Entries from Expedition Dispatches
Well here we are, settled into our camp at 19,600'. We arrived earlier today and spent the afternoon getting our tents anchored, water going, hots made and dinner into our bellies. Ben cranked out a huge pot of ramen and mashed potatoes, which should provide ample fuel for tomorrow's push towards the summit.
The team is psyched and ready for the final leg of this incredible journey. We'll be up early and out for our summit attempt well before the sun comes up, so it's off to bed early. The patter of light snow on our tent walls is going to be tonight's lullaby, and hopefully the winds remain light. Keep sending the good wishes and stay tuned for tomorrow's update!
RMI Guide Garrett Stevens
On The Map
Posted by: Adam Knoff, Nick Hunt
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Ecuador
At last, we are ready to go! As of 6:30 this morning, all luggage and personnel were present and accounted for, just in time for our departure from Quito. After another hearty breakfast at our hotel, we checked out from our rooms and met up with Victor, our driver for the next few days. The pile of equipment in the hotel lobby was a sight to see, but we quickly transferred our gear to the bus and got under way. We had fun in Quito, but everyone was excited to leave the big city behind and get one step closer to our bigger climbs.
A couple hours on bumpy roads took us up to a beautiful alpine lake and the start of our second acclimatization hike. Our goal this afternoon was the summit of Cerro Fuya Fuya, a fantastic peak with a craggy finish, topping out just shy of 14,000 feet. We dodged another bullet with the weather, too! Despite a brief bout of rain showers during our morning drive, by the time we started uphill the rain had stopped and we even caught a few glimpses of blue sky!
After our descent from Fuya Fuya, we piled back in to the bus and drove to Otavalo and our hacienda for the evening, La Casa Sol. We spent the evening eating, drinking, and packing for our upcoming attempt at Cayambe, the first major peak of our trip. Tomorrow we'll visit the Otavalo market in the morning for some souvenir shopping and the drive to our Cayambe basecamp in the afternoon.
Spirits are high with this team and we're all having a great time! Stay tuned!
RMI Guide Nick Hunt
On The Map
Posted by: Billy Nugent, Walter Hailes, Katrina Bloemsma
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Elevation: 13,800'
Another rest day here at Basecamp... Not much to report other than that the team is enjoying a beautiful day resting up after a longer day yesterday. The R & R down here at base is definitely going to pay dividends as we climb higher and higher. Tomorrow, if the good weather continues, will see our departure from base onto the upper mountain for good...
Talk tomorrow after our move to Camp 1!
RMI Guide Billy Nugent
Posted by: Billy Nugent, Walter Hailes, Katrina Bloemsma
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Elevation: 13,800'
Today saw our first dose of real work above Basecamp as the gang carried up a load of food, fuel, and cold weather gear. It was a long day with big loads up to elevations over 16,000 feet, so we were certainly working hard but the team was generally unfazed. The carry definitely helps supply us on the upper mountain but also serves as a good stimulus for our bodies as they try and acclimatize to the higher altitude. The physiological changes are happening and the headaches most folks reported on our first night at Basecamp are now long gone. Higher oxygen saturations and lower resting heart rates are also the norm. Another rest day tomorrow and a fat steak dinner tonight here at Basecamp should give us an opportunity to get stronger and stronger and set us up well for the hard work that lies ahead as we move up.
All for now,
RMI Guide Billy Nugent
On The Map
We went to bed last night hoping for lighter winds than the previous night, and thankfully the weather gods delivered the goods. The team enjoyed uninterrupted slumber, and woke today to more blue skies.
The weather has definitely gotten a little colder than it was down below, so our morning was a slow roll through hot coffee and cereal. As the sun climbed higher, the temps warmed and the crew enjoyed the relaxing atmosphere of cards and conversation in our tents.
We continued resting throughout the day, conserving energy for tomorrow's move to Camp 3. If all goes well and the weather continues to hold, we'll be checking in from the highest reaches of this beautiful mountain over the next couple of days. Keep it dialed in for more updates!
RMI Guide Garrett Stevens & Team
Posted by: Adam Knoff, Nick Hunt
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Ecuador
Day two of the Ecuador Skills Seminar started well with a healthy breakfast, the thankful arrival of Shannon who missed his Quito connection by a bitter ten minutes no thanks to mad airline boondoggling. He did manage to save the day when he was able to pick up my "lost" duffel, which flew down a day later than I did but must have told Shannon's duffel it was uncool to arrive on time so we are still one bag short for the group.
After our morning rituals were complete it was off to our first mountain which, by most people's standards is no gimme with its summit pushing 15,700 feet. No gimme indeed but a 3,000-foot gondola ride did help our cause. Nick and I keep wondering why we don't have such a luxury to take us to Camp Muir on Mt. Rainier and all we could figure out is because Rucu Pichincha has erupted a few times in the last fifty years, a cable car makes good sense.
The hike went off without a hitch, or major rain event which was forecasted but never materialized and the team enjoyed a great first Ecuadorian summit. Thank you volcano gods!
After the hike we returned to the hotel to pack, rest and prepare for tomorrow's adventure. Everyone is doing great and getting along famously.
Tomorrow we leave the big city for the big mountains. Yippee.
RMI Guide Adam Knoff
On The Map
Today started early for the team when a wind storm kicked up through camp in the middle of the night, snapping anchor lines and making sleep quite difficult. We did manage to grab a few zzzz's, however, in between resetting anchors. But the nighttime fun ensured we were all up with the sun, ready for hot drinks and a hot breakfast.
We spent a couple of hours after breakfast reinforcing the rock walls around the tent platforms, and then packed up personal climbing gear for a carry to Camp 3 at 19,600'. The team moved well as we got higher and higher, with the thin air forcing each of us to concentrate on good rest stepping and being as efficient as possible. The wind stayed with us all day, making our down layers feel nice despite the bright sun.
We dropped our cache at high camp and headed back down. Many personal altitude records were set today, as the team remains strong. An early dinner was in order and now we're tucked into sleeping bags, hoping for calmer weather and a more restful night.
Now it's just a waiting game; waiting for the right forecast and good weather for our launch towards high camp and the summit bid. Thanks for your support and we'll follow up tomorrow!
RMI Guide Garrett Stevens
On The Map
Stef - Winds are decreasing Saturday night! Looking good for the summit attempt on Sunday. Good luck to all. All is ok back home.
Posted by: Steve on 1/10/2014 at 11:43 am
Go team! I checked the mountain summit forecast and it looks like the winds will be slowing down some on Saturday and Sunday, with a change of some snow on Saturday night. Y’all stay safe and warm. Sending love and good summit juju.
Amy
Posted by: Amy on 1/10/2014 at 8:16 am
Posted by: Billy Nugent, Walter Hailes, Katrina Bloemsma
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Elevation: 13,800'
Not much to report from our first full day at Basecamp. The team is enjoying a rest day filled with such exciting activities as sleeping in, eating a big breakfast of bacon and eggs, lounging around our weather port drinking coffee, getting checked out by the Argentine medical staff, and packing up for tomorrow's carry up to Camp 1.
We'll check in again tomorrow after our carry,
RMI Guide Billy Nugent
Jeff-We are watching your progress, keep up the “pings!” I am praying the wind and weather are your friends. Love Deb and kids
Posted by: Debbie on 1/11/2014 at 8:35 am
Meredith - Looks spectacular. We’re following you and hoping for great weather…
Posted by: Rachel on 1/10/2014 at 10:04 pm
Posted by: Billy Nugent, Walter Hailes, Katrina Bloemsma
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Elevation: 13,800'
Hello everyone out there following along in RMI Expeditions blogland... Our team made short work of today's hike and arrived at Plaza Argentina (our basecamp) early this afternoon. We started off early early, firing the stoves before sunrise because we needed to hitch a ride on muleback over the river. The herrieros were planning on running the rest of our gear up to basecamp and then running the mules all the way back out to the road so they requested the early start. Normally we'd cross the river on foot but it's running pretty deep this year and the mule option seemed like a safer one especially considering my lifeguard certification expired about 15 years ago.. . Anyway, the team is settling in to life at just under 14k feet and hoping for a good night of sleep after three consecutive hot and dusty days on the trail.
Hasta mañana,
RMI Guide Billy Nugent
On The Map
Go Team!! Shannon - you are my hero! Love, M
Posted by: Betsy Brand on 1/9/2014 at 10:04 am
Posted by: Adam Knoff, Nick Hunt
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Ecuador
Hello blog followers for the freshly started Ecuador Skills Seminar. Adam Knoff here, I am the team's fearless leader and occasional dispatch sender.
As our group assembled this morning for our first full team meeting, there were no delusions about rule number one of international travel- expect the unexpected. Half of us are still missing bags, one of our team members hasn't even arrived yet and the weather forecast for the next three days looks more unsettled than the streets of Quito.
I am pleased to say despite all these immediate challenges, everyone is in good spirits and excited to face the adventures ahead. But one day at a time right? After breakfast and a nice team orientation meeting, we all piled into a comfy bus and took a roundabout tour of some of Quito's classic sites. From the old town we headed north to the Mitad del Mundo, or middle of the world, for some wacky equator tricks and small history lesson of this magical line.
Now back in the hotel we are resting up for a nice family dinner tonight and our first push to altitude tomorrow.
Stay Tuned.
RMI Guide Adam Knoff
Hey Shannon—Good luck and safe hiking…Bush
Posted by: Bush on 1/14/2014 at 4:51 am
Hope you are all well. Love Dad.
Posted by: Nick Boekenoogen on 1/9/2014 at 8:06 pm
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When you have worn out your shoes, the strength of the shoe leather has passed into the fiber of your body. I measure your health by the number of shoes and hats and clothes you have worn out.
Posted by: Ralph W. on 1/12/2014 at 6:24 pm
Billy Nugent.. Be safe and enjoy the climb, always thinking about you! Love from all of us here on the ground! Pam, Jim Jack and Abby!
Posted by: Pam Wenzel on 1/11/2014 at 11:13 pm
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