One Team Resting Another Team Eyes The Summit

January 20, 2012

Another great view.

Josh Tapp called in from Plaza Argentina in good spirits. The team made short work of the trail today and are enjoying a little down time at Base Camp. They’ll take a rest day tomorrow – maybe stretch the legs a little but generally speaking they’ll just hang out and get their lungs back under them. All is well. Josh made a point to say that his team sends some well wishes back home.

Eben called in from C2. He and Martin carried to High Camp today while the team took an acclimatization hike this afternoon.Â They’re setting themselves up for success later this weekend. They’ll keep their eyes on the weather, but it looks like they’ll head up to HC tomorrow and take a look at things for a possible summit attempt on Sunday.Â The Hot Sauce situation seems to have worked itself out though Eben might smell of chiles and vinegar for the next few days.

Tye Chapman

A Wonderful Day Of Rest

January 20, 2012

Inca walls surround the team's dinner table. (Photo courtsey San Augustin)

After a summit of Cotopaxi and a day strolling the market the team enjoyed a wonderful dinner at Hacienda San Augustin. Inca walls surround the team’s dinner table which featured some high Andean cuisine such as llapingachos (potato cakes), locro (cheese & potato soup) with fresh aji (Andean salsa).

After dinner the ‘retired to the study’ for some coffee and relaxation.

Today, the Cayambe hut awaits.Â Tomorrow they’ll climb or use their contingency day to acclimatize.

Tye Chapman

Kili Team at Baranco Camp

January 20, 2012

Craig John checked in this morning after the long day from Shira to Baranco Camp.Â The weather remains cold and windy and they managed to get into camp before some afternoon rain.Â Nice timing!Â They took the high traverse around Lava Tower to take advantage of the opportunity for acclimatization.Â The elevation of Baranco Camp is not much higher than Shira, so the group usually gets a great nights sleep in this camp.Â It’s also one of the prettiest camps on the mountain.Â Time for some popcorn and roasted peanuts from the camp cooks!

Adam Angel

Traversing towards Baranco Camp around 15,000' on Kilimanjaro. (Photo by Adam Angel)

The Hot Sauce Has Been Compromised

January 19, 2012

Phil snapped this photo this afternoon at the market.

Aconcagua
Eben called in to report that there is a significant puddle of water building up near his vestibule and that the lid to the hot sauce was not tightened properly before he put it in his pack.Â Â Aside from these two things the team is doing great. They’re at C2 (18,000ft) and all is well. We’ll keep you posted on the puddle situation as well as how the hot sauce debacle plays out. These guys are having a blast!

UPDATE (3pm Jan 19): The puddle situation worked itself out. It froze. The hot sauce situation continues to weigh on the team.

Ecuador
Phil called in from the farmer’s market in Saquisili.Â They’re stretching their legs and sampling some of the seemingly endless fruits Ecuador has to offer.Â They’ll hold up for the night at Hacienda La Cienega and head up to the hut on Cayambe tomorrow.

Tye Chapman

Kili Climbers Reach Shira Camp

January 19, 2012

Craig John called in early this morning from Shira Camp (12,600′).Â The group had a solid day of hard work ascending the steep trail, but were rewarded with clear skies and great views.Â It’s been a little cold and windy, and Shira is the first camp where you can really feel the altitude.Â The group is in good spirits and looking forward to the climb past Lava Tower tomorrow.

Keep up the good work team!

Adam Angel

IMG Kili Climbers Ascending to Shira Camp. (Photo by Adam Angel)

South America Is Where It’s At

January 18, 2012

Cotopaxi. (Photo by Jorge Anhalzer)

Ecuador
Phil called in to report that the team tagged the top of Cotopaxi today! They’re safe and sound at the hacienda for the night.Â Tomorrow brings another market while they rest up for Cayambe later this week. All good things.

Aconcagua
Eben reports from C1 that all is well. They successfully carried to C2 today in phenomenal weather. It was so nice they opted for a nap in the col on their way back to camp. Warm and not a breath of wind. They’ll head up to C2 tomorrow then take a well deserved rest day on Friday.

Josh Tapp called in from lower down on the mountain. His team had a great hike to Pampa de Llenas, our first trekking camp along the trail.Â Smooth sailin.Â They’re still in shorts and approach shoes and are just about a week behind Eben’s team.

Tye Chapman

Kili Climbers On Their Way

January 18, 2012

Nearing the first camp (about 10,000 feet, which is about timberline on Kili) the size of the trees shrink and you are hiking through a beautiful moss jungle!

IMG guide Craig John called on the sat phone from Machame Camp to report that the team had a nicehike today up through the forest.Â They started in Moshi, then rode up to the Machame Gate (about 6000 ft), where they started.Â After about five and a half hours of hiking up through the forest, they have reached the camp at about 10,000 feet.Â The weather was good and everyone is having a good time.Â Craig reports they just finished up dinner and everyone is heading for bed, after a good first day on the trail!

Eric Simonson

Another Aconcagua Team Gearing Up

January 17, 2012

Each bag is a day's rations of food (Photo: Tye Chapman)

We received word from Josh Tapp early this morning.Â The team is safe & sound in Mendoza, where they continue to wait for one member’s bag.Â Â In the meantime, they spent yesterday packing food and checking gear, followed by an evening enjoying the local sights and sounds.

Today they’re lining up all necessary documents to move forward.Â We’ll be hearing from them again soon – stay tuned!

Becky Kjorvestad

Five Days In Ouray – It’s More Than Just A Climb

January 17, 2012

Our Veterans have another wonderful week climbing ice in and around Ouray, Colorado!Â Read on!

“Imagine an expedition with excellent climbing and access to a hot springs on the trip. No, I’m not talking about going to Ecuador and lounging in the Papallatca spa at the end of the trip. That trip only has one day of hot springs. What about FIVE DAYS? The Ouray Veterans program gives you a great chance to up your climbing skills and you have the opportunity to sit in a hot springs EVERY DAY! Â For those of you who haven’t been to Ouray, just try it. For those who have and are ready for the Veterans program, you need to join us next year. Why? Because it’s the PERFECT adventure vacation.Â

How can you not enjoy yourself on a trip like this? Our typical day: get up in the morning… have a cinnamon roll at the Artisan Bakery or a breakfast at Backstreet Bistro… head to the park with truly enjoyable guides with a great sense of humor… climb all day and end it by coming back to Mouse’s Chocolates for a strong coffee… spend an hour in the hot springs… join everyone for a beer and dinner at any of the great restaurants in town (Buen Tiempo, Ouray Brewery, O’Brien’s Pub, Bon Ton)… finish up the night with a visit to Mouse’s for an Ice Climber candy or Turtle sundae. Talk about AWESOME. The climbing is fantastic, but so is the surrounding experience. I’m always a little worried on climbing trips that I’ll come back tired and not having relaxed. However, every day in Ouray on the Veteran’s program was very relaxing – in additon to challenging.

: Scottish Gullies (Photo: Cale Hoopes)

: Chockstone Chimney (Photo: Cale Hoopes)

So, what about the climbing? Our week was awesome! The veterans program really lets the climbers focus on how they want to push themselves. There were four of us: Catherine, Marc, Stacey and I along with guides Justin Merle and John Race. By the end of the week, we were a full team. We started out climbing Water Ice 2-5 in the park then quickly picked a backcountry goal outside the park. It was awesome to do my first multi-pitch route – Dexter Slabs – which was south of Ouray 2 miles towards Ridgway. Then we did some leads and mock leading inside the park and finished on the last day near the Skylite area about 4 miles outside the park on Camp Bird Road. Some of the great out of park routes we chose included the Senators, Chockstone’s Chimney, Slip Sliding Away and the Ribbon (yes! It was in this year!) Talk about a great five days of climbing!

Be warned though, you’ll have to fight me for a spot next year if you want to join for the Veterans program… I’ll be there for sure!”

Â By Cale Hoopes , Ouray Veteran

A Rest Day In Aconcagua

Camp 1, Aconcagua (Photo: Tye Chapman)

January 17, 2012

Eben Reckord called to check in at 10am PST.Â The group has elected to take a rest day today.

Tomorrow (Jan. 19) they will carry to Camp II and return to Camp I, and on the 20^th, they will likely take a rest day.

The plan at this point is to move to High Camp on the 21^st, and if all goes according to plan their earliest summit day would be January 22. This, of course is all subject to the weather and the strength of the group and may change at any time.

For now, progress is going well and according to plan!

George Dunn

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