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Adventures International Aconcagua Expedition
December 14th, 2002
Upper Vacas Route
December 20th, 2002 Camp 1
The team is at Camp 1 now after a good trek into Base Camp. Everything is going well with so far good weather. Daymond and Michael are leading this first trip of the season. The team is looking to be at Camp 3 or possibly Camp 4 on Christmas Day. Go Guys and Gals!
Upper Vacas Route
December 23rd, 2002 Camp 2
Just heard from Daymond. Everything is going well. They made a carry up to camp 3 at 18,000 ft. today and expect to move there tomorrow. One member, Timo Tammisto, had to go out from Camp 1 with some sort of flu, not serious, just bad enough so he felt it best not to continue. Daymond remarked that the weather had been good and that everyone was moving well. Go Daymond and team! From here they will move to Camp 3 tomorrow, carry to camp 4 the next day (Christmas, with an expected summit day of Dec 26th if the weather and conditions allow. Stay tuned as the Adventures International Team gets closer to the top!
Upper Vacas Route
December 27th, 2002 Camp 4
The group is back from the summit. A super cold and windy day! With clouds coming in fast, Michael, Bryan and Daymond summited, with Karen and Sam making it to near the top of the Caneleta, 600 ft. below the top. A super good effort by all. Sounds like everyone is looking forward
to getting back to Mendoza for a well deserved break and some hot sun! Its just a lot more fun with small groups, everyone can reach their personal goals and limits. Daymond reported that they had only 3 days of reasonable weather (winds under 60 mph) on the carry to Camp 4, then the move to Camp 4 on the 26th, and then a short, marginal day on the 27th for the summit. The team had planned to make another go with Karen, Sam and Laura but high winds again kept them at high camp. After some rough weather the group decided to head down.
Mendoza
December 29th, 2002 Back in Mendoza
Daymond checked in and the team is back in Mendoza after a successful trip! From everyone's reports, it sounded like a great trip in reasonably good weather until up higher. High winds (which Aconcagua is famous for) hammered the upper mountain. Now everyone is ready for a well deserved break in sunny Mendoza. Mendoza really is a great place to come down to after being up high on Aconcagua for weeks. Daymond is jazzed to get back up on the hill! Our next group leaves January 4th. Stay tuned for more live reports from up on the hill!
Mendoza
January 4th, 2003
The crew is getting ready to leave Mendoza. Enjoying the hot sun and huge steaks of the local street front cafes. Fantastic food! Every one is ready for Daymonds second trip. A super good group for this next one. What a dramatic contrast between camp 4 in high winds to the sunny streets of Mendoza! Our group heads for Penitientes tonight for the 4 star Hotel Aylen, a really nice place near the start of the trek in.
Adventures International Aconcagua Expedition
January 4th, 2003
Upper Vacas Route- Daymonds Second Trip!
January 9th, 2003 Camp 1
Just heard from the guys on the hill today. They are at Camp 1 in some more hot weather and no wind! They just arrived, with plans to carry up towards camp 2 tomorrow. Everyone is doing great, good spirits and perfect weather. Camp 1 on the Upper Vacas Route is spectacular, on the side of the Gussfeldt Glacier with views all the way to the summit! The group plans a rest day planned here after the carry to Camp 2. Great bouldering surrounds camp, all above a deep gorge where that starts to form the Vacas River.
Upper Vacas Route
January 12th, 2003 Camp 2
Daymond and the team moved into Camp 2 today. The report is they are having some amazing weather, light winds, sunshine. Everyone is hoping for this to last for 5 more days as they should be close to the top by then. The group is doing great and moving strong. heard from the guys on the hill today. They are at Camp 1 in some more hot weather and no wind! They just arrived, with plans to carry up to Camp 3 tomorrow. Camp 2 is located on a small bench about 1/3 the way up the huge North Face of Aconcagua (fairly easy climbing). The views or Cerro Zubriggen across the valley are excellent. Only 5 days away now!
Upper Vacas Route
January 16th, 2003 Camp 2
Everyone's up to High Camp today, tomorrow the summit! A bit of mixed weather but overall good. The temps have been cold with some wind (as always on Aconcagua!). Wind and snow yesterday. Spirits are high as the summit gets close. Looking for good weather on our summit day.
Upper Vacas Route
January 17th, 2003 Camp 2
Extreme winds last night destroyed the groups tents forcing everyone to descend this morning. The group is fine, its just been a rough night up trying to hold together whats left of the tents. The classic "Viento Blanco" or White WInds (serious extreme whiteout with extreme winds) hit hard. Everyone is regrouping for another go at the top from down lower now.
Upper Vacas Route
January 18th, 2003 Camp 2
More extreme winds and snow with a huge lenticular cap on the mountain today keep everyone pinned down for another day. No one has been able to move up in this weather. Reports are that the winds slammed the whole mountain quite hard, even down to base camp where toilets and lots of tents have been blown apart.
Upper Vacas Route
January 19th, 2003 Camp 2
More serious high winds and whiteout up high has forced the team to descend back down to Plaza De Mules Base Camp. Still no one has been able to go in the current conditions so our team has made the decsion to call it good. Plans are made to head back out to Penitientes and onto Mendoza.
This is a sample of what Aconcagua is capable of. Many people believe its a realativly easy climb, which in good weather it is. When a serious pressure change happens, its as serious as anyplace in the world. We have seen winds there that are higher than anywhere else we lead trips. Strong enough to blow 1 inch rocks off the ground and through the air! The traverse on summit day is very exposed to high winds and there was no questions about not continuing when conditions get this way.
See our February Trip Reports led by Chris Kerrick on February 1st and then Scott Woolums on February 14th. February Trips