Entries By garrett stevens
January 10, 2013
Posted by: JJ Justman, Geoff Schellens
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Elevation: 13,800'
Rest and Relaxation. Our team is doing great! Everyone had a great nights sleep and are feeling more acclimatized. It is our last day in
Aconcagua's Base Camp so we are indulging in good food, doing laundry and taking that last hot shower. A clean climber is a warm climber.
Stay tuned tomorrow. The team is moving on up to
Camp One!
RMI Guide JJ Justman
On The Map
January 9, 2013
Posted by: JJ Justman, Geoff Schellens
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Elevation: 13,800'
Up, up and away! Team 3 had a spectacular day carrying gear up to
Camp One at 16,500 feet. We brought up all the food for the upper mountain, fuel for our stoves and a little bit of personal clothing and gear.
It is nice in a weird way to throw on heavier packs and get a taste of thin air. The entire team did great and in reality we probably don't need to take another rest day here at base camp. However, we will.
Tomorrow we will rest and it will only provide every team member a stronger foundation for the upper mountain. There is no doubt a good part of high altitude mountaineering is about fighting the boredom. But as I sit here some team members are playing cribbage and others are playing some other game. The betting stakes Re cough drops and single sheets of toilet paper.
It was nice to see the beautiful views up high on
Aconcagua and we will post more exciting events from base camp and who may be out of toilet paper!
RMI Guide JJ Justman
On The Map
January 8, 2013
Posted by: JJ Justman, Geoff Schellens
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Elevation: 13,800'
After a good trip up the Relinchos Valley yesterday, the team is enjoying a well-earned rest day here at
Plaza Argentina. Our night of good rest rolled into a breakfast of eggs, fried ham, peppers and onions with coffee and hot chocolate, and was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone.
After giving the team time to digest, we all went over to the medical office and got the obligatory physical check-up. Everyone passed with flying colors, and we're now poised and ready for our carry up to
Camp One tomorrow, situated at 16,200'.
While we're living at about 14,000 feet, everyone is feeling tip top and acclimating perfectly. We have beautiful weather and look forward to staging for the move higher on this beautiful mountain.
Keep sending the positive energy!
RMI Aconcagua Expedition and Guides JJ Justman, Garrett Stevens and Geoff Schellens
On The Map
January 7, 2013
Posted by: JJ Justman, Geoff Schellens
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Elevation: 14,000
Hello Everyone!
Galloping across the Vacas River we had a few team members think we were riding mules the rest of the way to base camp. However, once on drier ground we hopped off, thanked the mules for keeping us dry and began walking up towards
Plaza Argentina.
Now at 14000 feet the team has had their fill of fresh melon and juice. Acclimating begins now and the entire team is feeling good, especially after a hot shower and a fresh change of clothes.
Tomorrow we will be resting. A full report of activities will follow. Now, it's time to set up the volleyball net.
RMI Guide JJ Justman & Team
On The Map
January 6, 2013
Posted by: JJ Justman, Geoff Schellens
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Elevation: 11,200'
We are cooking with gas now...and fire! Team 3 is at 11000 feet at
Casa de Piedra. We had a beautiful day trekking in the warm sun surrounded by the high Andes mountains.
Now, the dining table is up, the chickens are on the grill, the homemade pesto is sautéing, and the angel hair pasta is cooking.
Everyone is doing fantastic and our motto is "a well fed climber is a strong climber". So we are going to sit down to a nice meal and get ready for our final day of trekking into
Aconcagua base camp.
RMI Guide JJ Justman
January 5, 2013
Posted by: JJ Justman, Geoff Schellens
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Elevation: 9,000'
We are back in the mountains again! And it feels great! Our team had a leisurely walk with light packs in the Vacas Valley. The clouds kept us cool and the sun off our backs.
After a nice picnic lunch along the
Vacas River we arrived at our first trekking camp. The team is relaxing and we are about to prepare some snacks before we sit down with the cowboys as they prepare an asado meal of steak, corn on the cob and grilled vegetables. There's no need to start eating ramen just yet.
Everyone says hello to friends and family and the guides say hello to our RMI family back in Ashford, WA.
Chau from Pampa de Lenas!
RMI Guide JJ Justman
January 5, 2013
Posted by: JJ Justman, Geoff Schellens
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Elevation: 9,000'
We have arrived in the quaint little ski town of Penitentes. It was nice enjoying the "good life" in Mendoza. However, it's a refreshing change getting into the high desert mountains near
Aconcagua.
The team organized our gear to be carried in by the mules. Then it was quickly off to dinner at Hotel Ayelen. I'd like to joke that it was the team's last good meal. However, we have several kilos of filet mignon and fresh chickens to grill and I'm planning on making my 2001 award winning homemade pesto served over hand made angel hair pasta. Sorry, we won't send photos of that, don't want to make you too jealous.
RMI Guide JJ Justman
On The Map
Here we go! It is official! Team 3 on
Aconcagua is on its way. The entire team made it into Mendoza with all their climbing gear.
However, the first order of business is enjoying the good life in Mendoza. We are at one of the new, hidden gems...Siete Cocinas Restaurante.
After our bellies are full we will return to our hotel and relax getting ready for acquiring our climbing permits. Stay tuned to see what Aconcagua has in store for our team.
RMI Guides
JJ Justman,
Geoff Schellens &
Garrett Stevens
Followed your climb back up to C1 today. Glad the weather has been good and hope it continues to be.
Everyone says hi!
Posted by: Paula Hall on 1/11/2013 at 9:21 am
Todd, Dad says he wants you to teach him cribbage when you get back. Your Dapa and my Papa usedto play that all the time. “15-2,15-4 and a pair is 8”
love Dad, written by mOm OXOXOX
Posted by: Scott McClure on 1/11/2013 at 7:13 am
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