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    RMI Expeditions

    3.1 (37 reviews)
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    Updated 2 weeks ago

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    I have had an expedition on Mount Denali with RMI company. As a mountaineer with three successful 8000m peaks (Everest north face, Cho Oyu and Shisha Pangma), Kilimanjaro, Aconcagua and many successful training courses, here is my feedback regarding RMI experience in Denali expedition. The following feedback has been shared with Joe Horiskey and Jeff Martin and they have been informed in advance that the following feedback will be shared in public for future applicants who are interested to know about the quality of services by RMI. I have registered with RMI to join the expedition on Denali under leadership of Tyler Jones (TJ). Here is my feedback which are shown in the attached photos:

    Jenry R.

    If you're looking for a safe and professional guide experience, look no further. RMI guides are experienced, safe, professional and trustworthy. If you want to learn skills or have a safe climbing experience, this is a solid choice. I have climbed with several different guide companies and RMI is definitely the best of the best. If you want to have a great experience, show up with solid training and fitness because that's the only thing you can do to prepare. These guides are honest about what to expect and how to safely travel through challenging terrain. I trust Dominic and his team with my life. As someone who provides anesthesia for a a living, I feel like this statement carries a unique austerity. Climbing with RMI is a safe choice and a no brainer. I would consider trusting them for guided expeditions and beyond.

    Taking a break during our summit attempt! (June 10, 2012)
    Andrew S.

    Four Day Summit Climb June 7 - 10, 2012 The RMI team was safe, professional, and provided an overall excellent experience doing one of the most dangerous, yet unforgettable activities you'll ever do! I had the pleasure of a summit attempt on Mt. Rainier last June doing the 4-day program. Leading up to the trip, I received several email reminders from RMI to keep up with my training and conditioning along with tips on how to be a successful mountaineer. Anytime I contacted them, they were extremely knowledge about anything from equipment to nutrition. Our first two days in Ashford were dedicated to preparation. They split us up into teams of 8 for both training and the ascent. We were taught basic climbing/stepping skills, use of an ice axe, slide prevention, packing and nutrition. This was also a time for physical fitness assessment. The actual climb to Camp Muir (base camp) is grueling. You get 10 minute breaks after each hour or so of hiking. It was easy to get frustrated and cranky, but it's not your guide's fault if you're not in shape! We ran into some serious head winds during our last stretch, but our guides made the right moves and got us to camp safely. After resting for several hours, we made our summit attempt in the early morning of our last day. Unfortunately, we did not complete our climb due to avalanche conditions. Our guides made the educated decision based on their survey of the mountain. At that point, I trusted them with almost anything. The RMI guides were awesome - they're like a mix of surfer dudes and back country woodsmen. They answered our questions and provided much needed encouragement. Safety was a consistent priority. I would use them again for sure.

    At the Summit of Mt. Rainier - fortunately the weather opened up (something that is obviously out of control for RMI)!
    Dexter N.

    4 day Summit Climb of Mt. Rainier, June 1-4th, 2018. If you're on this Yelp page, you're most likely thinking of "attempting" to climb Mt. Rainier (key word is "attempting" - all dependent on your physical fitness, ability to acclimate, and most importantly weather). After reading some of the other reviews, let's preface this review by managing expectations on what to expect when you're attempting to climb a technically difficult mountain. 1) You are climbing a mountain. It has steep and difficult conditions/terrain. It is not a walk in the park, and therefore you should be in very good shape (they will warn you of this multiple times when you sign up, so that's on you if you aren't able to physically endure the pace). You will not make it if you just get off of the couch and expect to make it. 2) There is a reason for the "difficult" pace - you will be climbing with a group and you will be "roped-in" to each other. You must keep a certain distance from each other for safety reasons (must team-arrest if someone falls down the mountain/crevasse). You must keep a pace in order to make it up and back down the mountain at a reasonable time (higher risk of hypothermia, higher risk of danger if on the mountain longer). This "difficult" pace is absolutely reasonable if you have followed their instructions on how to prepare yourself physically. 3) You have likely booked this trip far in advance, and the dates are set. If the conditions are poor, the guides will attempt to summit as long as they believe it is safe to do so. On our first climbing day at 5pm up at Camp Muir, there was 60mph sustained winds and gusts reaching up to 92mph - instead of just calling it quits, the experienced guides (Zeb Blais and Mike Haugen) explained that microclimates occur often and the weather is unpredictable, and that we would attempt to wait out the storm (of which we did and the weather cleared up). If the storm had continued, we would have had to head back down due to unsafe conditions (and trust me, you do not want to attempt to walk over a snow bridge over a crevasse in high wind conditions). This is entirely reasonable and it would be foolish to attempt to continue in bad conditions. 4) If you have prepared physically in advance, you must prepare yourself mentally to understand that the winds/weather on the mountain will be the ultimate deciding factor if you will be able to summit or not. If mother nature decides to bring in heavy winds on the day of your attempt, then you most likely will not summit. Enjoy the views and trip along the way anyway, because you most likely learned a lot through the day-school! Our team guides were Zeb Blais, Mike Haugen, Dustin Wittmier, and "funny-guy" Greyson. All of them were professional, knowledgable, and personable. If it weren't for their kind interaction with us and their patience with us, we wouldn't have had such a great time. Zeb was our lead guide, and he told us exactly what we needed to do and when. Dustin and Greyson were absolutely fantastic. Both are very personable and explained to me and my buddies exactly what to expect, all-the-while with a big smile on their faces. They all took care of us and made sure we were prepared for the attempt. Could not have asked for anything more from the guides. Top notch quality and I hope the best for them in their future endeavors. Also, if they are recommending a certain layer to be put on/off at a certain point of the climb, you should listen to them. There were multiple times where I wanted to keep my parka on, but they recommended that we should take them off, and I'm really glad I did, otherwise I would've seriously overheated when we started moving. Any questions? I'll answer them to my best ability from my personal experience.

    Court S.

    I got off a wait list for a Mt. Rainier summit at the end of August. Our guides were professional, prepared and realistic. Safety definitely was a top priority, and there was never a time on the climb that I felt uneasy. We had a great group, great weather and an amazing experience. The mountaineering school was a great warm-up and was perfect for teaching me alpine climbing basics. You will be successful on this guided climb if you arrive in good shape, have a realistic idea about your abilities and are up for a fun and great challenge.

    Disappointment Cleaver route
    Jason L.

    Apparently, all the Rainier climbs are booked MONTHS in advance - I managed sneak in on a June, 4-day program (2-day lessons, 2-day summit) due to a cancellation. Efficiently organized, with guides both patient, but also clear and firm with expectations (considering safety for the team as a whole). And jalapeno burgers at the open-air grill next to the office/Whittaker Bunkhouse to end the day, yum.

    Approaching the summit.
    Chad M.

    Life changing expedition. Great guide crew. Smart and helpful. Climbing Mt. Rainier? Call on RMI to do it right. They have literally everything you will need to make it from parking lot to summit and back to the parking lot. I had a very good experience from the office, to the rentals and especially the guides. Andy, Mike and Pete were amazing guides that I hope I get to work with again because they made the trek to the summit possible by providing the safest route possible. I climbed Mt. Rainier with their expertise. Read about each guide service. You will find out that they are the best and most qualified guides.

    The rock climbing wall outside the shop.
    Adrienne H.

    The store is has got some really cool stuff in it! The people working are super nice and personable. The prices are fair. There's souvenir stuff, like shirts etc for Mt. Rainier. There's a playground just outside of the shop and a rock climbing wall. Worth stopping in!

    Preparation time

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    Ask the Community - RMI Expeditions

    Review Highlights - RMI Expeditions

    Be in shape: The number of folks who claim to be marathoners and can't make it to Camp Muir at 10,000 ft.

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    Mount Fremont Lookout Trail - Instagram: @telephonesmoothie

    Mount Fremont Lookout Trail

    4.8(5 reviews)
    0.7 mi

    One of my favorite hikes in Mt Rainier. The hike is rough, but the end is 100% worth it…read more You'll access the Sourdough Ridge Trail about 600 feet from the visitor center, take it for about 1.1 miles, you'll hit Frozen Lake, and then it's another 1.3 miles up to the Overlook. You will get the most incredible views of Mt Rainier. The initial start of the Sourdough Trail is steep and strenuous, but give it about 0.2 miles - it's going to level out and be easy until you get to Frozen Lake. Don't hold your breath for Frozen Lake. We came in September - there was nothing frozen, no snow, and it was more like a small pond. Maybe it looks pretty in early spring when the park re-opens? Anywho, the trail is definitely strenuous. Pace yourself, take breaks if you need it, and drink lots of water (and make sure to BRING plenty of water). The overlook is incredible, and the views of Mt Rainier are breathtaking. The ranger station wasn't staffed while we were there, but you could climb up it for a better view. Otherwise, take a seat on a rock, eat some snacks, and enjoy! Overall, this hike will probably leave you feeling a bit wrecked, but it is well-worth all the effort.

    Arrived 5:50am Saturday in mid September. It was also free national park day. The last hour or so…read moreto Sunrise Visitor Center (the trailhead) from Portland area is long and meandering and dark. I recommend downloading an offline map since there's no service. I wanted to get to the trailhead before sunrise. Once I got to Sunrise, the parking lot was 20-25% full and there were several parties starting their hike as well. I wish I brought a headlamp because it was pitch black. The bathrooms were open and the toilet flushed and the sinks had soap still. The trail is right behind the bathrooms. It took about an hour to get to the top. It's pretty rocky and most parts it's narrow so I would recommend hiking shoes. I was warming up because of the hike but at the lookout, it was so cold! Bring gloves, a hat and layers. The forecast said it would be cloudy. I checked Windy.com to see the cloud patterns before I left and there was an opening. I've been to Mt Rainier on a clear day but on a partially cloudy day it was just as nice.

    Photos
    Mount Fremont Lookout Trail - Instagram: @telephonesmoothie

    Instagram: @telephonesmoothie

    Mount Fremont Lookout Trail - Chipmunk Visitor

    Chipmunk Visitor

    Mount Fremont Lookout Trail

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    Little Mashel Falls - It was a good hike! Definitely worth the view!

    Little Mashel Falls

    4.6(39 reviews)
    12.7 mi

    I'm on a mission to stay active during this pregnancy, and have been hiking every Saturday morning…read morefor the last month or so. Last Saturday we went to Little Mashel Falls, and it's the first "new" hike I've done in a while (one that I haven't done before). The information on AllTrails & WTA is kind of confusing and daunting to follow regarding parking, so let me make it easy for you - PARK AT THE BUD BLANCHER TRAIL. It directly takes you to the falls trailhead, you don't have to be out of the lot by 2:30 (it's open til dusk) and it's right off a main road so you're very close to civilization and not in the middle of a forest or random highway. You can easily GPS Bud Blancher Trail by name and have no issues. There is a portable bathroom at the trailhead that is clean & maintained regularly, so if you really need to go, it's not the worst. This trail is fairly easy. There were a few times that my heart got pumping, but overall it was a great morning workout. I didn't hike to the Upper Falls as I've heard the views weren't that great. I did the Middle & Lower falls. The lower falls is a steep descent and coming up is probably the most incline you'll deal with the entire hike. Middle Falls is very easy to get to but be VERY careful on all the big rocks as they are very slippery. We had someone in our group fall (they're okay) and I slipped a few times myself. That being said, it's gorgeous and you can go underneath/behind the falls for a deafening experience if you so desire! Highly recommend this trail. Dog-friendly, kid-friendly (I'd say 6 and up), and great for beginners.

    We really enjoyed exploring Middle Mashell Falls. We learned a lot by reading previous posts…read more Nicely maintained. Pet friendly. Next time we will pack a picnic & stay longer!! There is a bit of an incline before you get to the falls. Signage is very small & easy to miss on your first visit. We parked at Bud Blancher Trailhead

    Photos
    Little Mashel Falls
    Little Mashel Falls
    Little Mashel Falls - This photo was taken approx 2 minutes (5:45 pm) before our headlamps showed the glint of the cat's eyes and we fired

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    This photo was taken approx 2 minutes (5:45 pm) before our headlamps showed the glint of the cat's eyes and we fired

    Shoe Lake Hike Via Pacific Crest Trail - Old Snowy

    Shoe Lake Hike Via Pacific Crest Trail

    5.0(1 review)
    32.2 mi

    Had been stalking the White Pass/Shoe Lake area for windows of good weather the last month or two…read more(every weekend, it would conveniently be rainy/snowy up there!). Recently I saw the forecast open up for some sunny conditions---during the work week. I decided to make the trip---isn't that what vacation days are for?? I drove up to White Pass, from the east side, with clear blue skies the entire way. I parked on the highway (across from the Kracker Barrel at the base of the White Pass slopes). I slapped on my 35lb pack, grabbed my dogs, and we scrambled up the slopes. I like going this route (vs. starting at the Trailhead) because there are nice views and it cuts down on distance. It's a bear of a workout though! Once on the PCT, it's a nice, fairly flat, and scenic hike---y'know, the usual. Near the new ski run up on top, I heard/saw workers cutting/burning trees to clear way for the ski run (sometimes I wish I could make them turn the ski lift ON, so I could be taken all the way up to the Miriam Lake Basin....but what fun would that be?? I had seen evidence of recent snow every here and there (1-4" patches of snow). Once at the Miriam Lake Basin/Hogback Ridge, I made my way to Shoe Lake. There's one stretch of this big open piece of trail where there was quite a bit of hard icy snow. Camped above the beautiful Shoe Lake. I heard an elk bugling at around 7pm---it must have been south down the hill. Such a cool sound to hear! But it was also scary, because within seconds I also heard something very big plodding around nearby--definitely an elk. It was so close I could hear it breathing. A wee bit scary! (and cool) Oh, I did spy some huckleberries along the way, amazingly enough---but they weren't as good as the ones I picked 3weeks ago. Such a late season! The night yielded beautiful views of the Milky Way, constellations, Jupiter, satellites, and the like. The hike back was nice for most of the way. I saw a herd of mountain goats in the Miriam Lake Basin. The snow/ice mentioned earlier was pretty scary in the morning. The first clouds of the trip rolled in around 1pm...but I was pretty much done. While unloading at my car, an employee from the Kracker Barrel rode his bike to me. He was wondering where I was and if I was ok. Apparently, I forgot to roll my driver's side window up---so it was open for 24hrs!! Everything was fine, but I sure felt dumb. Anyway, probably my last backpacking trip of 2011. A great way to end the season!

    Photos
    Shoe Lake Hike Via Pacific Crest Trail - Reflection

    Reflection

    Shoe Lake Hike Via Pacific Crest Trail - From Nearby Peak

    From Nearby Peak

    Shoe Lake Hike Via Pacific Crest Trail - At Dusk

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    At Dusk

    Mount Rainier National Park - Incline Cider

    Mount Rainier National Park

    4.8(297 reviews)
    5.7 mi

    Mount Rainier NPis such a gorgeous park. The drive up from Seattle was simple and didn't feel like…read morethe 2 plus hours. I was grateful for nearly perfect weather- even with the various microclimates throughout the park. I was prepared for the heavy humidity and the chilli weather. The park was "closed" due to the government shutdown and so we didn't have to pay the entrance fee which was nice. I do however feel bad for the park rangers and staff that were unable to work. We took the route of the Paradise route and stopped at the different viewpoints but there were a few closures. Reflection lake was beautiful but a bit crowded.

    Every year I pick one or two national parks that I have never been to for vacation. This year I…read moredecided to fly to Washington and travel to both Mount Rainier and Olympic National Parks. My Dad lived north of the Seattle area for many years, and I would travel to see him. I would always marvel at Mount Rainier when flying over it by plane or seeing it from afar while in Seattle. Its snow-capped peak and overall size are incredible sites to see. Mount Rainier is a 14,410-foot active volcano in Washington's Cascade Range. It is the tallest mountain in Washington State. My Dad never had any interest in seeing this mountain up close, so I made my own trip out here to visit the park and do some hiking. I also ran a 5K that was going on in nearby Ashford to add a little fun to my trip. President William McKinley signed a bill authorizing the creation of Mount Rainier National Park in 1899. It is the nation's fifth national park. There are many cities around Mount Rainier National Park that you can stay in. I stayed in Packwood, which is southeast of the park. I took an overnight flight to Seattle-Tacoma and drove straight to the park where I ended up sleeping in my rental truck for a few hours until the sun came up. Mount Rainier National Park now requires a timed entry reservation made in advance during peak hours. I had got there early enough to avoid having to wait in the timed entry line. I began my day hiking to base of Mount Rainier on the popular 5.5-mile Skyline Loop Trail. It was a beautiful trail full of wildflowers, waterfalls, snow and wildlife. Marmots were running around all over and providing all sorts of entertainment for us hikers. The Skyline Trail begins and ends next to the visitor center in Paradise. At the visitor center, you can grab a bite to eat and check out exhibits that provide some history and information about this beautiful park. I spent much of my time driving around Mount Rainier National Park and enjoying its breathtaking views. The park has four main entrances - Nisqually, Carbon River, White River/Sunrise and Stevens Canyon. I was able to check out several waterfalls while exploring the park. Narada Falls was probably my favorite. One beautiful place to check out is Reflection Lake where you can see a reflection of Mount Rainier in the lake. Longmire is another popular destination that has lodging, camping, food, a visitor center and is the location of the park's original National Park Service Administration Building (which is now an information center). Ohanapecosh is an area in the park that has many campsites. I did make time to drive to Sunrise to get a different view of Mount Rainier. Sunrise is the highest point in the park that is accessible by vehicle at an elevation of 6,400 feet. When I visit national parks, I try to do a hike each day while I am in the park. There are 168 trails in Mount Rainier National Park. So I had to be selective in how many I could do because of time. After hiking the Skyline Loop Trail, I ended up doing some shorter day hikes like the Twin Firs Loop Trail and Bench & Snow Lakes Trail. I also did some hiking in the Sunrise area. There are so many trails to choose from at various lengths and difficulty. There is no Wi-Fi in Mount Rainier National Park. So I had to rely mostly on paper maps to get around. But if you do need Wi-Fi, you can stop at any of the three visitor centers in the park to connect. There are also park rangers on hand who are very helpful and will answer any questions that you may have. You will find restrooms, merchandise and food options at the visitor centers. I am so glad that I finally made my way to this beautiful national park to see this incredible mountain. Hiking the Skyline Trail and seeing some of the waterfalls were the highlights for me on this trip. Flying to Washington to spend some time in Mount Rainier National Park is an experience that I won't forget. I look forward to a return visit someday.

    Photos
    Mount Rainier National Park - Mount Rainier Wild Huckleberry Razzle Candy Bar

    Mount Rainier Wild Huckleberry Razzle Candy Bar

    Mount Rainier National Park - Mount Fremont Lookout Trail | Instagram: @telephonesmoothie

    Mount Fremont Lookout Trail | Instagram: @telephonesmoothie

    Mount Rainier National Park - Tolmie Peak Trail | Instagram: @telephonesmoothie

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    Tolmie Peak Trail | Instagram: @telephonesmoothie

    RMI Expeditions - hiking - Updated May 2026

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