Most Popular Entries

Hey Mark Tucker checking in. What a 24-hour period we've had. Wow. Amazing night up there on Orizaba. Crazy weather, amazing light storm going on and little bit of hail. The team got up early and we put in our work, and we just had a fabulous climb. It was wonderful event that we all participated in and it's been go time ever since. Back down here all cleaned up and doing well at the Reyes Compound. We're just having so much fun; we don't want this trip to end. We're going to come away from this thing with some happy hearts and lots of experience. So we're just looking forward to getting back out there when we can. Thanks. RMI Guide Mark Tucker

Good morning. This is RMI Guide Eric Frank calling from the top of Mount Shuksan. Our team climbed up this morning from the Fisher Chimneys route, had a beautiful day. Now we're just hanging out on top. We're going to be up here for 20 or 25 minutes, enjoy the view, get some photos, then we'll work our way back down. Hope everyone's doing well, take care.

Hello again from Kilimanjaro - Today the team had our usual start at 7am with a full breakfast at 7:30 and hit the trail just after 8. The skies were clear and it felt wonderful to be hiking uphill in the warmth of the sun. Our route today took us up to about 15,000' (setting new altitude records for some) as we passed a landmark known as Lava Tower and then descended down into the Barranco valley. This valley is full of giant groundsels and senecio trees that look like something out of a Dr. Seuss book. As we arrived at camp the clouds enveloped us once again and we are currently relaxing back in our tents waiting on dinner. Everyone is doing well and enjoying the climb. RMI Guide Casey Grom and crew

On The Map

All is well here on Kilimanjaro! Once again we woke to beautifully clear skies with even better views of Kili and clouds obscuring the valleys below. Our morning ritual has been waking around 6:30 and getting everything in our tents packed up before heading into our very spacious dining tent for quite the feast. It was a bit chilly this morning, but soon enough the sun had us hiking in just our light layers. We hit the trail once again around 8am and hiked for an hour before taking our usual 15 minute break, then back on the trail for another hour. All total today we hiked for just over six hours before reaching camp which is set up and ready for us. Eventually the clouds rolled in and obscured the mountain for the final few hours. Along the way we passed around the famous and beautiful Lava Tower reaching just over 15,000ft setting new altitude records for some of the team. Everyone enjoyed the day and there was plenty of good conversations amongst the crew. All in all it was a really nice day! RMI Guide Casey Grom and the Kili crew

On The Map

Our entire team was in agreement that a night at 10,000 ft was just what the doctor ordered. Sure, there were some tired legs and sore backs at Mweka Camp this morning, but so many other problems had magically disappeared with the dropping of a vertical mile in sleeping elevation. We ate breakfast as the sun started to find its way through the heather and hanging moss. Afterward, our entire staff assembled to serenade and entertain us (and themselves) with singing and dancing. Before long, we were all laughing and clapping at their costumed portrayal of a western tourist, out for a climb. The customary tipping ceremony followed in which we passed out gratuities while shaking hands and personally thanking each of 51 strong and talented men. By 8:30 we were on the trail and losing altitude once again. Quickly, we transitioned back into a thick and lush rain forest. While we’d started out with blue sky and sunshine, inevitably we entered the cloud sea that had been so far below for much of the week. We never got anything worse than the odd sprinkle and a little mist down in the clouds and that kept the dirt trail from getting totally sloppy and slippery. One certainly had to pay close attention though, so as not to slip, trip or tumble in the process of descending 4,000 vertical feet. Porters from our own team, as well as from surrounding teams, came thundering down the track -mud or no mud- with fifty pound loads balanced on their heads. By late morning we’d all reached the national park gate at Mweka. Naturally we got pics of the gang at the final signpost of the journey, then we signed out of the park and walked through a bit of road construction to where the Barking Zebra staff had laid out a fine picnic lunch at a local art gallery and tourist shop. Thus fortified, we took on the two hour bus trip down through Moshi and over to the edge of Arusha. Everyone was ready for showers and comfy furniture back at the Arumeru River Lodge. The afternoon passed quickly as we reconnected to the world, dried and cleaned gear and readied other -less serious and substantial gear- for our safari starting tomorrow morning. We had a relaxed victory dinner together to celebrate the completion of the climb and to bid farewell to Darcy who’ll be boarding jets and getting home for work while we go poke around a few more National Parks to see what we can see. Best Regards, RMI Guide Dave Hahn

The Mt. Rainier Four Day Summit Climb team, led by Brent Okita, reached the summit in some windy conditions. The team spent some time on the summit and began their descent at 8:00 a.m. We look forward to congratulating them at Rainier Basecamp this afternoon.

Thursday, May 24, 2018 - 6:21 PM PT The snow that started last night continued into the morning, necessitating a 3:00 am shoveling session to dig out our tents. We picked up a little over a foot of snow over night, with no wind. We had a rest day planned for today anyway, so the snow was of little consequence. We simply ate a leisurely brunch and lounged around our tents, resting and acclimating. Tomorrow, if the weather allows, we plan to move camp up to Genet Basin, at 14,200'. We will let you know how that plays out. RMI Guide Mike Walter

The Four Day Summit Climb led by RMI Guides Elias de Andres Martos and Christina Dale reached 11,700' before having to turn due to unconsolidated snow conditions. The team is currently at Camp Muir and will be descending for Paradise soon. Congratulations to today's team!

The team arrived to Base Camp early afternoon and in the commotion of celebrating, showers and packing for the mules we forgot to check in. We are heading for Pampa Las Lenas in a few minutes. The walk will retrace our first two days of the Trek and will culminate with an asado dinner and another beautiful night sleeping under the stars. The team is eager to get back to town and looking forward to lighter backpacks. This dispatch will conclude our expedition. We had amazing weather and a great group of climbers! Thanks for following along.  RMI Guides Mike King and JM Gorum

RMI Guides Billy Nugent and Ben Like led their Four Day Summit Climb teams to the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning. Billy radioed at 7:30 am as the teams were approaching the crater rim. The report was clear skies and winds 15 mph from the North. Congratulations to today's Summit Climb teams!