Entries from Expedition Dispatches
Everyone has now arrived in Quito and I must say it was a pleasure to show up to this morning's orientation and count all nine people present. An added bonus is that all luggage is accounted for, although one luggage lock key was lost. Turns out those can simply be pried open with two screwdrivers.
We enjoyed a nice weather day for our city tour and Mitad del Mundo museum tour. It was just cloudy enough to filter some of the intense equatorial sun and it also never rained. Everybody learned at least something new about physics or practices of the indigenous peoples of Ecuador, the two main focuses at the museum.
Tomorrow we turn our focus towards getting the body moving. As a preparation about half the team spent the afternoon cold plunging and in the sauna. I can still taste the eucalyptus when I take a deep breath. Anyways, that's all to say that we are feeling ready to hike Rucu Pichincha tomorrow and hopefully reach a new high point for a few of the team members!
Posted by: James Bealer, Luke Wilhelm, David Price
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Elevation: 14,400'
The sun got a little brighter for us today, as we moved up to Plaza de Mulas. One only needed to look up from the trail to realize the unique contrast of the environment we were in. Dusty desert gave way to ice covered peaks, appearing to rocket upwards in an attempt to reach outer space. After a long day on the trail, we were greeted with good food and shade.
Till next time,
Hello again everyone-
The team had a really nice day here on Kilimanjaro today, waking to clear skies and a beautiful view of Kilimanjaro looming in the distance. We had a light cloudy layer which helped keep us cool while on the trail, which was nice as the sun can be quite intense here near the equator.
We started the day waking at 6:30 to start packing up before moving into our dinning tent for a nice breakfast with porridge, fried eggs, toast, avocado and even some fresh fruit, and most importantly plenty of hot coffee.
We hit the trail shortly after 8am and slowly made our way up the rocky trail with occasional views of Kilimanjaro above. The trail climbed up a blunted ridge and eventually out of the trees and allowed for some truly spectacular views of the valley below. The team hiked for a little more than four hours before reaching our next camp that sits on the Shira plateau, which is an ancient lava flow.
Everyone is doing very well and we are currently relaxing in camp.
RMI Guide Casey Grom and crew
Posted by: Nick Scott, James Bealer
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
After two very long and tiring days, walking more than 20 miles and descending more than 14,000ft, we are finally back in civilization! Shower, clean beds, real food…oh my! We are all feeling like human beings again after a wonderful shower and a celebratory dinner out. It’s good to back in comfortable surroundings after such a trying trip, but at the same time sad that the adventure is coming to an end. Climbers are planning wine tours and sight seeing adventures during the 1 or 2 days they have left in the country. Hopefully, they return to you all, reading at home, rested and ready to retell all their stories and show you all the photos! It was one hell of a trip!
Thanks for following along everyone.
Cheers!
Posted by: Walter Hailes, Jack Delaney
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Elevation: 22,841'
Tuesday, January 25, 2022 - 9:15 am PT
This is the Hailes Aconcagua team. We have made it to the summit! The whole team is happy and healthy. It's been a long day but we are happy to be here. We'll turn around and head down here in about 20 minutes after we take some pictures. We will check back in after we are back to camp. Wish us luck. We will talk to you soon.
RMI Guide Walter Hailes calls from the summit!
Woohoo!!!! So excited for you all. Congratulations!!!
Posted by: Tracie on 1/26/2022 at 3:03 pm
Way to go Boys! Another summit! Get home safe!!
Posted by: Craig Straub on 1/26/2022 at 9:36 am
It wasn't the wind that blew us away, it was the view! The south face of Aconcagua towered over us all day. Impressive, humbling, breathtaking, epic. We soaked it all in during our acclimatization hike. While not the route we are climbing, it was a good reminder of the challenge that lays ahead. Our spirits are as high as the mountain itself.
Till next time,
What a great shot of you all.
Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others MAKE IT HAPPEN. What a great journey you are on! Have a great day of climbing tomorrow! You got this!
Big hug to my guy Tim. Teri
Posted by: Teri Derr on 1/26/2022 at 10:03 am
Hello again everyone,
Today the we had an early start leaving behind our beautiful lodge and have headed to the mountain towards the start of the climb. We left around 8am and drove along the rural country side and small villages for two hours before reaching the park entrance.
Most of the area surrounding Kilimanjaro has been cultivated and primarily used for coffee and banana production, plus a variety of other agriculture needs. There are still a few areas that have been untouched and resemble more of a savannah that Tanzania is known for. Kilimanjaro’s base is mostly forested and resembles more of a jungle, this area is called the cloud forest.
Once we arrived at the park gate we had all of our gear weighed and divided into loads for our porters and other staff to carry before hitting the trail. Once everything was in order we started our climb slowly making our way up the winding trail that ascends continuously through the thick forest. Thankfully the overhead canopy provided a bit of relief from the hot sun overhead.
The team hiked for a little over 5 1/2 hours and reached our camp for the night that sits around 10,000'. After settling into camp and get situated the team was served a nice warm meal for dinner.
Everyone is doing well and looking forward to a good nights rest.
RMI Guide Casey Grom and crew
good trip
Posted by: Alberto Lopez on 1/27/2022 at 5:14 pm
Today was the day! We woke up early to clear skies and absent winds. A first in over a week! We walked out of camp 2 at 2:30 hoping to get ahead of the numerous climbers that had stacked up waiting for the same weather window. Unfortunately, we weren’t early enough to beat all the other climbers out the door and ran into a fair amount of traffic. However, the extra traffic couldn’t spoil the perfect weather or the stoke emanating from the climbers, all of whom had been chomping at the bit for a chance to climb all week. The route felt extra steep this year, but the climbing was aided by good quality snow for much of the upper route leading to the summit. After nine hours of climbing and dodging other climbers, five out of seven of us stood on the summit of Aconcagua, the highest mountain outside of the Himalaya. It was a perfect summer day with almost no wind and clear skies for epic views all around. After enjoying our hard won success for just a few minutes, believe it or not it can be hard to breathe at 22,841 feet, we turned downhill and continued walking downhill all the way into basecamp around 7:15pm. An absolute epic of a day for those that managed to climb to the top. Despite the sore muscles and blistered toes, the crew was smiles all around the dinner table sharing stories from the day. Tomorrow we walk out to the trailhead and make our way back to Mendoza for a much needed shower and a good night sleep in a proper bed.
Congrats to all those who summited! And good luck on your next adventure!
Congratulations to all!! What great stories you will have to tell about this grand adventure!
Posted by: Coeli Scott on 1/25/2022 at 4:42 am
How absolutely AWESOME - way to go team! It has been fun to follow your adventures and glad many of you finally made the summit! Way to go Jake!!!
Posted by: carron on 1/24/2022 at 8:36 pm
Posted by: Walter Hailes, Jack Delaney
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
We are on the final part of our climbing adventure, the summit push. We moved camp a couple hours uphill today to Aconcagua's High Camp and are settling in for a short night. If the weather holds we will wake early to climb and the next time you will hear from us will be a message from the summit!
Well done guys! Huge accomplishment. I hope to hear some great stories. have a good down climb.
Posted by: Saxby on 1/26/2022 at 9:57 pm
Congratulations Jack and team! Looking forward to all the details soon!
Posted by: Linda Delaney on 1/26/2022 at 9:31 am
Posted by: James Bealer, Luke Wilhelm, David Price
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
We hit the dusty ol' trail today! A gentle breeze at our backs encouraged us towards Aconcagua. The hike to Camp Confluencia was filled with good conversation and lots of laughter. With every step, life is getting simpler and simpler. We are all in such awe of this place.
Till next time,
I hope you’re having the best time, Richie!
Posted by: Kim Ehart on 1/25/2022 at 12:02 pm
Sounds like a great start for a great team. Safe climbing to you all!
Posted by: Noel Imfeld on 1/24/2022 at 8:43 pm
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Hope y’all are getting plenty of rest and are gently stoking the fire within you for the adventure ahead.
Dad, to six years of recovery and hard work! You are a bad A! Proud of you! We are with you each step of the way!
Rest Easy,
Kelly
Posted by: Kelly on 1/27/2022 at 6:48 pm
So excited to hear about your trip - we are following along hoping for good weather and good companions along the trail. Give us some colors and feelings in your emails so we get the full view from up there in the thin air. Good Luck and be safe. N. and P.
Posted by: Sandy and Dick on 1/27/2022 at 10:53 am
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