January 8, 2013

Union Glacier Weatherport Tent in Antarctica. (Pat McCrann)

Up on Aconcagua – Ty, Martin, Peter and team are at C1 and will be making their carry today to C2.

Down on Aconcagua – Peter, Leandro, Josh and team will be heading to Penitentes, finishing up packing and getting ready to begin their approach tomorrow.

And, way down on Vinson Massif – Greg reports that they’re all back at the Union Glacier, waiting for flights north.  They’re living large.  ALE, our flight service, has a great base camp facility at the Union Glacier.  Big, comfortable tents, tables and chairs, 3 meals a day, toilets – pretty much everything could want.  And, it’s darn near impossible to beat the surroundings!

Phil Ershler

January 5, 2013

The route to Camp 1 on Aconcagua.

A few things to report from Argentina today.  First is that everyone from Josh Tapp’s group is now on their way home.  Josh arrives home tomorrow.  Leandro, one of our great Argentine guides who was working with Josh, is going through a final check of group gear for our next team, led by Peter Anderson, with Leandro and Josh McDowell.  That group left the States (and South Africa) today and will be rendezvousing in Mendoza tomorrow, the 6^th.  IMG Senior Guide, Mike Hamill, leaves tomorrow for Mendoza. He’ll be climbing with a small, custom team via the Horcones Valley route now and then staying to climb with the final IMG team of the season in late January.

Up on the mountain itself, Ty Gimenez called in today.  Martin Lucero, Peter Adams and he are taking a rest day at base camp today and prepping for their carry to C1 tomorrow.  Weather is a bit unsettled but that’s actually just fine for a carry day.

Down further South, like all the way South, Greg Vernovage and his 5 successful Vinson climbers will be making their way to Vinson base camp today.  It’s a bit of a long walk but not terrible.  And, when you’ve all been to the summit, it’s amazing how easy that walk becomes.  Once at base camp Vinson, it’ll be a bit of a waiting game.  They’ll need reasonable weather to fly over to the Union Glacier camp and then good weather for the IL76 to come in, pick these guys up and get them back to Chile.  That could happen as early as the 6^th.  Greg will stay in South America and head over to Mendoza.  He’ll be leading our January 20 departure on Aconcagua.  No rest for the wicked.

Phil Ershler

January 3, 2013

Tomorrow's goal for the Aconcagua crew.

Ty Gimenez called in from their second trekking camp today. Their fire-grilled steak last night gave them plenty of fuel today, though assistant guide, and our resident ‘organic foodie’, Peter Adams, thought it was a touch too salty. Let’s not feel too sorry for him.

In all seriousness, the group is moving strongly and shouldn’t have any issues with tomorrow’s push into Plaza Argentina, their Base Camp. Once in Base Camp, they’ll relax and enjoy a rest day on Saturday. We should hear from Tyler again tomorrow.

Greg also called in this afternoon. His team moved up to High Camp today without too much issue. They’ll take a rest day tomorrow to get their legs and lungs back and likely give it a go on Saturday…Wx permitting of course!

Tye Chapman