Friday, June 5, 2009
I am slacking!!!!
TO ANYONE WHO MAY HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THIS, I AM SORRY, I TOTALLY FORGOT I HAD THIS BLOG RUNNING. ONE OF THESE DAYS I WILL GET TO IT, IF YOU WANT EMAIL ME AND I WILL INFORM YOU.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Encouragement from a Friend!
Thinking about climbing, and all that comes with it, I realize tonight as i sit awake thinking about how the choices will affect those around me and how at times i do not feel the true presence of Christ in my life. This has been a week of struggle with preperation both physically and mentally. I felt distant from my quite times and dedication to the word. I felt as if i had more worries and decision making going on than in prior situations. I felt like i was in this one alone and that i was loosing part of my relationship both with Christ and people around me to prepare for this climb. I was reminded tonight by a story and a memory of camp, that even though God may not be touching us at that moment or present in that point in time, does not mean he is not still there, covering us and protecting us from the things around us. The t-shirt is there whether we notice it or not, sometimes it takes that breeze to press it against our skin and remind us of its presence and duties in our life. "In our walk, sometimes we do not always feel God's presence, but He is ALWAYS there. He's there for us... even when we do not turn to him. He's there- just like my shirt was there... although I would only feel it touch my arm when I'd move really fast." (Good friend).
This is a reminder for all people that whether it is God, a friend, or someone you love, just because we do not always feel their support and presence does not mean that they have left us, it means they are allowing us to be our own people and work through things with our own minds.
Looking at this climb it represents those who await my arrival home, the men i climb along side, and the Lord who walks with me.
This is a reminder for all people that whether it is God, a friend, or someone you love, just because we do not always feel their support and presence does not mean that they have left us, it means they are allowing us to be our own people and work through things with our own minds.
Looking at this climb it represents those who await my arrival home, the men i climb along side, and the Lord who walks with me.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Thank Yous in advance!!!!
This is a special thank you to the people in my life who have made this possible. A very special thanks goes out to Vaccaro Trucking, without your support i would not be able to pursue this dream. To my family, who without your support and understanding i would not be able to emotionally attempt this mountain. To a girlfriend who has supported, respected, and appreciated my desire to make this happen and dealt with my craziness. to the friends, pastors, navigators, and other fort collins and surrounding area people who are praying and remembering us during our climb, the strength you show is the Lord and your faith in us is amazing, without that community behind us there is no way we would feel as comfortable as we do! Thank you again for all you have done to make this happen in one way, shape or form, you are not forgotten and will always be remembered in my heart. God Bless.
Introduction
So this blog is for those who have been following, asking, or have over heard about my attempt to summit Aconcagua in Argentina over the winter of 2008-2009. The trip will be 3 weeks long. We will have 12-15 days to summit the mountain depending on weather at the top. Our team of four will leave Denver, CO on December 26th and fly to Mendoza, Argentina. From there we will spend two days preparing gear, buying permits, and packing last minute gear. On December 28th we will move to El Penitentes, this is a small town near the trail head to base camp. We will be spending one night at this location and on December 29th we will hit the trail head for out attempt at Aconcagua. It is a 3 day hike from the trail head up the Vacas Valley to the actuall base camp on the Vacas Valley Route, or also know as the False Polish Glacier Route. Our gear will be brought up to base camp on Mules.
We will be carrying roughly 10-20 pounds those first 3 days. Once we arrive at base camp all weight will be carried by us. We will be using a Cache and Carry system. This system consists of hiking between each camp twice. How it works is that we will carry a cache of extra food, fuel, gear and clothing up to the next highest camp, move back down to the camp we left from, spend the night there and then move the remaining equipment up to the next camp. This process is ideal for quick aclimization, due to the ability to adjust to the altitude at a higher elevation and then move lower to sleep and rest. It also allows for the weight to be distributed through out the climb instead of carrying all the gear at once, like many commercial companies do. We will be carry roughly 35 -40 pounds per Cache and Carry depending on the weather, person and abilitiy to move gear up the mountain.
The route that we will be attempting is a less traveled route, but by no means a isolated route. Commercial companies still offer guided trips up this route and other independent climbers follow this as well. There is also the population of Ice climbers and more advance mountaineerers who attemp the Polish Glacier on the way to the summit. This routes draw is that it is for one much less populated by commercial teams, day hikers, and people in general. It also is a more scenic route up the mountain. 3 days are spent in the green Vacas Valley and the views are exceptional (from what I have heard).
The technicality of this climb is on the easy to moderate level, however the elevation and long term residence on this mountain gives it the respect that many other big mountains receive. This is by no means a day hike at the local trail head, but it is also not Everast as some have asked. This is a stepping stone to the more techincal and advanced climbs around the world.
This mountain is however one of the seven Summits of the world. Sitting at 22, 841 feet (roughly). It is the tallest mountain in the whole western hemisphere and outside the Hymala Range the tallest mountain in the world. The conditions of the mountain range from 70-80 degree weather at the base and approach to -20 degrees at the summit at times. The presence of snow is almost not an issue due to the summer climate we are climbing. The only potential ice/snow that we may come into contact with is traversing at the base of the Polish Glacier to our final camp and then possibly some accumulation near the summit.
There will be a more in depth desription of the climb, logistics, training, packing, food and over all trip to follow the climb. If you are looking for more information keep an eye out here for public links to see our progress up the mountain and to find out what happens.
“The Will of God will never lead you Where the Grace of God cannot keep you.” St. Therese
We will be carrying roughly 10-20 pounds those first 3 days. Once we arrive at base camp all weight will be carried by us. We will be using a Cache and Carry system. This system consists of hiking between each camp twice. How it works is that we will carry a cache of extra food, fuel, gear and clothing up to the next highest camp, move back down to the camp we left from, spend the night there and then move the remaining equipment up to the next camp. This process is ideal for quick aclimization, due to the ability to adjust to the altitude at a higher elevation and then move lower to sleep and rest. It also allows for the weight to be distributed through out the climb instead of carrying all the gear at once, like many commercial companies do. We will be carry roughly 35 -40 pounds per Cache and Carry depending on the weather, person and abilitiy to move gear up the mountain.
The route that we will be attempting is a less traveled route, but by no means a isolated route. Commercial companies still offer guided trips up this route and other independent climbers follow this as well. There is also the population of Ice climbers and more advance mountaineerers who attemp the Polish Glacier on the way to the summit. This routes draw is that it is for one much less populated by commercial teams, day hikers, and people in general. It also is a more scenic route up the mountain. 3 days are spent in the green Vacas Valley and the views are exceptional (from what I have heard).
The technicality of this climb is on the easy to moderate level, however the elevation and long term residence on this mountain gives it the respect that many other big mountains receive. This is by no means a day hike at the local trail head, but it is also not Everast as some have asked. This is a stepping stone to the more techincal and advanced climbs around the world.
This mountain is however one of the seven Summits of the world. Sitting at 22, 841 feet (roughly). It is the tallest mountain in the whole western hemisphere and outside the Hymala Range the tallest mountain in the world. The conditions of the mountain range from 70-80 degree weather at the base and approach to -20 degrees at the summit at times. The presence of snow is almost not an issue due to the summer climate we are climbing. The only potential ice/snow that we may come into contact with is traversing at the base of the Polish Glacier to our final camp and then possibly some accumulation near the summit.
There will be a more in depth desription of the climb, logistics, training, packing, food and over all trip to follow the climb. If you are looking for more information keep an eye out here for public links to see our progress up the mountain and to find out what happens.
“The Will of God will never lead you Where the Grace of God cannot keep you.” St. Therese
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