SPOT messages received yesterday and today show that Mark hasn't moved up to high camp yet. Having a quick look at the weather forecasts it looks like there are strong winds until tomorrow. By my reckoning he is sitting it out waiting for a weather window. Mark has allowed for this and latest day he can attempt the summit is Friday, which means he would need to move to high camp on Thursday at the latest.
Tuesday, 13 December 2011
Saturday, 10 December 2011
News from base camp
Mark safely reached base camp on Monday saying that the big walk in was no problem as it took him 4.5 hours instead of the normal 7. Got an email saying "Everything going to plan except 1 foot of snow last night ! Unbelievable. loads of people going up. Americans, norwergian, germans, russians. All every excited. Blood oxygen saturation excellent allowing excellent acclimitisation so far."
He did a load carry up to the next camp on Wednesday, climbing up to 5200 m yesterday in 4 hours. His plan is to get to middle camp on Friday for futher acclimatisation. Strong winds are expected on Sunday so Mark will sit tight until Monday when he will go to high camp ready for the PUSH TO THE SUMMIT ON TUESDAY.
So far it is all good news, plenty of water and food. Kit is working and Mark has befreinded some people going up on the same day, including a local guide. He says he is feeling strong and acclimatising well.
I got another SPOT message last night which puts him at Nido de Cóndores, 5,570 metres.
GOOD LUCK FOR TUESDAY MARK!!
He did a load carry up to the next camp on Wednesday, climbing up to 5200 m yesterday in 4 hours. His plan is to get to middle camp on Friday for futher acclimatisation. Strong winds are expected on Sunday so Mark will sit tight until Monday when he will go to high camp ready for the PUSH TO THE SUMMIT ON TUESDAY.
So far it is all good news, plenty of water and food. Kit is working and Mark has befreinded some people going up on the same day, including a local guide. He says he is feeling strong and acclimatising well.
I got another SPOT message last night which puts him at Nido de Cóndores, 5,570 metres.
GOOD LUCK FOR TUESDAY MARK!!
Tuesday, 6 December 2011
Tuesday 6 Dec - Plaza De Mulas
A couple of SPOT messages have been received over the past two days, the latest just in a couple of hours ago. Using the wonders of google earth it appears that Mark has reached Plaza De Mulas! Which means a rest day (translate: sleeping, eating and general mooching about in mess tent).
If you have Google Earth, key in the coordinates -32.64835,-70.05887 and check out the street view.
If you have Google Earth, key in the coordinates -32.64835,-70.05887 and check out the street view.
Sunday, 4 December 2011
Sunday 3 Dec - SPOT message received
SPOT message just in from Mark:
Message:Hope you are well.
Everything is OK. Progressing well.
Having the time of my life!
Click the link below to see where I am located. http://fms.ws/6awgm/32.7063S/69.96133W
Tracking Mark's progress on Google maps I reckon he must have reached Plaza Franci today. To get an idea what this looks like check out this video I found on youtube;
Message:Hope you are well.
Everything is OK. Progressing well.
Having the time of my life!
Click the link below to see where I am located. http://fms.ws/6awgm/32.7063S/69.96133W
Tracking Mark's progress on Google maps I reckon he must have reached Plaza Franci today. To get an idea what this looks like check out this video I found on youtube;
Saturday, 3 December 2011
Day 2: Mark reaches Confluencia
Three SPOT messages received in the last 24 hours. Looks like all is progressing to plan.
Yesterday Mark took the 6am bus from Mendoza. A bargain at $6 for a 4 hour trip! Today he was on the move up the valley, using the mule service provided by local mountain outfitter Rudy Parra. Tonight Mark is at Confluencia where the adventure starts for real!
Some of the camps provide full meals - at a cost! For other meals here is a look at what Mark is carrying.
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?msid=214625039395411052685.0004b33290f35ca5cd3d6&msa=0&ll=-32.791027,-69.938965&spn=0.120353,0.3368
Yesterday Mark took the 6am bus from Mendoza. A bargain at $6 for a 4 hour trip! Today he was on the move up the valley, using the mule service provided by local mountain outfitter Rudy Parra. Tonight Mark is at Confluencia where the adventure starts for real!
Some of the camps provide full meals - at a cost! For other meals here is a look at what Mark is carrying.
You can follow Mark's progress on Google Maps by using the link below or using the map on the right hand side of this blog.
Mark's itinerary for the summit bid
Marks is in Argentina attempting an independant, solo ascent of Aconcagua, America's highest mountain (6,962m). His planned route is the "normal route" taking the following camps (descriptions taken from Wikipedia - altitudes are approximate )
Day 1: Puente del Inca, 2,740m (8,990 ft): A small village on the main road, with facilities including a lodge.
Day 2: Confluencia, 3,380m (11,090 ft): A camp site a few hours into the national park.
Day 3: Plaza Francia
Day 4: Plaza de Mulas, 4,370m (14,340 ft): Base camp, claimed to be the second largest in the world (after Everest). There are several meal tents, showers and internet access. There is a lodge approx. 1 km from the main campsite across the glacier.
Day 5: Plaza de Mulas 4,370 m - rest day
Day 6: Camp Canadá, 5,050 metres (16,570 ft): A large ledge overlooking Plaza de Mulas. This will be an acclimatisation day.
Day 7: Day 5: Plaza de Mulas 4,370 m - going back down after sleeping high the previous night allows the body to acclimatise to the altitude.
Day 6: Camp Canadá, 5,050 metres
Day 8: Nido de Cóndores, 5,570 metres (18,270 ft): A large plateau with beautiful views. There is usually a park ranger camped here.
Day 9: Camp Berlín, 5,940 metres (19,490 ft): The classic high camp, offering reasonable wind protection.
Day 10 to Day 15: SUMMIT BID! The bid for the summit will depend on weather forecasts and how Mark is acclimatising. The summit attempt will take place on any one of these days.
Day 16: Plaza de Mulas 4,370 m
Day 17: Walk out of valley to Puente del Inca, and back to Mendoza
I will be tracking Mark's progress through a mixture of SPOT messages and emails. Internet access is available at Plaza de Mulas. Mark uses a SPOT satellite GPS messenger. Every day he pushes a button which sents me a message to my email to let me know everything is okay and his location. As this uses satellite technology it works in the remotest of locations.
Day 1: Puente del Inca, 2,740m (8,990 ft): A small village on the main road, with facilities including a lodge.
Day 2: Confluencia, 3,380m (11,090 ft): A camp site a few hours into the national park.
Day 3: Plaza Francia
Day 4: Plaza de Mulas, 4,370m (14,340 ft): Base camp, claimed to be the second largest in the world (after Everest). There are several meal tents, showers and internet access. There is a lodge approx. 1 km from the main campsite across the glacier.
Day 5: Plaza de Mulas 4,370 m - rest day
Day 6: Camp Canadá, 5,050 metres (16,570 ft): A large ledge overlooking Plaza de Mulas. This will be an acclimatisation day.
Day 7: Day 5: Plaza de Mulas 4,370 m - going back down after sleeping high the previous night allows the body to acclimatise to the altitude.
Day 6: Camp Canadá, 5,050 metres
Day 8: Nido de Cóndores, 5,570 metres (18,270 ft): A large plateau with beautiful views. There is usually a park ranger camped here.
Day 9: Camp Berlín, 5,940 metres (19,490 ft): The classic high camp, offering reasonable wind protection.
Day 10 to Day 15: SUMMIT BID! The bid for the summit will depend on weather forecasts and how Mark is acclimatising. The summit attempt will take place on any one of these days.
Day 16: Plaza de Mulas 4,370 m
Day 17: Walk out of valley to Puente del Inca, and back to Mendoza
I will be tracking Mark's progress through a mixture of SPOT messages and emails. Internet access is available at Plaza de Mulas. Mark uses a SPOT satellite GPS messenger. Every day he pushes a button which sents me a message to my email to let me know everything is okay and his location. As this uses satellite technology it works in the remotest of locations.
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