Entries By ben luedtke
July 23, 2024
Posted by: Ben Luedtke, Erika Birkeland
Categories: Expedition Dispatches North Cascades
Elevation: 7,300'
July 22, 2024 - 5:48 pm PT
We started the morning with riddles from Ben. We continued to make our way up steep terrain and sandy trails, seeing our first patches of snow. We shooed a brave marmot (Jerry) away at snack time. Rock hopping, we made our way to high camp. Setting up camp in a beautiful snowy basin, we spent the afternoon honing our snow travel skills.
-RMI Climber, Miranda Chisholm
PC: Ben Luedtke
July 22, 2024
Posted by: Ben Luedtke, Erika Birkeland
Categories: Expedition Dispatches North Cascades
Elevation: 5,900'
July 21, 2024 - 5:45 pm PT
Glacier peak. Aptly named for the features we climb, our team set out today for the long journey up. For some of us, it will be 5 of 5 for the Washington volcanoes if we are successful! But alas, it won't come without it's challenges. Off the start, we had a hint of wildfire smoke here and there as we lugged our heavy packs down the trail. It started off cool and calm as we admired the shady grove of old growth trees and picked salmon berries to keep ourselves satiated along the way. But then, we hit the switchbacks. With sweat dripping down our faces, we trudged along in and out of the sun and coolness of the trees. Now, we are set up at camp at White Pass for the evening fending off the swarms of mosquitos with our head nets as we prepare to make dinner, some of us trying to hide in our tents.
RMI Guide Ben Luedtke
July 16, 2024
Posted by: Ben Luedtke, Charlie Harrison, Joey Manship, Ben Thorneycroft
Categories:
Elevation: 14,410'
At 7:44 am today, we received word from RMI Guide Ben Luedtke that the Expedition Skills Seminar - Emmons July 12 - 17 team had reached the summit of Mt. Raineir with 100% of their climbers. They will return to Camp Schurman and spend a second night there. Tomorrow they will descend to the trailhead and return to Rainier BaseCamp.
Yesterday, the Emmons Seminar moved up to Camp Schurman for the night! After waking up to a nice warm sun on their faces and enjoying some breakfast, they practiced some fixed line ascending. Then, donned heavy packs for the journey over the rock step to Camp Schurman. After a little rest, they practiced crevasse rescue before making an early dinner and laying down to get some sleep before their climb tonight.
Beautiful weather, light winds, enjoying every moment.
Congratulations team!
PC: Ben Luedtke from their ascent to Inter Glacier on the first day of their climb.
UPDATE: Summit Photos from the Emmons team. 7/16/2024
July 8, 2024
Posted by: Pete Van Deventer, Ben Luedtke, Tatum Whatford, Felipe Guarderas, Celeste Wilson, Arianna Drechsler
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
The Five Day Climb July 4 - 8 led by RMI Guides Pete Van Deventer & Ben Luedtke reached the summit of Mt. Rainier with 100% of their teams. The teams enjoyed clear skies and warm temperatures and lots of great photo opportunities.
Nice work everyone and congratulations!
PC: Ben Luedtke & Pete Van Deventer
What an amazing experience! Fun, safe, encouraging. I couldn’t quit smiling. The team was great, and the guides brought out the best in everyone. A transformative experience, and one I’ll cherish for the rest of my life. Training for this climb changed my life, and standing on top of the world for a few moments changed me forever. Truly grateful!
Posted by: Glory Dole on 7/15/2024 at 11:10 am
I could not thank enough to our RMI guides and team members who contributed and shared this lifelong memories. I really enjoyed the stores behind each climber on why dreamed the summit of Mt. Rainier and how to take efforts to make the dream become true.
I know I made a right choice to pick RMI as my guide service. I will definitely refer RMI to my friends for future mountaineering adventures.
Posted by: Shirley Zhang on 7/9/2024 at 7:51 pm
July 1, 2024
Posted by: Ben Luedtke, Robert Whyte, Hannah Billings, Drew O’Brien, Josh Geiser, Miles Watson
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
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RMI Guides Ben Luedtke and Drew O'Brien led the Five Day Climb to the summit of Mt. Rainier this morning. They report chilly and breezy conditions on the summit. The teams began their descent from the summit around 9:45 am and are making their way back to Camp Muir where they will spend one more night on the mountain.
Way to climb!
PC: Ben Luedtke & Drew O'Brien
Congrats to everyone, great accomplishment, that beer will taste great. Our team hopes to summit on July 10th, hardly wait!
Posted by: Barry Milne on 7/4/2024 at 8:54 am
Congratulations to the team. Proud to be called Chandan’s family.
Posted by: Sougandh Mulini Golla on 7/3/2024 at 12:17 am
June 24, 2024
Posted by: Ben Luedtke, Jess Wedel, Joey Manship, George Hedreen, Bailey Servais, Rosie Hust
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'
The Five Day Climb June 20 - 24 led by RMI Guides Ben Luedtke and Jess Wedel reached the summit of Mt. Rainier at 6:45 am. The team enjoyed clear, sunny skies but a good bit of wind. There were able to spend an hour on the summit and started their descent from the crater rim around 8 am. Once back at Camp Muir the teams will take a short break, pack up their gear and descend the remaining 4.5 miles Paradise.
Congratulations to today's climbers!
Guys sorry I was too sick to go with you, but boy am I proud of all of you! So nice to have met you all! Best of luck on your new adventures! God Bless until next time! Jamie
Posted by: Jamie Frampton on 6/26/2024 at 10:05 am
Congratulations!!! I’m hoping for the same fortunes in 2 weeks with my son!
Posted by: Scott Redfern on 6/25/2024 at 1:34 pm
June 11, 2024
Posted by: Andy Bond, Raymond Holt, Layne Peters, Ben Luedtke, Calvin Jiricko, Arianna Drechsler
Categories:
Elevation: 11,200'
The Five Day Climb led by RMI Guides Andy Bond and Ben Luedtke reached 11,200' today and watched the sunrise from Ingraham Flats. High winds with higher gusts kept the teams from ascending any higher. The climbers returned safely to Camp Muir and began their descent to Paradise around 9 am. They will conclude their program this afternoon.
PC: Arianna Drechsler
Congrats on your adventure. Can’t wait to hear the stories.
Posted by: Patrick VDH on 6/11/2024 at 2:53 pm
March 4, 2024
Posted by: Dominic Cifelli, Ben Luedtke
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mexico
Elevation: 18,491'
On Saturday, March 2, 2024, Catherine Rossbach reached the summit of Mexico's Pico de Orizaba with the Mexico's Volcanoes team led by RMI Guides Dominic Cifelli and Ben Luedtke. At age 75, she is the oldest woman to reach Orizaba's summit. Wow! Go Catherine!!
Eight days ago eleven mountaineers drawn from around the globe to climb Mexican volcanoes gathered in a circle to introduce themselves. The group of two guides and nine climbers was comprised of friends from home, acquaintances from prior climbs, and some who were strangers to all.
Dominic, Ben, Catherine, Eric, Erica, Jean-Paul, Kat, Rich, Rossi, Thinus, and Woody came to Mexico with widely varied backgrounds, climbing resumes, and individual expectations. However, the group shared the common objectives of summiting La Malinche, Ixta, and Orizaba.
Frustration on La Malinche.
One of our group was felled below the tree line by a violent eruption of food poisoning. Half of the remaining climbers passed on attempting the last couple hundred meters to conserve energy for the week of climbing ahead. The remainder were turned back just 100m from the summit by local authorities closing the mountain early to clear the trails of spectators following the Sky Race.
Why do we climb?
Frustration on Ixta.
The team, strengthened by the addition of our local guide Allen, made high camp but our summit attempt was blown away by the violent eruptions of nearby Popo. The group descended to base camp powdered with ash and weighted with disappointment.
Why do we climb?
One last chance on Orizaba.
Setting out on the approach under the nurturing light of la luna and a clear star-speckled sky, the team was full of anticipation. We flowed up the oddly iced Jamapa glacier, traversed a segment of the mountain, climbed a challenging compact chimney, scrambled up seemingly endless scree, and then basked in the sunbeams of el sol, standing tall on the summit of the 3rd highest mountain in North America at 18,491 ft
(5,636m) of elevation. Elation.
Why we climb.
Through a week of hard work and at times harder play, the team have deepened pre-existing friendships and created potential to expand acquaintanceships. Strangers no more. Now we are sitting at breakfast, ready to return home and then continue our climbing journeys together and alone.
Why we climb…
Climber Jean-Paul Rebillard
Sign Up For Mexico's Volcanoes February 24, 2024 Emails
Lovely, profound reflection.
Wonderful words, memorable illustrations.
Thank you.
And congratulation.
From Midwest USA flatlands.
Waltero
Posted by: Walter Glover on 3/4/2024 at 1:58 am
A great ending to what I am sure was an incredible experience. The breakfast of course I meant. I write in my recovery journal about how the mountaineers that reach summit never focus on summit really - the ones that succeed are the ones that live in the moment and enjoy the process of the climb in and of itself whatever that means to them. Your story is very beautiful.
#mahalo
Posted by: Scott Lipinoga on 3/4/2024 at 1:26 am
March 2, 2024
Posted by: Dominic Cifelli, Ben Luedtke
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mexico
Elevation: 18,491'
When’s the last time you walked out the door not knowing if you were going to be able to accomplish what you’re setting out to do? When’s the last time you got your doors blown off trying to complete a voluntary endeavor?
Whens the last time you forwent a night of sleep in order to be cold, exhausted, doubtful, exhillerated, out of gas, and awe inspired. All at the same time?
9 climbers attempted the summit of the highest peak in Mexico and the third tallest in North America today. 9 people left the comfort of their homes, took the time away from family and friends to train (hard), and came to try something they weren’t sure they would accomplish and did.
100% of the team stood on the summit of Orizaba at 930 am this morning. Despite the harsh conditions that the Jamapa glacier had to offer. It was a long, hard fought, and absolutely gorgeous day and we couldn’t be happier.
It’s now time to eat, reflect, and banter about how we got stopped by two popo’s, how much better Vermont maple syrup is, trials and tribulations in the Mexico móbil sauna, and wonder whatever we’re eating is a sandwich, soup, stew and what it means to be fueled by boar.
Congratulations to the whole team! AND ESPECIALLY Catherine Rossbach who became the oldest woman ever to summit Orizaba today!!
Sign Up For Mexico's Volcanoes February 24, 2024 Emails
Catherine, you are my hero!! Huge congratulations to the whole team for your perseverance and this amazing accomplishment!
Posted by: Sara van Valkenburg on 3/3/2024 at 2:45 pm
It is great to hear day one went well for the team! Great job everyone!
Posted by: Chris Dennis on 7/22/2024 at 12:52 pm
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