RMI Expeditions BlogRSS

Entries By geoff schellens

Aconcagua: Justman & Team Reach Camp 1

Posted by: J.J. Justman, Geoff Schellens, Garrett Stevens | January 11, 2013
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Aconcagua
Elevation: 13,800'

Noah’s Ark doesn’t have anything on us! Yesterday the mountain received a little precipitation and as our team approached Camp One, we discovered a new river running through camp.

Not only are tents up and people are settled in but we are on ditch digging crew to divert our new river, which we named Rio Horiskey.

The entire team did great getting up to 16,500 feet. We are camped a little higher than the normal camp because we like peace, quiet and pristine water. The agenda for tonight is to make hot drinks and eat another fine meal.

I have a little surprise for the team. In honor of playoff weekend I brought some Green Bay Packers hot dogs. You know…for good luck!

RMI Guide JJ Justman & Team

On The Map

Sign Up For Aconcagua 2013 Email Alerts

3

---

Aconcagua: Justman & Team Enjoying some R&R at Basecamp

Posted by: J.J. Justman, Geoff Schellens, Garrett Stevens | January 10, 2013
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Aconcagua
Elevation: 13,800'

Rest and Relaxation. Our team is doing great! Everyone had a great nights sleep and are feeling more acclimatized. It is our last day in Aconcagua’s Base Camp so we are indulging in good food, doing laundry and taking that last hot shower. A clean climber is a warm climber.

Stay tuned tomorrow.  The team is moving on up to Camp One!

RMI Guide JJ Justman

On The Map

Sign Up For Aconcagua 2013 Email Alerts

4

---

Aconcagua: Justman & Team Make a Carry to Camp 1

Posted by: J.J. Justman, Geoff Schellens, Garrett Stevens | January 09, 2013
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Aconcagua
Elevation: 13,800'

Up, up and away!  Team 3 had a spectacular day carrying gear up to Camp One at 16,500 feet. We brought up all the food for the upper mountain, fuel for our stoves and a little bit of personal clothing and gear.

It is nice in a weird way to throw on heavier packs and get a taste of thin air. The entire team did great and in reality we probably don’t need to take another rest day here at base camp. However, we will.

Tomorrow we will rest and it will only provide every team member a stronger foundation for the upper mountain. There is no doubt a good part of high altitude mountaineering is about fighting the boredom. But as I sit here some team members are playing cribbage and others are playing some other game. The betting stakes Re cough drops and single sheets of toilet paper.

It was nice to see the beautiful views up high on Aconcagua and we will post more exciting events from base camp and who may be out of toilet paper!

RMI Guide JJ Justman

On The Map

Sign Up For Aconcagua 2013 Email Alerts

5

---

Aconcagua: Justman & Team Rest Day at Basecamp

Posted by: J.J. Justman, Geoff Schellens, Garrett Stevens | January 08, 2013
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Aconcagua
Elevation: 13,800'

After a good trip up the Relinchos Valley yesterday, the team is enjoying a well-earned rest day here at Plaza Argentina. Our night of good rest rolled into a breakfast of eggs, fried ham, peppers and onions with coffee and hot chocolate, and was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone.

After giving the team time to digest, we all went over to the medical office and got the obligatory physical check-up. Everyone passed with flying colors, and we’re now poised and ready for our carry up to Camp One tomorrow, situated at 16,200’.

While we’re living at about 14,000 feet, everyone is feeling tip top and acclimating perfectly. We have beautiful weather and look forward to staging for the move higher on this beautiful mountain.

Keep sending the positive energy!

RMI Aconcagua Expedition and Guides JJ Justman, Garrett Stevens and Geoff Schellens

On The Map

Sign Up For Aconcagua 2013 Email Alerts

5

---

Aconcagua: Justman and Team Reach Base Camp

Posted by: J.J. Justman, Geoff Schellens, Garrett Stevens | January 07, 2013
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Aconcagua
Elevation: 14,000

Hello Everyone!

Galloping across the Vacas River we had a few team members think we were riding mules the rest of the way to base camp. However, once on drier ground we hopped off, thanked the mules for keeping us dry and began walking up towards Plaza Argentina.

Now at 14000 feet the team has had their fill of fresh melon and juice. Acclimating begins now and the entire team is feeling good, especially after a hot shower and a fresh change of clothes.

Tomorrow we will be resting. A full report of activities will follow. Now, it’s time to set up the volleyball net.

RMI Guide JJ Justman & Team

On The Map

Sign Up For Aconcagua 2013 Email Alerts

10

---

Aconcagua: JJ & Team at Casa de Piedra

Posted by: J.J. Justman, Geoff Schellens, Garrett Stevens | January 06, 2013
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Aconcagua
Elevation: 11,200'

We are cooking with gas now…and fire! Team 3 is at 11000 feet at Casa de Piedra. We had a beautiful day trekking in the warm sun surrounded by the high Andes mountains.

Now, the dining table is up, the chickens are on the grill, the homemade pesto is sautéing, and the angel hair pasta is cooking.

Everyone is doing fantastic and our motto is “a well fed climber is a strong climber”. So we are going to sit down to a nice meal and get ready for our final day of trekking into Aconcagua base camp.

RMI Guide JJ Justman

Sign Up For Aconcagua 2013 Email Alerts

4

---

Aconcagua: JJ & Team Travel the Vacas Valley

Posted by: J.J. Justman, Geoff Schellens, Garrett Stevens | January 05, 2013
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Aconcagua
Elevation: 9,000'

We are back in the mountains again! And it feels great! Our team had a leisurely walk with light packs in the Vacas Valley. The clouds kept us cool and the sun off our backs.

After a nice picnic lunch along the Vacas River we arrived at our first trekking camp. The team is relaxing and we are about to prepare some snacks before we sit down with the cowboys as they prepare an asado meal of steak, corn on the cob and grilled vegetables. There’s no need to start eating ramen just yet.

Everyone says hello to friends and family and the guides say hello to our RMI family back in Ashford, WA.

Chau from Pampa de Lenas!

RMI Guide JJ Justman

Sign Up For Aconcagua 2013 Email Alerts

4

---

Aconcagua: JJ & Team in Los Penitentes

Posted by: J.J. Justman, Geoff Schellens, Garrett Stevens | January 05, 2013
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Aconcagua
Elevation: 9,000'

We have arrived in the quaint little ski town of Penitentes. It was nice enjoying the “good life” in Mendoza. However, it’s a refreshing change getting into the high desert mountains near Aconcagua.

The team organized our gear to be carried in by the mules. Then it was quickly off to dinner at Hotel Ayelen. I’d like to joke that it was the team’s last good meal. However, we have several kilos of filet mignon and fresh chickens to grill and I’m planning on making my 2001 award winning homemade pesto served over hand made angel hair pasta. Sorry, we won’t send photos of that, don’t want to make you too jealous.

RMI Guide JJ Justman

On The Map

Sign Up For Aconcagua 2013 Email Alerts

8

---

Aconcagua: January 2nd Team Arrives Mendoza

Posted by: J.J. Justman, Geoff Schellens, Garrett Stevens | January 03, 2013
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Aconcagua

Here we go! It is official! Team 3 on Aconcagua is on its way. The entire team made it into Mendoza with all their climbing gear.

However, the first order of business is enjoying the good life in Mendoza. We are at one of the new, hidden gems…Siete Cocinas Restaurante.

After our bellies are full we will return to our hotel and relax getting ready for acquiring our climbing permits. Stay tuned to see what Aconcagua has in store for our team.

RMI Guides JJ Justman, Geoff Schellens & Garrett Stevens

Sign Up For Aconcagua 2013 Email Alerts

4

---

Aconcagua: Justman & Team head back to Mendoza

Posted by: J.J. Justman, Geoff Schellens | December 19, 2012
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Aconcagua

Hey this is JJ and Team One on Aconcagua,

The weather is fouling up the satellite so I will make this quick.  We have left Aconcagua Base Camp, and it was probably the worst day walking out of Base Camp I have ever had. Usually we are worried about sunburn, but today we have to be worried about windburn in a blinding blizzard snow storm.  Something I have never seen before.  It is definitely nice to be out of that weather and a little bit lower in the valley. The team is doing great and we’re real happy.  We are actually having a great dinner of filet mignon with the cowboys that are carrying our stuff out via the mules.

This will be our Final Dispatch of what was one incredible adventure, with the weather that is still not letting up is going to miserable for the next few days, so hopefully Mendoza will be a little sunnier, a little warmer, and a little more hospitable.  The Team definitely deserves it!

Thanks again everyone for following along, and definitely stay tuned because Geoff Schellens, Garrett Stevens, and I will be back at it with another Expedition her on Aconcagua.  We hope the weather gods will be kinder to us.

I can’t say enough great things about this team and the great experience we have had.  No summit but that is the way the weather goes. 

That’s all for now from Argentina, Ciao!

JJ Justman, Geoff Schellens, and Team

Sign Up For Aconcagua 2012 Email Alerts

2

---

Previous Page More Entries