Entries from Aconcagua
Another rest day here at Basecamp... Not much to report other than that the team is enjoying a beautiful day resting up after a longer day yesterday. The R & R down here at base is definitely going to pay dividends as we climb higher and higher. Tomorrow, if the good weather continues, will see our departure from base onto the upper mountain for good...
Talk tomorrow after our move to
Camp 1!
RMI Guide Billy Nugent
Today saw our first dose of real work above Basecamp as the gang carried up a load of food, fuel, and cold weather gear. It was a long day with big loads up to elevations over 16,000 feet, so we were certainly working hard but the team was generally unfazed. The carry definitely helps supply us on the upper
mountain but also serves as a good stimulus for our bodies as they try and acclimatize to the higher altitude. The physiological changes are happening and the headaches most folks reported on our first night at Basecamp are now long gone. Higher oxygen saturations and lower resting heart rates are also the norm. Another rest day tomorrow and a fat steak dinner tonight here at Basecamp should give us an opportunity to get stronger and stronger and set us up well for the hard work that lies ahead as we move up.
All for now,
RMI Guide Billy Nugent
On The Map
January 10, 2014
Posted by: Ben Liken
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Elevation: 18,000'
We went to bed last night hoping for lighter winds than the previous night, and thankfully the weather gods delivered the goods. The team enjoyed uninterrupted slumber, and woke today to more blue skies.
The weather has definitely gotten a little colder than it was down below, so our morning was a slow roll through hot coffee and cereal. As the sun climbed higher, the temps warmed and the crew enjoyed the relaxing atmosphere of cards and conversation in our tents.
We continued resting throughout the day, conserving energy for tomorrow's move to
Camp 3. If all goes well and the weather continues to hold, we'll be checking in from the highest reaches of this beautiful mountain over the next couple of days. Keep it dialed in for more updates!
RMI Guide
Garrett Stevens & Team
January 9, 2014
Posted by: Ben Liken
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Elevation: 18,000'
Today started early for the team when a wind storm kicked up through camp in the middle of the night, snapping anchor lines and making sleep quite difficult. We did manage to grab a few zzzz's, however, in between resetting anchors. But the nighttime fun ensured we were all up with the sun, ready for hot drinks and a hot breakfast.
We spent a couple of hours after breakfast reinforcing the rock walls around the tent platforms, and then packed up personal climbing gear for a carry to
Camp 3 at 19,600'. The team moved well as we got higher and higher, with the thin air forcing each of us to concentrate on good rest stepping and being as efficient as possible. The wind stayed with us all day, making our down layers feel nice despite the bright sun.
We dropped our cache at high camp and headed back down. Many personal altitude records were set today, as the team remains strong. An early dinner was in order and now we're tucked into sleeping bags, hoping for calmer weather and a more restful night.
Now it's just a waiting game; waiting for the right forecast and good weather for our launch towards high camp and the summit bid. Thanks for your support and we'll follow up tomorrow!
RMI Guide Garrett Stevens
On The Map
Not much to report from our first full day at
Basecamp. The team is enjoying a rest day filled with such exciting activities as sleeping in, eating a big breakfast of bacon and eggs, lounging around our weather port drinking coffee, getting checked out by the Argentine medical staff, and packing up for tomorrow's carry up to
Camp 1.
We'll check in again tomorrow after our carry,
RMI Guide Billy Nugent
Hello everyone out there following along in RMI Expeditions blogland... Our team made short work of today's hike and arrived at
Plaza Argentina (our basecamp) early this afternoon. We started off early early, firing the stoves before sunrise because we needed to hitch a ride on muleback over the river. The herrieros were planning on running the rest of our gear up to basecamp and then running the mules all the way back out to the road so they requested the early start. Normally we'd cross the river on foot but it's running pretty deep this year and the mule option seemed like a safer one especially considering my lifeguard certification expired about 15 years ago.. . Anyway, the team is settling in to life at just under 14k feet and hoping for a good night of sleep after three consecutive hot and dusty days on the trail.
Hasta mañana,
RMI Guide Billy Nugent
On The Map
January 8, 2014
Posted by: Ben Liken
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Elevation: 18,000'
The team has now trekked into the thin air of Camp 2. With an elevation of 18,000' nothing proves to be easy up here. Even the simple tasks like setting up tents, inflating a sleeping pad, or heading to the bathroom take twice as long, but the team is handling it perfectly!
After a relatively short hike up and now having camp established, the goal is to breathe, sip water, and feel good. With the views of this proudly positioned camp it can at least aid in the task of feeling 100%. It looks in one direction northward over the impressive crest of the Andes Mountains, with glaciers pouring out of the high valleys. In another direction, is our next goal, Camp 3, 1,600' above our current location. And in yet another, the top of
Aconcagua, around 4,800' above us.
As the summit draws closer, it is tough to just lay in the tent and let our bodies adjust to this unforgiving environment, but very key to our success. The team is strong, positive, and amped to be in one of the highest places in the world.
RMI Guide Garrett Stevens
On The Map
Checking in from
Casa de Piedra, aka trekking camp 2 here in the Vacas Valley. Our crew had another great day moving well and enjoying near perfect weather. While the terrain was very similar to yesterday's hike the temperatures were considerably lower and there was a pleasant breeze all day that lessened the onslaught of the sun. Right before the Refugio we caught our first glimpses of the mountain without a cloud in the sky. The mountain looks a bit more dusty and dry than normal. The Polish Glacier also appears more broken up than normal. Still, we took a break to shoot some photos and let the size and grandeur soak in a little. After arriving in camp around 2:30 pm, we spent the afternoon lounging and some adventurous folks even went for a swim in the river. The river is running a fair bit deeper than normal so our team is going to ford it tomorrow on mules instead of on foot which will be a new experience for all of us.
All for now, will check in again tomorrow from basecamp...
RMI Guide Billy Nugent
On The Map
January 7, 2014
Posted by: Jake Beren, Mike King, Steve Gately
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Elevation: 9,000'
After leaving Base Camp yesterday we made the long trek back to
Pampa de Llenas where the length of this journey began to sink in. Many miles of beautiful walking brought us back to our first camp where we were treated to an asado courtesy of our herreros. Grilling over an open fire under the Andean sky we really put the trip to bed in style. Getting to visit with the incoming RMI crew was fun, seeing all those clean faces and knowing that we were just a few hours from a shower ourselves.
Thanks to a wonderful crew for a great trip and can't wait to see everyone in the mountains soon!
Jake Beren & Team
January 7, 2014
Posted by: Ben Liken
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Elevation: 16,200'
One of the hardest things about climbing big mountains is managing your time. There are days when you have to hammer down, grab that pack, and head up. Today, thankfully, wasn't one of those days.
Instead, we took a rest day here at
Camp 1. More sun and light winds made it a pleasant day to be calm and quiet around camp, to catch up on stories from other team members, and continue our hydration.
We'll be moving tomorrow, so a day to replenish and refuel before going higher was definitely appreciated. We will check in from Camp 2 tomorrow...until then, keep your fingers crossed for continued good weather!
RMI Guides Garrett Stevens, Ben Liken, and Nick Brown
On The Map
When you have worn out your shoes, the strength of the shoe leather has passed into the fiber of your body. I measure your health by the number of shoes and hats and clothes you have worn out.
Posted by: Ralph W. on 1/12/2014 at 6:24 pm
Billy Nugent.. Be safe and enjoy the climb, always thinking about you! Love from all of us here on the ground! Pam, Jim Jack and Abby!
Posted by: Pam Wenzel on 1/11/2014 at 11:13 pm
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