Entries By adam knoff
January 10, 2019
Posted by: Adam Knoff, Taylor Bickford
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Ecuador
Elevation: 15,411'
Today we continued our acclimatization with a hike of
Rucu Pichincha (15,411'), a peak nearby in Quito. A teleferico (gondola) carried us to about 13,000', where we began ascending. Although a light rain greeted us on our arrival, the precip quickly gave way to a pleasant mixture of clouds and clear skies. The team made the summit in good style, but unfortunately the clouds obstructed our views. We made it back down to the gondola just in time to avoid a torrential downpour, and returned to the city to relax and prepare for our move to Otavalo. The team is in great spirits and everyone handled the altitude very well!
RMI Guide Taylor Bickford
January 9, 2019
Posted by: Adam Knoff
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Ecuador
Elevation: 9,350'
Day one of
Expedition Skills Ecuador
Today the team assembled here in Quito, Ecuador’s capital and gateway to the numerous volcanoes reaching 19,000 feet into the equatorial sky which we plan to climb in the coming weeks. With no lost bags, on time flights and darn right prompt people we all gathered for breakfast, ran through a fun team intro and prepared for the day’s events all without the slightest hiccup. I hope the mountains themselves go so smoothly.
Once oriented to one another and the plan, all eleven of us loaded the tour bus, captained by a tour guide named Angel, yes we were in good hands, then headed 15 miles north to the Mitad Del Mundo, or translated to mean “The Middle of the World”. Here we learned much about the history of sun dials, the ancient indigenous knowledge of the equator, proving we don’t need GPS’s to know where things are and many cool physical effects that literally change ten feet on either side of the line.
Of course the most important test was to show how an egg can balance on a nail much easier on the direct line as opposed to 15 feet to the north or south. Whomever managed to earn their master egg balancing certificate gets to climb on my rope because I now know their focus is superb!
After we were all convinced the equator does exist and the world is not flat we headed into the old town of Quito to experience the sights and sounds of a truly bustling city. With clear vistas from the Panecillo hill, one gets a true sense how far stretched this city really is. From north to south, Quito extends for more than 90 kilometers making it seem vast and expansive. From the hill we moved into the old town where we saw the golden church, the presidential palace and the main square of the city. The weather was warm and pleasant and at one point we could see the snow capped summit of Cayambe, our first big objective coming in five days.
But before we do that we must acclimate on lower mountains. Tomorrow we climb a 15,700 foot tall volcano 15 minutes out of the city. It’s a big jump but the team seems experienced and healthy so I am looking forward to a good day. Stay tuned for how that climbs goes.
Hasta Luego or Until Later.
RMI Guide Adam Knoff
September 30, 2018
Posted by: Adam Knoff, Steve Gately
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
The
Mt. Rainier Summit Climb teams reached the summit! They topped out at 8:38 am on a pleasant weather day. The teams are currently working their way back to Camp Muir and we look forward to congratulating them this afternoon at Rainier Basecamp.
September 27, 2018
Posted by: Pete Van Deventer, Adam Knoff
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
After learning cramponing, rope travel, ice axe arrest and crevasse rescue skills, to name a few, the
Expedition Skills Seminar - Muir made their summit attempt today. The teams have been training at Camp Muir since their arrival on Monday.
RMI Guides Pete Van Deventer and
Adam Knoff lead their teams to the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning on a beautiful, clear and windless day. They will enjoy the views, give hugs and high fives and take a few photos before beginning their descent from the crater rim. They will return to Camp Muir for their final night on the mountain. Tomorrow they will descend to Paradise and return to Rainier BaseCamp for a celebration and wrap up of their week together on the mountain.
Congratulations to today's teams!
May 24, 2018
Posted by: Adam Knoff, Hannah McGowan
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
RMI Guides Adam Knoff and Hannah McGowan led the Expedition Skills Seminar – Muir to the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning. Hannah reported breezy (~20 mph) and chilly conditions on the summit. The only clouds to be found were the ones hugging the low lying valleys thousands of feet below them.
The
Expedition Skills Seminar - Muir will return to Camp Muir for one more night on the mountain. The team will descend to Paradise and then to Ashford tomorrow afternoon.
Congratulations to the Seminar Team!
May 19, 2018
Posted by: Adam Knoff, Andy Bond
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
The Four Day Summit Climb Team led by RMI Guides Adam Knoff and Andy Bond reached the summit of Mt. Rainier early this morning. Andy reported clear skies, cold temperatures and great route conditions. The team will spend some time on the Summit before starting their descent.
Congratulations to today's team!
May 14, 2018
Posted by: Adam Knoff, Christina Dale
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
RMI Guides Adam Knoff & Christina Dale led their
Four Day Summit Climb May 11 - 14 teams to the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning. Adam reported perfect conditions on the mountain and a beautiful day. The teams will enjoy some time on the summit before returning to Camp Muir and then continuing to Paradise.
Congratulations to today's Summit Climb teams!
January 23, 2018
Posted by: Adam Knoff, Jordan Cargill
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Ecuador
Elevation: 9,350'
Muchas Gracias to everyone who followed our team as we set out to climb two of Ecuador's highest mountains.
The RMI
Ecuador Volcanoes climbing adventure wrapped up yesterday back in the city we started in but our day was anything but ordinary. On Sunday morning we all packed up at Chilcabamba eco lodge after a great day's rest. From there we made our way up to the Jose Ribas Refuigo located at 16,000 feet on the northern slopes of Cotopaxi.
At 11 pm, our final day together began. We knew the weather on this giant volcano had not been good for at least three days so we were hoping by the time we arrived and settled in things would be improving. This hope was dashed even before we arrived at the hut. From the time we stepped off the bus to the time we put on our crampons and readied ourselves for the climb, nothing had changed. The winds blew a steady twenty with much higher gusts. Add on top of that a snow so wet I was calling it white rain, and you have yourself a pretty rough climbing day.
We all left the hut together at 1:30 am along with 25 other motivated but not necessarily optimistic climbers. 30 minutes into the climb we all resembled walking popsicles but our psych remained high. Things quickly began to deteriorate the higher we went. By 17,000 feet, the mountain had made our decision for us. There would be no summit attempt.
Other teams continued on past our retreating group but we saw them back in the hut a few hours later tired, cold and completely encased in ice. They gave the climb a valiant effort but no one came close to reaching the top. I'd like to think we made the smarter choice.
After our short attempt we phoned the magic bus and had Victor arrive early so we could escape the angry mountain. By 9 am were bound for Quito. Waking up at 11 pm always throws the body for a loop so a good lunch led into a nice siesta which then led into one of the most enjoyable final evenings I can remember.
Thanks to our beer loving Iowa boys, we found ourselves in the beautiful old town of Quito, drinking great locally crafted beer at Bandido's Brewery. The pizza was top notch, the setting unique and the beer superb. The company could not have been better. We told stories of our adventure and made plans for climbs to come. This journey could not have ended any better!
Thanks to everyone on the team for being so supportive, flexible and positive. From a guide's perspective we could not have asked for better!
Ecuador Volcanoes Out........
RMI Guide Adam Knoff
January 21, 2018
Posted by: Adam Knoff, Jordan Cargill
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Ecuador
Elevation: 16,000'
Greetings from 16,000'! The team loaded the bus from Chilcabamba this morning at 10:30 after a leisurely breakfast. After being obscured for most of our stay at Chilcabamba,
Cotopaxi made a guest appearance from
amongst the clouds as we rambled down the rough roads to the park entrance. The brief view of "the Crown Jewel of Ecuador" and the full days rest reinvigorated the team and the psyche was high as we pulled into the parking lot and prepped for the 45-minute hike up to the Refugio. We were greeted with strong winds on the hike and were very excited to reach the shelter of the hut and some hot drinks. The afternoon was spent resting and after an early and delicious trout dinner we are off to bed. The winds continue to howl as we settle into our sleeping bags and we are hoping for a respite when we wake in five hours for the climb. Stay tuned!
RMI Guide Jordan Cargill signing off.
January 20, 2018
Posted by: Adam Knoff, Jordan Cargill
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Ecuador
Elevation: 11,400'
Hello to those following our Ecuador climbing adventure.
I will begin by saying we did not summit
Cayambe yesterday because of difficult route conditions. The morning started as most climb mornings do. An eleven pm wake up call, a bathroom visit the body doesn't ask for, hot liquid, cold bread and and the ever present feeling of "why the heck am I doing this?"
The weather outside was clear and the temps warm. As we ascended the clouds rolled in giving us light snow and a wet mist.
As we got higher the temps dropped and the snow became more difficult to walk in. The wind was blowing 10 mph and a light snow was falling. With only 400 feet to climb before gaining the summit ridge we turned around because of deep post holing and deteriorating weather.
The team was disappointed but understood the reason.
After the climb we regrouped, packed up and loaded the trucks ready to bounce our way back to civilization. The road to and from the Cayambe Refugio is the roughest I've ever been on. Usually a great way to start and end the adventure of climbing the highest point on the Equator.
Once the adventure ended we met our bus at a gas station where we loaded up on post climb necessities such as Pringles, coke and ice cream. This held us over until dinner.
Five hours after leaving the mountain we arrived at our hacienda called, Chilcabamba, tucked quietly away in the beautiful countryside under the shadow of
Cotopaxi.
After a well deserved shower, beer and honest night's sleep, we awoke to appreciate this lodge's full beauty. Although we couldn't see the mountain, the surroundings offered enough to observe. Hummingbirds floated outside the windows and flowered trees waived in the wind.
The rest of today will be spent resting, drying gear and preparing for the climb to come. There is nothing better than a full day's rest after an exhausting day in the mountains.
Stay tuned for more mountain climbing.
RMI Guide Adam Knoff saying Buenas noches from Chilcabamba.
WHERE’S the SNOW!?
I’m following this because I was fortunate enough to be on Adam’s Ecuador team last year and I’m re-living it in 2019 - we made it to the high summit of Chimborazo last year ON THIS DAY in 2018! - Cumbre Whymper! 20,704’
You are in the best of hands under Adam’s guidance!
Godspeed Team Knoff!
My best -
Tom
Posted by: Thomas Mulvey on 1/10/2019 at 9:49 pm
Your views today may have been a bit blah, but you, Team Ecuador, are looking MAHVELOUS! Can’t wait for your next update. Thanks for taking the time to keep those at home in the loop.
Posted by: Tracey Wife-of-Ken Maxwell on 1/10/2019 at 7:31 pm
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