Entries By pepper dee
January 19, 2017
Posted by: Mark Tucker, Pepper Dee
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Elevation: 19,600'
Turned out to be a great day to carry group and personal equipment to our high camp of
Aconcagua at 19,600ft. We made good time up and down and round tripped it in about five hours. At one point I was down to just a thin poly-pro top. Not bad for being exposed to the elements at 19,000ft.
Big decision time tonight. Weather reports are calling for some unsettled pattern ahead. Need to put all the factors in the hopper and come up with a plan. Excitement is rising and a major buzz going on around camp. My team continues to be a solid unit and so proud of what we have accomplished so far. All is well up on the hill.
RMI Guide Mark Tucker
On The Map
January 18, 2017
Posted by: Mark Tucker, Pepper Dee
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Elevation: 18,000'
Today our team bid farewell to the thick air and running water of
Aconcagua Camp 1 and headed uphill to Camp 2. We spent the majority of the afternoon digging in solid tent platforms, making sure to securely fasten our tents to the mountain with the biggest rocks we could find. We were treated to a beautiful day during the move-in process; the views of neighboring Andean peaks have kept many team members busy with photo opportunities. We're just getting ready to crawl into our tents before the sun dips below the horizon and it gets COLD.
More tomorrow!
RMI Guides Mark Tucker and Pepper Dee
On The Map
January 17, 2017
Posted by: Mark Tucker, Pepper Dee
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Elevation: 16,200'
Today our team enjoyed a day of rest and recovery at
Camp 1 on Aconcagua. Some team members read, others listened to music, others cat napped. As a group we took a light stroll in the afternoon to keep ourselves breathing well and acclimating. We were fortunate enough to enjoy beautiful weather the whole day, and made sure to heckle groups heading up and down the mountain as we lounged by our outdoor kitchen. Everyone is excited to move up to Camp 2 tomorrow, and keep our momentum going.
Hasta manana ~
RMI Guides Mark Tucker & Pepper Dee
On The Map
January 16, 2017
Posted by: Mark Tucker, Pepper Dee
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Elevation: 16,500'
Today our team carried food and personal equipment from our current camp at 16,500 feet to our Camp 2, which sits at right around 18,000 feet. Our climb took us up to the saddle, or "Col," which separates
Aconcagua from her sister peak Ameghino, and then wrapped around to the north side of the mountain. We spent the second half of the climb marveling at the newly visible high Andes stretching away to the north, and pulled in to camp 2 in fine form. Gear cached, descent styled, our team is looking forward to a well earned rest day tomorrow.
RMI Guides Mark Tucker & Pepper Dee
On The Map
January 15, 2017
Posted by: Mark Tucker, Pepper Dee
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Elevation: 16,200'
Well, we're on the mountain now! After a farewell breakfast with Mike King and company, our team loaded up packs with tents, sleeping bags, and high mountain essentials, and retraced our steps back up to
Camp 1. Knowing the route, and averaging lighter packs than our carry day, everyone on the team made it up to 16,500 feet in fine form. We picked a campsite more or less in the middle of the sweeping moraine of camp 1, with fine views down the valley and up higher to Ameghino Col. Tents are set up, bellies are full of Mac and Cheese, and we're getting ready to hit the hay on our first night above basecamp.
Love from the hill!
RMI Guides Mark Tucker and Pepper
January 14, 2017
Posted by: Mark Tucker, Pepper Dee
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Elevation: 13,800'
Today our team enjoyed a luxurious day of rest at
Aconcagua Base Camp. We breakfasted on deconstructed omelettes, and did a whole lot of relaxing for most of the day. Highlights included the occasional shower, and getting to catch up with
Mike King, JM Gorum, and their RMI team as they descended to base camp following their successful summit bid. Our team is well rested, and though we will miss the pleasantries of Base Camp, we are unanimously excited to move uphill.
More tomorrow!
RMI Guides
Mark Tucker and
Pepper Dee
January 13, 2017
Posted by: Mark Tucker, Pepper Dee
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Elevation: 13,800'
Our task for the day was simple: carry and cache supplies for the
upper mountain at Camp 1. Executing this task, however, was anything but simple, but all team members proved themselves to be fully up to the challenge. The terrain in between Base Camp and Camp 1 is varied and difficult; our team had to negotiate steep scree slopes, blocky towers of snow called penitentes, and sections of unstable talus. Upon reaching Camp 1, we were rewarded with a snack and drink at 16,500 feet, and made sure to diligently weigh down our cache of equipment before heading back downhill to Base Camp. Following the "climb high, sleep low" mantra, our team is looking forward to a well earned night of rest back and Base Camp, and everyone is excited to have laid eyes on the first section of real climbing.
RMI Guides Mark Tucker & Pepper Dee
On The Map
January 12, 2017
Posted by: Mark Tucker, Pepper Dee
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Elevation: 13,800'
Today was a day of rest and preparation for our team here at
Aconcagua Base Camp. We spent the morning reorganizing and sorting out communal food and equipment for the upper mountain, and the afternoon finding a way to make it all fit into our packs. Along the way, team members found time to take a brief stroll around the base camp vicinity to acclimate and enjoy the perspective, and a few lucky climbers snuck in a nap or two. Everyone is excited to carry a load up to Camp One tomorrow, and officially launch our assault on the mountain!
Bye for now,
RMI Guides Mark Tucker, Pepper Dee and Team
January 11, 2017
Posted by: Mark Tucker, Pepper Dee
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Elevation: 13,800'
Hello -
We have arrived at Plaza Argentina,
Aconcagua Base Camp, and are loving it. I am watching the most amazing moon rise as I scratch out this dispatch.
We started the morning off with a mule ride across the Vacas River. Good size and cold seemed to make sense since the option was available. We waited till later in the day to fjord the Relinchos River in the footwear we brought along for that purpose. Named after the valley we ascended five hours and gained close to 4,000', the views of the upper mountain were fantastic.
We established our camp and settled in at Base Camp. A very nice dinner provided by our great outfitter Grajales Expeditions has us well fed and now ready for rest. The team is in good shape and thrilled to be at Base Camp. All is good here.
RMI Guide Mark Tucker
On The Map
January 10, 2017
Posted by: Mark Tucker, Pepper Dee
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Elevation: 10,550'
Today brought our team within striking distance of base camp! We battled strong down valley winds for most of the day, but were rewarded with our first glimpse of
Aconcagua just shy of our current camp at Piedra Parada. Our team is growing more and more practiced in the art of alpine resting, and put their skills to use this evening munching on asado and watching our hardworking mules take dust baths. Everyone is strong, happy, and healthy, and looking forward to checking in from 14K!
Hasta manana!
RMI Guides Mark Tucker and Pepper Dee
Safe summit to all. A fine accomplishment for all. Enjoy
Posted by: Mike Albrecht on 1/19/2017 at 5:11 pm
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