January 13, 2014
With so many groups on the move during the last couple of days, let’s get everyone up to date regarding movements.
Greg, Aaron and their Vinson crew are done and home. Wasn’t easy to get everyone rebooked with flights home but Pirjo and CTT Destinations did a super job. There is still great value derived from working with an experienced travel agent on complicated international flights and we saw it this weekend. Glad to have everyone home and everyone successful and everyone with 10 fingers and toes. Nice!
Luke, Romulo and the Ecuador team did some acclimatizing and taking in some of the sights. Crossed the equator a couple of times, too. At the base of Cotopaxi now, getting in some more acclimatizing and training prior to taking a shot at their first, big objective.
Luke and team on Pasochoa
News from Aconcagua: Josh McD and team are now back in the States after their very successful summit. Well done. I’ll be debriefing with Josh today. Josh Tapp and team has decided to take a rest day at Plaza Argentina after a big carry to C1 yesterday. If in doubt, a rest day is always in order. Just got off the phone with Peter Anderson. He’s working away with Peter Adams and Leandro Villegas, getting their final packing done. Team members continue to arrive. Weather on the East Coast hasn’t made it easy but hopeful that we’ll see everyone today. Gear checks, registration and permits need to get completed prior to heading up to the mountain. Lastly, Mike Hamill and his custom group are winging their way south today. Who knows – Mike and Peter could potentially end up seeing each other on the summit, coming up from two entirely different routes.
Phil Ershler