Just a temp post to let everybody now we are alive and well and back in Mendoza after spending the last week melting snow and breathing very thin air... we will post pics tomorrow once we have had a chance to eat some real food and drink some real wine.
Cheers
Neal and Hunter
Monday, May 12, 2008
Monday, May 5, 2008
May 4th & 5th: Trip Planning & Prepping in Mendoza -
We woke Sunday morning to discover that Mendoza pretty much shuts down on Sunday's so there was little hope that we could plan and prep for our trip to the mountains...we ended up having a cruisy day - eating well and enjoying a few wines back ot our hostel Campo Base. It costs about US$7 per night and includes a simple breakfast. Its situated in the middle of the town at the edge of Plaza Indepencia - it rocks - also they have great local wine at $2.50 per bottle :) !
On Monday we were primed to get things sorted and it all fell together pretty quickly...climbing around Aconcagua was not an option as the park was closed at it would take at least a month to get a permit. An outdoor shop suggested we climb in the Cordon del Plata region only 50km from Mendoza...it had no permit requirements and offered technical and non technical peaks up to 6000m/20,000ft...and it was free :). We also visted Inka Expeditions (Hunter may be working there someday soon) to sort out a some supported for a non-guided summit of Aconcagua via the Polish route we hope to do in Nov 08 or Feb 09. My big brother Alan will hopefully be joining us! :)
For US$42 each we were able to buy a return bus fare from Mendoza with pick up and return from our Hostel plus a night at Refugio de Montana (elev. 2500m/8000ft)which included an awesome breakfast and dinner.
We then rented some high mountain equipment...double plastic climbing boots, kick ass doule mittens and I also rented some crampons as my racing Kahtoolas wouldn´t fit :(. I ended up buying a liner for my racing sleeping bag when I heard of temps as low as -20F! rental was easy and cheap...about US$35 each for everything.
We then went shopping for food and fuel...we planned on spending 5-7 days camping up to 4200m/14,000ft and you have to eat big when you go high. We brought plenty of pasta, soups, drink mix, and dehydrated food...we also brought a couple of casks of red wine for $1 each :)
That night we did a gear check before heading out for another big meal...the Argentinian all you can eat meat thing (for US$8) is a glory to behold :)
We did our gear check in out room and then it was more red wine and we set our alarm for a 8:30am pick up...things were looking up and as much as we enjoyed Mendoza we were keen to see the Andes up close and personal.
Cheers,
Neal & Hunter
On Monday we were primed to get things sorted and it all fell together pretty quickly...climbing around Aconcagua was not an option as the park was closed at it would take at least a month to get a permit. An outdoor shop suggested we climb in the Cordon del Plata region only 50km from Mendoza...it had no permit requirements and offered technical and non technical peaks up to 6000m/20,000ft...and it was free :). We also visted Inka Expeditions (Hunter may be working there someday soon) to sort out a some supported for a non-guided summit of Aconcagua via the Polish route we hope to do in Nov 08 or Feb 09. My big brother Alan will hopefully be joining us! :)
For US$42 each we were able to buy a return bus fare from Mendoza with pick up and return from our Hostel plus a night at Refugio de Montana (elev. 2500m/8000ft)which included an awesome breakfast and dinner.
We then rented some high mountain equipment...double plastic climbing boots, kick ass doule mittens and I also rented some crampons as my racing Kahtoolas wouldn´t fit :(. I ended up buying a liner for my racing sleeping bag when I heard of temps as low as -20F! rental was easy and cheap...about US$35 each for everything.
We then went shopping for food and fuel...we planned on spending 5-7 days camping up to 4200m/14,000ft and you have to eat big when you go high. We brought plenty of pasta, soups, drink mix, and dehydrated food...we also brought a couple of casks of red wine for $1 each :)
That night we did a gear check before heading out for another big meal...the Argentinian all you can eat meat thing (for US$8) is a glory to behold :)
We did our gear check in out room and then it was more red wine and we set our alarm for a 8:30am pick up...things were looking up and as much as we enjoyed Mendoza we were keen to see the Andes up close and personal.
Cheers,
Neal & Hunter
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Mendoza Rocks
We both arrived on time (with all our luggage) in Santiago :) Hunter was there waiting and had already scoped out buses etc to take us over the Andes from Santiago(Chile) to Mendoza(Argentina)...about a 7 hour bus ride including customs. The mini bus ride is a MUST do...beautiful scenery with an eclectic group of folks.
Haggling with the little people of Santiago´s bus terminal
Haggling with the little people of Santiago´s bus terminal
Stopped just across the border between Chile and Argentina
We arrived about 4pm found a great hostel for about US$7 a night. Mendoza is a beautiful town (approx 120,000 peeps) with tree lined streets and beautiful plaza every few blocks...it reminds us a little of Savannah(Ga) in the spring or fall. We enjoyed some great wine, beer and food last night...Hunter is now a fan of Los Andes Dark beer in the BIG botle and ANY vino tinto does it for me :)
Today we are trying to purchase maps, buy food and get some expert local advice for our mountaineering trip...we hope to get up close and personal to Aconcagua but getting to the top is not feasible this time of year - its been done but only by kick ass climbers as part of a VERY well prepared winter expedition.
All the best and Cheers,
Neal
Today we are trying to purchase maps, buy food and get some expert local advice for our mountaineering trip...we hope to get up close and personal to Aconcagua but getting to the top is not feasible this time of year - its been done but only by kick ass climbers as part of a VERY well prepared winter expedition.
All the best and Cheers,
Neal
Friday, May 2, 2008
Got Gear?
Hi All,
Check out me dogs Trooper and Paco - they are not too fazed...
Its 4:00pm I am just starting to pack :). I had a nice breakfast with Aimee and the great folks at ATS (Ken Burkey, Tony Myers etc) - those crazy kids are riding to Alabama today. The I was off to the new REI in Kennesaw (opening day) to buy a new pack (Osprey Aether 70) and some last minute bits and pieces - I had a good chat to Daniel Jesse(sp) while I waited 35 min to check out - the place was packed! My other new piece of gear is a Nikon D60 DSLR with 18-200mm VR lens... hopefully it will come back in one piece too...
About now Hunter is in Miami waiting for his flight to Bogata (Columbia) then on to Santiago to arrive at 4:30am. I'll arrive at 7:30am and we'll hopefully find eachother and then a bus to take us over the Andes to Mendoza (Argentina) before nightfall. Once we make it to Mendoza we'll take a deep breathe, drink a beer and sort out what to do next :)
Now will all that gear fit into the pack?...hmmm?
All the best & cheers,
Neal
It always starts out the same way: a casusal, non-chalant attitude as the trip slowly approaches, with distractions and last minute neccessities eating up time and accellerating stress as the departure looms closer. I had to stack the odds in my favor this week with finals, moving, work, planning for my summer camp program and prepping for this trip. I leave in a few hours and still have tons to do, but take solace in the notion of getting on the plane and cutting it all away. Good, cheap wine, lamb and 6,000m peaks will soon be the only things on my mind. Now, as long as the gorillas at the airport don't mess with my equipment....
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