Entries By leif bergstrom
May 16, 2023
Posted by: Nikki Champion, Leif Bergstrom, Lauren Macklin
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Denali
Elevation: 348'
Monday, May 15, 2023 - 8:02 pm PT
The May 14th Denali has officially begun!
After a long day of travel yesterday, the entire team made their way to Talkeetna and spent the day packing, organizing, weighing, repacking, and finally getting all the gear weighed, set up and ready to fly.
While the weather doesn’t look promising, the entire team is primed and ready to go as soon as a weather window opens. We will wake up tomorrow morning with the goal of flying and see what the skies bring.
Until we fly, we will continue to eat warm food, drink cold beer, and enjoy all the amenities we will soon miss.
April 22, 2023
Posted by: Daniel May, Leif Bergstrom, Henry Coppolillo, Lacie Smith, Tatum Whatford, George Hedreen
Categories: Guide News
From Dan May
At the beginning of April a crop of RMI guides including myself, Leif Bergstrom, Henry Coppolillo, Lacie Smith, Tatum Whatford, and George Hedreen, headed off to the Rocky Mountains of Colorado to work on honing our alpine guide skills with the help of the AMGA. We split our time between Boulder and Estes Park, Colorado while completing the Alpine Guide Course. Often in these courses, you are amongst colleagues spread across other guiding companies, however in this instance, we had the opportunity to work and learn together. Being able to sharpen our guiding skills in alpine terrain amongst our peers that we work with in the North Cascades, Denali, and South America was a great opportunity.
These courses offer us the chance to add additional tools to our ever-growing toolkit as guides while being reviewed, critiqued, and taught by the AMGA instructors. While romping around the Flat Irons, Eldorado Canyon, and Tyndall Gorge of Rocky Mountain National Park, we took turns climbing rock, ice, snow, and mixed routes while guiding each other through the terrain. These chances and skills as a guide are invaluable. It is easy to convince your friends to go climbing with you, but to convince your friends to let you guide them through peculiar terrain to practice your techniques and skill sets is another story.
At the end of the nine days, all RMI guides successfully completed the course and had a great time doing so. Now we are all turning our sights to Ashford and Mt. Rainier in preparation for another great summer of climbing.
Thank you for sharing how you, as guides, maintain & improve your skills. I hope to climb with RMI this year. I wish you all a safe and healthy climbing season!!
Posted by: James O’Neil on 4/23/2023 at 9:49 am
September 20, 2022
Posted by: Hannah Smith, Leif Bergstrom, Nick Sinapius
Categories: Expedition Dispatches North Cascades
Elevation: 10,781'
RMI Guide Hannah Smith checked from the Summit of Mt. Baker at 12:04 pm PDT today. The team successfully reached the summit via the Easton Glacier Route. Hannah let us know, that the team is stoked and had a beautiful day of climbing. The team will descend to the trailhead tomorrow.
Congratulations Team!
Hannah, Lief and Nick - you did great work with our group. You were consummate professionals and excellent company as well. I look forward to joining you again on a future journey. James
Posted by: James Coley on 10/8/2022 at 4:38 am
September 17, 2022
Posted by: Alan Davis, Jack Delaney, Leif Bergstrom
Categories: Expedition Dispatches North Cascades
Elevation: 9,131'
Our Mt. Shuksan seminar tagged the top of Mt. Shuksan this morning. After many days of training in the rain, the team awoke to clear skies for their climb. The previous five days were spent learning about rope travel, weather patterns, avalanche safety, snow and ice anchors, etc. RMI Guide Alan Davis reported great route conditions and a top out time of 9:30am.
The team is back at the trailhead and will enjoy some good food and drink before starting their journey home.
Nice work climbers!
August 29, 2022
Posted by: Mike Walter, Abby Westling, Leif Bergstrom, Josh Geiser, Nicole De Petris, Nick Sinapius
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
RMI Guides Mike Walter & Abby Westling led the Four Day Climb August 26 - 29 to the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning with all climbers in both groups. Mike reported a beautiful day on the mountain as the teams were approaching the crater rim around 7:10 am. Climbers will spend time in the summit crater before starting their descent, dropping 4,500' back to Camp Muir. After a quick stop they will continue the remaining 4,500' to Paradise. Once back at Rainier BaseCamp later this afternoon the program will conclude with a small celebration for the teams.
Nice work today everyone!
August 20, 2022
Posted by: Mike Walter, Nikki Champion, Leif Bergstrom, Ellison Boord, Sam Hoffman, Roland Scott
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
The Four Day Climb August 17 - 20 led by RMI Guides Mike Walter and Nikki Champion reached the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning. Mike reported moderate winds and a busy route. Camp Muir sandwiched between two layers of clouds, dense clouds above Camp Muir and a light marine layer above Paradise currently. The climbers will take a short break at Camp Muir to repack and re-hydrate before starting down to Paradise. Once at Paradise the shuttle will return the climbers to Rainier BaseCamp where they will conclude their program with a short ceremony.
Nice work today everyone!
Yay! Well done Team! So happy for you all!
Posted by: Alice Schenk on 8/21/2022 at 5:01 am
Great news!
Posted by: Linda Ramge on 8/20/2022 at 9:03 am
August 3, 2022
Posted by: Jack Delaney, Abby Westling, Leif Bergstrom, Daniel May, Charlie Harrison, Nick Sinapius
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
The Five Day Climb teams July 30 - 3 August led by RMI Guides Jack Delaney and Abby Westling made a sunset climb to the summit yesterday evening. The teams reached the crater rim around 8 pm and quickly began their descent as fairly strong winds accommpanied them the entire climb. The climb went well and the team was stoked to summit even with the constant winds. As of 7 am the climbers were sleeping in at Camp Muir with plan to start their descent to Paradise around 10 or 11 am.
Congratulations team!
July 26, 2022
Posted by: Mike Walter, Leif Bergstrom, Ben Luedtke, Sam Marjerison
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
The Expedition Skills Seminar - Kautz July 22 - 27 led by RMI Guide Mike Walter reached the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning. The team reached the crater rim at 6 am and tagged Point Success. They will return to their high camp for their final night on the mountain and descend tomorrow to the trailhead.
Nice work team!
July 20, 2022
Posted by: Casey Grom, Kiira Antenucci, Ben Luedtke, Leif Bergstrom, Trevor Katz, Jenna Burkey
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
The Four Day Climb July 17 - 20 reached the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning led by RMI Guides Casey Grom & Kiira Antenucci. The teams enjoyed clear skies, sunshine and light winds today. After enjoying the views and spending time in the crater they began their descent from the crater rim around 6:45 am. Once back at Camp Muir they will pack up and continue down to Paradise.
Congratulations to today's climbers!
Awesome job! Parking lot is next.
Posted by: Rene Gonzalez on 7/20/2022 at 10:12 am
July 8, 2022
Posted by: Brent Okita, Leif Bergstrom, Sam Hoffman, Michael Murray
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
The Four Day Climb Led by RMI Guide Brent Okita reached the summit of Mt. Rainier early this morning. Brent reported clear skies above and a great climbing route.
Congratulations team!
That was Kristian Whittaker’s 25th Birthday - climb. How cool he summited with his sister, Gabriella and her boyfriend Leif. I, Erika, was so fortunate to meet up with the kids at Camp Muir and walk back to Paradise with them and with Brent Okita and my good friend, Anne M. So grateful for this day back on Mt. Rainier with both my kids. :). Sorry I didn’t get to see any of the RMI office staff when I was at Basecamp. Maybe next time.
Posted by: Erika Whittaker on 11/17/2022 at 9:36 pm
Dramatic pics with lots of smiles. Best of luck to all.
Posted by: Marcia Mikolaj on 5/18/2023 at 7:31 am
Hi, I wish You good luck, perfect wether, a safe tour. Return healthy! Enjoy each moment.
Elisabeth
Posted by: Elisabeth on 5/18/2023 at 5:00 am
View All Comments