February 6, 2019

Hitting the Trail (Luke Reilly)

Our two teams on Aconcagua checked in this afternoon.  Rikki and his group were able to establish Camp 2 around 18,000 feet and the weather continues to cooperate.  The upper mountain on Aconcagua can be a pretty windy and cold place, but the mountain is being nice these days.  Historically, the first nights dinner at Camp 2 is pizza.  I guess the question I’ll have to ask Rikki tomorrow is whether he went with pepperoni or veggie for the group.

Down lower on the mountain, Robert and Co. were able to hit the trailhead this morning and walk the dusty trail to the Pampa de Leñas camp.  Sunny and warm is a good way to describe conditions down lower on the approach.  Everybody is most likely in shorts and a t-shirt for the first couple days into basecamp.  Aconcagua truly is a mountain of extremes.  Hot to cold in a few short days.  They’ve got a couple more days before they hit basecamp but it’s an enjoyable walk with some really good bbq dinners.

Luke Reilly

February 5, 2019

Rikki chimed in this afternoon to let me know it’s the best weather he has ever seen on Aconcagua.  Let’s hope that holds so they can get into position for a summit attempt and get a good shot at the top.  The team is settled in at Camp 1 this evening after a successful carry to the Guanacos Camp (C2).  They will move up to Guanacos tomorrow morning.  There’s still a lot of work left but the team is strong and moving well together.  All things are thumbs up so far for the Rikki/Martin expedition.

Robert and Leo got out the door this morning to head to Penitentes.  During the first couple days of an Aconcagua trip, you find yourself packing and prepping a lot!  Once you hit the trail, it’s time for a deep breath and the real fun begins.  Robert and the team have been busy busy busy and I received an email from Rob this afternoon saying “…gear pack is wrapped up and everyone is in good spirits. Group is working well together.”  I like it.  They will enjoy their last front-country meal tonight at the Ayelene Hotel, grab a shower in the morning and hit the trail.

Luke Reilly

February 4, 2019

Wining and Dining in Mendoza (Leandro Villegas)

The Aconcagua train is rolling on the tracks now.  The Rikki/Martin team has established and settled into Camp 1 (16,200′).  Rikki said that “…all is well.  Team is doing great! Stellar weather!”  I always like to receive text messages like that.  They will most likely make a carry up to Camp 2 tomorrow which is right around 18,000′ and everyone will get great views of the mountains north of Aconcagua.

Robert and Leo are busy getting gear checks knocked out and have acquired their Aconcagua permits today.  They are sitting down for a nice meal at local restaurant Facundo as I write this.  One of the cool things about a trip to Aconcagua is the food both on and off the mountain.  Mendoza is known for their rich cuisine and the surrounding vineyards produce some of the best wine in the world.  Next up for this crew is to jump in the van tomorrow morning and make their way to Penitentes.

Luke Reilly

February 3, 2019

Rikki checked in via his Garmin inReach unit this afternoon and said “…All is well.  Carry to Camp 1 was a success.  Expecting some good weather for the move up tomorrow!”

That pretty much sums it up.  Always nice to come out of the gate solid and prepared for an expedition.  Seems like this crew did their homework and set themselves up for success.  Let’s keep the positive and strong energy going.

Right on their tails is Rob Jantzen and Leo Villegas.  Rob arrived in Mendoza yesterday and was able to knock out all the food shopping and is greeting the climbers as they fly in this afternoon and evening.  They will get to know each other at a group dinner tonight and will hit the ground running tomorrow with acquiring permits.

Luke Reilly

February 1, 2019

Rikki checked in this afternoon from the Plaza Argentina basecamp on Aconcagua.  The team had a nice walk today even though the weather threatened some afternoon showers.  The day stayed cleared and they were able to get settled into camp nice and dry.  Superb job by this team tackling the first chunk of the expedition.  Tomorrow is a rest day at camp and they’ll take the time to rehydrate and enjoy some hearty meals.

Luke Reilly