Entries By steve gately
October 19, 2016
Posted by: Mike King, Steve Gately
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mexico
Elevation: 16,000'
RMI Guide Mike King checked in from Mexico. Today the team made their summit attempt from High Camp but were forced to turn around at 16,000' on Ixta due to a major electrical storm on the horizon. The team descended and returned to the Altzomoni Hut where they packed up their gear, loaded vehicles and continued their descent. They will travel to Puebla today as scheduled and explore this beautiful colonial city.
We look forward hearing more from them soon.
RMI Office
On The Map
October 18, 2016
Posted by: Mike King, Steve Gately
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mexico
Elevation: 15,000'
The RMI Mexico Team is nestled in their tents at 15,000' after a heavy move day to our camp. We woke early to beat the heat and afternoon storms. Our route today took us to the base of the "knees" on Ixta over four hours. The camp is dry so we had some porter help carrying water for two days.
We enjoyed views of the expansive golden bunch grass as the hills and rock features making up the lower flanks gave way to volcanic rock and scree. Being in and out of the clouds allowed for cooler temperatures and the team climbed well. We will head for the summit tomorrow morning if the weather holds. Coverage has been troublesome for longer dispatches, we'll get a longer one up from our day off in Puebla.
RMI Guide Mike King
On The Map
October 17, 2016
Posted by: Mike King, Steve Gately
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mexico
Elevation: 12,000'
The Team has arrived at the Altzomoni Hut on Ixta, 12,000'. The goal today was to pack for our approach to high camp, get a walk in to continue acclimating and relax. While our drive today included a few detours, a late breakfast and some electrical storms, the team is doing well. So much of climbing in the big mountains can be' "hurry up and wait". Patience is tested, storms blow in making everyone stir crazy and it becomes easy to let the scenery just pass by without taking in your surroundings.
Our drive to the hut took us through beautiful countryside with acres of corn being harvested and up through dense forests of evergreen trees and shrubs. After passing through rolling pampas filled with grass we saw Popocatepetl, the neighboring volcano who watches over Ixtaccihuatl. Popo was on display today with steam and ash rising from it's caldera.
Tomorrow we will move up to 15,000' and hope the weather cooperates for a summit attempt on Wednesday.
RMI Guide Mike King
On The Map
October 16, 2016
Posted by: Mike King, Steve Gately
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mexico
Elevation: 10,000'
Today we left Mexico City for the rolling hills of La Malinche National Park on a clear and beautiful day. Our climbing objectives, Ixta and Orizaba were on display with a light covering of new snow as our shuttle merged in and out of the maze of toll roads.
The goal for today was a hike to 14,000 ft to stretch our legs and lungs. On the ascent we passed numerous locals hiking and packing up camp sites from the weekend. As we got to tree line there were large dark clouds billowing over Malinche's summit. With rain and lightening on the horizon we turned around at 13,000 ft and headed back down through a dense pine forest to our cabanas where will stay for the night.
The team is doing well and excited to get on Ixta tomorrow afternoon.
RMI Guides Mike King & Steve Gately
On The Map
October 16, 2016
Posted by: Mike King, Steve Gately
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mexico
Elevation: 7,300'
October 15, 2016 - 9 pm PT
This is Mike, the entire RMI Mexico team arrived with all their gear and high spirits! We kicked the program off with a good dinner and meeting. Tomorrow we will head 75 miles east of Mexico City into rolling hills of Tlaxcala to the base La Malinche. This is where we begin our acclimatization program with a day hike and spending the night at 10,000 ft.
Thanks for following along.
RMI Guide Mike King
September 10, 2016
Posted by: Casey Grom, Steve Gately
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
RMI Guides Casey Grom and Steve Gately led their Four Day Summit Climb September 7 - 10, 2016 teams to the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning. Steve reported clear skies with 20 mph winds and fairly cold temperatures. The climbing route remains in great shape. The teams enjoyed some time in the crater before starting their descent. Both teams will return to Camp Muir for a short rest and to repack their gear before continuing down to Paradise. We look forward to celebrating with them at Rainier BaseCamp this afternoon.
Congratulations to today's Summit Climb teams!
Awesome job dad!
Posted by: Big Buddy & Stinky Face Monkey Butt on 9/10/2016 at 5:27 pm
Very proud of the team!
Good job Alabama guys!
Posted by: David & Sherry on 9/10/2016 at 1:41 pm
August 17, 2016
Posted by: Mike King, Steve Gately
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
The Four Day Summit Climb Teams August 14 - 17, 2016 enjoyed beautiful weather during their time in Mt. Rainier National Park. Today was no different as the teams got an early start from Camp Muir and were able to enjoy the views from the summit of Mt. Rainier. The teams, led by RMI Guides Mike King & Steve Gately, reported light winds and perfect weather. We look forward to seeing them at Rainier BaseCamp this afternoon.
Congratulations to today's climbers!
Proud sister, right here! Congrats, all (especially Rich S. & Mike H.)!
Posted by: Kristen on 8/17/2016 at 5:09 pm
CONGRATS MATTHEW! ♥
Posted by: hannah on 8/17/2016 at 2:48 pm
August 12, 2016
Posted by: Mike Walter, Steve Gately
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
Summit! The Mt. Rainier Summit Climb teams, led by Mike Walter and Steve Gately, began their descent at 8:00 a.m. With such nice weather, the teams were able to spend over an hour on the summit, crossing the crater and enjoying the views with no clouds in sight. This afternoon we look forward to congratulating the teams this afternoon here in Ashford at Rainier Basecamp!
Congratulations Vanessa & Charity!
Posted by: Heather Kimling on 8/12/2016 at 5:06 pm
Vanessa and Charity - what amazing ladies! All the hard work pays off and you have memories for life. Congratulations!!!
Posted by: Barbara Libner on 8/12/2016 at 10:15 am
July 29, 2016
Posted by: Leon Davis, Steve Gately, Caleb Ladue
Categories: Expedition Dispatches North Cascades
Elevation: 8,500'
Day one on a Mt. Shuksan Fisher Chimneys trip is a big day, maybe the biggest day of the climb. Most guided parties take eight hours to reach high camp perched at the edge of the Price Glacier above the Chimneys. So when the team drove to the trail head in a heavy wet cloud we needed to make a decision about hiking in those conditions. We stood in the parking lot in our gore-tex, gathering large beads of water that collected from simply standing in the cloud. We drove back down the mountain hoping the forecast for better afternoon weather would prove true. It did not and we decided to try again in the morning.
The following day, as clouds started to pass over the area, we began the approach in a drier cloud and took every bit of the eight hours to climb the Chimneys to high camp. The plan was to set up camp, rest for a few hours and continue towards the summit unburdened by heavy packs. At 4:30 p.m. we began the journey upward, traversing the Price, climbing the steep Hell's Highway and cresting onto the upper Sulphide Glacier. A cloud followed us up the Sulphide, hiding the summit pyramid but we were able to climb on instruments towards its base. At 7:00 p.m. the clouds parted long enough to show us the pyramid and in what condition it lay. A steep snow traverse gained the lower rock band where it usually is a low angle scramble and we spotted a few teams descending in the early evening light. So far, we had been moving for 12 hours and now we were looking at summiting around dark and descending complicated terrain under headlamp. We made the conservative call to turn around and made our high point the base of the pyramid, just 600 vertical feet shy of the very top. Disappointing sure, but the team put in an extraordinary effort to climb all day and we were satisfied with the decision to leave the summit for another day.
RMI Guide Leon Davis
July 27, 2016
Posted by: Katrina Bloemsma, Steve Gately
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
RMI Guides Katrina Bloemsma and Steve Gately led their teams to the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning. The weather report from the top was calm, sunny, and warming up quickly. At 7:15 a.m. they began their descent from the crater rim.
Congratulations to the teams!
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OK: Weather Prayer.
Waltero
Posted by: Walter Glover on 10/18/2016 at 6:57 am
Following your progress, plan to follow in your footsteps next month (Nov.5-13). Wishing everyone strength (mental and physical) as well as good weather!
Posted by: Sierra Orr on 10/18/2016 at 5:50 am
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