Entries By dominic cifelli

Saturday, November 30, 2024 - 5:48 pm PT

Today is rest day in Camp 2. I don’t know what Dom’s blog said about yesterday’s ‘hike’ to Camp 2, but it was hellish. Endless fixed lines, rising almost perpendicularly - a little exaggerated - and me demonstrating the art of the ascender to all. We literally died when we reached Camp 2. So today was Lazarus day - the day to bring the team back from the dead. We slept, or rested, ‘til about noon. Chris had a quick blood transfusion to overcome the odor poisoning he suffered in our tent last night.  Then it was hydration, eat, and construct our best version of the mess tent. Dom has taken over design, as he was quite put out by the excellent design the rest of the team executed in Base camp without his input or supervision, while he tunneled looking for the origin of man, or more accurately Dave Hahn. Dom is quite fussy about his cooking space, the worktop height, easy access to the spice rack - it’s a bit like Gordon Ramsey! In fairness he is an ace with the ice-saw.
We had a quick stroll to the most fantastic viewing point.  Looking down on the dot of Camp 1 in the valley below, and the most incredible view of Mt Shin, and the pinnacle ridge leading to Tyree. However it is way too cold to linger, someone said -25F.  Antartica brings a whole new definition to the word cold.  Hopefully Lazarus day works and we’ll be fit to give Vinson a shot tomorrow.

- RMI Climber Myles

November 29, 2024 - 10:15 pm PT

Well just like the Dude, Mother Nature abided (for the most part) we woke up to clear skies still air and sunshine, everything was saying go. So we did. We’re trying to hit a weather window on Sunday that looks gooood for summiting and so we chose to skip the carry up the fixed lines and give it a go in one shot.
Holy F**king Shit it was hard, but we made it. Heavy loads, steep slopes and 3000+ feet of gain with packs that could moonlight as ship anchors, we climbed to Vinson High Camp.

So absolutely proud that we were able to make it up here in such style and I’ll save you the nitty gritty for your climber to regale you with later. We take a well deserved rest day tomorrow (or today, it’s 3am) and will gear up for our summit push Sunday.

RMI Guide Dominic Cifelli

Thursday, November 28, 2024 - 8:18 pm PT

Vinson Thanksgiving

It’s 1AM here the time of day is such a backdrop in Antarctica. The sun circles overhead and the only setting we get is when it hides behind one of the many unbelievable peaks surrounding us.
Our Thanksgiving wasn’t quite the same this year, we traded turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes for frozen milky ways, rock hard Swedish fish, quesadillas and steak with mashed potatoes (microwaveable pouches from back home).
And we moved!

We traveled from Vinson Basecamp to Camp 1 with a light breeze at times and snow that made for good sled pulling. Views beneath the West face of Vinson, Shin, and Tyree have us gobsmacked every time we look up. Which admittedly I wish was more. We’ll sleep here tonight in the hopes of moving to high camp tomorrow but we will see what the weather has in store. Wish us luck!!!

- RMI Guide Dominic Cifelli
 

Wednesday, November 27, 2024 - 8:05 pm PT

Anja‘s Blog:

With the calm sound of snow falling on our tents in the ear we cosily fell asleep after a satisfying first day on Vinson basecamp. Todays morning surprises us with a pristine snow-covered landscape, the sun glimpsing at us once in a while. What a Privilege to be here and be able to observe all These changing Moody of nature in a breathtakingly beautiful scenery! But for now, there is no time for further contemplation: work must be done- we will be going up the glacier towards camp 1 to cache.

The sun pleased us the whole day: without wind we were sometimes even sweating on our way up. As we had a good pace, we overtook two teams! In the end Dominic extended our caching to one more leg : we brought our heavy packs and sleds close to Camp 1 ( uphill walking time 4.5 h, 750 elevation gain). On our way back to basecamp we almost ran: we were very happy to reach "Home sweet Home“ after two hours. Suppen was extraordinary, because from the stock we found 3 m deep in the glacier ( that is an extra Story, not for now) . We are now going to bed with a happy smile on our faces- and with the lullaby, Shackelton loved so much: "Guten Abend, gute Nacht…“ (unfortunately, we could not take an audio …)

Good night to all our beloved ones from Team Vinson 2024

We’ve officially made it to Vinson Basecamp, a significant milestone for our team as we prepare for the climb ahead. The flight into this remote corner of Antarctica is always an unforgettable experience, with vast expanses of ice and jagged peaks stretching to the horizon. We are not alone here at Basecamp, as teams from around the world make their final preparations as well. There’s a collective sense of purpose here, a shared understanding of the challenges and rewards that come with climbing the highest peak on this frozen continent.

Tomorrow, we plan to either move camp or cache supplies at the bend in the Branscomb Glacier. This marks the start of our climb, where strategy and teamwork will play a critical role. Caching supplies is a useful tool to ensure we can move efficiently while staying prepared for what lies ahead. 

Standing at basecamp, the magnitude of our shared objective is clear. This is a team effort in every sense and we're ready. We know the climb will test us, but thats what we came here for. We’re ready to take the next chess move toward the summit.

RMI Guide Dominic Cifelli & Team

Monday, November 25, 2024 - 4:55 pm PT

In the mountains, the weather isn’t just a backdrop—it’s often the main character. True to form, it wasted no time reminding us who’s in charge by throwing a wrench in our plans. With a low-pressure system on the horizon, we seized the opportunity to push forward and fly to the Ice.

Expediting our packing, organizing, and weigh-ins, the team worked efficiently to hit the narrow weather window—and nailed it. The reward? A safe landing at Union Glacier, a gateway to one of the most remote and breathtaking places on Earth.

From here, we have just one more flight before we begin our climb at Vinson Basecamp. The anticipation is palpable as we cross our fingers for favorable weather tomorrow. For now, we’re soaking in the crisp, frigid air and marveling at the stunning, otherworldly views that only Antarctica can offer.

The icy landscapes stretch endlessly, painted in a palette of whites and blues that seem to defy imagination. It’s a reminder of the raw beauty and sheer scale of this continent, and we’re humbled to be here, ready to take on the challenges ahead.

Wish us luck as we embark on the next leg of this adventure. Here’s to clear skies, strong teamwork, and the climb of a lifetime!

RMI Guide Dominic Cifelli

The September 1 - 5 Five Day Climb reached the summit of Mt. Rainier led by RMI Guides Dominic Cifelli and Sam Hoffman.  Climbers reached the summit of Mt. Rainier around 5 am and were able to enjoy some time in the summit crater.  The skies are clear and it's a bluebird day.  The teams left the crater rim at 6:10am and are currently on their descent to Camp Muir.  Once back at camp they will get to rest and enjoy the views and will spend tonight on the mountain. Tomorrow they have another 4.5 miles to descent in order to reach Paradise. There program will conclude tomorrow with a celebration of their adventure.

Nice work team!

The Four Day Climb August 18 - 21 led by RMI Guides Dominic Cifelli and Drew O'Brien reached the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning. They enjoyed some time in the crater before starting their descent from the crater rim around 7 am. It's a beautiful day on the mountain.  The teams will return to Camp Muir for a short break before continuing down to Paradise this afternoon and concluding their program.

Congratulations to today's teams! 

The Four Day Climb led by RMI Guides Dominic Cifelli and Jackson Breen reached the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning and were walking off the crater rim at 6 am PDT. Dominc reported clear skies above 7,000' feet, and no wind. The team is making their way back to Camp Muir and will be back at Rainier Basecamp to celebrate this afternoon.

Congratulations Team! 

The Five Day Climb led by RMI Guides Dominic Cifelli and Nick Sinapius reached the summit of Mt. Rainier early this morning. The team is in route to Camp Muir where they will spend another night on the mountain before starting their descent.

Congratulations Team!