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Team 2010' Summit Photo
Feb.
16:
– Scott phoned to let us know that after almost 20 miles of hiking they
have hit their last camp. They are ready for dinner and sleep….
“it has been a long day.” Tomorrow the pack animals will take
their camp and personal gear and the guys will have about a 3 hour hike to
the bottom of the mountain. Scott is most excited about a SHOWER!
A bed would be nice too!
SUMMIT SUCCESS!!!....
Seven Peak Freak climbers topped out on Aconcagua's summit of 6962
meters today- Feburary 14, 2010 at 2:25pm.
Everyone is down resting at base camp now and will be heading down the
valley tomorrow. Confirmation of summit names, stories and photos will
follow once the team reaches Mendoza- Big congratulations go out to the
team! Good work...
Feb.
14: What are you doing for
Valentine's Day? We are tapping
fingers waiting for news! You know they are working hard
when there is silence. The team should currently be working their way down
post summit push at this time 13:23PST. We haven't heard how the wind is
doing so fingers are crossed they had a window of opportunity. Stay tuned!
Photo: Guy Leveille on the summit
with Tim in 2008... A nice weather day!
Feb.
12: CAMP 2- Paul checks in this morning from Camp 2. They are
currently resting and will move up to Camp 3 tomorrow. Still planning to
summit on Sunday but the high winds are still kicking at them. Everyone is
doing fine.
Feb.
10: BACK AT CAMP 1 AS PLANNED: Received a call from Paul
this morning -they are back at camp one spending a day acclimating-some
were having mild headaches so thought it best to go back down and then
head back to camp 2 tomorrow. Everyone is fine-just taking it slow
which is prudent.
The plan is still to summit on February 14th. Till the next
update...Lisa Pargeter
I want to give a big shout out to the wives
of climbers back home in the USA. They are the ones providing the updates
this year to this site. Between them and their husbands they are certainly
making it easier for followers to stay in tune with what's happening. Last
year we were able to snoop in and watch them via SPOT, this year we are
getting daily updates from the climbers themselves. Thank you ladies...
you are doing an excellent job!
Feb.
8: EVENING UPDATE!- Camp 1:
Feb 8th, 2010 Greg called at
1:00 pm our time. Camp 1 16,280 feet
He said they all made it to camp 1 with the rest of their gear.
The weather was much better today for their climb, he talked about the
blue sky and less wind. Also said that all of climbers had to fix
their own dinner tonight. If the weather is good tomorrow they will
take part of the gear to camp 2 and come back to sleep at camp 1.
Everyone is doing fine.
Dana Pickel
Feb
8th, 2010 - Just got off the phone with Scott. They are
at Camp 1 today at 16,200 and will take some equipment to camp 2 at 18930
feet tomorrow. The weather is nice but the wind has created dust for
our climbers that seem to be getting into everything. Energy is
still good and they are eating and sleeping well. Sounds like they
will stay one night at least at Camp 2 before moving up the mountain.
Cheers-
Becky D.
Feb.
8: HIGH
WINDS and BLOOD PRESSURE... Angel- who is forever checking everyone's
vitals has stopped team members from eating Danish candy provided by our
Danish team members. Too much salt!.. He has cut them off!...Too bad they
can't do that with the wind. Wind this season has been
hammering the mountain and has set them back by one day. At 07:30hrs
Angel reports they were pulling out of base camp headed to Camp 1, off
schedule but still workable as we added weather days in the
itinerary. Angel has updated the agenda to reflect the most likely
approach to summit success.
-
Feb. 8: Camp 1
-
Feb. 9: Carry to Lama
(Camp 3 on Guanacos Valley)
-
Feb.10: Rest at Camp 1
-
Feb.11: Move to Camp Lama
-
Feb.12: Rest at Camp Lama
-
Feb.13: Move to White
Rocks
-
Feb.14: Summit bid
-
Feb.15: Return to BC
-
Feb.16: Pampa de Lenas
(or Casa De Piedra)
-
Feb.17: Return to Mendoza
Becky Driscoll checks
in: Scott phoned on Sunday the 7th to let us know
they were still in base camp. They had weather delay of high winds
and snow so they stayed down at base camp for another day. He did
say the forecast is good for the next 7 days and they hope to be moving
back up to Camp 1 soon. He also mentioned they might not phone until
Tuesday. Same happy news that energy is good, people are happy
and excited about the eventual summit.
Feb.
5:
Scott
phoned Tori (our 7year old) this morning. She found out that they
are taking the day off to rest since yesterday they took some of their
gear to 16,200 feet
to Camp 1. He told Tori that there was no snow where they are at.
Not yet at least.
On
another reassuring note - Scott, a man of not too many words and not
easily impressed, also gave praise to the guides. He said that they
were really good. That they “really knew what they were doing”.
Scott
also mentioned that the forecast looks good for climbing and they are
checking conditions regularly. From here on out they will continue
to push up to different camps with their gear, food and fuel. Looks
like the 12th is still on for
Summit
day – weather permitting.
Everyone
has good energy and everyone appears healthy.
Cheers
- Becky Driscoll
Lisa
Pargeter: Received message from Paul. Group took supplies up
to camp one today and then went back down to base camp where they will
spend the night. Everyone is healthy and they made great time!
PHOTO:
Climbing up to Camp 1
Feb.
3: I just a got a call (Lisa Pargeter) from Paul on the
satellite phone- they made it to base camp at 14,000 feet- 4200m.
Acclimatizing tomorrow and then
moving on up- weather permitting. The mules have left their bags with them
so now they get to carry the essential climbing items themselves. Weather
is beautiful but still quite windy. Everyone is doing fine! Stay
tuned!
Feb.
2: Climber Scott Driscoll's wife, another Becky, is
keeping us updated as well a few others. Here is what Becky D. writes:
"Just
got an update that they guys are at Casa De San Piedras at 10400 feet.
They will eat, go to sleep, and set out on a 5-6 hours trek to Base
Camp 1 in the morning where they will spend a few days trekking up and
down to acclimate. Funny to think the name of the current stop
translates to the “Home of the Stones”. Attached is a picture of
the mountain sent from
Aconcagua
summiteer, Dan Rothrock, last year. It looks like they will be
trekking over stones until they hit snow. "
Tomorrow
they climb to just over 14000 to the first base camp. Everyone is
healthy and enjoying the sunshine although the wind is a little strong.
It is summer down there but the elevation brings different kind of weather
patterns. Sounds like they are having fun!
Jan.
31: Team departs to the expedition staging area of Penitentes,
the staging area for all Aconcagua expeditions. Everyone except for Scott
and Analia Lettos, Angel's Assistant Mountain guide. Scott's bag was miss
placed but is now with him. He and Alnalia took at taxi to Penitentes
tonight to catch up to the group. Whew... it was a squeaker but he made
it.
PHOTO: (1)
Last dinner before heading out to climb. (2) Load
up! (3) Top right: Alnali Lettos
(Assistant Mountain Guide), Angel Armesto (Full Mountain Guide).
Shortly
after our first expedition (Jan. 30) was listed it sold out within a
couple of days. As a result we put up another expedition for Jan. 3, 2010
which was successful in reaching the top on Jan. 15. The climb was led by
our exclusive Argentinean guide Angel Armesto from Mendoza. 
Tim and
Angel first met on Ama Dablam several years back where they both were
guiding at that time. They stayed in touch and became good friends. After
a few trial runs they quickly learned that their expertise and style of
guiding moulded well together. They thrive on being with people and
playing in the mountains. They both built their own homes and Juliana his
partner, like Becky holds the ship together so these boys can do what they
do best. We are honoured to have one of Argentina's number one guides on
our Peak Freak guide roster. Angel has led over 60 successful summit
ascent on Aconcagua. Angel lives in Mendoza, the staging area for all
Aconcagua expeditions. Argentina breeds some hard working and passionate
mountain guides with climbing ethics that merge well with our Peak Freak philosophies.
With Angel on
our team we rest assured that all Peak Freak participants will be fed
well, kept safe and have the time of their lives. Angel has a special
interest in Mountain Medicine and is gifted in the cook tent with all the
fresh ingredients available to him in the vibrant wine capital of
Argentina.
Angel will be joining us guiding on our
Everest 2010 expedition this spring. The fun has just begun! |
