Entries from Expedition Dispatches

Thursday, January 16, 2025 - 5:32 pm PT

I don’t do blogs.  We are on day whatever having a rest day here at Aconcagua base camp.  We went on a “walk” and now we will hang around all day and eat.  We all passed our med check too, so that’s neat. 

But enough of this. Let’s chat about things that annoy you.  Things like Costco, Buc-ees and people that tell you how old their kid is in months.  No one needs a box of 47 microwaveable taquitos, 120 gas pumps and I don’t want to do math to figure out how old your kid is.  I was asking to be nice anyway. 

Tune in tomorrow for a nicely written blog. 

Wait….I thought of more….adults that are obsessed with Disney.  People that don’t use cruise control on the highway. 

RMI Climber Eric Uncapher

We have now visited the summits of two big volcanoes on this trip. This morning, just as the sun was rising, the team reached the summit of Cotopaxi. It was absolutely incredible to see the crater and striking ice features at the summit mixed with the early morning colors. As you ascend the route, you are on the north and west aspects of the mountain. We were under a dark sky for most of the climb. As we were nearing the crater rim, first light was upon us and once we crested over it, the golden glow of the sun below the horizon greeted us to the east. It was the perfect reward for all members of the group as each person had to work through a challenge unique to them.

Now we turn our sights to Chimborazo and preparing our bodies and minds to climb, if the mountain grants us the opportunity.

RMI Guide Dustin Wittmier

Thursday, January 16, 2025 - 3:33 AM PT

We've arrived at high camp on Kilimanjaro! Summit bid tonight!

It was a short and mostly uneventful move from Karanga camp up to Barafu camp, which is our launching point for the summit. The team did great and we arrived in just over 3hrs with amazing views most of the way, although it was quite windy and very busy. 

We've had our summit talk where we discussed our plan and the teams strategy for tomorrow. Final packing is taking place as I write this and we'll have dinner shortly, then it's off to bed for a little sleep before the climb. Weather permitting, we’ll have an early start to avoid the crowds and hopefully reach the summit with less climbers. As per usual, I'm expecting the ascent to take around 7-8 hours with breaks to reach the "Roof of Africa". 

Keep your fingers crossed for us, and there's a chance, if time allows, some of you back home might receive a satellite phone call from the summit. So keep your phones handy. My best guess is we'll be on the summit around 7-7:30 in the morning, Tanzania time. 

RMI Guide Casey Grom and the summit bound crew!

Hola, and thanks for tuning back in.

Today, our team completed our first carry of the trip from Basecamp to Camp 1 at 16,500 feet. None of this would have been possible, however, without an amazing breakfast provided by Grajales and a discussion regarding the crispiness scale of bacon. We traveled amongst waves of glacial ice, towers of penitentes, plains of tiny alpine lakes, and hills of what must be the real rocky horror picture show. It was nothing we couldn't handle with some light encouragement from one another. Alas, we reached Camp 1, cached our gear, and descended back to Basecamp.

A note to Tory, Brian's wife, don't worry, he wore his nose guard today, and he looks fabulous. As the day wore on, we continued discovering new things about one another. Some of us speak American real good, or as some might say, more better than others. Nathan has become Basecamp's shower time police, Ethan likes to whisper sweet nothings, Erica has a farkle mouth, and Brian is already discussing future wine tours while Eric is still nursing a wine hangover from Mendoza, allegedly.

All in all, today was a huge success. Dom and I are very excited for this team.

Tomorrow, we get to rest once more before moving uphill to Camp 1 and beyond. The climb has officially begun, and as the funniest person in this group, I would say this team is UP for the challenge. Yeet, yeet!

RMI Guide Ben Luedtke & Team

The team got some much-needed rest at the hacienda Casa Ilayaku over the last two days, enjoying sunny weather and local food. Down time was spent lounging out in the sun, reading books, and doing some light yoga. The team also continued to work on their technical skills, dialing in some more rope work. The team spent time learning the fundamentals of anchor construction, rappelling, and belaying techniques. They depart to the Cotopaxi hut today with the intention of climbing tonight. 

RMI Guide Mike Bennett

I went to bed tired after three successive nights of little to no sleep. I entered my sleeping bag fearful of seismic disturbances both inside and outside my tent, but fatigue overtook me and I slept with dreams of everything dolce de leche. Woke up to a blue bird day and ready to reset. Not much to say about a rest day- eat, drink, hike a little, eat, play Farkle, talk random minutia, and then eat- you get the picture.

Today I thought would be a good day to share gratitude. I am very grateful for the Argentinian people, so welcoming, huggers and hand shakers, space violators- I love that. I am grateful for the 6 other strangers I am climbing with, thrown together with high individual expectations but how quickly we formed a team of working together for a common goal. Nate- from Illinois, works in the medical device industry and in the Air Force reserves, family man and enjoys a good beer, gentle bear and unable to be poked as he will always laugh it off, always willing to help, not a single swear word in his vocabulary but I am holding out hope. Eric- from Indiana, train engineer, energy is off the charts and he can laugh at himself, authority on rock bands and an avid 4-wheeler, can talk to anybody about anything, always willing to help. Erica- from LA and owns her own business, extremely tough but easy going hanging out with 6 other guys in the mountains with pretty offensive language (outside of Nate), aspiring Farkle master, also quick to contribute productively to a conversation, always willing to help. Ethan- from Indiana, owns his own business, near master of obtuse trivia particularly movies for which he says he never watches them, doesn’t take long for him to get a room laughing, cheats at Farkle, always willing to help. Dom- from WA, our guide and team leader, quick to read a room and join into any conversation from conspiracies on why the world is flat to Farkle strategies, affable, knowledgeable, humble, glad he is leading us. And last but not least, Ben- from a lot of places but most recently I think AZ, our other guide, the uncle every kid wishes he had with his mastery of riddles and bad Dad jokes even though he has no offspring, affable, knowledgeable, humble, also glad he is helping lead us. 

I think I am in good hands with these new friends of mine. So on our first rest day, I am grateful. That’s no cap…

RMI Climber Brian G

Tuesday, January 14, 2025

All is well here on Kilimanjaro!

Today we woke to beautifully clear skies with even better views of Kilimanjaro 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 a great breakfast feast.

We hit the trail once again around 8 am 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 6 hours before reaching camp which is set up and ready for us. 

Along the way we passed around the famous and beautiful Lava Tower reaching just over 15,000', setting new altitude records for some and we also chatted with a few other climbers who are on the same schedule with us. All in all it was a really nice day with clouds gathering in the afternoon to help keep the temperature comfortable for hiking. 

That’s all for now. 

RMI Guide Casey Grom and the Kili crew

Monday, January 13, 2025

Jambo everyone,

We started the day waking at 6:30 to start packing up before moving into our dinning tent for a nice breakfast with porridge, fried eggs, toast, avocado and even some fresh fruit, and most importantly plenty of hot coffee. So clearly we are really roughing it here. 

Today had a really nice day here on Kilimanjaro, waking to clear skies and a beautiful view of the mountain looming in the distance. We fortunately had a light cloudy layer which helped keep us cool while on the trail, which was nice as the sun can be quite intense here near the equator.

We hit the trail shortly before 8am and slowly made our way up the rocky trail with occasional views of Kili above. The trail climbs up a blunted ridge and eventually out of the trees and allowed for some truly spectacular views of the valley below. The team hiked for a little more than 4 hours before reaching out next camp that sits on the Shira plateau, which is the remnant of an ancient lava flow.

Everyone is doing very well and we are currently relaxing in camp.

RMI Guide Casey and crew

Today was a concatenation of surprises which threw all of us in a vortex of emotions and awe! The journey started o’dark early, navigating from the Vacas Valley at Casa de Piedra, straight into fridged knee high white waters to access our next route.  Pins and needles shocked our legs but the cold waters quickly awakened those that were not yet awake.  The team was ready as we headed into the Relinchos Valley, navigating the long narrow edges that overlooked the raging river stemming from Cerro Aconcagua as the team deadheaded towards base camp.  Passing many mules and sparking multiple conversations of chapacubras, lemmings, and jackalopes, helped to preoccupy our conversations and made for a quick traverse. We were treated by Dom and Ben to a delicatessan delight with homemade ham and cheese sandwiches which was a bonus and boosted our spirits. We climbed high and at a good pace until we reached Aconcagua’s base camp.

Other highlights - we saw an Argentine Bolo Mouse which Ben said had a poisonous tail, passed by a heard of Guanacos as they gazed the fields, and mistook the sound of the closing bathroom doors for thunder snow.

All in all a great day as it could only be summed up only to this Aconcagua Slayers Rhyme:

Twas the night before base camp, two camps down one to go! From Pampas de Leñas to Casa de Piedra, all bedded down early, and ready to roll.  Tossing and turning, the thin air spoiled in their sleep. The stench from no showers wrenched as they slept. Tucked tightly in their tents, the storms rattled and the winds howled, but did not prove to be a battle!  No cap!

Dressed in their Patagucci, all tired and weak, they strolled with their feet, crossing creek to creek. The harsh cold weakened and dampened their feet but was match to slow the Aconcagua Slayers beat.  Morale was so high that they could not deny, they trekked on to no demise and accomplished their prize! Base camp conquered, what a feat, nothings going to stop the Patagucci peeps! 

Time for some Farkle gone wild.

RMI Climber Nathan Karlen

RMI Guide Dustin Wittmier checked in this morning to let us know the team reached the summit of Cayambe with 100% success.

The team will make a stop for lunch before continuing to their next hacienda, Casa Ilayku. The team will enjoy a well deserved rest day tomorrow.

Nice work team!