Entries By billy nugent

Aconcagua: Nugent & Team Carry to Camp 2

January 21, 2015

Posted by: Billy Nugent, Katrina Bloemsma, Billy Haas

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua

Elevation: 16,200'

Windy today... After an all-things-considered-decent night last evening at Camp 1 we woke this morning to clear skies and calm winds. Perfect, we thought, for a push up to Camp 2 to drop off another cache of supplies. The team made good time and dispatched the uphill portion of the carry in three stretches moving smoothly and in good style. The wind beat us up a little bit but in the end it was nothing but a nuisance as we passed through Ameghino Col. We saw some of our first views of other big peaks in the range as we passed underneath the toe of the Polish Glacier. The mountain is VERY dry right now and we've heard that getting snow for water up at high camp is problematic, at least there's still a good flow of water coming through the stream at Camp 2. We are all back down at Camp 1 safe and sound, looking forward to a rest/acclimatization day tomorrow! Ciao, for now. RMI Guide Billy Nugent

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Thank you for the updates. I loved your song!
Lots of Love from 8000
Babs xox

Posted by: Barbara Lynn Bloemsma on 1/22/2015 at 9:18 am

Linz - I’m getting a desperate feeling that I need to walk on some rocks. Does walking down the gravel road in Indiana qualify as scree? Wish I was there. Rock on girl! Pop

Posted by: Les on 1/21/2015 at 6:14 pm

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Aconcagua: Nugent & Team Move to Camp 1

January 20, 2015

Posted by: Billy Nugent, Katrina Bloemsma, Billy Haas

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua

Elevation: 16,200'

Hola del Campo Uno. For those of you who don't "habla español" El Campo Uno is spanish for... The Campo Uno. Our team enjoyed a relaxed morning getting packed up and out of Aconcagua Basecamp despite how eager we were to get this climb underway. We enjoyed perfect weather on our move up and even got to spend some time with JJ and the other RMI crew descending after yesterday's successful summit bid at one of our breaks along the trail. We could hear JJ coming down the trail but couldn't see him until he was right upon us. His full camouflage outfit (including camo expedition backpack) is perfectly at home in the mountain environment. Our team is moving extremely well in large part due to great fitness but also great rest-stepping and footwork. They made short work of the move and even had the energy to write a limerick along the way. Here it is for your reading pleasure: Climbing this mountain is rough, but our team is tougher than tough. Through wind, ice, and sand on the peak we'll all stand because we've all got the right stuff! All for now... RMI Guide Billy Nugent

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Looks super cold! Lucy and Corell are speedy ladies and deceptively strong. No doubt they were climbing up with ease. Love reading each day. Take care of yourselves and super proud of you and the team for taking this on.

Posted by: Kathryn LeBey on 1/21/2015 at 7:03 am

Hola Glen, glad you had a good weather day and did well on the climb to Camp One. All that training is paying off. The limerick was great! How about one for when you reach Camp two? Love, Katalina

Posted by: Katalina on 1/20/2015 at 7:14 pm

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Aconcagua: Nugent & Team Rest Day After Carry to Camp 1

January 19, 2015

Posted by: Billy Nugent, Katrina Bloemsma, Billy Haas

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua

Elevation: 13,800'

Hi all, Not much new to report from our basecamp here at Plaza Argentina. The physical output and exertion on yesterday's carry is hopefully triggering our bodies to take advantage of today's rest and accelerate our acclimation process. We're spending the day eating good food (egg & prosciutto scramble! cucumber, tomato, and melon salad!), napping, and tying up loose ends in preparation for tomorrow's move up to Camp 1. We've been listening to the hippies over at the freelance porter tent jam away on their drums and recorder. While not exactly relaxing it's at least a bit comical. Anyway, hoping for a good night's sleep, provided the porters have jammed themselves out, and don't play another night into the wee hours of the morn... We'll check in again tomorrow evening and let you know how it all went. RMI Guide Billy Nugent

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Glad to know you are all moving up the mountain safely. The picture of those little yellow tents is making me homesick for the mountains! Have fun and rest up.

Xoxo. Renee

Posted by: Renee on 1/20/2015 at 11:59 am

Linz
Grab me a couple breaths of that good old mountain air. Soak up the awesomeness. Climb strong, girl. Wish I could be there. Poppy

Posted by: Les on 1/20/2015 at 6:53 am

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Aconcagua: Nugent & Team Carry to Camp 1

January 18, 2015

Posted by: Billy Nugent, Katrina Bloemsma, Billy Haas

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua

Elevation: 13,800'

Howdy all... Checking in after a busy, busy day up here on Aconcagua. There was a bit of commotion buzzing around Plaza Argentina this morning with a bunch of helicopter flights coming in and out of basecamp requiring logistical assistance on our part that stalled us from getting out of the gate on our planned carry up to Camp 1. Luckily, what could have been a logistical nightmare was averted and despite the late start, our team made a great effort and put in a big cache of personal gear, food, fuel, and other group gear up at ~16,400' right in the heart of Camp 1. We're back down here at Plaza Argentina, tired after a long day on our first foray onto the upper mountain but psyched that the team performed so well despite the heavy loads. Spirits are high after a job well done and we hope to keep the good times rolling through another rest/acclimatization day at basecamp tomorrow. Signing off... RMI Guide Billy Nugent

Aconcagua: Nugent & Team Rest Day at Plaza Argentina

January 17, 2015

Posted by: Billy Nugent, Katrina Bloemsma, Billy Haas

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua

Elevation: 13,800'

Resting today... We are all enjoying a pleasant afternoon up here at Plaza Argentina. Our two principal goals for today are letting our bodies rest up from the work we've done over the past three days and continue that acclimatization process, and to prep and pack our gear, food, and fuel for tomorrow's planned carry up to Camp 1. The team is again in good spirits and enjoying the day. We'll check in again tomorrow and let you know how our first true push up the mountain went... RMI Guide Billy Nugent

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Lucy - Great going. Enjoy your day off. We hope you have great weather for the rest of the climb. We miss you. Love, Carter, Walker and Christopher

Posted by: Carter on 1/18/2015 at 9:17 am

Glen, we are with you - in thought anyway. It is good to see photos, so we can see, too. Now, your training is paying off!

Posted by: Jerry y Rhonda on 1/18/2015 at 8:11 am

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Aconcagua: Nugent & Team Reach Basecamp!

January 16, 2015

Posted by: Billy Nugent, Katrina Bloemsma, Billy Haas

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua

Elevation: 13,800'

We've made it to Basecamp! After three long days on the trail our team rolled on in to Plaza Argentina this afternoon in good style and in good spirits. And while we are all feeling the altitude a little bit we are no worse for the wear. We enjoyed some refreshments upon arrival from the great Grajales staff and proceeded to set up camp and get settled in after a little breather. We just finished a great meal of of soup, homemade lasagna (!!!), and flan for dessert and are getting ready to tuck ourselves in for the evening. Up at nearly 14K, it's a fair bit colder here than it was on our trek in, especially at night so we're finally putting some of our warm clothes to good use. Typically, the first night at a higher elevation can be a little uncomfortable so we'll see how everybody fares tonight. I'm sure there may be a few headaches in the group, but that's totally normal... Anyway, we're all still having fun and looking forward to a good rest day tomorrow. All for now, RMI Guide Billy Nugent

Aconcagua: Nugent & Team Reach Case de Piedra

January 15, 2015

Posted by: Billy Haas, Billy Nugent, Katrina Bloemsma

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua

Elevation: 10,550'

Journey to Casa de Piedra. Our crew made great time today on our march from Pampa de Leñas to our second trekking camp at Casa de Piedra. We had significantly cooler temps today and some welcome cloud cover (albeit with a few sprinkles) which made for a much more pleasant walk than yesterday. The crew is starting to find the rhythm of the mountain and also finding a good synergy among the teammates. We are all having fun and even enjoying some interesting people. Good times! Headed for Aconcagua Basecamp tomorrow... Talk soon. RMI Guide Billy Nugent

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Glad you will reach base camp tomorrow. Hope photos will be forthcoming! Laura and I are reading the Inferno and enjoying Lidia’s class. Jim says, “GO Corell!” Love to you, Cindy

Posted by: Cindy Mabry on 1/16/2015 at 7:40 pm

Glad you are on the trail. Hope all is well so far. The boys and I are off to Arkansas tomorrow. There has been a huge thaw, so we might be hunting in t-shirts. Alee came to town tonight, so who knows if Philip will make the plane! Love you!! Thurston

Posted by: Thurston Moore on 1/16/2015 at 5:54 pm

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Aconcagua: Nugent & Team Check in from Pampa de Lenas

January 15, 2015

Posted by: Billy Haas, Billy Nugent, Katrina Bloemsma

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua

Elevation: 9,000'

January 14, 2015 Hola de Pampa de Leñas! Today our team made our first moves in the mountains in great style by ticking off the first stretch on our three day journey to Plaza Argentina, our basecamp. The trail was hot and dusty but we enjoyed a nice breeze from time to time and incredible views that made the heat bearable. After setting up our camp we had the good fortune to greet another RMI expedition as they arrived in camp returning from a successful summit bid a few days ago. Big congrats to Zeb and his crew! We all got to share an asado last night complete with grilled beef tenderloin and vino which was quite a treat. The herrieros (mule drivers) cooked for us over an open fire... Pretty classy backcountry living. We're thankfully not on the ramen noodle program yet, it was nice to hold that off another day. Anyway, all is well and tomorrow calls for another day of walking up the Vacas Valley... We'll check in and let you know how it goes. All for now, RMI Guides Billy Nugent, Katrina Bloemsma, and Billy Haas

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Aconcagua: Billy Nugent & Team Finish Up Loose Ends and Are on Their Way

January 13, 2015

Posted by: Billy Nugent, Katrina Bloemsma, Billy Haas

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua

Hi everyone, Billy (Nugent) here checking in after the first official day on our 2015 Aconcagua expedition. Today was a crazy one and the team spent most of the day scrambling around trying to get everything ready for tomorrow´s departure to the mountain. One of our team members was the victim of freezing rain and thus a cancelled flight from O´Hare so she arrived in Mendoza this morning and was forced to hit the ground running. We went straight to the permit office to handle that and then made a quick stop to freshen up at the hotel before we departed for Penitentes where Grajales, our outfitter, has a packing facility near the trailhead. The rest of the team spent the morning tying up loose ends; making runs to the grocery store and gear shop to pick up last minute items before we all jumped in the van for a three-hour drive up to Penitentes in the mountains. Once we arrived we spent several hours packing and readying our loads for the mules that were broken up nicely by a great dinner at Ayelen, our hotel. Lots of things to remember means a fair bit of stress but that will all evaporate once we hit the trail tomorrow. The team is ready and in good spirits, eager to hit the trail! We´ll check in again from our first camp along the trekking route into basecamp. All for now, RMI Guide Billy Nugent and the gang

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Lucy! St. Louis is routing for you, too! We will be reading about your progress and thinking about you! Good luck to you and the whole team! We love you!! Love from Mom, Erle, Donald, Donald Jr. & John

Posted by: Erle Broughton on 1/17/2015 at 9:15 pm

Good luck Billy and Company! I’ll be in Pete’s group following behind you guys. Getting ready to leave for Mendoza on Saturday. See you on the mountain!

Best regards,
Craig Falkenhagen
Atherton, CA

Posted by: Craig Falkenhagen on 1/15/2015 at 1:41 pm

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Mt. Rainier: September 20th Update

September 20, 2014

Posted by: Billy Nugent

Categories: Expedition Dispatches Mount Rainier

Elevation: 14,410'

Summit! The Mt. Rainier Summit Climb, led by RMI Guide Billy Nugent, reached the top with crystal-blue skies all around. The team began their descent at 8:20 a.m. from the crater rim. Congratulations!

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Entries By billy nugent

Aconcagua: Nugent & Team Carry to Camp 2

On The Map

Aconcagua: Nugent & Team Move to Camp 1

On The Map

Aconcagua: Nugent & Team Rest Day After Carry to Camp 1

On The Map

Aconcagua: Nugent & Team Carry to Camp 1

Aconcagua: Nugent & Team Rest Day at Plaza Argentina

On The Map

Aconcagua: Nugent & Team Reach Basecamp!

Aconcagua: Nugent & Team Reach Case de Piedra

Aconcagua: Nugent & Team Check in from Pampa de Lenas

On The Map

Aconcagua: Billy Nugent & Team Finish Up Loose Ends and Are on Their Way

Mt. Rainier: September 20th Update

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