Entries from Aconcagua
We are enjoying a beautiful bluebird rest day here in the comfort of our second camp high on Aconcagua, after yesterday's trip to Campo Colera at 19,600'. The temperatures have warmed up and the winds have died down, so we are all just refueling and getting mentally prepared for the upcoming push to our highest camp and the summit. For a change of pace, we're going to have each team member share some thoughts today. Without further ado:
Sid: rest days are probably the toughest days, though given the push ahead it is welcome. Hello to all and thanks for your thoughts, they make a difference.
Keith: VERY tough mountain so far, but Gabi, Garrett and Pete have made it do-able and tolerable so far. Hi to fam and friends!
Erin: it's been a difficult climb with high winds, but I am feeling well despite a brief battle with dehydration yesterday. Looking forward to coming home to family and friends, see you all soon!
Todd: Looking forward to the summit! Kili ain't got nothing on Aconcagua...go market go!!
Dan M.: Awesome team, great climb and scenery. Send more TP. O-H!
John: Greetings family and friends, looking forward to the summit attempt. This is a beautiful, awesome and challenging mountain. As in Psalm 19, "The heavens and earth speak forth His glory".
Michael: It's all I expected physically and with beauty. Love to Lois and my girls, miss you all.
Lisa: Tom, miss you every day. Would love for you to be here. Sheri, your sleeping bag is working perfect.
Garrett: Great climb with great people in a spectacular place! Amy, I love you and miss you. See you soon!
Pete: The Andes have been showing us their spectacular side! Katie, love you, miss you, and talk soon!
Gabi: Having a great time, enjoying the time shared with the team members and my friends Pete and Garrett.
Ceci: te amo, nos vemos pronto por Buenos Aires!
Thanks to everybody out there for following our progress and sending all those positive wishes.
Cheers,
The RMI Aconcagua expedition
Despite weather forecasts calling for high winds, we woke to clear skies, cool temps, and dissipating winds. By mid-morning, the weather looked good enough to do our carry. Our loads where light today as we only had to move three days worth of food, as well as a small amount of personal gear up hill to camp 3. The group climbed in style, arriving at our 19,600 ft camp in about 3.5 hours. The descent went quickly, and the group is back in camp resting, re-hydrating, and preparing for our last rest day before the summit push.
The stoke meter boosted to 8 today with our beautiful weather and successful carry.
We'll check in tomorrow with tales of rest day shenanigans.
RMI Guide Gabriel Barral and the Aconcagua Team
The stoke meter boosted to 8 today with our beautiful weather and successful carry.
We'll check in tomorrow with tales of rest day shenanigans.
RMI Guide Gabriel Barral and the Aconcagua Team
HELLO LISA (and her climbing team). From the blogs it sounds like the climb is going good. We are so proud of you Lisa and can’t wait until you get home. Looking forward to your stories of the climb and also can’t wait to see all your pictures. Be safe :) Bill and Jeri
Posted by: Jeri Hall on 1/19/2011 at 10:37 pm
Another beautiful photo! Glad your climb today went well. Will look forward to the next blog post. :)
Posted by: Judy H. on 1/19/2011 at 7:30 pm
The team woke early today to make our move to Camp 2. Just over three hours after leaving Camp 1, the group rolled into our new home under bright sunny skies and a chilly breeze. Everyone was relieved to shed the weight of packs at 18,000 feet. Tents are up and everyone is resting and beginning the process of acclimating anew. Tonight and tomorrow are supposed to be very windy, so we will see in the morning if we are going to do our scheduled carry to Camp 3, or whether we will sit tight. We'll let everyone know tomorrow! Today's stoke meter is resting between 6 and 7. We worked hard, but everyone is excited to be that much closer to our objective.
Until tomorrow,
The RMI Aconcagua expedition
Tonight and tomorrow are supposed to be very windy, so we will see in the morning if we are going to do our scheduled carry to Camp 3, or whether we will sit tight. We'll let everyone know tomorrow! Today's stoke meter is resting between 6 and 7. We worked hard, but everyone is excited to be that much closer to our objective.
Until tomorrow,
The RMI Aconcagua expedition
Garrett, your new nickname is Captain Stoketacular. FYI.
Posted by: Amy on 1/19/2011 at 10:23 am
Lisa, I am sitting at my computer following your awesome adventure step by step! Girlfriend, you rock!
Posted by: Karen on 1/19/2011 at 9:39 am
Today is a much deserved rest day, after yesterday's trip to Guanacos Camp (Camp 2) at 18,000'. The team slept well despite last night's wind, which wasn't quite as strong as the night before but was still strong enough to keep the tents flapping and creaking throughout the night. We woke this morning to more beautiful azure skies and golden sun, which quickly warmed the tents and our spirits. We had an impromptu team meeting during our breakfast of oatmeal and cocoa to discuss the upcoming legs of the climb, and everyone is ready to keep moving towards the top! We're spending the remainder of today indulging in delicious lunch foods and conserving energy for tomorrow's move to Camp 2.
Today's stoke meter remains high, with an average of 8. Stay tuned for more details as we move higher on the mountain. Cheers!
RMI Guide Gabriel Barral and the Aconcagua Team
Today's stoke meter remains high, with an average of 8. Stay tuned for more details as we move higher on the mountain. Cheers!
RMI Guide Gabriel Barral and the Aconcagua Team
Nice pictures. Quick message for John Shadid, ardent Packer fan. Since you’re out of touch, some breaking good news/bad news on the NFC championship
game against the Bears on Sunday.
Bad news: Aaron Rodgers says he’ll miss the game.
Conflict with a Sarah Palin rally he wants to attend.
Good news: Brett Favre says he’s available and
“stoked” to help the Packers out if needed.
Good luck on the final ascent. Don’t wear
your cheesehead on Sunday if winds are high.
The gang at work is rooting for you,
Steve
Posted by: Steve Plimpton on 1/18/2011 at 6:44 pm
Weather forecast was right. Winds picked up last night and didn't slow down until 8 am this morning. We estimate that the wind speed was a steady 30 mph and gusts of 50 mph. The good news is that besides a few cut guidelines, our tents stayed in place with no damage. Nobody slept that much so this morning our stoke score descended a few points. Once the wind slowed down we had a late breakfast and packed for the carry to Camp 2. The first hour and a half we walked uphill on a steep trail up the col Aconcagua-Ameghino (17,500'). Once we got to the west side of the col we were exposed to the cold wind that was still blowing on that side of the mountain. It took us 2 more hours to reach Camp 2. The descent to Camp 1 was very quick, just 1:10hrs.
As I write this Garrett is cooking dinner, which smells great, so our stoke score will get to 8 points! Hot drinks are ready so we will be sending a new dispatch tomorrow during our well deserved rest day at Camp 1.
Gabi and the RMI Aconcagua expedition
As I write this Garrett is cooking dinner, which smells great, so our stoke score will get to 8 points! Hot drinks are ready so we will be sending a new dispatch tomorrow during our well deserved rest day at Camp 1.
Gabi and the RMI Aconcagua expedition
This is Gabi and the RMI Aconcagua expedition checking in from Camp 1.
This morning we left the comfort of Aconcagua Basecamp and started to head up at 10am. The team did a great job climbing today, it took us 4 1/2 hours to reach the camp. We enjoyed another sunny day. The cold winds on the Andes started to pick up, not too strong yet, but forecast is calling for 75 mph at the top for tomorrow. We will see how hard is blowing here tomorrow morning and we will decide if we do the carry to Camp 2. Our plans B and C for tomorrow are to carry just to the col between Aconcagua and Ameghino (half way to camp 2) or we'll use one of the weather days if winds are extremely strong. We'll be sending dispatches from the new comfort of Camp 1.
I am passing the keyboard to Garrett, and he will give you the score of the stoke meter.
By popular request we are instituting a daily stoke meter, to share with the world the level of excitement the team is currently feeling. We'll be using a numeric scale that corresponds to a specific level of stoke, defined as follows: 0-2= no stoke. 3-5= semi-stoke. 6-8= stoked. 9-10= TOTALLY STOKED! Today's stoke meter is a healthy 6, which is pretty nice after the climb.
Stay tuned for more updates from the team!
RMI Guides Gabriel Barral and Garrett Stevens
By popular request we are instituting a daily stoke meter, to share with the world the level of excitement the team is currently feeling. We'll be using a numeric scale that corresponds to a specific level of stoke, defined as follows: 0-2= no stoke. 3-5= semi-stoke. 6-8= stoked. 9-10= TOTALLY STOKED! Today's stoke meter is a healthy 6, which is pretty nice after the climb.
Stay tuned for more updates from the team!
RMI Guides Gabriel Barral and Garrett Stevens
A bright, sunny, warm day lulled everyone to the cook tent for books, card games, and group crossword puzzles on our rest day. We slowly worked to organize gear that will stay in Basecamp, and that which will move up with us tomorrow to Camp 1. Everyone is excited to leave the unmistakable scent of mules behind and to begin the ascent of the upper mountain. We'll be up early tomorrow to break camp, eat breakfast, and work our way to Camp 1, most likely next to the Norwegian and French teams that we've climbed next to thus far.
We'll have more to report tomorrow!
Cheers,
RMI Guide Gabriel Barral
The group woke for the third morning under the shadows of Ameghino and our objective, Cerro Aconcagua. The skies were a brilliant blue, and excitement ran high in the group over breakfast as everyone prepared for the day's carry to Camp 1 (16,350'). Group loads of food were doled out, and the group took up the slow, but steady pace that will be our mantra for the rest of the climb.
It took us 4 1/2 hours to reach Camp 1. We took a nice 45 minute rest there and then we headed down to basecamp arriving by 5:00 pm. The descent took us less than half of our ascent time. Route conditions between basecamp and Camp 1 were very nice compared with what I have experienced in the last 10 years.
Tomorrow we will take one more rest day with the relative comforts of basecamp, before our move to Camp 1. We've received some of the posts left on the blog, and we are all grateful for your well-wishes.
Signing off,
Gabriel Barral and the RMI Aconcagua expedition
Tomorrow we will take one more rest day with the relative comforts of basecamp, before our move to Camp 1. We've received some of the posts left on the blog, and we are all grateful for your well-wishes.
Signing off,
Gabriel Barral and the RMI Aconcagua expedition
Hi, regards all :)
<a >Filmy</a>
Posted by: ShawnSpeed on 2/4/2011 at 5:31 am
After yesterday's trip up to Basecamp, the team is enjoying a much-deserved rest day today. While most of us were woken by the 'whop whop whop' of a helicopter as it flew in with a load of supplies, others had already been up due to the cacophony of snores throughout camp. Warm, sunny skies greeted us for our breakfast of eggs with cheese, coffee and juice. The next order of business was a trip to the medical shelter for a quick check with the doctors to make sure everyone was acclimatizing well for our push further up the mountain. Everyone passed with flying colors. The afternoon ahead looks to be filled with eating, drinking, and rounds of backgammon. We will be making our first carry to Camp 1 tomorrow and are hoping for the forecasted weather of sun and light winds. Until tomorrow,
The RMI Aconcagua Expedition
Hi All!
The Aconcagua climb is checking in excited to say that we have arrived at our basecamp at Plaza Argentina. The team got an early start so that we could have some help from our mules in crossing the Rio de Vacas, just outside of camp. Over the course of the 3,200' to basecamp, we left tracks for a group of our francophone friends through the rolling hills above the chasm of the Rio Relinchos. The bright white of fresh snow on Ameghino and Aconcagua contrasted with our arid surroundings, and a brilliant blue sky made for spectacular photographs and high spirits.
We arrived in the Plaza Argentina to a bodaciously bountiful reception of salami, cheese, olives, and cake from our outfitter. The crew is resting and beginning to acclimate. On tap for tomorrow: our first rest day of the trip! Everyone is well and sends their best.
Signing off
-The RMI Aconcagua Expedition
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Fun to hear from all the climbers! Wishing you a safe push to the summit! Hi, Michael! XXOO :)
Posted by: Judy H. on 1/22/2011 at 7:22 am
Go Sid!
Great that the whole team is strong. Have a fabulous summit day. Don’t forget to take the time to soak it all in. You are a great inspiration to al of us back home. We want pictures.
Kevin & Patty
Posted by: Kevin Callaghan on 1/21/2011 at 10:01 am
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