Today was another perfect day in the Vacas Valley. Several of us slept out last night under a stunning Milky Way while the southern cross worked its way across the horizon. We woke to clear skies, and cool temps, and motivated to get the miles ahead of us under way. We kept a breeze with us most of the way, but nonetheless, after two days in the strong southern sun, everyone is a little bit crispier. About an hour before camp, we came over a rise to see a family of 9 guanacos (a wild relative of the llama) grazing along the trail ahead. Normally very shy, they were about as curious towards us as we were towards them and we were able to snap a bunch of photos. It's pretty rare to get to see them, and especially so close, so we felt really lucky. We arrived in the mid afternoon, so there was plenty of time for a siesta before we filled our bellies, with pasta tonight. Everyone was a bit relieved for the break from huge portions of steak.
Tomorrow we climb through the Relinchos valley to base camp at Plaza Argentina. We'll check in from there. Hopefully this gorgeous weather continues to hold for us.
Hasta luego,
RMI Guides Pete, Alex, Juan, and team
Aaah, the rest day. El equipo de dos Guillermos is sun bathing, snacking on turkey jerky and guacamole, and letting our minds and legs recover from the carry yesterday. The team is in great spirits today, and since we have some extra time, we thought we'd have every climber give their own little shout out! Here it goes:
Glen: Mi carino. Te quiero. Abrozos y besos.
Lindsay: I'm feeling great and miss you all! Guess which limerick was mine?
Gerald: Missing me yet lol. Missing you! Charlotte, good luck Saturday.
Lucy: I miss you all and love you all so much. Walker, have you heard?!
Floyd: Feelin' great. Working hard at resting and sitting still. Tanya, hope you're feeling better. Miss you all and see you soon!
Corell: Feeling fine, weather is nice. Miss you all! Hope the hunting trip was good and the Eagle Scout manual is progressing. Thurston, remember to study! Love to everyone.
RMI Guide Billy Nugent & Team
What a treat to get personal notes with today’s update. I’m recovering, and the kids and I wish you all the best on the rest of your journey. XOXO
Posted by: Tanya on 1/23/2015 at 3:58 pm
Corell - Thurston stayed in Arkansas and got a job at Mack’s Prairie Wings selling AR-15s. Says he has found his true calling in life. I am going to sit in for him on his Eagle board and try to do his homework, though the math may be challenging. We just had long addition and subtraction when I went to school. Those ice formations in the picture look really cool - like terra cotta warriors of penguins, or midgets in the Klan, right? Love you!!!!!!!!!
We had a fantastic walk in yesterday to get the trip started finally! Though everyone agreed it was very hot, a breeze for most of the way kept it much more comfortable than it could have been. We had a leisurely start from Penitentes, and we were comfortably settled into camp by late afternoon. As the shadows lengthened, JJ's team marched triumphantly into camp, and we shared another delicious asado with them and swapped stories. Tomorrow, it's onward, following the dusty mule trail, to Casa de Piedras. The group is doing a great job, and it looks as though it will be another warm sunny day tomorrow, just the way we like it.
Ciao,
RMI Guides Pete Van Deventer, Alex Barber, Juan, and Team
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
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
It's been a really busy 36 hours, getting everyone here, buying food, securing permits, traveling to Penitentes, and packing our gear for the mules, but we have gotten it all done! The bags are packed and we are ready to hit the dusty trail tomorrow and start up Aconcagua! In all of that bustling around, we still found time for our first of several delicious steak and wine dinners in Mendoza. This can be the most stressful part of the trip, making sure that everyone arrives, and with all of their bags. Tomorrow we move into the rhythm of the mountains, things slow down, and we take a deep breath. We'll be in touch tomorrow from Pampa de Lenas, where we hope to see JJ and his team as they make their way out from a successful trip. We're hoping ours is as well.
Ciao for now.
RMI Guide Pete Van Deventer, Alex Barber, and team
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
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
Hello everyone this is the Aconcagua team coming at ya safe and sound at base camp! This will officially be our last blog. So instead of blabbing on about the same old same old...I'm going to pass the electronics around so our team members can give their own shout outs. JJ Justman
Hi Mom and Sam and Giulia. We both are alive and recovering from a successful summit with beers. Love you, Dad and Jenny
Hey Morgan, Mom and Dad. Had a great time summiting ! Miss you guys a lot. Love Adam!
Hi Vera Kim likely Cary. I got to 21,000ft so no summit but am now at base camp very difficult so 31 miles to walk out then back to Mendoza. In 2 days very burnt out, but ok. Bye -David P
Jenny and I give a shout out to all the Hines' and Gazzolas. We conquered Aconcagua 22,841 feet.
I didn't quite make it to the summit but sure am enjoying the experience! Hi to Mom and Dad, and thanks to Linda for holding the fort down...Sue
Our Aconcagua team is safe and sound back in high camp. It was a 13-hour day and I am so proud of the entire team! I'd like to go on and on but we have some tired little cookies in desperate need of a good meal and some hot drinks. We will send a great last dispatch from base camp tomorrow!
RMI Guide JJ Justman
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
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
Hey everyone out there. Hopefully you can hear me, my voice is a little raspy. This is Team 4. We are on the summit. Feel free you guys to give a hoot-and-holler... We are on the summit of Aconcagua! It is a beautiful day up here. The weather man was way wrong with the winds. Maybe a little breeze, but really nice day on the summit of South America's highest peak. Everyone give a shout out... Everyone says hello to friends and family. We still have some work to do to get downhill, but everyone's doing real well. They say hi and we''ll touch base when we get down to Basecamp tomorrow. We got a lot of work here to get down and recover and refuel, but everyone's doing fantastic. Take care everyone. This is Team 4 out on the summit of Aconcagua.
RMI Guide JJ Justman
RMI Guide JJ Justman calls from the Aconcagua summit!
Are you for real?!
JU did her homework today with me and even read for 20 min!!! I’d say that is about equal to your Summit day.
Posted by: G on 1/20/2015 at 7:57 pm
CONGRATULATIONS TO SUE AND THE WHOLE TEAM!!!!! The highest peak in the world outside
of the Himalayas! Wow! So Sue, Cactus to Clouds and Whitney in a day this year should be easy by comparison. Be safe on the way down and looking forward to happy trails this year in our SoCal mountains.
Hey Kev we are all watching the teams progress. To all, have a safe climb. Ciao, Bro.
Posted by: Pat Acierto on 1/31/2015 at 4:28 am
Go Bruce!
Posted by: Jim Bradley on 1/24/2015 at 6:50 am
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