Entries from Locations
Posted by: Dave Hahn
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Vinson Massif
So far, so good. We left our Punta Arenas hotel at 6 this morning to come out to the airport. After a little wait-and-see period, we’ve loaded onto the plane at 9:45 and the engines are spooling up. All systems are go.
With any luck, the next dispatch will be from Antarctica.
Best Regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
Posted by: Dave Hahn
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Vinson Massif
Our bags are packed and stowed on the Ilyushin 76... the big four engine Russian Jet that will take us down to the Ice. We hope to be off deck first thing tomorrow morning, but that will certainly depend on the weather. The gear got weighed and gathered up just after nine in the morning, so we had plenty of time to go strolling along the shore of Magellan’s Strait. Our next official function was a briefing/cocktail party at ALE headquarters at 4 PM. Antarctic Logistics and Expeditions- is our outfitter and they gathered the fifty or so passengers for our flight to orient and educate us on the trip South. They issued Pisco Sours served over Antarctic ice for the occasion, which was something of a reunion for the guides and frequent climbers in the group. They explained that the weather needs to improve a little, but that there is some reason to hope that it will for a flight tomorrow. My team of five went out for a last restaurant meal and then called it an early evening. We’ll get up early...around 5AM... and we’ll see if conditions have improved.
Best Regards
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
Posted by: Dave Hahn
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Vinson Massif
A Vinson climb in the heart of Antarctica begins with a heck of a lot of airplane and airport time. Over the past two days my team assembled in Punta Arenas in Southern Chile. Today, the five of us met after breakfast and began to go over the details of how we’ll get from South America to the Ice. It was an easy day of packing personal gear and resting in hotel rooms. Outside, the weather swirled and cycled in a typical late November Patagonian mad mix. The wind generally howled and white caps were everywhere out on the Straits of Magellan. Rain showers alternated with intense sunshine and blue sky. In the early evening, we walked a few blocks along the busy streets to a trusted restaurant and enjoyed a casual dinner while discussing colder places. We’ll have tomorrow to complete our preparations and these last two nights to get over our jet lag.
Best Regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
And it is a wrap up!
The last two days have been probably the quickest to go by. Descending from Ama Dablam Base Camp was an easy task, enhanced by every step we took, as every foot of elevation we lost, made our bodies invigorate.
Joining the main Everest trail was a colorful experience of different nationalities, which we almost forgot in the relatively isolated expedition we had.
Arriving in Lukla definitely provides a sense of accomplishment, closing the trail loop we started nearly one month ago.
Now we are at the mercy of the weather to leave the mountains behind in our airplane tomorrow.
RMI Guide Elias de Andres Martos
Wow! This is on my bucket list.
Posted by: Richard Henry on 11/20/2018 at 7:55 am
Hello from Ama Dablam Base Camp!
Are you unsuccessful when you don't reach the summit of one of your objectives?
Well, I think that if you have carefully prepared for it and put yourself in the best position for it, despite little odds in our favor according to the forecast, and you make the decision to head down because the one thing you can't control is totally out of control, then yes, you're successful.
It was windy when we arrived at our High Camp, it was windy throughout our short stay, and it was like a freight train when it was time to go. There's no way we could fight on the steep, cold and dangerous slopes of Ama's southeast ridge what "Eolus" had in store for us. So the only thing we could do, knowing that we had waited until the very last day, was to be smart and head down. Undefeated, because in the mountains what counts is telling the story. But sure disappointed to not to have been able to climb just a bit more.
But oh well, we're now back to the safety of our lodge at Base Camp, and we'll stay our descent tomorrow, eager for thicker air and why not, to start closing up our Himalayan adventure.
RMI Guide Elias de Andres Martos
Namaste from Ama Dablam Camp 2,
We climbed to the famous Yellow Tower, surmounting the most technical terrain that this route presents. We dragged our feet leaving Camp 1 as to get bathed by the sun a little bit. Then we crossed with ease the beautiful yet incredibly exposed crest with several hundreds of feet to drop on either side, contemplating how the now distant Base Camp became smaller and smaller down in the valley.
The winds are strong here, but the sun shines and it is comfortable inside the tents. Air feels thin, but our acclimatization process has been productive. We're going to hope for the best with the winds and we will put up a good fight, smart though, but we won't know until we get higher later tomorrow morning.
We sure hope to make a phone call from the summit!
RMI Guide Elias de Andres Martos
Go Dad! Can’t wait to hear about it!
Posted by: Holland on 11/16/2018 at 8:17 pm
Enjoy the sunset and the sunrise !
You must have some view
Posted by: Vivian on 11/16/2018 at 10:15 am
Hello! We are at C1. A long day brought us here under clear skies. We're alone here and we presume it will be the same at C2 when we arrive later today.
Not much to report other than we had an incredible sunset last night, perched here on Ama Dablam's ridge. Let's keep hoping for the winds to die in the next day or two!
RMI Guide Elias de Andres Martos
Hello!
And we are going up! After another rest day at Ama Dablam Base Camp, all is packed and ready and we are starting our summit bid.
We know that the winds are forecasted to be strong, so it is going to be a toss up. But we continue to see blue skies every day, so we're going to do what's common in these cases, "prepare for the worst and hope for the best."
Stay tuned for our progress up high!
RMI Guide Elias de Andres Martos
Looking great !
May the mountain gods be with you - we are rooting for you from the couch wishing that we are on the mountain !
Posted by: Vivian on 11/15/2018 at 2:34 am
Be safe!!!!
Posted by: lisa maiser on 11/14/2018 at 5:01 pm
Hello again.
After a rest day yesterday at Ama Dablam Base Camp, where we practiced some of the rope techniques we'll implement on our ascent, today we're in a holding pattern for the weather.
Our camps are stocked thanks to the help of our Sherpa, and we're ready to go when the time is right. In the meantime, we continue to execute expedition life; patience at it's best.
RMI Guide ElÃas de Andres Martos
Well you all look healthy and happy!
Holding pattern? You must have an airline pilot in the group
Posted by: lisa maiser on 11/13/2018 at 8:14 am
We made it to Ama Dablam Base Camp!
Right on time for lunch, the team pulled into the little hut (we're avoiding tents at the base of the mountain) and we have been just resting, hydrating and eating.
We're motivated as acclimatization seems to be doing its job, and we're expectant to see what the weather brings in. In the mean time, tomorrow we'll be on schedule resting and practicing our ascending techniques here at Base Camp, and allowing our bodies to "do their thing in getting themselves ready"
RMI Guide ElÃas de Andres Martos
Good luck to all!
Posted by: Beverly on 11/12/2018 at 1:21 am
Elias,
We are close by having just finished Mera Peak!! Good luck to you and team. And from one Spaniard to another remember…....You have to make sure you look good!
Gene
Posted by: Gene Limia on 11/12/2018 at 1:16 am
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Thinking many warm and fuzzy thoughts to all of you. Can’t believe that this morning I complained about a few flurries in Worthington!
Posted by: Janet Brennan on 11/27/2018 at 9:01 am
Looking forward to reading about your adventures Matt! The Theta Chi team is behind you 10%!
Posted by: Steve Magas on 11/25/2018 at 8:23 am
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