Entries By mike king
August 4, 2016
Posted by: Mike King
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Peru Seminar
Elevation: 16,010'
Cold morning when we pulled out of our camp at 7 a.m. Not 30 minutes later did the sun start to warm our fingers and toes along with illuminating the glaciers of Salkantay while we climbed towards Incachiriaska Pass at 16,010ft.
The team is doing great after our seven-hour day. After the pass we walked through a beautiful valley filled with dry grasses and expansive boulder fields. We are camped in a small village (read 3-4 stone houses with thatch roofs) listening to the bleating of sheep and watching dogs heard the mix of horse, llama, sheep and pigs back to rustic stone corrals. We are settling into our tents and getting warm as the sun has already left our valley at 3 p.m. Tomorrow our horseman will depart the group as we enter the National Park. Porters will join us to continue the excellent meals and difficult but much appreciated job of carrying our camp towards
Machu Picchu.
RMI Guide Mike King
August 3, 2016
Posted by: Mike King
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Peru Seminar
Elevation: 14,500'
Wow, what a day! After waking at 3:30 am to leave the hotel we drove for a few hours only to wake to the sunrise and
Salkantay Peak, 20,500 ft dominating the horizon.
After getting our gear rigged for the horses and porters the team started up a dusty road passing through small settlements above the Rio Blanco. 'Mountain Plush' is how I'll describe our living and eating arrangements due to our hard working local crew. Upon retiring from our dining tent during lunch, members of the team napped in the sun and gentle breeze before ascending the final stretch into camp.
We are currently camped beneath Salkantay at 14,500 ft with tent doors open and our feet hanging out enjoying beautiful views of the glaciers, seracs and fluted snow couloirs.
The team is doing great and sends their love to friends and family who are following along. Tomorrow we ascend to our high point of Incachiriasca pass, 16,010.
RMI Guide Mike King
Today the group toured the Urubamba River Valley that was and continues to be a fertile farming area for the local people of Cusco. With large varieties of corn and potatoes being grown, we could see terraces that the Inca used reaching well above 12,000 ft.
We had several stops on our way to Ollantaytambo, a wonderful Incan site featuring farming terraces, ceremonial stone work and intact buildings used for storing food. Our impromptu stop to sample chicha, a fermented corn drink that locals enjoy while playing a fun coin toss style yard game also yielded two cute puppies sleeping by a fire and a guinea pig farm. Cuy, or guinea pig, is a common form of protein consumed by locals and tourists alike.
We wrapped the day finalizing our packs for an early departure. Tomorrow morning we begin our Salkantay trek to
Machu Picchu, the entire group is excited to leave Cusco.
RMI Guide Mike King
August 1, 2016
Posted by: Mike King
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Peru Seminar
Elevation: 11,400'
This is RMI Guide
Mike King checking in from
Cusco. Our team has arrived with high spirits and all luggage accounted for. We spent the day touring 3 Inca sites and admiring the phenomenal rock work and immense size of the what the Inca accomplished without iron and wheels in just 80ish years. Cusco sitting at 11,400ft elevation requires the Team to acclimate before we reach 16,010 ft on our second day trekking. Tomorrow we will tour the Sacred Valley along the Urubamba river.
We will check in tomorrow, thanks for following along!
July 23, 2016
Posted by: Mike King, Kel Rossiter
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
The Four Day Summit Climb July 20 - 23, 2016 led by
RMI Guides Mike King and Kel Rossiter reached the summit of
Mt. Rainier this morning with clear skies and winds around 15 mph. The team began their descent from the crater rim just before 8 am.
We look forward to seeing them at Rainier BaseCamp later this afternoon.
Congratulations to today's Summit Climb teams!
The
Expedition Skills Seminar - Paradise led by RMI Guide
Mike King wrapped up their week of mountaineering training with a successful summit of Mt. Rainier. The team will descend off the mountain and be back in Ashford this afternoon to celebrate.
Congratulations!
July 6, 2016
Posted by: Mike King
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
The
Expedition Skills Seminar - Emmons team led by RMI Guide
Mike King reached the summit of Mt. Rainier via the Emmons Route early this morning. Mike reported clear skies an great climbing. The team will be descending back to Camp Schurman and spend the remainder of the week training before returning to Rainier Basecamp Thursday afternoon.
Congratulations to the Emmons Team!
The
Five Day Emmons Climb led by
RMI Guide Mike King reached the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning via the Emmons Glacier Route. It's a beatiful day with little wind and clear skies. After spending some time on the summit the team started their descent around 6:30 am PT, they will return to high camp for their final night on the mountain.
Congratulations!
June 28, 2016
Posted by: Walter Hailes, Mike King
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
We have teams on the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning!
RMI Guide Walter Hailes led his
Four Day Summit climb to the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning. Walter was approaching the crater rim just before 7 am and reported a beautiful day with light winds.
Congratulations to today's climbers!
June 22, 2016
Posted by: Mike King
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
RMI Guide
Mike King and the
Five Day Summit Climb completed their two nights on Mt. Rainier with a successful summit this morning. The team spent a little time on the summit before beginning their descent around 7:15 a.m. PDT. We look forward to seeing the team in Ashford later today and hearing about their time on the mountain.
Congratulations climbers!
Not there yet?? Steve, I thought you’d have run all the way up on the first day ;P Sounds like you are having lots of fun on the way!! Hope the weather holds out for you all and you have enjoyable travels back down.
Posted by: Audrey on 8/8/2016 at 7:43 am
Sounds exciting, wish we were young enough to join your excursions.
Posted by: Uncle John Aunt Jan on 8/3/2016 at 7:26 pm
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