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Entries By pete van deventer

Aconcagua Expedition: Team checks in from Basecamp

Posted by: Leon Davis, Mike King, Pete Van Deventer | January 25, 2013
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Aconcagua
Elevation: 13,800'

Today the group woke to a cold and snow covered base camp. In preparation of our carry to Camp 1 the team received their loads yesterday. We started walking after breakfast and hot drinks. Our goal today was to cache our food and equipment for the upper mountain, while climbing higher then descending to help acclimate. Climbing through loose scree with heavy packs is always an eye opener for what lies ahead. The team climbed strong and enjoyed a blue sky with light winds.  We spent an hour at 16,000+ before returning down to Aconcagua Basecamp as an evening storm approached. There is a day off tomorrow, which the entire team is looking forward to.

Cheers

RMI Guide Mike King and crew

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Aconcagua: Van Deventer & Team Rest Day at Base Camp

Posted by: Mike King, Pete Van Deventer, Leon Davis | January 24, 2013
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Aconcagua
Elevation: 13,800'

Despite being a rest day, today has flown by for the group. We were able to sleep in a bit, but most were woken at 7:30 to the park helicopter hovering low over camp, picking up barrels in a sling to be flown off the mountain. We took a leisurely breakfast of burritos with fresh veggies, bacon, cheese, and eggs, and then headed to the medical building for our obligatory check-up. Everyone passed with flying colors. Then it was time for gear sorting for our carry to Camp 1 tomorrow. This often takes longer than expected as everyone hemmed and hawed over how much lunch food and other items to bring up. To this point, we have been spoiled with the mules carrying most of our kit. From here up though, anything we bring up, we will carry down.

Sorting finished, everyone took a siesta, eating lunch, taking naps, playing cards, and reciting Chuck Norris jokes. Despite a forecast of clear weather for the foreseeable future, the clouds built this afternoon, and as we sit, it is snowing gently at Basecamp.

We’ll have more news tomorrow when we are back from our carry. Ciao.

RMI Guides Mike King, Pete Van Deventer, Leon Davis, and the team

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Aconcagua: Van Deventer & Team Settling in at Base Camp

Posted by: Pete Van Deventer, Leon Davis, Mike King | January 23, 2013
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Aconcagua
Elevation: 13,800'

We made it to our base camp at Plaza Argentina! We got an early start this morning in order to take advantage of the muleteers offer to ferry us across the Vacas River. For some, it was their first time riding a mule, and it was a much more pleasant start to the morning than wading the four frosty channels would have been.

It’s a pleasant walk up the canyon of the Relinchos River, and before we knew it, we were walking into Base Camp to be greeted with juice and fresh melon from our excellent outfitter, Grajales. They cooked a wonderful dinner for us tonight and will handle our meals for our stay at Base Camp.

On tap for tomorrow is a well deserved rest day. We’ll use the time to sort gear for the carry to Camp 1 the following day. Before all that though: a big breakfast of breakfast burritos.

Hasta luego.

RMI Guide Pete Van Deventer and the RMI Aconcagua team

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Aconcagua: Van Deventer & Team Reach Casa de Piedras

Posted by: Pete Van Deventer, Leon Davis, Mike King | January 22, 2013
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Aconcagua
Elevation: 10,550'

Hola from Casa de Piedras! Today’s weather was a total contrast to yesterday’s, as we wound our way further up the Vacas Valley. We woke this morning to clear skies that turned to sun as it cleared the canyon walls. It made for a pleasant walk as we covered the nine miles or so from camp last night. A light breeze helped to keep things from getting too hot.

The trail crosses the river over a small foot bridge immediately out of camp. Once on the opposite bank, it alternates between following the river bank, and rising over a chain of small bluffs. Casa de Piedras is located at the mouth of the Relinchos Valley and river. Tomorrow we will cross the Vacas, and leave this valley behind as we ascend the Relinchos to base camp at 14,000 feet. Everyone is in great spirits (it’s amazing the power that big orb in the sky has) and sends their best. Tomorrow we’ll touch base from Plaza Argentina!

Cheers,

RMI Guide Pete Van Deventer and Team

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Aconcagua: Van Deventer & Team at Pampa de Lenas

Posted by: Pete Van Deventer, Leon Davis, Mike King | January 21, 2013
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Aconcagua
Elevation: 9,000'

Good evening ladies and gentlemen from the team at Pampa de Leñas.  Yesterday we left the hot and humid climate in Mendoza for Los Penitentes where we enjoyed our last night in a warm bed and feasted in the Hotel Ayelen dining hall.  This morning we began our hike into the Vacas Valley under some un-characteristic weather indeed.  Instead of a clear blue sky and unrelenting sun, we left Punta de Vacas in a light rain and cool breeze. But as we pressed on, the rain soon subsided and we enjoyed a pleasant hike into camp where we had our tents up by 4:30 and dinner by 6:30. The team did a great job on this first day and we look forward to sunny skies tomorrow as we continue up the Vacas Valley to our next camp at the ‘House of Stone’. 
Hope everyone enjoyed their Monday; we certainly enjoyed ours.

Until Tuesday…

RMI Guide Pete Van Deventer

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Aconcagua Expedition: January 17th team meets in Mendoza

Posted by: Leon Davis, Mike King, Pete Van Deventer | January 19, 2013
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Aconcagua

Hello all!

The whole team is finally in Mendoza and assembled! Due to several flight delays, today has been a bit chaotic, as we raced around to get through the park permit registration process, and buy last minute lunch food. In the end, we decided to cool our heels in Mendoza for one more night, rather than push up to Los Penitentes. This will allow us to organize, let a few folks get their first good nights sleep in a few days, and finish up the permits for a few folks.  So it goes on a major international expedition.

Tomorrow, we get back on track, leaving in the late morning for Los Penitentes.  Once there, we will sort gear for the mules, and get ready to begin our trek the next day!

In the meantime, we’re going to enjoy another fantastic dinner in Mendoza.  Best wishes to everybody back home, and we’ll be in touch soon, this time from 9000 feet!

RMI Guides Pete, Leon, Mike, and team

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Mt. Rainier: September 9th Update

Posted by: Casey Grom, Pete Van Deventer | September 09, 2012
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Mount Rainier
Elevation: 11,400'

The Mount Rainier Summit Climb led by Pete Van Deventer and Casey Grom were unable to make a summit attempt due to continual lightning last night.  The teams did venture over to Ingraham Flats this morning and are currently experiencing sunshine with the cloud deck between 7,000’ - 8,000’ feet.  After they spend some time on the upper mountain, the teams will descend back to Camp Muir and onto Paradise.

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Mt. Rainier: August 28th Update

Posted by: Jake Beren, Pete Van Deventer | August 28, 2012
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Mount Rainier
Elevation: 10,600'

The Four Day Summit climb August 25 - 28 led by RMI Guide Jake Beren and the Expedition Skills Seminar - Paradise led by Pete Van Deventer were unable to reach the summit of Mt. Rainier today due to high winds.  The teams waited at Camp Muir for a break in the weather and eventually started out on their summit attempt.  Consistent high winds with gusts up to 60 mph turned the teams around at Cathedral Gap.  The teams will start their descent from Camp Muir at approximately 8:30 am.  The Expeditions Skills Seminar will continue their training at Rainier BaseCamp before concluding their week long adventure later this afternoon.

We look forward to seeing the teams at BaseCamp this afternoon.

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Mt. Rainier: August 20th Summit!

Posted by: Brent Okita, Pete Van Deventer | August 20, 2012
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'

This morning the RMI summit climbs reached Washington’s highest point, Columbia Crest on Mt. Rainier!  The weather was great with some winds around 25 mph, a little chilly but really nice.  The Four Day Summit Climb left the crater rim to start their descent back to Camp Muir at 7:50 a.m.

Congratulations to today’s summit climbs!

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Mt. Rainier: August 12th Summit!

Posted by: J.J. Justman, Pete Van Deventer | August 12, 2012
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Mount Rainier
Elevation: 14,410'

Our Four Day Summit Climbs led by RMI Guides JJ Justman and Pete Van Deventer called from the “tippy tippy top of Columbia Crest” this morning.  Pete reported his team reached the summit of Mt. Rainier at 6:45 and the teams began their descent just before 8:00am.  Pete reported the conditions as: light wind, sunny, clear skies, super nice, and relatively warm.

Congratulations to today’s teams!

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