Entries from Expedition Dispatches
August 9, 2024
Posted by: Casey Grom, Jess Wedel
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Machu Picchu
Elevation: 12,600'
Hola from Peru!
Today the team awoke to beautifully clear skies right beneath the massive and towering Salkantay mountain, which is 20’000’+ feet. It’s covered in snow and glaciers so much it felt like we were in the Himalayas. We then hit the trail and headed uphill to our high point of the trip at just over 16’000’ feet, which definitely was a new height for a few team members. Everyone did great and enjoyed the nice long descent to our new camp at 12’600’. It was a beautiful hike in one of the most spectacular valleys I’ve ever seen.
Our outfitter has been incredibly gracious with having camp set up each day before we arrive, along with feeding us 3 amazing meals a day.
RMI Guides Casey, Jess, and the Inca Trail crew!
Sign Up For Machu Picchu Trek, August 3, 2024 Emails
Thursday, August 8, 2024
We had a chilly morning packing up camp and weighing out our loads for the donkeys, but were rewarded with ideal temperatures for the short hike from the trailhead to Condoriri basecamp. After setting up tents and a short rest we continued up the trail to the toe of the glacier where we spent a few hours reviewing the basics and practicing some more advanced skills for our attempt on Pequeño Alpamayo tomorrow. We're back in basecamp at 15,400' now, packing and resting up in anticipation of an early start. We'll be in touch tomorrow when we're back in base camp, and will be sure to share some photos when we're back to civilization on Saturday.
RMI Guide Henry Coppolillo
Sign Up For Bolivia Expedition, August 3, 2024 Emails
Our last full day of our safari did not disappoint. After a morning of souvenir hunting we arrived at Tarangire National Park ready for more action, and got it within minutes of going through the gate.
Warthogs, elephants and a bunch of other critters came our way in the first hour. A lot of close up encounters with giraffes and elephants stole the show, with the finale happening in the final minutes as we drove adjacent a huge and incredibly green swamp area and had a herd of elephants cross in front of us and proceed to cover themselves in mud and even dunk themselves in the water like kids at a pond. An amazing site!
Our 'camp' in the middle of the Park is pretty cool too. Like all these camps in the bush, our living quarters are screened in canvas tents enclosing some high end furnishings. Kind of swank and kind of fun.
One last morning of safari awaits us as sadly our trip comes to a close.
Until tomorrow.
Jambo!
RMI Guide Brent Okita
PC: Shout out to Jeff Tracy, on his 3rd Kilimanjaro climb, for the beautiful photos!
Sign Up For Kilimanjaro Climb & Safari, July 27, 2024 Emails
August 8, 2024
Posted by: Daniel May, Mike Bennett, Erika Birkeland, Will Ambler, Mac Nolde, Avery Stolte
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
RMI Guides Dan May and Mike Bennet led their Four Day Climb August 5 - 8 to the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning. Skies are clear with a light breeze. The teams were able to spend some time in the crater before starting their descent from the crater rim around 7 am. They will return to Camp Muir, take a short break and then continue down to Paradise.
Nice work today teams!
August 8, 2024
Posted by: Casey Grom, Jess Wedel
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Machu Picchu
Elevation: 14,432'
Thursday, August 8, 2924 - 5:11 am PT
Hola!
We left Cusco early this morning, taking a bumpy and winding road into the heart of the Andes. We were all a little queasy from the bus ride but when we opened the door to views of Tukarway (19,499ft) and Salkantay (20,574ft) all was okay. There are no words for the feeling of being surrounded by jagged peaks with glaciers, snow and ice. The views were beyond beautiful.
After a second breakfast, we started our trek. Winding through the valley with mountains reigning above us at every turn. After a few hours we stopped for lunch. We promise not to tell you all because we want you to think we’re hardcore but we did indeed have a 3-course meal seated at a table right in the middle of the trail. Fresh avocado and vegetables, warm soup, followed by mashed potatoes and beef medallions. Okay, okay, okay. I’ll move on, but it was divine.
After lunch we had a steeper climb for a couple hours to our camp at 15,500 feet!! Right at the toe of the Salkantay Glacier. Our tents opening up to the mountain before us, we saw ice falls and avalanches cascading down the slopes. We are all exhausted after little sleep last night and our first big day on the trail.We’re tucked in now with hot water bottles and sleeping bags fully zipped - it’s likely our chilliest night of the whole trek.
Tomorrow we’ll head over Salkantay Pass at nearly 16,000 feet and then descend around the mountain to our next camp.
With tired feet and big smiles,
RMI Guides Jess, Casey and team
Sign Up For Machu Picchu Trek, August 3, 2024 Emails
August 8, 2024
Posted by: Andy Bond, Henry Coppolillo
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Bolivia
Elevation: 15,200
Wednesday, August 7, 2024 - 5:55 pm PT
Today we left our island paradise for the mountains! After a quick boat ride we made a quick stop in the famous town of Copacabana to walk around the local market. Then it was back on the road for a few hours which brought us to the base of the Condoriri group. It's nice to be back in the mountains meeting our local support crew that will help support our climb and get our gear up to base camp at 15,500'. The team is looking forward to stepping onto the glacier for the first time and attempting our first peak on Friday!
RMI Guide Henry Coppolillo
Sign Up For Bolivia Expedition, August 3, 2024 Emails
A spectacular day! But this doesn't even do justice to what we saw in the crater. Besides the thousands of animals we saw all day, we were especially lucky to see three black rhinos, which are exceptionally rare. And better yet, we got up close to a pride of lions. Like 30 or so feet away! Wildebeast, zebras, ostriches and a bunch of other critters also a close up show.
Following our safari we visited a Masai village which helped us understand better their culture and life.
And tomorrow ... Tarangire!
All for now since I'm falling asleep.
Cheers,
RMI Guide Brent Okita and Team
Sign Up For Kilimanjaro Climb & Safari, July 27, 2024 Emails
August 7, 2024
Posted by: Joe Hoch, Pete Van Deventer, Raymond Holt, Jack Ritterson, Nicole De Petris, Tom Skoog
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
The Four Day Climb led by RMI Guides Joe Hoch and Pete Van Deventer reached the summit of Mt. Rainier Early this morning. The team enjoyed the views and spent about an hour on the 14,410' summit before starting their descent. The team will be back in Ashford this afternoon to celebrate their success at Rainier Basecamp.
Congratulations Team!
August 7, 2024
Posted by: Tatum Whatford, Bailey Servais
Categories: Expedition Dispatches North Cascades
Elevation: 10,741'
RMI Guide Tatum Whatford and the Mt. Baker Leave No Trace (LNT) team were on the summit of Mt. Baker at 6:41 am today. The team climbed via the Coleman Demming Route.
This program equips participants with the skills and knowledge needed to achieve an LNT Level 2 Instructor certification, and empowers them to effectively teach and certify individuals in Leave No Trace Level 1 Instructor courses and Awareness Workshops. The terrain covered on Mt. Baker serves as an ideal classroom, offering diverse environments such as old-growth forests, heather meadows, and immense glaciers, allowing us to focus specifically on LNT techniques relevant to alpine environments.
Reaching the summit of Mt. Baker is a great way to end the week! Congrats Team!
Way to go Benjamin! We are so happy for you and proud of you!
Posted by: Julie Andrews on 8/7/2024 at 12:44 pm
Our team enjoyed the sunrise at La Estancia Eco Lodge this morning. We then toured La Chincana (the Labyrinth) which dates to 800 AD and was a sacred place people traveled to from the Andean Region. Then a walk back to the harbor to catch a boat ride to lunch. It has been another great day here in Isle del Soul.
RMI Guide Andy Bond & Team
Sign Up For Bolivia Expedition, August 3, 2024 Emails
Good luck team! Katie Forsyth, I M pulling for you!
Love,
Aunt Kate
Posted by: Kate Graham on 8/7/2024 at 11:47 am
Correction…
This will be a very memorable way to celebrate your birthday!
Posted by: Kate on 8/10/2024 at 6:10 am
Wishing you all well as you continue on.
Happy Birthday, Katie! This will be a very memorable way to celebrate birthday!
Posted by: Kate on 8/10/2024 at 6:08 am
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