A hearty hello to everyone out there following along as RMI's February 1st Aconcagua Expedition gets started. Most of the team trickled in to Mendoza yesterday afternoon and hit the ground running despite being weary from long stretches of airline travel. We held a team meeting followed by a fantastic dinner at one of the local restaurants. I can assure you that large quantities of beef and wine were consumed as we made our last efforts to pack on a couple pounds before heading onto the mountain. The guides packed group gear late into the night and after a brief nap we rose early to finish up our permitting process and run a few last minute errands. We're headed for Penitentes this afternoon where we'll finalize our packing and help ready the mule loads before spending one last night in a bed for a long time. Busy busy!
More to share as our program continues... Stay with us!
RMI Guides Billy Nugent, Garrett Stevens and the rest of the gang.
Hello everyone, It's JJ with Team 3 on Aconcagua. We are all back safe and sound in Base Camp. This will be our last dispatch. Out plan is to walk out part way tomorrow, have an asado dinner with the cowboys, then wake up and head to Mendoza on the 20th.
I would like to take the opportunity to allow our climbers to write a little something on the blog:
Hey guys its Greg. Well it looks like I've got a new addiction with headaches nausea and exhaustion what's not to like. Thanks so much for the messages of love and support it really means a lot out here. See you when I get home.
Hey Paula & Gang - We summited yesterday - it was awesome. We are back at base camp looking forward to the trek out and getting a shower in Mendoza. Love you all tons and thanks for all of the support - a big thanks to the RMI Team who helped with our success!!!
Hi Fam and Friends, its Mike! Thank you all for the love and support along the way, your comments helped gin up the brute doggedness it took to make the summit yesterday. I'll send pictures from Mendoza, cheers!
Hey everyone in sunny Florida! Todd here. Love to you all, especially Sally and baby girl McClurem. We are hanging out back at Base Camp after descending 4600 feet today. Trying to stay hydrated and warm. Thanks for all the comments. It was so great to know that we have family and friends who are following this crazy adventure. See ya soon!
As the resident geezer on this trip, I would like to thank not only our guides but my fellow climbers as well - a truly great bunch of men. And all my love to those at home for their support and patience. Hello FrontPoint!
Well folks, from all the guides we would like to thank all who followed us. Geoff, Garrett and myself would like to thank all of our family at the RMI Headquarters in Ashford, WA. Without all of you we would not be as successful as we are.
RMI Guides JJ, Geoff, Garrett and Team
What a great adventure for all of us as well, who’ve been following you on the blog. So grateful everyone was able to summit and make it back to base camp safely. A huge group hug! Love you bunches Mike, Mom and Dad
We're back! Hi everyone, sorry, we have been back at high camp for an hour but we have been going gonzo on the snow melting. Needless to say, after a 12-hour day, our team is thirsty!
We all want to thank everyone who followed us during our expedition. It was really great to see and hear the support and I contribute that to everyone on the team reaching the Aconcagua summit.
We will post a couple of blogs on our way out but I wanted to send a quick note letting everyone know we are tired but doing great! Tomorrow we head down to Base Camp.
RMI Guide JJ Justman
Hey everyone, this is JJ Justman, I have an incredible news story coming to you live on the summit of Aconcagua. Hey everyone. Everyone on Team 3 made the summit of Aconcagua at 1:30 (ART) this afternoon. 100%! The team did just absolutely fantastic. Team give a shout out to everyone back at home. [Cheers from the team!] I'll tell you its always a tough day getting up here, but the rewards are great. Beautiful day climbing. We are the only ones on the summit of Aconcagua right now. There is a little bit of wind so hopefully I'm not yelling too loud, but definitely want to let you guys know that everyone did great, everyone's safe and sound. We're gonna take a few hero shots and then we're gonna start heading down hill. Thanks for following a long. We will touch base with you when we get back to high camp. Everyone's doing great. Everyone says hello to family and friends. Take care from the summit of Aconcagua.
Congratulations to Tom Shilson! Your guess of 1:23 is the winning summit time. An RMI t-shirt and hat is on its way to you!
RMI Guide JJ Justman
Well, well, well! Here we are! High Camp at 19,600 feet. And let me tell ya, it is great to be here in the thin air. It's like I tell my climbers, "The higher we go, the better we feel!" And even though it goes against physiology at altitude, I believe the mental mantra is working. Everyone is feeling great!
Tomorrow is summit day. We have a great forecast and we are keeping our fingers crossed. Most likely we will have light winds and some clouds building late afternoon. It is looking like a beautiful day. With that said, I have a challenge for you RMI blog enthusiasts, and make sure you share this challenge with as many folks you know.
On this blog post click on the comment button and place your guess. What time (Argentina Time: ART) will our team summit Aconcagua tomorrow December 17th? Our team will be leaving high camp around 5 AM (ART).
Whoever gets the closest time will win an RMI t-shirt and baseball cap. Please include your email address along with your answer.
Again put your guess in the comment section of this blog posting only.
Wish us luck!!
RMI Guide JJ Justman
We woke on our rest say today to another beautiful morning on the Stone Sentinel, feeling good at our Camp 2 altitude of 18,200'. Although clouds have slowly built and a light snow is falling, team morale is high and the collective attitude is positive and charged with anticipation of the move to come. Everyone continues to climb well, and we're all taking care to eat and drink enough for the hard days ahead.
Rest days give time to think, and something that always comes to mind is the total experience of mountain climbing. A big part of that experience is being present in the moment, finding the rhythm of walking and breathing, seeing the splendor of nature all around and being able to appreciate it without the distractions that are all too present in most of the world. The team is definitely embracing the moment, soaking up the beauty and enjoying the journey through this high and wild place. While occasional thoughts may jump forward and higher to the summit of South America, we are perfectly content to enjoy a cup of coffee and the company of friends new and old on this well-earned rest day.
Keep us in your thoughts as we push higher and higher the next few days. The weather looks promising, the team is strong, and we look forward to the challenge ahead!
RMI Guides JJ Justman, Geoff Schellens, Garrett Stevens and the Aconcagua team
Hey Mike McHugh, what a beautiful and rare experience you are having. I look forward to talking with you about this climb when you return. Love, Uncle Mel
Posted by: Mel Schroeder on 1/16/2013 at 3:43 am
WOW
WOW Greg B you’re just about there. Have a good climb. Sure enjoy the daily comments and great pix. Makes a person almost wish we were there too. Wishing everyone success. Be safe. mom and dad
First, my condolences to both Green Bay and Seattle. For more uplifting news, the team moved to Camp Two at 18200 feet. As usual, everyone is feeling great. The sun is shining now, however, the clouds are moving in. I wouldn't doubt we get some more snow.
Yesterday the mountain had a fresh blanket of snow, which made for beautiful climbing today. For now, we are all getting settled into our new home for the next couple of days. Stay tuned because we are literally a hop, skip and a jump from the summit. If we get the weather we will move to high camp in a few days!
RMI Guide JJ Justman & Team
Todd and Jim, I am really thrilled to be able to follow your progress and adventure. I join Sally in prayer for great weather and success in the summiting.
love, mOm
Posted by: Jana on 1/15/2013 at 11:33 am
Looks like our good weather window thoughts,from Duluth MN, are working. Get good rest today for your move to C3 tomorrow. We love you and miss you Jeffrey.
Rest day at Aconcagua Camp One means only one thing. Pizza making day! You may be wondering, "How do you make pizzas at 16,500 feet"? Sorry, it's an RMI Guide secret.
Today our team awoke to a fresh blanket of snow covering the entire mountain. It is a beautiful day to stay put and recover here in camp. Everyone is doing very well and we are feeling healthy and strong.
The remainder of the day will see some of us playing cards, reading books and watching movies. Yes, it's rough living up here.
RMI Guide JJ Justman
Hello RMI Blog Enthusiasts! Today was more of the same. The team did a fantastic job climbing up to Camp 2 at 18000 feet. We cached more food for up high, some white gas and a few personal items.
In fact, the team was doing so well that after our cache we took a little walk up higher to get a view towards high camp. We made it to 19000 feet when the snow began to fly. It turned out to be a beautiful walk down back to Camp One.
We are drinking hot drinks now and soon we will begin cooking for the team. Tomorrow is a well deserved rest day for all of us here at 16500 feet, which actually is feeling really good for all of us. Everyone here wants to say hi to friends and family back home.
RMI Guide JJ Justman
P.S. GO PACKERS!!!!
Noah's Ark doesn't have anything on us! Yesterday the mountain received a little precipitation and as our team approached Camp One, we discovered a new river running through camp.
Not only are tents up and people are settled in but we are on ditch digging crew to divert our new river, which we named Rio Horiskey.
The entire team did great getting up to 16,500 feet. We are camped a little higher than the normal camp because we like peace, quiet and pristine water. The agenda for tonight is to make hot drinks and eat another fine meal.
I have a little surprise for the team. In honor of playoff weekend I brought some Green Bay Packers hot dogs. You know...for good luck!
RMI Guide JJ Justman & Team
Go Cousin!
See… the world needs ditch diggers too. Lots of love!
Holly
Posted by: Holly McHugh on 1/11/2013 at 10:24 pm
Hey G-Money - Blue is too young and carefree to know any better, but Barley-boy, being the sensitive type and wise to your antics, has fallen into a deep depression in your absence. I’m treating his symptoms with extra pig ears and peanut-butter stuffed bones. I expect a full recovery this weekend since we’re hosting the Lucky Dog Ranch K-9s. Happy climbing! xo
Hope all is going well! Eat MEAT…lots of MEAT! And we are all ready to read about the next leg of your journey to the top of S.A.!!
Posted by: Paula S on 2/6/2013 at 8:43 pm
Big hello’s from Texas. Can’t wait to hear all about it.
Posted by: Hammond's of the North on 2/6/2013 at 7:06 pm
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