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
Hi everyone! The RMI Aconcagua team is safely back at Base Camp. We are enjoying cokes and beers and just relaxing. I will be honest, most of us are exhausted, me included. It was a perfect summit day and it has taken its toll. We all deserve to relax and unwind. This is officially the last blog post for our team. We will walk out tomorrow and arrive in Mendoza on the 13th. Thanks for all of your support along the way. Ciao from Aconcagua.
RMI Guide JJ Justman and JM Gorum
Original Post 6:34 a.m. PST
Hey everyone. This is JJ Justman and JM and Team Aconcagua. The team is on the summit of Aconcagua! Just below 23,000 feet! My voice is a little hoarse but I am going to hold the phone out and we're going to give the team a chance to give a big hooray. [Team in the background.] It was a beautiful day climbing. We are the only ones up here on the summit right now. It's a very quiet day. The weather is crystal clear, not a cloud in the sky, a light breeze. It's supposed to be blowing a little bit more later today. We got an early start and it was a great effort by the team. We still have to get down, but it's a safe route. We'll get back to camp in several hours. You guys, it's been a great adventure. Thanks for following along. We'll touch base again here soon. From the summit of Aconcagua, this is the RMI team saying, "Arrivederci!"
RMI Guide JJ JustmanUpdate 9:54 a.m PST
RMI Guide JJ Justman checked in with the RMI Office. The team is back and high camp safe and sound. Everyone is focusing on staying hydrated and resting. The team will spend the night at high camp and descend to base camp tomorrow morning.
RMI Guide JJ Justman calls from the Aconcagua summit!
Congratulations JJ and team! Can’t believe the weather improved so much since our attempt just a few weeks ago. Enjoy your descent and asado at Pampa de las Lenas. Craig
Posted by: Craig Falkenhagen on 2/11/2016 at 10:23 am
congratulations to team lawler- ken and brad. what an effort! can’t wait to have you back at home.
Hey everyone. This is JJ Justman with Team Aconcagua. We are all up at High Camp, 19,600 feet. We've got camp built. We have the stoves fired as well. We're melting snow for water, getting some hot drinks going. It's a calm day right now, but the forecast is for a little bit of winds to pick up for tomorrow but then it's supposed to really be bad the next couple of days after, so we are taking advantage of this window. It's nice weather now- keep your fingers crossed for us that it will continue. We certainly are hoping that it will; but regardless, we'll have a safe climb tomorrow. We'll touch base with you. It's going to be very busy so don't worry. We're going to have a full day ahead of us but everyone is doing really well, which is the great thing. So I'm anticipating a fun summit climb tomorrow. Take care everyone. We'll touch base later on tomorrow whether we're on top of the summit or when we're on our way down. Take care everyone. Ciao from Argentina.
RMI Guide JJ Justman
RMI Guide JJ Justman calls in from Aconcagua High Camp.
Nice work mike. Just one foot in front of the other now. Praying for a Summit for you guys. Eric
Posted by: Eric on 2/10/2016 at 3:08 am
I wish I could be up there with you guys, YOU’VE GOT TO KEEP YOUR COMPOSURE!! And don’t forget your water shoes, you wouldn’t want JJ yelling at you.
Best of luck guys,
I’m pulling for you
Well, word on the street is that the Broncos won the Super Bowl. I don't believe it, but you can believe that we are having a great day at Camp 2. Today we've got sunny skies, moderate winds, and lots of quesadillas. We are also the only humanoids in sight, which is quite a treat. We went for a quick shuffle above camp this morning to get a view of what lies ahead, and everyone is excited to get moving again. We've got a lot of resting left do do today, but everyone sends their best. Hopefully next time we talk to you will be from high camp!
Adios- RMI Guides JM Gorum and JJ Justman
It's like no one else is on this giant mountain. We are alone. Don't mistake that for being lonely, the team is having fun and the bonds the mountain brings grows even stronger. However, there is not another team in sight! Rare.
Our Aconcagua team left Camp 1 this morning and we decided to move up to Camp 2 at 18,000 feet. Everyone as usual did a great job. Our oxygen sats are high and our spirits are even higher. Our plan now is to take a well deserved rest day tomorrow.
Someone told me the panthers are in the Super Bowl? Carolina has a football team!?
Go Broncos!!!
RMI Guides JJ Justman and JM Gorum
Hi there, Mike,
We went to the Lee Co.Community Band Concert at 3:00 on Sat, then went to look at the tornado damage before heading for the Sieferts’ Super Bowl party. Brought Apple Streudel, two boxes of football brownies, and a case of Coke Zero. Had a great time;everyone asked about you. As you know our Carolina Panthers lost; Cam Newton didn’t do much. So glad that you will ascending the summit tomorrow rather than Sat. Brrr! Love reading J.J.Justman’s blog.
Happy climbing
Mom and Dad
Posted by: Joan and Spence Vigneau on 2/9/2016 at 2:06 pm
It was an awesome game. Great defense on Broncos and they pummeled Cam Newton several. times. I was still a little sad though my Packers were not in it. I know Cheese head. LOL. Hope all of you are doing well and wish you the best of luck on your summit bid.
I am so looking forward to doing this climb or a Denali climb in the next couple of years. Will be doing Rainier next year, and then Denali or this one the year after.
We'll folks... This is JJ Justman and our Aconcagua team reporting from Camp 1 at 16,400 feet. We are moving in! This dispatch will be brief as there is much work to be done. However, everyone is doing great and we are the only team up here!! We are going to get busy recovering. I believe some hot soup and extra cheesy quesadillas are in order! Tonight...pizza!! Shhh...don't tell the team, it's a surprise.
RMI Guides JJ Justman & JM Gorum
I hope everyones adventure is bringing everything each of you hoped for and more. Tyson and I send our love to Boyd.!
Posted by: Nichole jensen on 12/19/2016 at 7:06 pm
These photos are stunning. Go team!
Posted by: John on 12/16/2016 at 9:43 am
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