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Entries By leon davis

Aconcagua Expedition:  Summit!

Posted by: Leon Davis, Billy Nugent | February 14, 2012
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Aconcagua
Elevation: 22,841'

Well, despite Mother Nature’s best efforts 100% of our team stood on the summit of Aconcagua, South America’s highest point, at approximately 1:00 pm local time. We were accosted by moderate winds and cold temps most of the evening at Camp Colera so we decided to push back our departure to 5:30 a.m. We were hoping to avoid subjecting the team to too much cold. Well, despite our best efforts to mitigate the weather, we were thoroughly brutalized by wind and cold for the entire climb except for the last 2 stretches of the descent. Our climbers all did a terrific job taking care of themselves and preventing cold injuries. They climbed so efficiently that what is normally a 12 hour summit day we accomplished in 10! Maybe it was the short/lack of breaks, maybe they all possess mutant strength…

Regardless, we’re heading for Aconcagua Basecamp tomorrow!

RMI Guide Billy Nugent

On The Map

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Aconcagua Expedition:  Rest Day At Camp 2

Posted by: Billy Nugent, Leon Davis | February 12, 2012
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Aconcagua
Elevation: 18,000'

Hello from Aconcagua,

We are sitting here at Camp 2 with intermittent snow falling. Another scheduled rest day but luckily this one coincides with our first lousy patch of weather. We ate cheerios with craisins for breakfast! Exciting, I know… Maybe tomorrow we’ll have some news that’s a bit more breathtaking, like “we just moved to high camp 2,” or something like that.

That’s about it,

RMI Guides Billy, Leon, and the gang.

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Aconcagua Expedition: Trek Camp 2

Posted by: Billy Nugent, Leon Davis | February 05, 2012
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Aconcagua
Elevation: 10,550'

Day two on the trail was another splitter day with a great breeze to keep the heat at bay. Our team rolled out of camp at about nine this morning and enjoyed a great stretch of trail into the next camp at Casa de Piedra. Currently we’re lounging riverside and soaking up some afternoon sun. Although everybody’s chilling now, our first glimpse of the mountain today was a reminder of the prospective climb ahead and all of the hard work that entails. We’ll check in again tomorrow from Aconcagua basecamp at Plaza Argentina after we climb up through the Relinchos Valley…

RMI Guides Billy Nugent, Leon Davis, & the team

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Aconcagua Expedition: Billy Nugent and Team Arrive in Mendoza

Posted by: Billy Nugent, Leon Davis | January 31, 2012
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Aconcagua

First off, a big hello to everyone who’s following along!

The team convened today on the beautiful city of Mendoza a bit tired from a long stretch of travel but no worse for the wear.  Some of us chose to enjoy a late lunch while others chilled poolside for the remainder of the afternoon. The trip did not really begin in earnest until the official team meeting at 6 pm this evening.  After the meeting we had a quick gear check and then headed out on the town for a classic Argentine dinner.  By classic of course I mean beef and malbec wine.  The crew is positive and enthusiastic about the adventure on Aconcagua that lies ahead!  Tomorrow will be a busy day obtaining our permits and tying up loose ends on our way out of town and up to Penitentes where we will stage for an evening before hitting the trail…

That is all for now,

RMI Guides Billy Nugent & Leon Davis

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