Entries By katrina bloemsma

Aconcagua: Nugent Wraps Up the Expedition in Mendoza

January 31, 2015

Posted by: Billy Nugent, Katrina Bloemsma, Billy Haas

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua

Hi all. Billy here with the last installment from our riveting series of blog posts documenting one of this year's RMI Aconcagua expeditions. We officially wrapped up our program last evening with an amazing dinner at Francesco Barbera complete with all of the pageantry you'd expect from a fine dining experience in Argentina: cocktails, wine, delicious handmade pastas, dessert, coffee. We deserved a little luxury after so much hard work in such a harsh environment and indeed there was much rejoicing. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all the members of the team for their patience, dedication, and hard work all along the way and to thank Katrina and Billy Haas for being exceptional guides and teammates the whole trip too. I've had tons of fun and can't wait to come back next year... Til then. RMI Guide Billy Nugent

Aconcagua: Nugent & Team Back in Mendoza

January 30, 2015

Posted by: Billy Nugent, Billy Haas, Katrina Bloemsma

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua

Yeah! We made it off the trail today and after a quick lunch and a semi-successful sage sauce recipe aquisition in Penitentes we loaded all of our duffels onto the van and hit the road for Mendoza. We got into town around 5:30 or 6, checked into the hotel, and finally got those showers we´ve been dreaming of for so many weeks. Our sunburned, dirty faces definitely make us stand out among the normal people of the city but what can you really do? We´re headed out for a brew pub and a casual dinner tonight before we have our official celebratory dinner tomorrow night at a fancier restaurant. I´ll check in one more time tomorrow evening to officially wrap the expedition up. Ciao, headed for some cervezas... RMI Guide Billy Nugent & Team

Aconcagua: Nugent & Team are Back at Basecamp

January 29, 2015

Posted by: Billy Nugent, Katrina Bloemsma, Billy Haas

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua

Elevation: 13,800'

Well, we made it back to Basecamp. Big loads and tired feet made for a tough day but we were greeted at Basecamp last night by a spread of snacks and cold drinks, but more importantly, hugs and congratulations from Anita and Grizzelda the Basecamp managers. We dined on steaks and real salad and vegetables which were absolutely delicious after over a week of mountain food. This morning we woke up had a quick breakfast before readying the mule loads and are now about to hit the dusty trail for Pampa de Leñas. The herrieros will be preparing a traditional asado there for us tonight but I anticipate that we´ll be out of touch for the evening because it´s hard for the satellite phone to stay connected down there. The canyon walls are just too narrow. The long march home continues... RMI Guide Billy Nugent & Team

Aconcagua: Nugent & Team Summit!

January 26, 2015

Posted by: Billy Nugent, Katrina Bloemsma, Billy Haas

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua

Elevation: 22,841'

12:45 pm PT Billy called the RMI Office from Camp Cholera: Everyone is safe and sound. We will stay here tonight and descend to Plaza Argentina tomorrow afternoon. Thank you for all the blog comments and congratulations! 8:48 am PT Hey there, it's Billy Nugent of the team El equipo de dos Guillermos, checking in from the summit of Aconcagua. I'm up here right now with six climbers and three guides, 22,800-something feet. So what do you guys think? [Team cheers!] As you can tell a happy but tired bunch. Everyone is doing extremely well. We are definitely winded up here at extremely high altitude. We'll give you guys a jingle when we are headed back into our high camp at Plaza Cholera. Other shout-outs. [Brief loss of transmission] Carter, Walker, and mom I love you guys so much. Thank you for everything. Erica, Thurston, Bella, Brent, Ally, Christian, everyone. We made it! Hurrah! Hey guys, it's Lindsay, I made it. Thank you so much for the support and love. Love you guys. See you when I get back. Tanya, Benjamin, and Abby- love you and I'll see you all soon. Kathy, Kelsey, Eric, Ailie- I love you. I'm on the top of Aconcagua- woohoo! Jerry and Rhonda, John and Kathy- thanks for the support. I'll be seeing you soon. Babs and Phil- much love from Katrina. That's all I got unless Haas has something. I love you mom and dad [from Billy Haas]. Sorry mom and dad, love you guys too. Signing out. We'll call you from high camp. RMI Guide Billy Nugent

RMI Guide Billy Nugent and team call in from the Aconcagua summit!

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Hey Glen congratulations you made it! Fridolin

Posted by: Fridolin on 1/28/2015 at 2:52 pm

Gerald
Sorry just had to post… We are just so proud:))) sounds like an amazing team… can’t wait to hear about it all. Sleep well under the stars. Xx

Posted by: Aliki on 1/27/2015 at 4:47 pm

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Aconcagua: Nugent & Team Move to High Camp

January 25, 2015

Posted by: Billy Nugent, Katrina Bloemsma, Billy Haas

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua

Elevation: 19,600'

Hey everybody. It's Billy calling in from Camp Cholera at19,600 feet here on the side of Aconcagua. We're all settled into camp and melting snow, filling water bottles right now. We are looking forward to dinner and early to bed tonight. Hopefully take a crack at the summit tomorrow. Right now the weather is partly cloudy and just a gentle breeze. Things are pretty nice, other than the fact that camp is bone, bone dry. We have to hike almost 20 minutes out of camp to fill garbage bags full of snow and bring them back just to fill water bottles. Other than that nuisance, things are going well, the teams in great spirits and hopefully that weather forecast holds true and we have a perfect day tomorrow. We'll check in again during the day and let you know how it's going. All for now, bye. RMI Guide Billy Nugent

RMI Guide Billy Nugent calls in from Aconcagua High Camp.

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Looks gorgeous there - cannot wait to hear how the ascent goes

xo
Sasha

Posted by: sasha hogan on 1/26/2015 at 10:55 am

Lucy, Corell and the whole team- good luck tomorrow and let the force be with you! So proud of those Team Waki girls!

Posted by: Kathryn LeBey on 1/26/2015 at 7:39 am

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Aconcagua: Nugent & Team Settled Into Camp 2

January 23, 2015

Posted by: Billy Nugent, Katrina Bloemsma, Billy Haas

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua

Elevation: 18,000'

Wulp... Here we are settled in to camp up here at Aconcagua Camp 2 at over 18,000ft enjoying beautifully clear skies and a nice gentle breeze. Haas and Katrina are outside whipping up a tasty meal and hanging out with the team enjoying the afternoon. Not much else to report... The team is in great spirits and hoping for this great weather to hold! Til tomorrow, RMI Guide Billy Nugent

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Glen, the scenery gets better as you guys climb higher and higher. We hope the weather holds good for your next two legs of the journey. At night, I bet the sky is beautiful and full of stars! Have a good rest then onward….

Posted by: John and Kathy Papile on 1/24/2015 at 8:11 am

Glen, mi amor, have you been doing some star gazing? I bet the stars are so beautiful. It snowed this morning in Texas and has been really cold. It’s been clearing this evening and the stars are bright. Miss you lots. Love, Katalina

Posted by: Katalina on 1/23/2015 at 5:56 pm

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Aconcagua: Nugent and team Rest at Camp 1

January 22, 2015

Posted by: Billy Nugent, Katrina Bloemsma, Billy Haas

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua

Elevation: 16,200'

Aaah, the rest day. El equipo de dos Guillermos is sun bathing, snacking on turkey jerky and guacamole, and letting our minds and legs recover from the carry yesterday. The team is in great spirits today, and since we have some extra time, we thought we'd have every climber give their own little shout out! Here it goes: Glen: Mi carino. Te quiero. Abrozos y besos. Lindsay: I'm feeling great and miss you all! Guess which limerick was mine? Gerald: Missing me yet lol. Missing you! Charlotte, good luck Saturday. Lucy: I miss you all and love you all so much. Walker, have you heard?! Floyd: Feelin' great. Working hard at resting and sitting still. Tanya, hope you're feeling better. Miss you all and see you soon! Corell: Feeling fine, weather is nice. Miss you all! Hope the hunting trip was good and the Eagle Scout manual is progressing. Thurston, remember to study! Love to everyone. RMI Guide Billy Nugent & Team

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What a treat to get personal notes with today’s update. I’m recovering, and the kids and I wish you all the best on the rest of your journey. XOXO

Posted by: Tanya on 1/23/2015 at 3:58 pm

Corell - Thurston stayed in Arkansas and got a job at Mack’s Prairie Wings selling AR-15s. Says he has found his true calling in life. I am going to sit in for him on his Eagle board and try to do his homework, though the math may be challenging. We just had long addition and subtraction when I went to school. Those ice formations in the picture look really cool - like terra cotta warriors of penguins, or midgets in the Klan, right? Love you!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Thurston on 1/23/2015 at 3:42 pm

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Aconcagua: Nugent & Team Carry to Camp 2

January 21, 2015

Posted by: Billy Nugent, Katrina Bloemsma, Billy Haas

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua

Elevation: 16,200'

Windy today... After an all-things-considered-decent night last evening at Camp 1 we woke this morning to clear skies and calm winds. Perfect, we thought, for a push up to Camp 2 to drop off another cache of supplies. The team made good time and dispatched the uphill portion of the carry in three stretches moving smoothly and in good style. The wind beat us up a little bit but in the end it was nothing but a nuisance as we passed through Ameghino Col. We saw some of our first views of other big peaks in the range as we passed underneath the toe of the Polish Glacier. The mountain is VERY dry right now and we've heard that getting snow for water up at high camp is problematic, at least there's still a good flow of water coming through the stream at Camp 2. We are all back down at Camp 1 safe and sound, looking forward to a rest/acclimatization day tomorrow! Ciao, for now. RMI Guide Billy Nugent

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Thank you for the updates. I loved your song!
Lots of Love from 8000
Babs xox

Posted by: Barbara Lynn Bloemsma on 1/22/2015 at 9:18 am

Linz - I’m getting a desperate feeling that I need to walk on some rocks. Does walking down the gravel road in Indiana qualify as scree? Wish I was there. Rock on girl! Pop

Posted by: Les on 1/21/2015 at 6:14 pm

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Aconcagua: Nugent & Team Move to Camp 1

January 20, 2015

Posted by: Billy Nugent, Katrina Bloemsma, Billy Haas

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua

Elevation: 16,200'

Hola del Campo Uno. For those of you who don't "habla español" El Campo Uno is spanish for... The Campo Uno. Our team enjoyed a relaxed morning getting packed up and out of Aconcagua Basecamp despite how eager we were to get this climb underway. We enjoyed perfect weather on our move up and even got to spend some time with JJ and the other RMI crew descending after yesterday's successful summit bid at one of our breaks along the trail. We could hear JJ coming down the trail but couldn't see him until he was right upon us. His full camouflage outfit (including camo expedition backpack) is perfectly at home in the mountain environment. Our team is moving extremely well in large part due to great fitness but also great rest-stepping and footwork. They made short work of the move and even had the energy to write a limerick along the way. Here it is for your reading pleasure: Climbing this mountain is rough, but our team is tougher than tough. Through wind, ice, and sand on the peak we'll all stand because we've all got the right stuff! All for now... RMI Guide Billy Nugent

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Looks super cold! Lucy and Corell are speedy ladies and deceptively strong. No doubt they were climbing up with ease. Love reading each day. Take care of yourselves and super proud of you and the team for taking this on.

Posted by: Kathryn LeBey on 1/21/2015 at 7:03 am

Hola Glen, glad you had a good weather day and did well on the climb to Camp One. All that training is paying off. The limerick was great! How about one for when you reach Camp two? Love, Katalina

Posted by: Katalina on 1/20/2015 at 7:14 pm

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Aconcagua: Nugent & Team Rest Day After Carry to Camp 1

January 19, 2015

Posted by: Billy Nugent, Katrina Bloemsma, Billy Haas

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua

Elevation: 13,800'

Hi all, Not much new to report from our basecamp here at Plaza Argentina. The physical output and exertion on yesterday's carry is hopefully triggering our bodies to take advantage of today's rest and accelerate our acclimation process. We're spending the day eating good food (egg & prosciutto scramble! cucumber, tomato, and melon salad!), napping, and tying up loose ends in preparation for tomorrow's move up to Camp 1. We've been listening to the hippies over at the freelance porter tent jam away on their drums and recorder. While not exactly relaxing it's at least a bit comical. Anyway, hoping for a good night's sleep, provided the porters have jammed themselves out, and don't play another night into the wee hours of the morn... We'll check in again tomorrow evening and let you know how it all went. RMI Guide Billy Nugent

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Glad to know you are all moving up the mountain safely. The picture of those little yellow tents is making me homesick for the mountains! Have fun and rest up.

Xoxo. Renee

Posted by: Renee on 1/20/2015 at 11:59 am

Linz
Grab me a couple breaths of that good old mountain air. Soak up the awesomeness. Climb strong, girl. Wish I could be there. Poppy

Posted by: Les on 1/20/2015 at 6:53 am

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Entries By katrina bloemsma

Aconcagua: Nugent Wraps Up the Expedition in Mendoza

Aconcagua: Nugent & Team Back in Mendoza

Aconcagua: Nugent & Team are Back at Basecamp

Aconcagua: Nugent & Team Summit!

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Aconcagua: Nugent & Team Move to High Camp

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Aconcagua: Nugent & Team Settled Into Camp 2

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Aconcagua: Nugent and team Rest at Camp 1

Aconcagua: Nugent & Team Carry to Camp 2

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Aconcagua: Nugent & Team Move to Camp 1

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Aconcagua: Nugent & Team Rest Day After Carry to Camp 1

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