Aconcagua Expedition Dispatch

January 10, 2011 – The Team Arrives in Mendoza

Summertime in Mendoza, Argentina is one of the most pleasant cities you could ever imagine spending time. Remember that even though Berg Adventures climbing team left the winter of the United States, we are in the midst of summertime here in Argentina. Yesterday was rainy in Mendoza. This is Argentina’s wine country and typically it is very dry and quite hot this time of year, so the rain was a very nice relief from the heat. I’m here to help the team get under way, and I’ll have to say we are off to a very pleasant start. Berg Adventures climbing staff from Bolivia, Osvaldo, Sergio and our famed cook Simon, arrived after a three day drive from Bolivia.

Stuart and Maggie arrived from New Hampshire in the morning. Later in the afternoon, Todd arrived from Arizona. Shady tree-lined streets and plazas of Mendoza are a great place to get ready for a climb, but we didn’t have much time. We went over this morning to the park headquarters and permits were issued to the team. Then we began driving towards Aconcagua. Now it is lunchtime in the river city of Upsallata. We just finished a Berg Adventures tradition, a huge barbeque lunch at one of our favorite spots in the area where the chicken, and the pork and the lamb and the beef is cooked on an open grille. Maggie is a vegetarian and she very patiently put up with our carnivorous habits here. She had a nice omelet and papas fritas, or French fries, as well. We’ve all enjoy this huge barbeque lunch.

We are going to continue on now to Aconcagua. We have a great team. I’ve mentioned our members so far. I’ve got to mention that Stuart is here on his third attempt of Aconcagua. Aconcagua is a big mountain and Stuart is a good climber and he has been at it for years. I virtually stood on the summit of Mount Vinson with Stuart and 6 years ago I stood on the top of Mount Elbrus with Stuart, Maggie and Maggie’s sister Meredith. Stuart had to come back and do it the right way this time and finally get to the very top of Aconcagua. I think he’s got the right team this time. It is looking good so far; I think he is going to make it.

Todd is a firefighter and paramedic from Arizona. He’s happy to be here on expedition to a big mountain. He told me that when he hugged his girlfriend goodbye, she broke one of his pairs of sunglasses. We know that she is missing him and I know that he is missing her, but luckily he’s got an extra pair of sunglasses and a pair of goggles too. So he’s going to be fine here in Aconcagua on this climb.

We’ll report to you daily as we get ready. It is going to be about acclimatization and more preparation tomorrow as we go up to the Chilean border to a much higher altitude to look around. Tomorrow should be our first view of Aconcagua as well. The team is doing great and we will report daily as our trip continues and as we get closer to the summit of Aconcagua.