January 21, 2014

Luke’s crew on the summit of Cayambe

Lots of movement south of the border.  In Ecuador, Luke and Romulo are heading to Chimborazo with 4 team members.  All the pieces need to fall into place but the guys are determined to give it a shot.  Members on the regular trip are flying home today after having summited Cotopaxi and Cayambe.  Congratulations to all.

On Aconcagua, heck – we’ve got teams everywhere.  Mike Hamill is making a carry up from Plaza Mulas today.  Mulas is base camp on the Horcones Valley side of the mountain.  All is good.  Josh Tapp, Martin Lucero and team are back in Mendoza.  Showers, beds, wine and steak are the order of the day.  They did a heck of a job up high but the mountain simply said no.  Peter Anderson, Peter Adams and Leandro Villegas are making a carry to C2.  They continue to acclimate, establish progressively high camps and simply get themselves into position to take advantage of whatever opportunities the mountain provides.  The chess game continues.

Bottom line – all’s good.

Phil Ershler

January 19, 2014

Josh called at 6 am, Seattle time, to let me know they couldn’t get up Aconcagua this morning.  They encountered way too much snow up high.  Winter conditions and a winter snow pack.  Discretion is the better part of valor and it just wasn’t safe enough to continue.  The team’s back at high camp and everyone’s safe.  Disappointed, for sure, but they know they gave it their best shot.  At the end of the day, that’s the best you can do.

Cayambe in better weather

Better conditions this morning on Cayambe in Ecuador for Luke and team.  Better, but not much better.  Luke said the gang had to work hard for this summit.  They summited with a quarter inch of rime ice on all their clothes.  Very nice job.  Packing up now and making their way to the hot springs in Papallacta.  Long day, for sure, but ending it soaking in the hot springs with a bottle of beer is not a terrible thing.

Phil Ershler