Hey Everyone,
This is Team 4. This is JJ, Steve, and Gonzalo and our great climbing team at Leñas, our first trekking camp. I'm sending a Google message. It's tough camp to get email out, but we had a great day walking in. Actually, it was cloudy skies thought it was gonna rain for a bit but it held off. Now we are in the beautiful sunshine here. We're making an assado dinner with the cowboys under an open camp fire. And we're actually watching as I speak Team 2 led by Walter Hailes walking in. It's his crew we wanna give a big congratulations to for a great job done up there making the summit! We will be providing dispatches now on a daily basis let you know how things are going. So far it's all smiles, giggles, and laughs. People were doing really, really well and we are keeping spirits high. We are going to have another great dinner and enjoy another beautiful walk here in the Vacas Valley tomorrow. Thanks for following along. Tell your friends, tell your family and everyone else to follow along.
We will see you later on, bye bye.
RMI Guide JJ Justman
We started our downhill progress this morning and it looks like we made it out just in time. We seemed to stay about 30 minutes in front of the clouds, wind, and snow on the descent and quietly enjoyed watching teams move up into the weather as we moved out of it.
While the snow did fall in Basecamp, we stayed warm in our group tent, sitting in chairs around a table while snacks and a delicious dinner were brought to us...it's the small stuff.
We are all hopeful for a warm valley as we walk out tomorrow.
RMI Guide Walter Hailes
This is Mike with the Aconcagua team. We had a windy day on our carry to Camp 2 today at 18,000ft. We got a late start hoping the winds would die down, but they never really did. We got a little new snow, the wind was blowing in our faces most of the morning. The team did really well. We are looking forward to enjoying a rest day tomorrow. We'll be tuning in with more information to come. Thanks guys.
RMI Guide Mike King
RMI Guide Mike King calls after their carry to Camp 2.
Hola, Stephen, Julain, and Team! STEEP terrain, by the looks of your photos - hard climbing, especially into the wind - WELL DONE!! Stay warm, hydrated, and well fuelled. Best wishes for calmer, sunny days ahead. Love, Barry and Lynne
Posted by: Barry & Lynne Wright on 1/6/2015 at 6:35 pm
This is Zeb Blais and team checking in from 16,200ft at Camp 1 Aconcagua. Today our team left Basecamp and all the creature comforts there in and moved up on the mountain. Now we have all our supplies with us and will only move up hill from here. Our team is strong and psyched to do a carry to Camp 2 tomorrow. We will check in as soon as we are back to Camp 1.
RMI Guide Zeb Blais
Update January 5th at 3:30 pm PT
This is the day that all the hard work, both at home and on the mountain, are for and it is always the hardest day of the trip. Thankfully, we made it to the summit and back to camp safely and in great style. With an early dinner in our bellies we will all sleep well tonight.
Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers for our safety.
RMI Guide Walter Hailes[Call from the summit audio transcription]
Hello, this is Walter from the summit of Aconcagua with our team. It's a beautiful day up here, blue skies, a little breezy- probably about 20 (mph) on the top. We did go through some pretty heavy wind down below, maybe constant 40 to 50 in some of the little saddles, but we made it! We're happy and it's sunshiny. Everybody's tired, so we're looking forward to the downhill. We'll call or send a dispatch out when we get there so you know that we arrived safely. Over and out from Aconcagua.
RMI Guide Walter Hailes calls from the Aconcagua summit
Hey everybody!
We have made it to our high camp and we are all ready to try for a summit push tomorrow. If the weather holds, we will be up early for a big climb to the top of South America!
Everyone up here is feeling strong and ready for the challenge. We got a taste of what's to come watching today's teams return- tired, hungry, and satisfied. Now we are tucked away in our bags trying to get some Zzzzzzs before the big day.
Wish us luck!
RMI Guide Ben Liken
Today was a day of feasting and resting. After yesterday's carry, Mike King, the master chef, started us off with a great breakfast of scrambled eggs and bacon. Then we went for a a brief walk down the Relinchos Valley to stretch our legs a bit. Upon our return to camp, we relaxed reading books and hanging out. To be followed by a delicious lunch of quesadillas and grilled cheese sandwiches. We're making our preparations for tomorrow's move to Camp 1 and we're looking forward to our last dinner at Basecamp for a while. Signing out for now.
RMI Guide Zeb Blais and team
RMI Guide Zeb Blais calls in from Aconcagua Basecamp.
This is Zeb Blais checking in from Plaza Argentina. Today, our team made our first carry to Camp One. Our team did great under some big loads, carrying supplies and gear for the upper mountain... [transmission lost]
RMI Guide Zeb Blais
We had our best rest day yet on Aconcagua. We were away from the bustle of base camp, the wind was calm, the sun was shining, and we spent a lot of the day relaxing outside listening to the melting snowfield surrounded by views of the Central Andes.
We did do a little work in preparation for summit day. Double checking our crampons and discussions of how to stay warm, what and how much to eat, and what to expect as we move toward the summit.
RMI Guide Walter Hailes
Greetings from a well rested team.
Today was our first rest day at Plaza Argentina on the Aconcagua 3 Trip. The team is doing great. We went for a brief walk to assist in acclimatization and have spent the rest of the day sorting gear and preparing for our carry tomorrow. We will check back in after our carry to Camp 1.
RMI Guide Zeb Blais
RMI Guide Zeb Blais checks in from Plaza Argentina.
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Go slow and go high Sue, Jo & Robert. Good vibes from Sausalito!
Posted by: Russ Frederickson on 1/8/2015 at 6:28 am
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