January 15, 2012
Things don’t always go as planned, if they did this job would be boring.
The sun setting on Camp 1. (Photo by Tye Chapman)
Aconcagua
Eben called in with good news on Aconcagua, despite the recent snow, they were able to make their carry to C1. Tomorrow they’ll make the move and establish camp, tonight it’s back to Plaza Argentina for what everybody hopes is a better nights sleep.
Josh Tapp called in from Mendoza. He’s preparing for our next Aconcagua expedition. He’s one duffel bag short, but it sounds like the airlines are straightening things out.
IMG HQ/Denali Prep Training Grounds
Mt. Rainier
Greg makes it all the way from Antarctica without a hitch and what happens…? You guessed it, a storm on Mt. Rainier that forced the park to shutdown uphill traffic at Longmire. No worries, the Denali Prep crew hung tight here at HQ and did some training. Sled rigging, crevasse rescue (self-extraction), rope travel with sleds, etc. Probably easier to digest this stuff in a controlled environment anyways. Tomorrow they’ll head up to Paradise for the remainder of the program.
Ecuador
Phil called in yesterday to report that all is well in Ecuador. Their acclimatization continues today with a hike up Pasachoa (13,780ft). Then it’s off to our favorite little hacienda – Tierra del Volcan ( Volcano Land) which sits at just about 12,000ft -a perfect place to sleep and continue the acclimatization.
Tye Chapman