RMI Guides Brent Okita and Jenny Konway radioed down from Columbia Crest, the true summit of Mt. Rainier, this morning to let everyone know that the team reached the summit. Brent reported clear skies, a calm breeze, and perfect weather for a day of climbing. The team began their descent from the crater rim of Mt. Rainier at about 7:30am PT and will be back in town for a celebration dinner later today.
Congratulations to today's team!
RMI Guide Walter Hailes checked in this morning from Camp Muir. The Muir Seminar team is back from their summit bid. Due to unstable snow conditions, the teams turned after Ingraham Flats. The team had a mix of weather during their week-long seminar- some spectacular views and also some stormy weather of high winds and blowing snow. They learned a lot of mountaineering skills to take home with them after a week on Mount Rainier.
Hello, this is Eric Frank calling from the summit of Orizaba. I'm up here with the team and this completes three of three summits for us this week. It's been a pretty incredible time of climbing. We summitted La Malinche, then we summited Ixta and now we are standing on top of Orizaba. Everyone is stoked. We are going to spend a few more minutes enjoying the thin air and then we're going to start heading down. So we'll call to check-in once we are down. We look forward to seeing everyone soon.
RMI Guide Eric Frank
RMI Guide Eric Frank calls from the summit of Orizaba, Mexico.
RMI Guide Eric Frank checked in from 14,000, High Camp, on Pico de Orizaba. The team arrived at the hut today and will try to get a few hours of sleep tonight before their early alpine start. If weather and conditions allow they will check in tomorrow from the summit of Pico de Orizaba.
We wish them luck and a safe climb!
After our summit of Ixta, the team made the journey to the quaint Mexican town of Puebla. We spent today relaxing and soaking up the amenities of the city. The activities ranged from visiting the local artist quarter, seeing the town's oldest library, buying hand made pottery from local artists and catching an afternoon siesta to dodge the heat. We reconvened for dinner at one of the town's favorite restaurants and followed up our meal with some of the best ice cream Mexico has to offer. Currently the team is tucked in for the night, ready for another good night of sleep and looking forward to the final climb of the trip.
RMI Guide Eric Frank
What a jam packed 24 hours it has been! After a fitful night of rest at the Altzomoni Hut, the team packed up and made the climb up to our high camp at 15,300ft. Our packs weighed between 35-40 lbs and that always makes the terrain much more challenging. Regardless, the team climbed well and we were lounging in our tents by mid afternoon. Around 4 pm we roused everyone from their siestas and gathered together in the "Refugio Los Cien" to have some soup and quesadillas.
Not long after we finished eating, the first ping began. It sounded like a child was throwing small handfuls of gravel at the side of the refugio, but then the sound intensified. In a few minutes we were engulfed in a hail storm that lasted an hour. Pellets of ice, ranging from the size of a pencil eraser to a grape, covered the ground. Slowly the hail turned into snow and we all hustled out to our tents. Over the next three hours the storm turned into an epic thunder and lighting event, making us wonder if the climb would even be possible.
At 2 am this morning when the first alarm went off, everything had changed. The skies were clear, the weather warm, the wind was gone and only a few inches of snow on the ground remained to remind us of the previous evening.
The climb was flawless. I would say textbook, but it was better then textbook. We summited at 7:45 am under blue skies with small puffs of smoke from a local volcano to keep us company.
RMI Guide Eric Frank
Happy to hear this trip is going great for everyone! Dave Kestel your Rainier gang is proud of this accomplishment! Can’t wait for you to talk our ears off about it!
The stoves are whistling and the Mexican Volcanoes team is enjoying a well deserved rest in our new home for the night: the Altzomoni Hut. Today was partially a rest day and partially logistics day to get ourselves in position for the next climb.
We woke this morning up slightly sore, but proud of yesterday's accomplishment. After a few hours on the bus, we made a pit stop in the small city of AmecaMeca to grab lunch and some last minute groceries. From there we drove a winding mountain road back into the clouds.
RMI Guide Eric Frank
Greetings! Yesterday, the March Mexico Volcanoes team arrived in the heart of Mexico City, after catching flights from various parts of the country. It is always a long day of travel, but we all managed to arrive without excessive delay or loss of bags. That is a big first victory that puts us in position to get out in the mountains as soon as possible.
The team met for a short chat last night before going to dinner. There is a lot of experience represented in the group and with a good weather forecast, we expect to have a fun and successful trip.
After an early departure this morning from Mexico City, the team arrived at La Malintzi around 11am. We did a quick gear sort, then headed uphill. The skies were clear and the air warm as we made our way up towards the summit. After about five hours of hiking, the team reached the summit of Malinche and was rewarded with sweeping views of the surrounding areas. A quick descent led us back to hot showers and a delicious dinner of grilled meats, fresh chips, and guacamole. We're all headed off to bed after a great day, looking forward to tomorrow's adventures.
RMI Guide Eric Frank
The Five Day Summit Climb August 30 - 3 September led by RMI Guide Jenny Konway decided to turn around today at 12,900' due to high winds and cloud cap forming over the summit. The teams returned to Camp Muir just before 8 AM. They will rest and repack and then descend to Paradise this afternoon.
Hernandito mijo ,te felicito eres un gran luchador ,si este bamos preocupadas ,yo se que te gustan los retos y te preparaste pero si no sale las cosas es por algo ,no combenia.
Posted by: Janeth C Nietoja on 9/3/2018 at 11:43 am
The Four Day Summit Climb August 25 - 28 reached the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning. RMI Guides Brent Okita and Jenny Konway led the teams and were approaching the crater rim just before 7 AM PT. Brent reported a beautiful day on the mountain with clear skies and low winds. They will spend some time in the crater before starting their descent. Upon their return to Paradise they will transfer to Rainier BaseCamp and conclude their program with a short celebration.
Congratulations to today's climbers!
You did it Scott!! I’m so proud of you, and I’m sure your grandfather is feeling the same! You where just that much closer to him at the top! What a beautiful day for a summit! Love you!
Posted by: Sophia on 8/28/2018 at 6:45 pm
Great job Scott! I’m so proud of you. Can’t wait to see pics.
Posted by: Jennifer Martin on 8/28/2018 at 6:31 pm
Thanks everybody had a great time! Glad we all got back down alrighty.
Posted by: Jonathan J Paige on 6/14/2019 at 9:29 am
Congratulations Jonathon! We are so proud of you. I cant wait to hear your stories.
Posted by: Emily Paige on 6/2/2019 at 6:02 am
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