Entries from Aconcagua
Good morning!
This is Billy checking in from Argentina. All is well and we are en route to Aconcagua Basecamp.
We hit the trail on Tuesday morning with fairly light loads on our back. All of our group gear, tents, fuel and food was sent along to basecamp by mules from our outfitter Grajales Expeditions. We spent our first night on the trail at Pampa de las Lenas at around 9,000'.
Yesterday we broke camp and began the walk to Casa de Piedra at 10,550' where we spent last night. Everyone is doing well and we will be leaving shortly for our final trek into basecamp.
We will check in again soon.
RMI Guide Billy Nugent & Team
Hola de Argentina...
Well our fearless team assembled in its entirety today to begin our expedition on the mighty mass of stone called Aconcagua. Haha. Pete and myself completed all of the pickups at the airport today in three separate trips and were delighted to find that none of the team members were seriously delayed and that all of the luggage has safely arrived. Mendoza is situated on the plains that approach the Andes, something like 3,000' of elevation; pretty low and subsequently really hot. The majority of us spent the day trying to recuperate from long stretches of travel by chilling (or sweating really) poolside at the hotel. Today was Sunday so most of the businesses were closed. Everything is still on schedule for hitting the trail day after tomorrow. We all enjoyed some of Argentina's famous beef and wine this evening at a great parrilla near the hotel. Everyone is really psyched for the big adventure! We'll check in once more before we hit the trail tomorrow evening.
Ciao,
RMI Guides Billy Nugent, Pete Van Deventer, Geoff Schellens, and the team
We have spent a few days in Mendoza City enjoying the great weather that this place offers in January (southern hemisphere summer). The swimming pool was the RMI meeting center during the afternoons...
Dinners (Argentinian beef and Malbec wines) have been excellent according to the taste of our team. The team members began to depart to the U.S. today. This was a great trip, with a lot of fun, unique views, amazing people, and a safe, successful ascent.
Cheers and thank you for following our progress on this expedition to the top of South America.
RMI Guides Gabriel Barral, Pete Van Deventer and Garret Stevens
The RMI Aconcagua Team has returned to Mendoza.
They are enjoying sunshine and 90 degree temperatures. The team celebrated their return with a great dinner of steak and wine.
Everyone will be heading home soon.
Congratulations to the team for a safe and successful expedition!
We had a great hike down to Pampa de Las Leñas. A little rain on the way but has changed to blue skies. The team is doing well and is excited to celebrate our last night in the mountains with an Argentine-style barbecue. We'll check in tomorrow from Mendoza!
RMI Guide Gabriel Barral & the Aconcagua team
We are back at Basecamp!
The group woke early to sunny skies, and some small snow drifts at 19,600'. A quick breakfast and time to break camp and pack, and we were on our way downhill. The group moved very well, and just under 5 hours later we were walking into Basecamp ahead of some weather that was chasing us. While we sat in the cook tent drinking tea and coffee, the skies opened with snow and gusty winds.
We have just finished an incredible dinner of Argentine steak and Malbec (at 14000 ft!). The group is well fed, happy for the thicker air, and headed to bed. Tomorrow, our packs again get lighter as the mules give us a hand with our loads. We will walk to our first camp (Pampa de Leñas) for a barbecue and sleep, before a last few hours to the trailhead, and transport to Mendoza! We'll be in touch tomorrow. Thanks for reading,
RMI Guide Gabriel Barral and Team
The team did a great job, not just on the climb to the summit, but also on the descent back to high camp.
Now everybody is very tired, but I think that after a big portion of Ramen the stoke meter will mark a 11! (It's one bigger isn't?!)
This is the RMI Aconcagua Expedition checking in from Camp 3 after a successful ascent to the top of Aconcagua (22841'-6962m)
A beautiful dark blue sky, lots of stars forming constellations such as the Cruz del Sur (southern cross) and a magnificent full moon were the kick off of our climb at 5:30am. The weather during the first 6 hours of our ascent was extremely good, no wind and temperatures on the sunny slopes were more than comfortable.
Once we started the final part of the ascent (the Canaleta) clouds moved in, but the temperatures kept getting warmer.
Unfortunately at the moment of our arrival on the summit it became covered by clouds, and we did not have the chance of enjoy the awesome 360 degrees view of the Andes, but this didn't stop the group from having the opportunity to let our emotions get out and celebrate.
We will check in tomorrow from the comfort of Base Camp Plaza Argentina.
Thanks to everybody out there for following our progress on the mountain and for sending all those kind messages.
Cheers,
Gabi and the RMI Aconcagua Expedition.
This is Gabi and the RMI Aconcagua expedition checking in from Camp 3 (19600').
This morning we started at Camp 2 with an early breakfast. We started our ascent at 10:20 am and after 3 hours and 20 minutes of hard work we arrived at our high camp.
The weather this morning was awesome, no wind and warm temperatures (well, as warm as it could get at 18,000'). During the ascent clouds moved in and a cold breeze cooled us. At our arrival to Camp 3 a little bit of weather added some spice to our day. It snowed half a inch, but for a good 15 minutes it looked like it was going to keep snowing all night.
Current conditions are better. It is still cloudy, but it has stopped snowing and it looks like we are going to have a clear night. Our plan is to wake up early tomorrow morning (sometime between 3 and 5 am) and we will check the weather. If the weather is as the forecast is calling, we'll have breakfast and start our summit attempt !
Everybody is very excited for tomorrow and the stokemeter is very high (8) at Camp 3!
We'll be in touch tomorrow.
Cheers,
RMI Guide Gabriel Barral and the Aconcagua expedition
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
It was fun to follow the team’s progress on the blog. So thankful that everything went well for you all! :)
Posted by: Judy H. on 1/27/2011 at 7:11 pm
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