RMI Expeditions Blog

Day two in Ecuador and we are already tagging 15,000'! The teleferico (gondola) whisked us up to 13,000, and then we started the hike through the gently rolling highlands below Rucu Pichincha. Swirling clouds throughout the day kept us from getting our first views of Cayambe and Cotopaxi, but also kept the sun at bay and made for pleasant hiking temperatures. After an hour or so of hiking through the grasslands the gradient kicked up and we started to pick up elevation quickly, traversing exposed slopes around to the far side of the peak, where a short but fun scramble brought us to the summit of Rucu Pichincha at 15,407'. With overcast skies and rain in the forecast we were on the lookout for afternoon thunderstorms, but the team moved well and we made quick work of the descent before any rain drops could reach us. 

Now we're all back at Hotel Mercure to rest the legs, dry out our trail shoes and pack up to leave the big city tomorrow. The team is feeling strong, psyched and ready for Cayambe! 

RMI Guide Henry Coppolillo

After our big day yesterday, it was time for another alpine start. In the wee hours of 10am we began our trek on the O Circuit. The first section of our loop around the Towers. Today is a mellow day, especially compared to the hike to the base of towers. Taking half the time and climbing a fraction of the elevation. Today could be called an active rest day. A term that anyone who has climbed with me in the past would poke fun at me for suggesting. 

We weave and wind our way through the foothills of the mountains, mostly hiking through the low desert like terrain that certain parts of Patagonia offer. While enjoying the sweeping views that a lack of tall trees lends us a beautiful blue river, the Paine River, carves the landscape and we follow it all the way to Seron Camp. An open field with big views and a cozy hut where we will eat dinner. Tomorrow is a bigger day, but one that ends in my favorite camp of the whole trek, Lago Dickson. Wish us luck and keep hoping for clear skies!! 

RMI Guide Dominic Cifelli

Wednesday, February 4, 2026 - 10:23 PM PT

Today was a carry high, sleep low kind of day.

We hauled big loads up to Camp 1 at 16,400 ft. The winds were a little spicy, and combined with heavy packs it made for a hard push. Slow steps. Focused breathing. Lots of internal pep talks.

But wow. The views.

The colors up there are unreal — reds and oranges — like someone dropped us on Mars. It’s wild how brutal and beautiful can coexist so loudly.

We stayed up high for about an hour and a half to cache our gear and give our bodies time to adapt. Eat. Drink. Breathe. 

Then we turned around and sailed back down to base camp. We don’t use the f-word on this mountain — fast. But we did move very, very efficiently. Skiing down the scree with light packs.

And waiting for us when we got back?

Our local team, Grajales, welcoming us with an incredible recepción: fresh fruit, cheese, meats, crackers, and endless cups of jugo. Truly elite hospitality.

Right on cue, the clouds started building — and almost the second we made it back to camp, the snow arrived. A quick squall of wind and snow blew through, reminding us who’s in charge up here. Luckily, we were already in our  warm dome tent, listening to the wind do its thing outside while we stayed cozy inside.

It’s been an unpredictable weather year on the mountain, so we’re watching the forecast closely and hoping those bigger winds ease up soon.

The good news?

We’ve earned another rest day tomorrow. 

More mountain soon,

RMI Guide Jess Wedel & the Aconcagua team

Today was the day, the official start of the trek. After a quaint and much-needed rest day spent packing, recouping, and doing our best to actually rest, we were ready to get rolling. We did just that, bright and early at 5:30 a.m., scarfing down breakfast and hitting the road before the sun had fully risen. 

Day one does not ease you in. Instead, it opens with one of the hardest efforts of the entire trek: the park’s namesake, Las Torres. Three striking granite spires rise abruptly from the landscape, as if carefully carved by a patient but dramatic hand. They are awe-inspiring to behold, but getting to them is not for the faint of heart. The hike takes roughly five hours on the way up, followed by a long and careful four-hour descent down a narrow, well-traveled trail. It is a big day by any measure, and the team met it with equal parts grit, good humor, and quiet determination.

Tomorrow we officially begin the O Circuit and make our way to our first camp. For now, we rest, refuel, and celebrate a job well done, along with a very Happy Birthday to our teammate Kathy. ��

Rmi Guide Dominic Cifelli 

Shadows and light in pairs that cling, 10 climbers made it to the top of Iztaccíhuatl- Mexico's third highest peak at 17,160'. We spent a chilly night in warm tents at 14,500' before continuing the chilly night with a 1:40 wakeup. Taking the low (and now dry) route to gain the main ridge we wandered over bouldery moraines, dusty ridges, freshly ground pumice, striated and marred rock all under the looming, dark, dozing distaff walls of the ancient overlapping cones. After much plodding we gained the summit ridge just in time for a much welcomed, warming sunrise. Scratching our way to the summit we took in views of a deep but diminishing hanging glacier in the mountain's highest crater. Surrounded by glacial erosion, to see one of the old ones hanging on begs the question how long until there's no ice left at all? Popocatépetl, Itza's neighbor (and mythical lover) has recently shed his in an extended period of eruption. Thankfully, these peaks have enjoyed a chilly start to the winter. That said, we had excellent climbing conditions which enhanced an already wonderful day in the high above, as well as a clean return. But our legs feel inconsequential in the current state they're in. Now it is time to look for leisure and recovery in Puebla before heading to Orizaba. 

RMI Guide Will Ambler

The team enjoyed a great first day here in Quito! We met as a group for the first time this morning and headed out to explore the city. First stop was a visit to the equator, followed by the Church of La Compania and Independence Square. With many of us arriving late last night or in the wee hours of the morning we are looking forward to catching up on some sleep and heading into thinner air on Rucu Pichincha tomorrow! 

RMI Guide Henry Coppolillo & Team

Hola amigos!

It was a simple day today but that didn’t mean it was an easy one. Our main mission was to get everything packed for the upper mountain and sneak some rest in.

But rest when you’re at 14,000 feet isn’t the same as taking a long sweet nap at home. Our bodies are still hard at work adapting to these great heights.

We’ve stressed our systems significantly and just as we start to feel pretty good here, we’ll stress them again as we head higher up. That’s acclimatization for you!

Everyone is doing well — little headaches here and there, but appetites are still strong and spirits are high.

We got our backpacks packed for tomorrow — mostly food, stoves, pots, pans, ice axes, crampons, and all the things we don’t need at base camp. They are loaded. Most of us with around 50lbs.

The winds are blowing up high, but down here it is that perfect kind of Plaza Argentina evening — sun still warm, boots off, everyone horizontal in some version of “rest.”

Soon we’ll have dinner and then fall asleep in our luxury accommodations: sleeping bags, down jackets and the gentle symphony of tent fabric flapping in the wind.

Sending all our love to everyone back home.

RMI Guide Jess Wedel and the Aconcagua team

Hello everyone,

Today we headed to Tarangire National Park know for its abundant animals and plentiful elephants, and it did not disappoint. Not sure how many elephants we saw, probably several hundred at the least. It wouldn’t seem like we could get tired of seeing elephants, but there were so many that eventually we had to keep driving so we could see other animals.

There were lots of giraffes, impalas, zebras, wildebeest and many others. 

One of the highlights was seeing a Cheetah in the distance relaxing in the shade.

We are spending our last night here in Africa at Nyikani Camp, which has beautiful tented rooms with screen windows to allow the sounds of the African night in. If you’ve ever heard of glamping, that’s what we are doing.

Everyone is doing great and hoping to see a few more big cats on our way out tomorrow. Then it will be back to our main lodge near Arusha for a quick shower before catching our evening flights home.

I’ve asked the team to come up with just word the best sums up their experience, and here are our answers.

Camaraderie 

Perseverance

Enrichment

Humbling

precision

Blessed

Enlightening

Wild

Spectacular

Inspiring

Come join us for an adventure sometime!

RMI Guide Casey Grom and the safari crew

Tuesday, February 3, 2026 - 7:30 am PT

In the van, headed towards La Joya, we are entertained by Lacie's enduring tunes and John's incredible stories of dirty ice caves and saving lives on Denali and windy ski traverses of Greenland (before the days of heated socks) while our lungs and legs attempt recovery from yesterday's ascent of La Malinche:

Starting our walk 5 minutes after 5 de la mañana we wandered up through the persisting forest, cutting service road switchbacks along the direct, dusty and well-traveled camino. By headlamps and the light of a pale, crisp and nearly full moon we ambled upwards, through the woodsmoke soaked forest - owned and cherished by the Mexican public. Sunrise, when it came, was a pleasant affair, painting our objective with its precipitous walls a soft orange glow while pastel pink skies warmed behind us. Cold but amicable clear and calm weather allowed us a welcome summit caesura. Those of us who attempted the peak found éxito and those who returned to las cabañas at Malintzi have recovered from the GI disputes. From our climb we were able to lay eyes on the rest of our lofty plans and now, our feet freshly exfoliated from grinding the pervasive volcanic sand, we are ready for Iztaccíhuatl.

RMI Guide Will Ambler

Monday, February 2, 2026 - 5:15 pm PT

Today we walked 8 miles from Casa de Piedras to Plaza Argentina Base Camp. I’m happy to report: we all made it in good form - big win! 

Highlights included:

We got the best send-off this morning from Jimmy and Eze, who somehow made gourmet meals deep in the Andes. Truly unclear how they do it, but the food was incredible.

We’re generally feeling… better. After all the travel, trail starts, and adjusting to the high, dry climate, it feels like we’re finally settling into expedition life. Routines are forming. Bodies are cooperating. Spirits are up. A miracle.

We started the day by yelping and laughing through the coldest glacier water imaginable. As we crossed that first river, Denis said, “A core memory was just created.” And despite the numb feet, standing there as the morning light hit the rocks and exploded into colors around us, it really felt true.

We FINALLY saw Aconcagua. Yes — actually saw her. The clouds cleared and there she was: gorgeous, massive, slightly intimidating. We got to stare at her all day, which felt pretty special (and mildly existential).

We played “I Spy a Guanaco” for most of the hike. I don’t know who won because we’re not competitive, but there were many, many guanaco sightings. And we got to hear them relincho. A yipping sound they make and also what the valley we ascended was named after - Relinchos valley.

And… we made it to Base Camp! Our home for the next four days. Tents are up, duffels are everywhere, and everyone suddenly looks like they’ve been living outside for weeks (it’s only been days but don’t tell the team I said that).

By the end of the day, I realized Denis was right — not just about that river crossing, but about the whole day. It really feels like one of those memories we’ll carry for a long time.

Tomorrow is our first rest day and we are very much looking forward to it.

RMI Guide Jess Wedel