Ahhh, what a lovely day to take a rest. The team took our first rest day today at Aconcagua Base Camp, Plaza Argentina. We slept in, enjoyed a hearty breakfast and then went about leisurely preparing for our carry to camp one tomorrow.
We took a midday walk up a small valley outside of Base Camp to stretch or legs and breathe a bit more actively. As we walked along the valley's crumbling walls, in which every shade of red to brown seemed to be represented, the geology of the Andes became the theme of our walk. On the way back, nearly each person's curiosity was sparked by stones in the creek bed from one of the many rock layers above.
We spent the rest of the afternoon planning and packing the things that we will cache at Camp One tomorrow. Our tasks were completed before another amazing three course dinner from Grajales' Base Camp staff. It seems no one's appetite is suffering due to altitude!
Everyone is doing well and we are ready to work hard in the morning. Wish us calm winds and easy breathing!
I'm sure we miss you too...
RMI Guides Steve Gately & Hannah McGowan
Rest up and breathe easy team. And Bob, I’m sure you’ve probably already taken several hundred photos. We all can’t wait for the slide show!
Posted by: John Horgan on 12/18/2016 at 7:10 pm
My dog and I walked the beach this morning and thought of all of you at 16,200 ft! Hope the wind and the cold were tolerable to you courageous souls! Peggy
The team woke this morning after a few showers last night to clear skies. Our first obstacle of the day was to cross the Vacas River. Having to get an early start for our big day and it still being very cold, we opted to ask the Arrieros to ferry us across on their mules. One by one the team slowly accumulated on the other side of the river until only myself (Steve) remain. The Arrieros waved me over to my mule and I jumped onto the back of the animal. Just at that time something spooked the front mule (there was three tied together) and all three took off in a sprint, first through the river and then turning there attention up valley. At the time it was actually quite comedic as I tried to calm the lead mule from the center position. It became clear that he wasn't going to give up until I got off his back. So I began looking for my exit and humming the Indiana Jones theme song to myself when I swung one leg over the mule and leapt off to the side. The mules stopped and we reunited with their cowboy. I rejoined the group and we all had a good laugh! The team is now all settled into Basecamp (13,800ft) after a fantastic trek into the high country. Everyone did well with the workload and the new altitude. We'll enjoy a well deserved dinner tonight, prepared by our wonderful basecamp staff, and look forward to our first rest day of the trip tomorrow! Thanks again for following. More to come tomorrow!
Adios,
RMI Guide Steve Gately
Today we continued our trek up the Vacas Valley to Los Piedras. The sun was scorching for most of the walk, but luckily, we are now enjoying a gentle drizzle as we relax in our tents. We did manage to get our first glimpse of Aconcagua right before clouds began to roll over the peak. I think the opinion is entirely unanimous that it is a stunning and dramatic mountain! Spirits are high and despite a sunburn or two, everyone is in excellent health and relishing in the beauty of the Vacas Valley. Tomorrow we will start up the Relinchos Valley, where we will conclude our trek to base camp.Â
If you're thinking of us, then I'm sure someone here is thinking of you too.Â
Warmly,
RMI Guides Steve Gately, Hannah McGowan and the Aconcagua team
The drive into the mountains starts by passing through many of Mendoza's Bodega's until the landscape changes to rolling hills peppered with bushy green shrubs. Soon there after we gain elevation and follow the Rio de Mendoza up to the Uspallata Valley where the topography changes yet again to tall jagged peaks colored red,orange, tan and grey. Another hour down the valley takes us to Los Penitentes where we will be calling home tonight. The team spent the afternoon packing and repacking there duffel bags for the trek into the Vacas Valley tomorrow. At the moment we are all probably much to full from dinner and excited to get to bed and finally leave the creature comforts behind for a sleeping bag and tent tomorrow. Everyone is doing fantastic and eager too start our adventure! Tune in tomorrow for more!
RMI Guide Steve Gately
Aconcagua season has officially begun! The team all safely made it to Mendoza today and enjoyed finally putting a face to the names in the what felt like 1000 exchanged emails over the last month. Most of the team enjoyed a few hours exploring the culture and sights of Mendoza's city center before getting to work trying to figure out how to navigate the park's online registration form. After figuring out that Argentinian keyboards have a different key layout and with only mild frustration, we managed to get everybody registered! We spent the rest of the evening doing our gear check and enjoying a delicious dinner out in town. Tomorrow we pack up and head to Los Penitentes (9,000ft) where we will pack our things to survive the long and arduous journey attached to the back of a Argentine mule. Everybody is in great spirits and excited for the challenge ahead. Thanks for following.
RMI Guide Steve Gately
This is the RMI Mexico team back safely in town. We had a good descent from the summit of Orizaba. Our shuttle picked us up just as the clouds and rain began to set in. Stormy weather played a huge part of this trip, we are glad that the weather cleared for our successful summit this morning. The team is getting cleaned up and sorted for their flights home tomorrow.
Thanks for following along.
RMI Guides Mike King & Steve Gately
Saturday, October 22, 2016 - 8:07 am PT
This is Mike with the RMI Mexico team. We are currently standing on top of Pico de Orizaba. We woke up around midnight and the weather was wet and rainy, we didn't think we were going to get it. When 2:30 am rolled around the clouds parted. Everyone is doing really well up on top. We are taking some photos and taking in the sights from the highest point in Mexico will give you guys a shout once we are down safe and sound. Talk to you later.
RMI Guide Mike King
RMI Guide Mike King calls from the summit of Pico de Orizaba, Mexico.
The Mexico Team is resting comfortably at the Piedra Grande Hut on Orizaba. Yesterday we had a nice day off in Puebla, everyone took advantage of the good food, area surrounding the Zocalo and some visited a car museum.
Leaving Puebla this morning we took in more of the countryside and ended up at a century old soap factory turned climber's hostel run by Sr. Reyes. We met his 93 year old father and enjoyed a nice lunch after sorting our gear for the climb.
Our drive up here is on a fairly rough road through pine trees and the grassy lower slopes of Orizaba. We are currently at 14,000' sitting in a light cloud with views of the mountain from time to time.The team will wake around midnight and hopefully have good weather to climb.
Keep your fingers crossed that we get a chance to summit Orizaba!
RMI Guides Mike King & Steve Gately
This morning around 12:30 we woke for our Ixta summit day. We had a relatively clear sky above us with a bright moon, but out to the east was a small cloud bank with some lightening radiating through the clouds. We got ready to climb since the storm looked to be moving away from the mountain.
As we approached our first break the storm clouds began to creep our way with the lightening increasing in the distance. The guides turned the group around and made the call to pack up camp and head to lower elevations. The team responded and broke camp quickly, transitioning into downhill mode. Carrying heavy packs in rocky terrain at night isn't easy and we all arrived tired but thankful to not be up at Ixta's high camp.
Upon reaching the trail-head all signs of the storm had disappeared, clear above visibility unlimited. Some frustration and confusion pulsed through the team members and guides. When you're in the mountains it is important to take the information available to you and make a conservative decision. Sometimes the storm rolls in and sometimes the skies clear.
We spent the morning resting and sorting gear for the next few days. Like clockwork, the skies turned grey, hail fell and thunder rolled high on Ixta. Our shuttles arrived to take us to Puebla for the next 2 nights.
The Team will enjoy a day off in the historic district and then we are off for Orizaba, the 3rd highest peak in North America.
RMI Guide Mike King & Team
Rest up and breathe easy team. And Bob, I’m sure you’ve probably already taken several hundred photos. We all can’t wait for the slide show!
Posted by: John Horgan on 12/18/2016 at 7:10 pm
My dog and I walked the beach this morning and thought of all of you at 16,200 ft! Hope the wind and the cold were tolerable to you courageous souls! Peggy
Posted by: Peggy on 12/18/2016 at 1:38 pm
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