Entries By mike king
December 31, 2017
Posted by: Mike King, Jess Matthews, Nick Scott
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Elevation: 9,000'
Happy New Years from
Pampa de Las Lenas! Today was the first day of the trek to Aconcagua Basecamp and we had a sunny day with a consistent 'breeze' that kept it cool and at times made walking a little difficult. Our trek follows the Vacas River which looks like it's filled with delicious chocolate milk and I don't even drink milk. The team enjoyed the five-hour hike and arrived in good spirits until the light rain set in. I learned long ago from a mentor that it never....keeps raining at Lenas Camp. True to form some group members put on rain gear and set up tents and the rain stopped almost immediately. We all met up with the descending RMI crew and celebrated the New Year's with the best steak asado dinner ever prepared on the Planet...since man learned to cook with fire. . . Yeah it's that good! The group is nestled in their tents thinking of the coming weeks and how good that steak was. We will get an early start tomorrow, bask in the remaining portions of shade offered on this climb while we hike to Casa de Piedra. Thanks for following along.
RMI Guide Mike King
We are all in Mendoza...the last 2 bags arrived late this evening and the Team is turned in and getting their last night of artificial air conditioning before heading out tomorrow. We will head to Los Penitentes to pack for the mules and sleep around 8,000'. Everyone is excited to begin the trek and escape the 100 degree weather here in town. Will be sending updates on our trip each day. Leave comments for your friends and loved ones in the blog comments, the moral support from back home goes a long way.
RMI Guides Mike King, Jess Matthews and Nick Scott
October 2, 2017
Posted by: Tyler Jones, Mike King
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 11,700'
The Four Day Summit Climb September 29 - 2 October, 2017 turned at 11,700' due to unstable snow conditions. RMI Guides Tyler Jones and Mike King led the last summit climb program of the 2017 season. The group plans to descend from Camp Muir this morning and return to Rainier BaseCamp around noon.
September 21, 2017
Posted by: Andy Bond, Mike King
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 12,600'
The
Expedition Skills Seminar - Muir led by
RMI Guides Andy Bond and Mike King made their summit attempt today. After spending several days training at Camp Muir, the Seminar Team left Camp Muir en route to the summit. The recent storm left several feet of snow in places. The guides broke trail and continually assessed the route and weather conditions. After reaching 12,600' the team decided to turn around and head back Camp Muir due to deteriorating weather. They will spend their last night at Camp Muir. Tomorrow, they will complete their program and return to Rainier BaseCamp in Ashford.
September 10, 2017
Posted by: Mike King
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Peru Seminar
This is Mike checking for the last time. The Team finished the Salkantay Trek to
Machu Picchu today and we're fortunate to see the sunrise over the Citadel from the Sun Gate.
It is always a bit of a culture shock when you have spent 5 days hiking in the remoteness of the Andes and arrive at Machu Picchu where some 3000 people visit each day. Today was a light traffic day and we enjoyed a 2 hour tour of the highlights. The scale and shear amount of earth moved leaves people speechless.
The Team is currently at the hotel and enjoying some rest after a hot shower. They will have tomorrow morning to visit the site before we catch our train back to Cusco via the Urambamba River valley and high plateaus. Our trip will culminate with 1 last day seeing some more Incan sites around Cusco. Thanks for following along and RMI's next Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu is July 2018, come join us!
September 9, 2017
Posted by: Mike King
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Peru Seminar
Elevation: 8,700'
We are at
WinayWayna 8,700' for the night. Today the Team enjoyed some spectacular views of the high glaciated Andes juxtaposed against the semi-tropical orchids and song birds.
Our campsite is located near an incredible Incan ruin that has a series of 10 fountains and more terracing. The Team has been in awe of the manpower and resources needed to build let alone maintain this network of trails and sites that stretch from Ecuador to Northern Argentina.
Tomorrow morning we will get an early start in hopes of catching the sunrise as we walk into Machu Picchu.
RMI Guide Mike King
September 8, 2017
Posted by: Mike King
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Peru Seminar
Elevation: 9,900'
We have not had many blue skies this trip and today was no exception. The morning provided some great views of the glaciated mountains in the distance as we climbed up Warmi Huanusca Pass at 13,600'. The rain set in and would come and go as the Team go closer to the cloud forest after climbing the second pass of the day named Runkurakay 13,022'.
Today we will join a slew of people hiking the Inca Trail, the team has enjoyed the last 4 days in relative solitude. We took in a few Incan ruins and some members continued to document the floral and avian life that this part of the world offers. Some just took in the views provided when the rain would stop and clouds would lift while figuring out a sequence of ascending and descending the wet Incan steps.
Everyone is doing well, resting in their tents at Chaquicocha 9,900' and looking forward to the ruins at WinayWayna and
Machu Picchu in the coming days.
RMI Guide Mike King
September 7, 2017
Posted by: Mike King
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Peru Seminar
Elevation: 12,300'
Leaving camp this morning to the sounds of sheep being moved into the high pastures we walked along the Inca canal and eventually down a steep valley. The vegetation began to change and soon we started to see several types of wildflowers and a few different species of hummingbirds. After a few hours we arrived at our first Incan ruin,
Inkaracay.
At the village Wayllabamba (10,000'), the famed Inca Trail joins our trekking route for the remainder of the trip. We said our good byes to the horseman as our porter team joined since we are now in the National Park and horses would have difficulty with the trail ahead and destroy the trail itself. The Inca used llamas as pack animals, they do not have hooves, instead their feet are soft pads like a dogs feet thus gentle on the stone trail.
The team is adjusting to the 'Incan steps' and resting after a long day. We are camped on a scenic mountain bench called Luluchupampa (12,300') looking at the valley below, Salkantay in the distance, and the cloud forest all around us. Two more full days of walking brings us to Machu Picchu.
RMI Guide Mike King
September 6, 2017
Posted by: Mike King
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Peru Seminar
Elevation: 12,800'
We woke this morning to a snowy camp, after having a wintery mix start around dinner last night. Salkantay was out all day as we hiked through the snow covered trail to Incachiriaska Pass 16,300'. The Team did well despite the altitude and muddy terrain.
We descended down a wide grassy valley and paused often to take in the scenery and soak in the sun after a cold and cloudy day yesterday.
The Team is resting in
Pampachuana camp located at 12,800' among a high rural farming community. Through the valley is an Incan canal that was constructed to straighten out the glacial stream that provides water to the farmers. Tomorrow we join the 'Inca Trail' and our horses will leave us as porters join the team for the remainder of the trip.
RMI Guide Mike King
September 5, 2017
Posted by: Mike King
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Peru Seminar
Elevation: 14,846'
We packed up and left Cusco at 6 am and headed for the
Salkantay trail head near Soraypampa. The drive took us over some high passes and down a very scenic river valley filled with eucalyptus trees and small subsistence farms.
When you describe to people the quality of food we eat on these Treks you get some doubtful looks, seeing is believing. Our Team feasted on guacamole and bread only to be followed by a pumpkin soup and rounded out with a main course of vegetable and cheese stuffed trout. That was only lunch, who knows what is for dinner.
Bellies full we set out into grey skies with a spectacular view of Cerro Salkantay and Humantay. Gradually the glaciers and snow covered faces disappeared in a light rain as we walked into camp, Ichupata at 14,846'.
Rain is coming down quite heavily now, the team is getting warm in their tents and we will check in tomorrow.
RMI Guide Mike King
Dad!
I can’t believe you’re already at 10K-something ft. That’s truly incredible. I leave for Brazil tomorrow and am spending the day baking a ton of cookies to give as gifts. They’re pretty damn good too. I’ll get to spend a little time in São Paulo this time which will be cool. Don’t know that city very well. We’re also going to Foz do Iguaçú so maybe I’ll hop over to Argentina for a day. Anyway, I hope you’re being careful and good to your body. Please be safe and don’t push yourself too hard!
Remember that tonight when you look up at the sky, even though our stars are different, we’re both looking at the same moon. I love you so much and am so proud of you.
Posted by: Emma on 1/3/2018 at 8:12 am
Happy New Year Daddio!
So jelly you are in beautiful Argentina, make sure you take lots of pictures! It’s finally sunny here, which is a good sign for 2018 I think. Hopefully it lasts! It’s also a full moon tonight. Miss you, love you! Be careful, take care of your back and knees!!
Posted by: Rowen on 1/1/2018 at 2:32 pm
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