CLIMB WITH PRIDE-ACONCAGUA 2007

Updates from the team in Argentina

Argentina, here I come!
15 January, 2007

The Climb with PRIDE team finally arrived at 8.50am in the Ezeiza International airport in Buenos Aires after more than 25 hours flying. But the last leg of their journey was not over yet. At 12.40pm, they left Buenos Aires for Mendoza.

During the flight to Mendoza, the team met the friendly and helpful staff from Las Lenas, an Argentinean resort which is providing logistics and PR support for the Climb with PRIDE expedition. On the same flight were also representatives from the PR agency, including Paola Estomba - she and Sophia from Las Lenas, will be helping PRIDE organize a press conference in Mendoza for Rene'e and the team.

About two hours later, they reached their destination. At long last! They can finally check into the hotel in Mendoza. Don't forget that it is now summer in Argentina, and the temperature today was a hot 35 degrees Celsius in Mendoza. It was also dry and windy, said self-styled weatherman, team member Khairul "Kabie" Ariffin. "It's a desert-like weather," he reported.

Mendoza, a city with a population of just about 111,000 inhabitants, is located on the fringes of the Andes. It is not just a popular stopover for those wishing to scale Mt Aconcagua, but the place for outdoor activities such as hiking, horseback riding, rafting and of course, skiing. Mendoza is also an important wine region in Argentina, as well as a producer of olive oil.

Before the team members get their well deserved rest, they were off to the equipment rental shop - Casa Orviz - together with the guides from the appointed mountaineering expedition company, Aventuras Patagonicas. According to a jet-lagged Stephanie, everything was very organized - and fortunately, in no time whatsoever, their vital equipment was sorted out that evening so that they didn't have to worry about it the next morning. "As ready to go as can be!" said a tired but excited Shereen over the telephone.

So, with everything going as planned, and the climbers with all the equipment they need and most importantly, in sizes that fit them, they tucked into their first proper meal in Argentina at a dinner organized by Aventuras Patagonicas. Yum! The taste of Argentinean cuisine.

Today, the climbers were introduced to their experienced lead guide for the expedition from Aventuras Patagonicas, Chilean Andres Zegers, as well as their two other guides, a fellow Chilean and an American lady.

And this is how Andres' profile reads:
He is a NOLS instructor and has been guiding for Aventuras Patagonicas since 1994. He is the most successful Chilean rock climber and he has been on tremendously difficult routes in Patagonia and the Central Andes. He has also climbed extensively in Yosemite, where he has done more than twenty El Cap routes. He has guided Aconcagua for over 12 years with dozens of successful summits on it. Andres is today one of the best guides in South America and at the same time, one of the most talented all-round climbers. He speaks English and Spanish.

Truly impressive... Now, it looks like the Climb with PRIDE team is in good hands, no doubt about that! It's all up to the team members themselves to make it happen.

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