Entries By dominic cifelli
June 12, 2024
Posted by: Dominic Cifelli, Seth Burns, Nicole De Petris
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Denali
Elevation: 7,800'
Wednesday, June 12, 2024 - 2:13 pm PT
Stuck at Basecamp
Today was going to be the day, the start of the trip. The launching point of our grand adventure. We were ready. We had practiced our ice axe arrest, learned how to rig our sleds, and relearned how to use the bathrooms here. The CMCs. We went to bed anxious, ready, and excited. But that’s when the snow started, and kept going. We were socked in a cloud with no sign of any mountains around us and no viable window for a move to our next camp. So we sat and sat and drank coffee waiting for our time to come. When the sun finally showed itself, it was just too warm (I know, shocker) to head out. The biggest crevasses on our climb form on the lower Kahiltna and with the mushy snow from the strong sun/ warming temps plus the variable weather, we stayed at Basecamp. We’ll try again tomorrow to get to the base of Ski Hill, our Camp 1.
Wish us luck!
RMI Guide Dominic Cifelli
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June 6, 2024
Posted by: Dominic Cifelli, Nicole De Petris, Bailey Servais, Arianna Drechsler
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 5,400'
The Expedition Skill Seminar - Emmons team May 31 - 5 June led by RMI Guide Dominic Cifelli endured some epic wet weather during their six day training and climbing program. After two days of technical training and climbing school the team headed to the White River Entrance of Mt. Rainier donned their packs and climbed to the lower Emmons Glacier. The team spent two days in rainy and snow weather before descending to the trailhead and returning to Ashford. On Wednesday the team spent another day training to complete their program.
Here's hoping for better weather next time!
May 30, 2024
Posted by: Hannah Smith, Dominic Cifelli, Nick Sinapius, Nicole De Petris, Arianna Drechsler, Mac Nolde
Categories:
Elevation: 11,200'
The Four Day Climb May 27 - 30 led by RMI Guides Hannah Smith and Dominic Cifelli reached 11,200ft, Ingraham Flats, today before high winds forced the group to descend. All climbers returned safely to Camp Muir around 4:30 am. They plan to leave Camp Muir at 9 am for their descent to Paradise. We look forward to seeing them in Ashford this afternoon.
PC: Arianna Drechsler & Hannah Smith
Stunning photos!
Posted by: Some guy from Puyallup on 5/31/2024 at 6:48 am
May 25, 2024
Posted by: Casey Grom, Dominic Cifelli, Josh Geiser, Seth Burns, Avery Stolte, Will Ambler
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 12,300'
The Four Day Climb led by RMI Guides Casey Grom and Dominic Cifelli reached 12,300' on Mt. Rainier early this morning. The team reached the mid-point of Disappointment Cleaver, but the strong winds of 40 - 50 mph forced the team make the decision to descend safely back to Camp Muir. They will return to Rainier Basecamp in Ashford later this afternoon.
Congratulations Team!
That photo looks like something out of a movie—pretty otherworldly.
Posted by: Some guy from Puyallup on 5/25/2024 at 10:06 pm
RMI Guides Dominic Cifelli & Jack Delaney led their Four Day Climb May 10 - 13 to Ingraham Flats this morning. Route conditions prevented the climbers from going further, they were able to take advantage of the nice weather to do a bit of training before returning to Camp Muir. The teams have packed up and are descending to Paradise. We look forward to seeing them back in Ashford this afternoon.
May 5, 2024
Posted by: Dominic Cifelli, Daniel May, Seth Burns, Drew O’Brien, Tom Skoog
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 10,080'
The Five Day Climb led by RMI Guides Dominic Cifelli and Daniel May completed their Orientation and Climbing School days and then ascended to Camp Muir on Saturday. Today they were able to do some training at Camp Muir, then packed up their gear and descended to Paradise. The team will conclude their program this afternoon at Rainier BaseCamp.
April 25, 2024
Posted by: Dominic Cifelli, Seth Burns, Mike Bennett, Tom Skoog
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 10,080'
The first trip of the Mt. Rainier season is always a special one and just like that, it has come and gone. We spent the week learning skills like crevasse rescue, rappelling, glacier travel, the basics of snow safety, and even some fixed line travel. It was a busy week! We didn’t make the summit and in mountaineering, that’s part of the game. Sometimes the mountain, no matter how much we want it, just says no to going up high. It’s a tough pill, but a worthwhile one to take in stride and with conviction that the decision was the right one. We’ll take home the skills, the memories, and the bug to come back and try again another day.
The weather is becoming wetter and windier and looks to be trending that way for our descent tomorrow. The hot food, showers, and beds in town will be that much sweeter.
Cheers to a great week and a great start to the season, Team!
RMI Guide Dominic Cifelli
March 4, 2024
Posted by: Dominic Cifelli, Ben Luedtke
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mexico
Elevation: 18,491'
On Saturday, March 2, 2024, Catherine Rossbach reached the summit of Mexico's Pico de Orizaba with the Mexico's Volcanoes team led by RMI Guides Dominic Cifelli and Ben Luedtke. At age 75, she is the oldest woman to reach Orizaba's summit. Wow! Go Catherine!!
Eight days ago eleven mountaineers drawn from around the globe to climb Mexican volcanoes gathered in a circle to introduce themselves. The group of two guides and nine climbers was comprised of friends from home, acquaintances from prior climbs, and some who were strangers to all.
Dominic, Ben, Catherine, Eric, Erica, Jean-Paul, Kat, Rich, Rossi, Thinus, and Woody came to Mexico with widely varied backgrounds, climbing resumes, and individual expectations. However, the group shared the common objectives of summiting La Malinche, Ixta, and Orizaba.
Frustration on La Malinche.
One of our group was felled below the tree line by a violent eruption of food poisoning. Half of the remaining climbers passed on attempting the last couple hundred meters to conserve energy for the week of climbing ahead. The remainder were turned back just 100m from the summit by local authorities closing the mountain early to clear the trails of spectators following the Sky Race.
Why do we climb?
Frustration on Ixta.
The team, strengthened by the addition of our local guide Allen, made high camp but our summit attempt was blown away by the violent eruptions of nearby Popo. The group descended to base camp powdered with ash and weighted with disappointment.
Why do we climb?
One last chance on Orizaba.
Setting out on the approach under the nurturing light of la luna and a clear star-speckled sky, the team was full of anticipation. We flowed up the oddly iced Jamapa glacier, traversed a segment of the mountain, climbed a challenging compact chimney, scrambled up seemingly endless scree, and then basked in the sunbeams of el sol, standing tall on the summit of the 3rd highest mountain in North America at 18,491 ft
(5,636m) of elevation. Elation.
Why we climb.
Through a week of hard work and at times harder play, the team have deepened pre-existing friendships and created potential to expand acquaintanceships. Strangers no more. Now we are sitting at breakfast, ready to return home and then continue our climbing journeys together and alone.
Why we climb…
Climber Jean-Paul Rebillard
Sign Up For Mexico's Volcanoes February 24, 2024 Emails
Lovely, profound reflection.
Wonderful words, memorable illustrations.
Thank you.
And congratulation.
From Midwest USA flatlands.
Waltero
Posted by: Walter Glover on 3/4/2024 at 1:58 am
A great ending to what I am sure was an incredible experience. The breakfast of course I meant. I write in my recovery journal about how the mountaineers that reach summit never focus on summit really - the ones that succeed are the ones that live in the moment and enjoy the process of the climb in and of itself whatever that means to them. Your story is very beautiful.
#mahalo
Posted by: Scott Lipinoga on 3/4/2024 at 1:26 am
March 2, 2024
Posted by: Dominic Cifelli, Ben Luedtke
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mexico
Elevation: 18,491'
When’s the last time you walked out the door not knowing if you were going to be able to accomplish what you’re setting out to do? When’s the last time you got your doors blown off trying to complete a voluntary endeavor?
Whens the last time you forwent a night of sleep in order to be cold, exhausted, doubtful, exhillerated, out of gas, and awe inspired. All at the same time?
9 climbers attempted the summit of the highest peak in Mexico and the third tallest in North America today. 9 people left the comfort of their homes, took the time away from family and friends to train (hard), and came to try something they weren’t sure they would accomplish and did.
100% of the team stood on the summit of Orizaba at 930 am this morning. Despite the harsh conditions that the Jamapa glacier had to offer. It was a long, hard fought, and absolutely gorgeous day and we couldn’t be happier.
It’s now time to eat, reflect, and banter about how we got stopped by two popo’s, how much better Vermont maple syrup is, trials and tribulations in the Mexico móbil sauna, and wonder whatever we’re eating is a sandwich, soup, stew and what it means to be fueled by boar.
Congratulations to the whole team! AND ESPECIALLY Catherine Rossbach who became the oldest woman ever to summit Orizaba today!!
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Catherine, you are my hero!! Huge congratulations to the whole team for your perseverance and this amazing accomplishment!
Posted by: Sara van Valkenburg on 3/3/2024 at 2:45 pm
Hoping the weather holds! Best of luck to the team!
Posted by: Cheryl Goossen on 6/13/2024 at 9:25 pm
Hope for good weather.
Posted by: Steven McKinley on 6/12/2024 at 6:58 pm
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