we got higher and at 4:30 we pulled into a well built camp in the giant heather. We moved in -grateful at all the work our staff had put in. We sat for an excellent three course dinner just after sunset and told stories into the darkness.
We finished with a round of "lala salamas". (Sleep well) and turned in for the night.
Best Regards,
RMI Guide
Dave Hahn & Team
Today the group toured the Urubamba River Valley that was and continues to be a fertile farming area for the local people of Cusco. With large varieties of corn and potatoes being grown, we could see terraces that the Inca used reaching well above 12,000 ft.
We had several stops on our way to Ollantaytambo, a wonderful Incan site featuring farming terraces, ceremonial stone work and intact buildings used for storing food. Our impromptu stop to sample chicha, a fermented corn drink that locals enjoy while playing a fun coin toss style yard game also yielded two cute puppies sleeping by a fire and a guinea pig farm. Cuy, or guinea pig, is a common form of protein consumed by locals and tourists alike.
We wrapped the day finalizing our packs for an early departure. Tomorrow morning we begin our Salkantay trek to
Machu Picchu, the entire group is excited to leave Cusco.
RMI Guide Mike King
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.
The
Five Day Summit Climb Team Led by RMI Guide
Sid Pattison reached the Summit of Mt. Rainier today. The team has enjoyed two days on the mountain and this morning climb into clear skies, winds of 20 - 25 mph and cool temperatures. The team has started their descent and are en route to Camp Muir.
Congratulations to today's team!
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Jon and Margaret———- looking good… Marlise and I are checking you out this morning…. wishing you awesome vibes…... stay safe…. xoxo
Posted by: Joe Curtes on 6/27/2018 at 6:40 am
Hey Tom ! That is Awesome you are headed up! It looks beautiful! Climb like a machine, 1 step at a time! Tom is Feelin Good, Feelin Strong!!! :) , Dave & Hanna you guys ROCK!!!!
Posted by: Dave Kestel on 6/27/2018 at 3:30 am
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