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Climb Aconcagua – to the Rooftop of the Western Hemisphere

Wednesday, July 4th, 2012

Every January, we start our new year with a climb of South America’s highest peak, Aconcagua. Standing at a jaw-dropping 22,841ft/6,961m, Aconcagua is a true mountaineering challenge that requires strength, endurance and careful acclimatization. The climb is beautiful and full of excitement – a perfect adventure!

A beautiful day for a climb

The sheer magnitude of Aconcagua makes it a great destination for anyone looking to gain expedition experience and also exposure to a high altitude climb. Those with their eyes set on Himalayan climbs will find our Aconcagua expedition to be a valuable part of their training and preparation.

Aconcagua

A lunar landscape high on the mountain

At Berg Adventures we always offer the highest standards in the industry. Our Aconcagua expedition is certainly no exception to this rule. Camps are comfortable and stocked with the highest quality of gear and supplies. Our guides and porters will carry all group gear, but if you also want someone to carry your personal gear, private porters are available. We do not hire porters when we arrive in Argentina, instead as bring in our experienced and professional Bolivian team of guides and porters so make sure you let us know in advance!

Osvaldo carries a big load.

Food on the mountain is exceptional and we pride ourselves on offering a wide variety of fresh foods. Favorites on Aconcagua include Taco Night, pancakes (with real maple syrup!) and hamburgers (no easy feat for our cooks at above 18,000ft/5480m). Hydration is important at altitude, so make sure that clean water is readily available to climbers and we serve plenty of hot drinks throughout the day to keep you moving and feeling good.

Aconcagua is different every season and weather is always an important factor that we consider for our summit attempt. We get detailed forecasts every day and try to time our summit attempts just right. At the end of the day, however, the mountain always has the final say so patience is important. That’s what makes Aconcagua so exciting and humbling. Join us in January to see for yourself!

Aconcagua from a lookout early in the trip

Plaza Canada Camp

Looking down at Plaza Canada

To learn more about the climb, visit our Aconcagua homepage or contact our office. To hear about last year’s climb check out the archived dispatches and read Howard Stockburger’s trip summary on the Meet a BAI Climber page.

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Explore Tibet with Berg Adventures

Wednesday, June 13th, 2012

Berg Adventures is heading to Tibet in October/November this year and you’re invited to join us. Tibet is known as one of the spiritual centers of the world, but it is so much more.

The Tibetan Plateau sits at an average elevation of 13,000ft-15,000ft/3960m – 4570m. The historic capital is the incredible city of Lhasa which lies at a height of 11,450ft/3490m and it is the perfect place to start our adventure as it submerses us in the rich culture and Buddhist traditions of Tibet. One of our first stops is an architectural wonder, the Potala Palace, which was constructed in the 1600s atop Marpo Ri (“Red Hill”) and stands watch over the capital city. The building is enormous standing 13 stories high, 1,300ft/400m long and 1150ft/350m wide with walls that are 16ft/5m thick at the base. Inside the palace holds 1000 rooms, 10,000 shrines and 200,000 statues. We will also visit the city’s monasteries and walk around the Jokang Square.

Potala Palace

After exploring Lhasa, we begin our journey down the Friendship Highway which connects Lhasa with Kathmandu. We will travel through incredible remote and expansive terrain surrounded by the world’s highest peaks including Mount Everest which lies on the border between Tibet and Nepal. Our overland journey back to Kathmandu will introduce us to rural life in Tibet where the economy is dominated by subsistence agriculture – not an easy job on the high plateau. Only a handful of crops grow here including barley, buckwheat, rye and potatoes, though some lower valleys are more fertile and agreeable for less hardy crops. Herding animals is also a common form of subsistence and you will see many sheep, goats, and of course, yaks.

A woman walks along a remote section of the Friendship Highway

A colorful horse pulls a wagon

A roadside stop to pose with a friendly yak

A highlight of the journey will be to see Mount Everest from the north side. We will visit Everest Base Camp North which is accessible by road, unlike the South Base Camp in Nepal which is only accessible by foot. Click here to see the Everest Base Camp Trek itinerary for details.

Everest Base Camp North with Mount Everest in the background

Trip dates inclusive of international travel from North America are October 25 – November 7, 2012. This trip is also available as an extension of our October Everest Base Camp Trek in Nepal. See Mount Everest from both sides!

To learn more, visit the Berg Adventures Tibet Homepage or contact our office info@bergadventures.com.

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Wally Berg to Speak in Halifax June 5

Tuesday, May 29th, 2012

Join Wally Berg and the Nova Scotia Nature Trust in Halifax on Tuesday, June 5 at 7pm for a presentation about Patagonia. Wally will share photos from his adventures, discuss conservation in Patagonia and walk through the itinerary of the NSNT fundraising trek taking place in February 2013. Following his talk is a showing of the film 180º South about the Patagonian adventures of climber Jeff Johnson. The event will take place at the Labatt Breweries Atlantic Beer Institute. See the event flyer for more details.

Join the Patagonia ‘W’ Trek for the Nova Scotia Nature Trust! Note that the dates have changed:

February 1 – 9, 2013

Visit the Berg Adventures NSNT Patagonia homepage for more details.

To find out more about other Patagonia adventures, visit our Patagonia homepage.

Posted in General, Patagonia | No Comments »

10 Reasons to Join Berg Adventures in Ecuador

Tuesday, May 29th, 2012

Why should you join Berg Adventures on this exciting expedition to Ecuador where we will climb some of the world’s tallest volcanoes? I’ll tell you why…

You get the opportunity to climb the three tallest mountains in Ecuador – Cotopaxi, Cayambe, Cotopaxi and Chimborazo standing at heights of 18,900ft/5790m, 19,350/5,9000m, and 20, 701ft/6,310m respectively.
Berg Adventures guides are the best! They are experienced and enthusiastic.
We provide great communication with your families back home in our daily dispatches! We also have an emergency 24 hour on-call phone number which your family members can call should they need to reach you while you are away.
We always practice and review necessary skills before heading up the mountain. This trip will help you gain confidence and expand your mountaineering abilities.
You will see beautiful snow-covered summits and dramatic volcano craters. Plus, you will have the chance to stand on the farthest point from the center of the earth, the summit of Chimborazo.
Ecuador is known for its colorful markets. We will visit one of the largest and most famous ones, the Otavalo Market.
The culture of Ecuador is incredibly diverse. You will meet wonderful people, see unique works of art and taste delicious foods. Try the roasted guinea pig; it is a delicacy in Ecuador!
You will see amazing sunrises and sunsets in the highlands of Ecuador.
To recover from the rigors of climbing, we spend time at a beautiful hacienda with hot springs on-site.
Berg Adventures climbers are awesome! People who climb with Berg Adventures come from all over the world and are all passionate about adventure travel. Join the Ecuador Expedition Team and find out for yourself!

Berg Adventures guides Joaquin and Osvaldo working on dispatches in a comfortable mountain hut.

Practicing ropes skills in the hut before our first climb.

Chimborazo, Ecuador’s highest mountain

The dramatic Cotopaxi Crater

Trip Dates:

November 3 – 18, 2012
November 2 – 17, 2012

For more information visit the Berg Adventures Ecuador Homepage.

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The Kilimanjaro Calculation

Wednesday, April 25th, 2012

Berg Adventures has mapped out a day to day calculation of altitude, distance, and trekking time for the Lemosho route. This is a tool to give you a better idea of what to expect when climbing up to the top of Africa.

Here is an example:

Day 4 – Drive to Lemosho Glades 6890ft (2100 m). Meet local staff and porters. Hike to Big Tree Camp 9,200ft (2804m) in a beautiful old growth forest.

Altitude: 6,890ft (2100m) – 9,200ft (2804m)
Distance: 3 miles (5 km)
Trekking Time: 3-4 Hours
Overnight at Big Tree Camp

Of course there are always unforeseen circumstances on the day; multiple stops for photo opportunities, snacks, and storytelling along the trail, so the travel time may vary. Most important we tackle this trail pole pole (slowly) as to allow the body to properly acclimatize.

Go to Lemosho route itinerary page to learn more.

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It’s the Everest Time of Year

Wednesday, April 11th, 2012

Meanwhile, back in Canada, Joanne and David Genyk are packing up duffle bags and backpacks preparing for their next Berg adventure. On this journey, they will experience a whole new culture very different from Tanzania, Africa. Joanne and David will arrive straight into the hustle and bustle of Kathmandu; then trek through the liveliness of the Khumbu valley; remote villages, thin air, and towering peaks, as they follow the Everest climber’s footsteps into base camp.

Dispatches coming soon!

Joanne and David celebrating their 2011 summit of Kilimanjaro

Prayer wheels along the trail

Everest base camp and the Khumbu ice fall – the gateway to the top of the world!

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New Trip! Discover the Wonders of Turkey and Climb Mount Ararat

Thursday, March 22nd, 2012

Ripe with untapped opportunities for outdoor exploration, Turkey is a spectacular travel destination for adventure seekers. Join us as we climb Turkey’s highest mountain, Mount Ararat at 16,854ft/5,137m. A glaciated, dormant volcanic cone, Mount Ararat has long been a site of intrigue because, according to Judeo-Christian tradition, it is the final resting place of Noah’s Ark. We will leave the quest for the Ark to the experts and focus on the summit, but we’ll keep our eyes open just in case.

Mount Ararat

Before we venture up the mountain, we will acclimatize by exploring some of Turkey’s most exciting places. The journey begins in Istanbul, one of the world’s most historically rich cities. We take in a few of the key historic sites including the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and the Grand Bazaar. Next we head to Cappadocia where huge pinnacles of rock define the region’s lunar landscape and where buildings, including our hotel, are carved into the rocky hills. We will begin by exploring the ancient underground cities that served to protect villagers from invading armies for centuries. Then, to stretch our legs and prepare for Mount Ararat, we will climb Mount Hasan at 10,672ft/3,253m in the Cappadocia region.

Istanbul’s Blue Mosque

A balloon flies over Cappadocia

Finally, we head to the mountain. The climb involves basic glacier travel, but does not require mountaineering experience. On summit day, you will walk with crampons and an ice axe to the summit, but we will practice proper techniques during our acclimatization hikes so that you will be ready. We will spend four nights/five days on the mountain.

Climb to the summit

Looking for a family get-away during summer vacation this year? Our Turkey expedition is great for families. While the mountaineering required on Mount Ararat is suitable for young teenagers, we can make other travel arrangements for family members who do not want to climb.

Contact our office for more information or to reserve your spot on this year’s expedition so that you can see the wonders of Turkey firsthand! Dates for 2013 will be available soon. Visit the Turkey homepage.

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Meet the Climber: Howard Stockburger

Tuesday, March 6th, 2012

We’d like to introduce Howard Stockburger, a Berg Adventures climber and member of our 2012 Aconcagua Expedition. He sent us a great recount of this year’s climb that we are happy to share with you. Read Howard’s article and visit other BAI climbers on the Meet a BAI Climber page.

Aconcagua climber Howard Stockburger

To plan your own Aconcagua adventure, visit the Aconcagua homepage or contact our office to get the latest Aconcagua brochure.

Posted in Aconcagua, Expedition News | No Comments »

Kilimanjaro Gets a New Summit Sign

Monday, March 5th, 2012

Say it ain’t so. The crooked, weather-beaten summit sign on Kilimanjaro will no longer greet climbers as they cross the mountain’s summit ridge and climb the mountain’s highest point. Now a shiny new sign stands at attention on Uhuru Peak waiting to congratulate a new generation of climbers.

Anyone who has climbed Kilimanjaro knows that the old sign was more than a place marker; it was a symbol of accomplishment providing climbers with the last push they needed to make it all the way to the top. The new sign will surely fill the important role of the old one, and we can only hope that before long it will be just as weather-beaten and crooked.

I can’t help but wonder about what happened to the old one. I’m sure there is a good story there.

Be one of the first to get a summit shot with the new sign and join us on Kilimanjaro this summer!

Kilimanjaro’s new look

Sign no more

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Videos from the January Kilimanjaro Team

Wednesday, February 29th, 2012

Berg Adventures started the year right on Kilimanjaro. Climbers Tim, Terri and Rafael all made it to the summit of Africa’s highest mountain this January. Ascending along the Lemosho Traverse, the team spent nine days on the mountain and summited the 19,430ft/5,895m peak on Day 8 after spending a night in the crater at 18,700ft/5,700m. We enjoyed listening to their enthusiastic dispatches each morning in the office; they certainly sounded like they were having a great time. Congratulations Team!