Aconcagua Ascent

Shaun

We're from Australia and are going on the Aconcagua trek departing Mendoza on 4 February 2013.  That's the same one you are on? Where are you training where it's snowing - somewhere in England. We are in a hot & humid summer at present in Brisbane. Cheers. Robert

Hi Robert, Yep its the same trip. Both my wife and me are on the trip. As I get older (52) the mountains are getting higher, this will be our highest yet. We live in a small village called Arrochar in Scotland. We are surrounded by mountains if you can call less than 4000ft a mountain. We just completed a 16km hike with 40lb loads in the rucksack and are are upping the load next weekend trying to prepare. Where is the photo from? Cheers, Shaun.

Snap.  I just turned 53 a few weeks ago.  Aconcagua is by far the highest for me.  In fact, I've really only done Mt Kilimanjaro (and Mt Meru as a warm up/aclimatisation) before.  The photo is from the top of Mt Kilimanjaro in 2010.  Kilimanjaro was summited with my 2 sons, James & Sean, and nephew Justin, all in their 20s.  I got them into that.  James & Sean & I had been to Africa a few times and were looking for something different.  So it was more "let's go to Africa" than "let's climb a mountain".  Justin loved it so much, he went searching for another, similar, hike and uncovered this one.  I contacted my usual adventure travel agents, and they set it up through Exodus.  Sean, James & Justin are coming to Aconcagua too, then we'll see a bit more of South America - Santiago, Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls and Rio de Janeiro.  Now my daughter says we're having far to much fun without her, so Kate and I are off to Everest Base Camp in April, assuming I survive Acocagua in one piece!  My wife, Tricia, is not into adventure travel; she and Kate's husband, Richard, will meet us in Hong Kong on the way back from Nepal - much more her speed! Cheers.  Robert

And you're between Glasgow and Oban?  Nice Scotch from Oban.  James & Sean have been to Oban with us, but I doubt they'd remember.

Hi Robert, the coincidences keep on coming. We also were on Kili in 2010 in September and we did meet a bunch of Austrailians during the trek and as far as we know they all made the summit. Aconcagua will be our highest although we've done a few long distance walks here and there. We visited the alps a few times and we did the John Muir trail in North America quite a few years ago. I'm the only walker in my family and as the summits keep getting higher my brother and sisters think I'm one fish short of a shoal. Its 23 hours travelling time from Glasgow so we have arranged to be in Mendoza a day early to catch up on some sleep. regards Shaun & Gerena

We did Kilimanjaro May/June 2010.  All of our group made it to the summit, though not without help for some.  We've still got to hire some gear when we get there.  Arrive in Mendoza on Sunday 3 February.  Robert.

Hi Robert, we are also arriving on Sunday 3rd of Feb, on the 11:15 flight from Santiago. we will need to hire sleeping bags and a good down jacket but the rest of our gear should be OK. It's been snowing here in Scotland and its -3 C so we are trying to get out as much as we can.

Take care, Shaun

Yes Shaun, not long now.  We have quite a bit to hire in Mendoza.

The weather is a fair bit different here in Australia - up to 40? - 45? C; bushfires, etc.  Where we live, no bushfires, thankfully, but still mid-30s?C.

 I had tried to find out how the December Exodus group had gone - whether they made the summit, any weather issues, but no luck.

Cheers

Robert

Hi Shaun.  How's the weather there?  We're hearing news reports of blizzards in Northern Europe, Heathrow in trouble, etc.  What must it be like up your way?  Robert.

It's been cold but the worst of the snow is down south in England and Wales. Not long to go now.

Shaun

That's us all packed and heading to the airport. When you put all your gear together 20 kilo's is not a lot. See you in Mendoza.

Shaun

We're now in Santiago. Robert, James, Sean & Justin.