Friday, January 16, 2009

Greetings from Base Camp!!

This is Todd reporting in from Base Camp at Plaza Argentina.

We just carried loads up to Camp 1 at about 16,400 feet. Everyone did well, and we made fairly short work of it. The trail out of Base Camp ascends fairly steeply up the side of a dead glacier (meaning it no longer is gaining mass from snow). It was loose and tricky in spots, but overall, it was a good trial. We climbed up into a long, glacially sculpted valley, the bottom of which was still filled with the dead glacier.

At the head of this valley, we climbed up a couple of hills and then had to negotiate about 500 feet of Penitentes. Penitentes are bizarre, wind and sun eroded, fins of snow, some standing 18 feet high. It was pretty wild, but we just plugged away uphill, and arrived in Camp 1 in less than five hours.

Some of our team are battling respiratory illness, so we might take another day at BC to rest and recuperate. If we do, I will post again tomorrow.

Everyone is doing well, and we're having a blast!!

Cheers,
Todd

2 comments:

Walker said...

Greetings Ceglia,

I'm glad very one is doing well and am getting excited about seeing photos later. Still sending all good energies down and up your way. Take care and have fun.
Warmest,
Walker

Anonymous said...

Go Joe Go!

I love following these expeditions - it is just as exciting as following my beloved Chicago Cubs. Good luck to all!

Im so excited I even wrote a song (sung to the tune of my favorite song Go Cubs Go)

Climbing Season's underway

Well you better get ready to haul loads today

Hey, Aconcagua, what do you say?

Joe is gonna summit today

They're singin....

Go Joe Go

Go Joe Go!!!

Go Joe Go