Entries By dominic cifelli
Posted by: Robby Young, Dominic Cifelli, Camille Leininger, Joe Hoch, Nikki Champion, Axel Ryd
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 11,200'
The Four Day Climb led by RMI Guides Robby Young and Joe Hoch were turned around at Ingraham Flats due to high winds and blowing snow. The team returned to Camp Muir and enjoyed a brief break in the weather. The team left Camp Muir around 9:30 am en route to Paradise. We look forward to seeing them at Rainier BaseCamp this afternoon.
Posted by: Dave Hahn, Jack Delaney, Stephen Inman, Dustin Wittmier, Dominic Cifelli
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
The Expedition Skills Seminar - Muir led by RMI Guides Dave Hahn and Dustin Wittmier began on Sunday May 9th with the team meeting at Rainier BaseCamp for a full day orientation. With gear checked, sorted and packed they departed Paradise on Monday morning en route to Camp Muir. For the last two days they have based out of Camp Muir working on mountaineering techniques to prepare them for a summit climb of Mt. Rainier and more. Today they got their chance to test their skills climbing to the summit of Mt. Rainier. Just before 8 am PT, RMI Guide Dave Hahn radioed that the teams were ten minutes from the crater rim. He reported perfect conditions with light and variable winds, and an overall nice and sunny day. After they enjoy some time in the crater and get all the photo ops, the group will start their descent and return to Camp Muir for their final night on the mountain. Tomorrow the teams will descend to Paradise and return to Rainier BaseCamp. The weather has been great all week and we hope they enjoyed their time on the mountain.
Congratulations to today Seminar teams!
Posted by: Pete Van Deventer, Andy Bond, Ben Luedtke, Dominic Cifelli, Jack Delaney, Luke Wilhelm
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 13,000'
RMI Guides Pete Van Deventer and Andy Bond led their team of climbers on the Five Day Climb May 3 - 7 to 13,000' today before deteriorating weather forced them to turn around.
The team completed their Mountaineering School on Tuesday and ascended to Camp Muir yesterday for their first night at 10,080'. They will return to Camp Muir today for their final night on the mountain. We look forward to seeing them at Rainier BaseCamp tomorrow.
A valiant climb made by all! Good work, climbers. Sorry you did not reach the summit, but glad for your safety. <3
Posted by: Lauren Kraft on 5/7/2021 at 9:20 am
Bummer.
Hope they get the chance and make the summit.
Posted by: Don West on 5/6/2021 at 9:56 pm
Posted by: Brent Okita, Hannah Smith, Avery Parrinello, Dominic Cifelli, Nikki Champion, Camille Leininger
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
The Expedition Skills Seminar - Muir led by RMI Guides Brent Okita, Hannah Smith and Avery Parrinello reached the summit of Mt. Rainier today. Brent reported a beautiful day with windy conditions and challenges. The group has spent the last several days training at Camp Muir. Tonight will be their final night at the 10,000' camp and they will descend to Paradise tomorrow. We hope the team enjoyed their time on the mountain. Congratulations on reaching the summit!
Posted by: Nick Scott, Dominic Cifelli
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Elevation: 2,449'
The team has made it back to civilization! We are once again in Mendoza and have celebrated our success on Aconcagua with one final team dinner and trip to one of Mendoza’s famous gelato shops. It’s hard to believe our expedition is over, but not one of us is sad to have access to a shower again. It was a great expedition this year and all of the climbers put forth their very best effort to get up and down the mountain safely. Cheers to an amazing team!
Thanks to Nick and Dominic for guiding to a successful summit! Really appreciated the updates and photos. Congratulations and Happy trails! -Peter
Posted by: Peter Driscoll on 2/7/2020 at 10:46 pm
Posted by: Nick Scott, Dominic Cifelli
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
One final big day. We walked from Base Camp to Pampa de Lenas, roughly 18 miles in a single push to get us on step closer to the park entrance. Before we are finally out though it is time to celebrate with a big BBQ cooked by the mule drivers. We can hardly wait for that meat!
RMI Guide Nick Scott and Team
Yay TEAM! What a experience! I pray everyone continues to have a safe time. Relax and soak it up
Posted by: Katie on 2/6/2020 at 1:02 pm
Posted by: Nick Scott, Dominic Cifelli
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Elevation: 13,800'
After many days of walking uphill, we finally turned ourselves downward towards basecamp. The mountain however, did not seemed pleased about our decision. We woke up this morning to raging winds that made taking down the tents and packing for the descent more of a chore than necessary. It seems the storm we were avoiding by advancing our itinerary had arrived. The winds howled at our backs the entire way back to basecamp. Despite the trouble from the weather, we made the trip back to the comforts of Plaza Argentina. A trip that took eight days to go up, we completed in just seven hours on the way down. Everyone was happy to be back in solid structures where the wind couldn’t bother us and to have ample oxygen to fill our lungs with. Just two more days and we will be back in Mendoza. We are so close to civilization we can taste it!
On The Map
Posted by: Nick Scott, Dominic Cifelli
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Elevation: 22,841'
We woke early to clear skis filled with unfamiliar stars. The wind was on us from the moment we crawled from our tents, taunting the climbers as they packed and tried in vain to drink down their coffee before the heat was stolen by the gusts. At 4am we marched, uphill into the darkness with only the bubble of light produced by our headlamps to guide us. Slowly, we made progress. One switchback after the next. Hour after hour, we toiled uphill, the wind a constant companion. It chilled us to the bone, no matter how many layers of down were added. On and on we climbed, past the ruins of the Independencia hut, across the Gran Traverse to the cave. Ever higher, one foot in front of the other. One step, one breath. The air is getting thinner with every meter gained. Harder and harder we breath. Onward from the cave, up the daunting Canaleta Couloir to Guanacos Ridge. Upward we go, ever so slowly, our muscles at their limit without precious oxygen to fuel them. Our legs are burning, one final step. No more mountain above us. The summit! Success! After so many days of carrying loads, one after the other. Moving camps day after day. We are finally on top of Aconcagua, The Stone Sentinel. 22,841 feet. The tallest mountain in South America. We’ve done it!
RMI Guide Nick Scott
On The Map
WHOOHOO!
Congratulations to the whole team. A special day for all to see. Safe travels as you descend such a magnificent place.
Posted by: Pat on 2/4/2020 at 5:28 am
Congratulations from Mr. C
Posted by: Ken Cwikula on 2/3/2020 at 9:49 pm
Posted by: Nick Scott, Dominic Cifelli
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Elevation: 19,600'
After many days of carrying loads up hill, we are finally at high camp, poised to make an attempt on the summit. Tonight will be our first of two nights spent at 19,600 feet, but it is unlikely many of us will sleep tonight. This will be due as much to nerves and apprehension as to the altitude. Regardless of whether sleep comes tonight, we will all rise early and begin the slow, steady march towards the top of Aconcagua at 22,842 feet early tomorrow morning, before the first light of dawn is on the horizon. It seems the mountain and weather gods have seen fit to push the worst of the winds farther out into the forecast, lucky for us. It will still be cold and it will still be hard, but this group of climbers just might have the right amount of grit to pull it off.
On The Map
Wishing you a successful day.
Prayers to the winds to take a break on you all.
Mr. C. is watching.
Posted by: Pat on 2/3/2020 at 9:19 am
Thinking of you all today as you push for the summit! Good luck and happy, safe hiking! Hoping for a successful climb for this crew.
Posted by: Marlana D on 2/3/2020 at 4:18 am
Posted by: Nick Scott, Dominic Cifelli
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Elevation: 18,000'
Due to an unfavorable weather forecast we have made the decision to alter our regular schedule. Instead of carrying to Camp 3 today, the guide team decided to rest at Camp 2 and move up to High Camp tomorrow. This advances our itinerary by one day and pushes up our summit attempt to Monday the 3rd. After carefully studying the weather and consulting with the locals who know Aconcagua’s weather patterns best, the guides and climbers believe that this decision provides us with our best window for a summit attempt. Everyone is feeling strong and has been acclimatizing well. We will give it our best efforts and hope that the winds hold off just long enough to make it to the top.
Congratulations!! Well Done! Sooooo happy and excited for each one of you!
Posted by: Kendra Madrid on 5/14/2021 at 12:27 am
Congratulations! So happy for you all!!
Posted by: Tracey Inman on 5/13/2021 at 2:22 pm
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