Hello everyone, this is Team Mexico. JJ Justman and Adam Knoff as guides. We are at high camp on the mountain of Ixtaccihuatl. This is our first real mountaineering challenge of the trip and we are sitting comfortably at 14,500 feet. We are taking a different route than the normal route that other teams generally take because the mountain this year is so dry. We have a great view of the upper mountain from where we are sitting and have a new route picked out that keeps us on ridge lines to keep us safe from rockfalls. We're very excited for tomorrow's summit bid and will keep you posted on how that all unfolds. Stay tuned for more action tomorrow. Hasta manana.
RMI Guide Adam Knoff
RMI Guide Adam Knoff checks in from Ixta's High Camp.
This is Kevin’s wife… Your March 4 breakfast and dinner sounds fabulous. Kevin said he would be roughing it, but now I think he’s really on a spa vacation with Bill.
Breakfast came early this morning at the BW Majestic Hotel, located in the heart of the world's second largest city. By 7 am the group was assembled on the Majestic's top floor where the restaurant is located and to our surprise, we could clearly make out the glaciated peak of Ixta far out to the south. This was indeed confirmation that Mexico really does possess snow and ice. A fact most North Americans are unaware of. With our excitement clearly building we loaded the waiting van and headed straight to- oh ya! Wal Mart. Yup, glaciers and Wal Mart, these go hand in hand on successful mountain climbing trips. After we saved a bunch of pesos on today's everyday low price, we gunned it to La Malinche where we moved promptly into our dorm style cabanas and motivated for our first acclimating hike up the flanks of La Malinche itself. With the summit laying a hop skip and jump out of our reach, the team took its final rest break at 13,700 feet and quickly descended. Nothing better to toughen one up! We are now off to dinner and preparations for tomorrow's move to Ixta. Team Orizaba out.
RMI Guides JJ Justman & Adam Knoff
Today our winter team made it to 11,500 feet on Mt. Rainier! It was tough going at the end. We had thigh deep snow and we decided to make the safe decision to turn around.
The weather is beautiful but the conditions are tough. However, that didn't stop the team from having a great day up high.
It's a unique feeling being up here in the winter. We are all alone and we are enjoying Rainier's pristine beauty that can only be enjoyed in winter.
RMI Guide Jason Thompson is now giving a lecture in snow science and avalanche awareness.
That's all for now.
RMI Guide JJ Justman
Awesome! HIGH FIVE, FRANK AND TIM!! I cannot wait to hear all of the stories. You guys look great out there. XOXOXOXO Jenna
Posted by: Jenna on 2/8/2013 at 12:37 pm
WOOOOHOOOO!!! Rock on guys!! **Dan- I can’t wait to see you again, I missed you so much! Hope you got some majestic pictures ready for me; I got beer ready for you <3 Stay safe out there.
Our winter seminar awoke to pancakes and a view! We have a little break in the weather. So we are busy taking photos. It still is a little blustery but we plan on continuing big mountain training. On the agenda, building anchors, crevasse rescue and self rescue.
RMI Guide JJ Justman
~ Yayyyyyyyyy!!!:) sounds AWESOME!! i cant wait to have some pancakes with ya when you get back babe!! muuaahh!!! looks amazingly Beautiful there~ have fun & enjoy the journey to the summit!!!!
Posted by: candi on 2/6/2013 at 12:01 pm
Pancakes on a mountain?? I never get pancakes for breakfast! I am totally jealous :-D Keep your energy up, stay hydrated, and have fun!!
Our team made it to Camp Muir!
It was a long, arduous day but everyone put their heads down, gritted their teeth and made it to 10,000 feet in great style.
The action continues! Despite a little bit of weather to keep us cool we are having a lot of fun training in the snow.
RMI Guide JJ Justman
It’s about time! ;) Congrats to you all!!! Next step: rocking awesome summit bid. Keep your spirits up and remember how truly awesome this journey is for each and every single one of you. Tim: xxxooo! Make it happen!
Posted by: Tim's Little Woman on 2/6/2013 at 6:04 am
RMI's Expedition Skill Seminar - Winter is a go! And the first thing we are doing is the 1st principal of Leave No Trace...plan and prepare. Adam Knoff and I are busy with the team organizing and packing gear, practicing knots and hitches, and teaching various self rescue techniques all in the comfort of RMI BaseCamp in Ashford.
We have a decent forecast and our hope is to make a big push up to Camp Muir tomorrow. Will we summit? How high will we get in the frigid snows of Rainier? Stay tuned to find out.
One thing is for sure, we will be having fun while going through advanced training for big mountain climbing.
RMI Guide JJ Justman
Tim and Frank, my super-charged awesome inspirations: come home safe and happy and with lots of good pics. Can’t wait to hear all of your fun stories and see your smiling faces. We are all so proud, and love and miss you guys tons. HIGH FIVE!!! XXOO
Hello everyone, It's JJ with Team 3 on Aconcagua. We are all back safe and sound in Base Camp. This will be our last dispatch. Out plan is to walk out part way tomorrow, have an asado dinner with the cowboys, then wake up and head to Mendoza on the 20th.
I would like to take the opportunity to allow our climbers to write a little something on the blog:
Hey guys its Greg. Well it looks like I've got a new addiction with headaches nausea and exhaustion what's not to like. Thanks so much for the messages of love and support it really means a lot out here. See you when I get home.
Hey Paula & Gang - We summited yesterday - it was awesome. We are back at base camp looking forward to the trek out and getting a shower in Mendoza. Love you all tons and thanks for all of the support - a big thanks to the RMI Team who helped with our success!!!
Hi Fam and Friends, its Mike! Thank you all for the love and support along the way, your comments helped gin up the brute doggedness it took to make the summit yesterday. I'll send pictures from Mendoza, cheers!
Hey everyone in sunny Florida! Todd here. Love to you all, especially Sally and baby girl McClurem. We are hanging out back at Base Camp after descending 4600 feet today. Trying to stay hydrated and warm. Thanks for all the comments. It was so great to know that we have family and friends who are following this crazy adventure. See ya soon!
As the resident geezer on this trip, I would like to thank not only our guides but my fellow climbers as well - a truly great bunch of men. And all my love to those at home for their support and patience. Hello FrontPoint!
Well folks, from all the guides we would like to thank all who followed us. Geoff, Garrett and myself would like to thank all of our family at the RMI Headquarters in Ashford, WA. Without all of you we would not be as successful as we are.
RMI Guides JJ, Geoff, Garrett and Team
What a great adventure for all of us as well, who’ve been following you on the blog. So grateful everyone was able to summit and make it back to base camp safely. A huge group hug! Love you bunches Mike, Mom and Dad
We're back! Hi everyone, sorry, we have been back at high camp for an hour but we have been going gonzo on the snow melting. Needless to say, after a 12-hour day, our team is thirsty!
We all want to thank everyone who followed us during our expedition. It was really great to see and hear the support and I contribute that to everyone on the team reaching the Aconcagua summit.
We will post a couple of blogs on our way out but I wanted to send a quick note letting everyone know we are tired but doing great! Tomorrow we head down to Base Camp.
RMI Guide JJ Justman
Hey everyone, this is JJ Justman, I have an incredible news story coming to you live on the summit of Aconcagua. Hey everyone. Everyone on Team 3 made the summit of Aconcagua at 1:30 (ART) this afternoon. 100%! The team did just absolutely fantastic. Team give a shout out to everyone back at home. [Cheers from the team!] I'll tell you its always a tough day getting up here, but the rewards are great. Beautiful day climbing. We are the only ones on the summit of Aconcagua right now. There is a little bit of wind so hopefully I'm not yelling too loud, but definitely want to let you guys know that everyone did great, everyone's safe and sound. We're gonna take a few hero shots and then we're gonna start heading down hill. Thanks for following a long. We will touch base with you when we get back to high camp. Everyone's doing great. Everyone says hello to family and friends. Take care from the summit of Aconcagua.
Congratulations to Tom Shilson! Your guess of 1:23 is the winning summit time. An RMI t-shirt and hat is on its way to you!
RMI Guide JJ Justman
Great pictures! Can’t wait to see more. Be safe.
Posted by: Diane on 3/5/2013 at 5:52 pm
Love getting the updates and the variety - voice, pics, maps. Stay safe, all! Bueno suerte on the summit bid.
Posted by: Kris Westberg on 3/5/2013 at 5:32 pm
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