2009 - 2010 Course and Expedition Dispatches
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• Ecuador High Altitude Expedition Dispatches - November, 2009 - July, 2010
  (click for dispatches) CURRENT TRIP: February 7: Summit Sucess CURRENT TRIP: February 6: Poised for Cotopaxi CURRENT TRIP: February 5: At Tambopaxi Lodge near Cotopaxi CURRENT TRIP: February 4: Guachala and Hot Springs CURRENT TRIP: February 3: Glacier Climbing Practice CURRENT TRIP: February 2: at Cayambe Hut CURRENT TRIP: February 1: From the Summit of Guagua Pichincha CURRENT TRIP: January 31: From the Summit of Pasachoa CURRENT TRIP: January 30: After Otavalo Market December 31: Calling from the summit of Cayambe December 30: Checking in before Cayambe December 28: Preparing for a Second Try on Cayambe December 27: Resting at Hacienda La Cienega December 27: Cotopaxi Climbed! December 26: Easy Day on Cotopaxi December 25: Move to hut on Cotopaxi December 24: Attempt On Cayambe December 23: At the Cayambe Hut December 21: Summiting Guagua Pichincha December 20: Summiting Pasachoa December 19: Dancing on the Equator November 29: Pasachoa Climbed December 2: At Cayambe Hut December 4: Summit of Cayambe! December 4: Preparing for Cotopaxi December 6: Summit of Cotopaxi Reached! December 7: At 11,800' on Chimborazo December 10: Chimborazo Update December 11: Last Trip Dispatch
• Aconcagua Expedition Dispatches - January 2010
  (click for dispatches) January 28: Back in Civilization January 26: Summit Reached! January 22: Carry to Camp 3 January 21: Moving to Camp 2 January 18: Camp 1 Established January 17: Heading for Camp 1 January 14: At Base Camp January 12: Heading for Base Camp January 26, 2009: Team 2 - Preparing to Head Home January 25, 2009: Team 2 - Summit Success! January 22, 2009: Team 2 - High Camp January 21, 2009: Team 2 - Armeghino Col Camp January 19, 2009: Team 2 - 18,200' Cache Established January 16, 2009: Team 2 - Safe return to Base Camp January 15, 2009: Team 2 - Heading for Camp 1 January 12, 2009: Team 2 - On the way to Base Camp January 2, 2009: Team 1 - Back in Mendoza December 31, 2009: Team 1 - Summit Success! December 30, 2009: Team 1 - Brief Update December 27, 2009: Team 1 - Waiting-Out the Weather December 26, 2009: Team 1 - Rest Day December 24, 2009: Team 1 - Christmas Eve dispatch December 23, 2009: Holiday Dispatch Schedule Update December 22, 2009: Team 1 - Weekend Update December 19, 2009: Team 1 - Rest Day with Fried Potatoes December 18, 2009: Team 1 - Made it to Base Camp December 18, 2009: Team 1 - Heading for Base Camp December 17, 2009: Team 1 - All is well December 16, 2009: Team 1 - A call from camp 1
• Wilderness Education Association Course - July 10 - August 8, 2009
  (click for dispatch list) August 4 - 5 Skills training August 2 - Summit of Glacier Peak! August 1 - Rest day at high camp July 31 - High camp July 30 - Glacier Peak approach - Bugs! July 29 - Leave No Trace training July 26 - 27 Plans and Preparations in Bellingham July 21 - 25 Mt. Baker Expedition July 19 - 20 Heading into Mt. Baker July 17 - 18 Washington Pass July 16 - Multi-pitch climbing and calzones July 14 - 15 - Learning to Lead July 13 - Rock skills in Leavenworth July 12 - Team arrives at Johnny Creek campground
• Mt. Rainier - Kautz Glacier - July 20 - 23, 2009
  (click for dispatch list) July 23 - Down from the mountain July 22 - Summit success! July 21 - Preparing for the summit July 20 - Base camp at 5300'
• Denali Dispatches - May through July, 2009
  (click for dispatch list) Team 8 - Off the Mountain (June 21 - July 11, 2009) Team 8 - Makes it down to Camp 1 (June 21 - July 11, 2009) Team 8 - Summer at 14 camp! (June 21 - July 11, 2009) Team 8 - Pinned at high camp by high winds (June 21 - July 11, 2009) Team 8 - Makes the summit!! (June 21 - July 11, 2009) Team 8 - Rest day at 14 camp (June 21 - July 11, 2009) Team 8 - Hanging out at 14 camp (June 21 - July 11, 2009) Team 8 - Establishes 14 Camp (June 21 - July 11, 2009) Team 6 - Back in Talkeetna (June 7 - June 27, 2009) Team 6 - Makes the summit!! (June 7 - June 27, 2009) Team 6 - Resting at high camp (June 7 - June 27, 2009) Team 6 - At high camp (June 7 - June 27, 2009) Team 8 - Moving to Camp 2 (June 21 - July 11, 2009) Team 6 - Moving to high camp (June 7 - June 27, 2009) Team 6 - Still stuck at 14 Camp (June 7 - June 27, 2009) Team 6 - Still at 14 Camp (June 7 - June 27, 2009) Team 6 - Snowing at 14 Camp (June 7 - June 27, 2009) Team 6 - Caches above the fixed lines (June 7 - June 27, 2009) Team 5 - Back in Talkeetna! (May 30 - June 20, 2009) Team 6 - Established camp at 14,000 ft (June 7 - June 27, 2009) Team 5 - Makes the Summit! (May 30 - June 20, 2009) Team 6 - Caches gear around Windy Corner (June 7 - June 27, 2009) Team 5 - Stuck at high camp (May 30 - June 20, 2009) Team 6 - Returns to Camp 2 after backcarry (June 7 - June 27, 2009) Team 5 - Makes it to high camp! (May 30 - June 20, 2009) Team 6 - Arrives at Camp 2 (June 7 - June 27, 2009) Team 5 - Moving to high camp (May 30 - June 20, 2009) Team 4 - Summits Denali! (May 24 - June 13, 2009) Team 6 - Establishes Camp 1 (June 7 - June 27, 2009) Team 4 - Arrives at high camp (May 24 - June 13, 2009) Team 5 - Arrives at 14 camp (May 30 - June 20, 2009) Team 5 - Caches around Windy Corner (May 30 - June 20, 2009) Team 4 - Hanging out at 14 camp (May 24 - June 13, 2009) Team 3 - Makes the summit! (May 17 - June 6, 2009) Team 4 - Fixed line practice and cache retrieval (May 24 - June 13, 2009) Team 5 - Taking a rest day at Camp 2 (May 30 - June 20, 2009) Team 3 - High winds prevent summit bid (May 17 - June 6, 2009) Team 3 - Makes summit attempt (May 17 - June 6, 2009) Team 5 - Having fun at Camp 2 (May 30 - June 20, 2009) Team 4 - Moves to 14 Camp (May 24 - June 13, 2009) Team 3 - Settling in to High Camp (May 17 - June 6, 2009) Team 5 - Arrives at Camp 2 (May 31 - June 20, 2009) Team 5 - Moving to Camp 2 (May 31 - June 20, 2009) Team 3 - 11th night at Camp 3, possible extended stay (May 31 - June 20, 2009) Team 5 - At Camp 1, making a cache (May 31 - June 20, 2009) Team 5 - On the way to Camp 1 (May 31 - June 20, 2009) Team 2 - Home safe! (May 10 - May 30, 2009) Team 4 - Made it up to Camp 2 (May 24 - June 13, 2009) Team 3 - Still held down by weather (May 17 - June 6, 2009) Team 5 - Pizza, beer, and bad weather (May 31 - June 20, 2009) Team 2 - Half of team back in Talkeetna (May 10 - May 30, 2009) Team 4 - Weather opening to move up the mountain (May 24 - June 13, 2009) Team 2 - Stuck at Base Camp (May 10 - May 30, 2009) Team 2 - Stuck at Base Camp (May 10 - May 30, 2009) Team 3 - Stuck in a Denali-sized Snow Storm (May 17 - June 6, 2009) Team 3 - Chantel Rejoins the Team (May 17 - June 6, 2009) Team 3 - Made a High Cache (May 17 - June 6, 2009) Team 4 - Arrives at Camp 1 (May 24 - June 13, 2009) Team 2 - Rope team makes summit and is back at high camp (May 10 - May 30, 2009) Team 3 - Hanging out at Camp 3. (May 17 - June 6, 2009) Team 2 - Moving up to High Camp (May 10 - May 30, 2009) Team 3 - Hanging out at Camp 2 (May 17 - June 6, 2009) Team 1 - Team 1 is back in Talkeetna! (May 3 - May 23, 2009) Team 3 - Team 3 makes it to Camp 2 (May 17 - June 6, 2009) Team 2 - Taking a rest day at 14 Camp (May 10 - May 30, 2009) Team 1 - Back at 14 Camp, preparing to descend (May 3 - May 23, 2009) Team 2 - Makes caches at 16,200' (May 10 - May 30, 2009) Team 3 - Makes cache at 10,500' (May 17 - June 6, 2009) Team 1 - Back at high camp after summit attempt (May 3 - May 23, 2009) Team 3 - Arrives at Camp 1 (May 17 - June 6, 2009) Team 2 - Moving cache up from 13,000' (May 10 - 30, 2009) Team 1 - Makes a summit attempt! (May 3 - 23, 2009) Team 3 - Arrives at Basecamp! (May 17 - June 6, 2009) Team 2 - Hanging out at Camp 3 (May 10 - May 30, 2009) Team 2 - Happy campers at Camp 2 (May 10 - May 30, 2009) Team 1 - Making summit plans (May 3 - May 23, 2009) Team 2 - Preparing to move to Camp 3 (May 10 - May 30, 2009) Team 2 - Makes it to Camp 2 (May 10 - May 30, 2009) Team 1 - Makes it to Camp 3 (May 3 - May 23, 2009) Team 2 - Makes Cache at 10,000' (May 10 - May 30, 2009) Team 2 - Establishes Camp 1 (May 10 - May 30, 2009) Team 1 - Still waiting out the wind at Camp 2 (May 3 - May 23, 2009) Team 1 - Stuck at Camp 2 due to wind (May 3 - May 23, 2009) Team 2 - Sets up Kahiltna Basecamp (May 10 - May 30, 2009) Team 1 - Makes Cache at 13,200' (May 3 - May 23, 2009) Team 1 - Established Camp 2! (May 3 - May 23, 2009) Team 1 - Makes Cache at 10,200' (May 3 - May 23, 2009) Team 1 - Established Camp 1! (May 3 - May 23, 2009) AAI's 2009 roster of climbers and guides AAI's 2008 roster of climbers and guides
• Alaska Range Dispatches - April through July, 2009
  (click for dispatch list) May 28 - Private Alaska Range Mountaineering (May 17 - 31, 2009) May 26 - Private Alaska Range Mountaineering (May 17 - 31, 2009) May 21 - Private Alaska Range Mountaineering (May 17 - 31, 2009) May 20 - Private Alaska Range Mountaineering (May 17 - 31, 2009) May 19 - Private Alaska Range Mountaineering (May 17 - 31, 2009) May 18 - Private Alaska Range Mountaineering (May 17 - 31, 2009) April 15 - Alaska Range Mountaineering (April 12 - 18, 2009) April 13 - Alaska Range Mountaineering (April 12 - 18, 2009) June 4 - Alaska Range Mountaineering (May 25 - 31, 2008) May 5 - Alaska Range Mountaineering (April 27 - May 3, 2008) April 30 - Moose's Tooth approach
• Bolivia Expedition Dispatches - June through September, 2009
  (click for dispatch list) July 13: Update from La Paz July 10: Summit success July 9: Skills review and rest day July 8: Fun on Piramida Blanca
• Everest Expedition - Dispatches from March 31-May 25, 2008
  (click for dispatches) 2009 Everest Dispatches 2008 Everest Dispatches 2007 Everest Dispatches
• Patagonia Trekking and Climbing Dispatches - November, 2008 - June, 2009
  (click for dispatches) February 19: Team 2 - Electric Bridge and La Playita February 18: Team 2 - On to Marconia Pass!
• Antisana and Illiniza Expedition Dispatches - November, 2008 - June, 2009
  (click for dispatches) February 9: Team 1 - Antisana Update February 7: Team 1 - Antisana Summit Success! February 5: Team 1 - Bad Conditions on Illiniza Sur February 3: Team 1 - Summit Success!!! February 2: Team 1 - At the hut below the Illinizas February 1: Team 1 - Acclimatization Activities
• China Expedition Dispatches September and October, 2008
  (click for dispatch list) October 10: Relaxing at Dorje's (Sept 20 - Oct 12) October 8: Waiting for Horses (Sept 20 - Oct 12) October 8: Back to Base Camp (Sept 20 - Oct 12) October 5: Transition to Reddomaine (Sept 20 - Oct 12) October 3: Moving to Base Camp (Sept 20 - Oct 12) October 2: The Upper Ridge Crux (Sept 20 - Oct 12) October 1: All Set and Ready to Go! (Sept 20 - Oct 12) September 30: Finding Summit Route (Sept 20 - Oct 12) September 29: Settling in at High Camp (Sept 20 - Oct 12) September 27: Exploring the Area (Sept 20 - Oct 12) September 26: Active Rest Day (Sept 20 - Oct 12) September 25: Arrival at Base Camp (Sept 20 - Oct 12) September 24: Camp 2! (Sept 20 - Oct 12) September 22: Acclimatization Hike, First Camp (Sept 20 - Oct 12) September 22: First Acclimatization Hike (Sept 20 - Oct 12) September 20: Arrival in China! (Sept 20 - Oct 12)
• Alps Dispatches - July through September, 2008
  (click for dispatch list) August 15: Haute Route - Moiry Dam August 12: Haute Route - Spectacular Views August 8: Haute Route Underway! July 21: Mont Blanc and Matterhorn (July 15 - July 24, 2008)
• Peru Expedition Dispatches - June through September, 2008
  (click for dispatch list) July 18: Ishinca and Tocllaraju Expedition (June 27 - July 17, 2008) July 14: High Camp on Toqllaraju (June 27 - July 17, 2008) July 11: Pisco and Chopicalqui (June 27 - July 17, 2008) June 30: Expedition 1 - First Dispatch from Jaime (June 27 - July 17, 2008)
• St. Elias Range First Ascent and Expedition Dispatches - June 2008
  (click for dispatch list) June 17 - St. Elias Range (June 5 - 18, 2008) June 11 - St. Elias Range (June 5 - 18, 2008)
• Mt. Vinson Expedition Dispatches - Nov 18 - Dec 4, 2007 and Dec 27 - Jan 11, 2008
  (click for dispatches) 2007-08 Mt. Vinson Expeditions

Past Course and Expedition Dispatches

The archive for all of AAI's past dispatches and trip reports, including domestic and foreign programs.

Special Reports

Photos and first-hand stories describing the details of rewarding climbs and expeditions.