February 1, 2011

On the road to Aconcagua. (Photo by Doug Ingram)

Team 3 is back in Mendoza as of last evening.  Peter Anderson reports that a long day of hiking and travel led everyone back to Mendoza last evening.  Some members will begin flights home today while others will take another day to relax prior to heading home.  Hugely successful, safe and happy, this expedition now ends.

But one more group remains for Aconcagua this season.  IMG Senior Guide, Mike Hamill, reports from Mendoza that all team members arrived and with all their luggage.  Today, they head to Penitentes to finalize their preparations and packing and to spend one more night in a bed before tackling Cerro Aconcagua.  We’ll be wishing them good weather and good health.  Those are two big ingredients, now.  Let’s see how the group does.

Phil Ershler

A View From the Top of South America (photo: Doug Ingram)

January 29, 2011

Just spoke with Senior Guide, Peter Anderson, on the summit of Aconcagua.  100% on top.  Weather is perfect.  Perhaps 5 cm of snow overnight.  Winds were 20-25 kph when the team started at 5:30 am, their time.  However, the wind continued to die throughout the morning, and Peter reports balmy conditions on the summit.  The team played their strengths and the weather perfectly.  Tremendous effort and a huge success.  It couldn’t have gone better.

Phil Ershler

January 28, 2011

Summit Day Tomorrow?

Just spoke with Senior Guide, Peter Anderson.  The entire group got to high camp in good form.  All are now tucked away for the evening.  Forecasts show a possible summit day for tomorrow.  Winds in the 20-30 km/h range and light precipitation.  Let’s keep our fingers crossed for the team.  Their plan is to stick their heads out the tent early tomorrow and, if conditions allow, head uphill.

Phil Ershler

January 28, 2011

High on Aconcagua. (Photo by Doug Ingram)

IMG Senior Guide, Peter Anderson, reported last evening that the team tagged Camp 3 (High Camp), left a cache and descended to Camp 2 for the evening.  This is all great news.  Even better is that all team members were healthy and climbing strong.  Let’s see if they can make it to Camp 3 today.  If so, and they’re feeling OK, it means that Saturday could be their first shot at a possible summit attempt.

Phil Ershler

January 27, 2011

A nice view en route to C2. (Photo by Doug Ingram)

We heard from Peter Anderson and Team 3 last evening.  Camp 2 has now been occupied and the team continues to do well.  Now, the strategy game gets more difficult.  They’re watching the weather and the forecast, trying to get a feel for when a summit window will be available.  And, the guides are watching their team.  You can’t push too hard or too fast or you burn someone out.  But you want to be in position to take advantage of any openings the mountain gives you up high, and it will.  The trick is to be in position when the time is right.

It’s been a bit windy but that’s not unusual for Aconcagua.  And, the higher they climb, the better the views.

Stay with us and we’ll see how this unfolds.

Phil Ershler

January 25, 2011

A view of C1 from the trail to C2.

IMG Guide Peter Anderson called in to report that all is well at Camp 1.  The team carried in some windy conditions today (30mph+) and will make the move to C 2 tomorrow.  All continues to go well for the team.

The forecast calls for some windy days (normal for Aconcagua) and a few snow showers mid week. Temps have been, and will remain, in the high teens and low 20’s (Fahrenheit) on the middle mountain.

Tye Chapman