February 14, 2010
Mike Hamill, Aconcagua team leader called in the past two days during the holiday weekend.  On February 13 he called at approximately 3pm PST.  He reported that all was well on the mountain.  A couple of team members were feeling some mild effects from the altitude and overall effort of the trip, but everyone was OK.  If weather permits, the team will summit in the morning.

On February 14 Mike called to report that the team was back at high camp having successfully reached the summit!  9 of 13 team members reached the actual summit, but all gave it their very best and are now resting at high camp after a safe descent.  Tomorrow the team will head down to Plaza de Mules Base Camp. All is well and the team sends their love and good wishes to friends and family back home.

Congratulations to the team for a job well done!

George Dunn

February 11, 2010

It’s always nice to hear from our teams in the field when there’s good news to report.  Mike Hamill called in this afternoon (our time), just prior the team’s dinner (their time).  Camp 2 is in, everyone’s there and weather is still holding.  One camp remains and then it’s time to take a stab at the summit.  This is when things start getting tough.  Aconcagua is a VERY big mountain.  It tends to wear people out.  Heads, stomachs, lungs and legs have taken a lot of abuse already and there’s more to come.  Such is the nature of high altitude mountaineering.  Camp 2 is high, pushing 18,000 ft.  Getting there is an achievement in itself.  Each member is trying to do their share for the team and part of that means taking care of themselves.  You have to work at drinking, eating and generally doing all those things which allow you to get up the next morning and keep climbing.

Mike also reports that the weather is still holding.  It can’t last forever, but it doesn’t have to.  It just needs to last long enough.  That’s the big variable which is hard to control.  So, you work hard to put yourself in position to take advantage of any good luck the mountain gives you.  It’s the old idea of opportunity meeting preparedness.

We’ll hear next when the team hits high camp.  It’s almost crunch time.

Phil Ershler

February 8, 2010

The news continues to be good from Argentina and the slopes of Aconcagua.  Team leader, Mike Hamill, just phoned in.  The team has made their move to C1 at 16,200’.  The weather is perfect and everyone’s doing well.  It has been quite windy the last couple of weeks.  Weather now is excellent and forecast is favorable for at least another several days.  All that’s excellent news.  Lots can change between now and the summit bid, but all’s as good as we could hope for at the present.  We’ll take it.

Phil Ershler

February 5, 2010

Team leader, Mike Hamill, just called in from Casa Piedre.  The crew is now 2 days into their 3 day trek to base camp.  Casa Piedre is around 10,000’.  This is where the team gets their first really good view of the mountain.  The word is – so far, so good.  It’s been clear and sunny but a tad on the breezy side.  Probably a good thing they’re not high on the mountain now.  People above are probably getting a bit blasted.  But breezy works just fine during the approach.  They’ll cross the Vacas River first thing in the morning and then head up the Relinchos River to base camp.  That’s when we should hear next from Mike.  These early days are critical to a good acclimatization process.  And Mike reports that everyone is doing well.  That’s about all we can ask for now.

Phil Ershler

February 2, 2010

Climbing is easy.  Travel is tough.  And, if that’s true, the current Aconcagua trip should be great!  All the crew arrived on time and with all the luggage.  Securing the permit in Mendoza was an easy process, and the team’s already in Penitentes.  That’s the base of the mountain and where the gang is now doing their final gear sort and making up loads for the mules.  Nice to have the mules to take the group gear into base camp at about 13,600 ft.  IMG Senior Guides, Mike Hamill and Greg Vernovage are being joined by Martin, our Argentine guide, and our IMG Operations Manager, Tye Chapman, and our group of 9 climbers.  That’s a full boat!

I’ll bet many of you have spoken with Tye on the phone or traded emails with him regarding an IMG program.  And how about Mike?  Remember seeing him featured on Show 3 of this year’s Discovery Channel Everest program?  And then there’s Greg.  Nothing like having a guide climbing with you who was the coach of the US Men’s Olympic Volleyball Team that competed in the Sydney Olympic games!  Oh yeah, did I mention they won the GOLD?

We really do have a super team on Aconcagua right now and we’ll keep you posted on their progress.  Remember, no news is good news.  IMG guides tend to be more focused on climbing than blogging but we’ll get the news out as soon as they check back in.  It’s time now for them to do a bit of walking!

Phil Ershler

January 29, 2010

The challenges for our team began in Mendoza at the beginning of our trip, when one of our team member’s luggage did not arrive! Not the end of the world but a hurdle nonetheless. In the end we got him set-up with something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue!

With the Mendoza chores done we set out to climb the mountain. Everybody was strong and fit and ready to climb. Basecamp was our first goal… Everybody made it although we had to say goodbye to a team member shortly thereafter as some blisters were too nasty to overcome. He’s a trooper and will be back!

Over the next few days we made our carries up through the different camps and had our eyes on the summit the whole time… Summit day – overcast and snowy but manageable… We descended into some weather but nothing the team couldn’t handle and at 12 hours round trip we made pretty good time!

We woke up on the morning of the 25th, packed up camp, and walked the 3.5 hrs down from High Camp to Plaza de Mules (i.e.  the basecamp on the Normal Route, which provides for a more convenient exit).  We enjoyed the rudimentary pleasures that base camp provided such as pizza, coke, tables, chairs, hard tent, etc…  The following morning we traded out our mountaineering boots and attire for trekking boots/sneakers and swiftly dispatched the 16 mile walk out with smiles on our faces knowing that Aconcagua was gracious enough to let us stand on top and walk away safely.

We wrapped up the trip at a nice little restaurant here in Mendoza which, believe it or not, was recently rated 7th best in the world! It did not disappoint. Great steaks, wine and a wonderful atmosphere.

By now most of the team has headed home and the trip has come to a close and we are all thankful for the experience!

Cheers,

Ben