February 11, 2012

Mike Hamill called today to check in from Aconcagua. His team is at Base Camp and doing well. They elected to take a rest day today and will carry to Camp 1 tomorrow.

Everyone is healthy and happy!

Greg Vernovage called to check in at 2:00 pm PST. His group is slated to move up to Camp III (High Camp) tomorrow. It has just started to snow on them .

If all goes according to plan, they’ll move up to high camp tomorrow, then summit on the following day. The team is doing well.

George Dunn

February 10, 2012

Rocks of Aconcagua. (Photo by Phil Ershler)

IMG Guides Mike Hamill and Greg Vernovage called in from two separate camps on Aconcagua this afternoon.

Mike & team had just pulled into Plaza Argentina (base camp) and Greg & Co. had just returned from a tough carry to High Camp. Both teams are doing just fine. A couple headaches for sure but nothing out of the ordinary.

Both teams will take a rest day tomorrow before moving up higher on the mountain. Mike’s team will carry to C1 on Sunday and Greg’s crew will move up to High Camp.

Tye Chapman

February 9, 2012

Camp 2. (Photo by Nick Haward)

Greg called in this morning from Camp 2. The team crushed it today making the move from C1 to C2 in good time and in good form.

Now that they’re situated at C2, Greg can start thinking about the next few days which includes their summit day. What’s the weather look like? What about the forecasted winds? Any precip in the forecast?

Things change in the mountains minute to minute but the weather models show a pretty good forecast over the next 3 days. Anything beyond that is pretty much hearsay.  Cold temps, light winds and light snow are forecasted, none of which is out of the ordinary for Aconcagua.

They’ll continue to take it one day at a time. Tomorrow they’ll carry to High Camp.

Tye Chapman

February 8, 2012

Our lower trekking camp.

Mike Hamill called in from Pampa de Llenas, our first trekking camp en route to Plaza Argentina on Aconcagua. Perfect weather and great scenery made for a wonderful day on the trail.  They finished off the day with some Asado (grilled steak) and a nice Argentinian Malbec. Not too shabby for Aconcagua.

Day 2 on the trail awaits!

Tye Chapman

February 8, 2012

Greg called in to report that all is well back at Camp 1. The team had a solid carry to Camp 2 today, dropping off some of items they don’t necessarily need now, but will need up higher on the mountain. Common items carried and cached are ice axes, crampons, extra food and fuel. “Climb high, sleep low” is the mantra in the mountains – especially on Aconcagua.

Camp 2 sits a stones throw under 18,000ft, likely a high point for most of the team, but they’re not done just yet. They’ll make the return trip to C2 tomorrow and move in for the night.

Tye Chapman

February 7, 2012

We got a quick note and photo from Hamill this morning.

The Crew

 Hey Gang,

Attached is the team photo. The van is loaded and we’re heading up to Penitentes.

Mike

February 6, 2012

Mountain View

IMG Guide Mike Hamill, leading the fifth Aconcagua team of the season, checked in to let us know that most of the team has arrived in Mendoza with the last few members coming in this afternoon.

The food and gear is all packed,  and they’ll be ready to head up to Penitentes tomorrow morning.

Becky Kjorvestad

February 5, 2012

Carry to C1 went off without a hitch.

They couldn’t watch the game, and I couldn’t tell who they were rooting for, but they were happy to get the score nonetheless.

Tomorrow they’ll move into C1…with a smile if they’re Giants fans.

Tye Chapman

February 5, 2012

Looking down on C1.

Greg checked in yesterday to report that the team is doing great. They enjoyed a nice rest day yesterday and plan on carrying to C1 today. He did ask me to keep my phone on and nearby so they could keep tabs on the big game today.

Tye Chapman