CLIMB WITH PRIDE-ACONCAGUA 2007

Updates from the team in Argentina

Tomorrow, the Summit Team moves to high camp at Piedra Blancas!
29 January, 2007

After Stephanie and Zabil left for Camp 1 on 25 January, the rest of us spent our last afternoon at Basecamp preparing for the trek back to Penitentes. Together with Carlos our Guide, Shereen, Harun and myself started off after breakfast with our sleeping bags, a three-man tent and other essentials in our backpacks. It was a bright sunny morning with a strong breeze blowing that at one point knocked Shereen right off the trail??!

The walk to Pampas de Lenas was long and tiring. Once we had passed the river crossing at Casa de Piedras, Carlos decided to shoot ahead as he was carrying a very heavy load, partly to make my backpack much lighter. The plan was that he would try and send the load to camp and then return to help us the rest of the way. Despite the heat, we were in high spirits and making good time when Shereen tripped over some rocks and sprained her ankle. It soon became clear that she could not take the weight of her backpack any longer and so we left it by the side of the trail. Harun went ahead to try and get help while Shereen and I made our way slowly towards camp.

Just before it started to get dark, Shereen and I turned a corner at the top of a hill to find two Gauchos waiting with two horses. They had been sent to look for us and soon Carlos came along on another horse too! One of the Gauchos was sent to look for the backpack. Carlos and the other Gaucho helped Shereen and me mount the remaining two horses and then began to walk us to camp. By the time we arrived at Pampas de Lenas it was 9:30pm.

Harun had already put up the tent and soon we were eating instant noodles from home! Trust me, curry mee never tasted so good!

The following day we rented the horses once more to bring Shereen and all our backpacks out while Harun and I made the 14km trek to the trailhead on foot. Once back at the hotel in Penitentes, it was good to see Kabie again as he had left from Basecamp a couple of days before we did.

It is two days now that we have been trying to speak to Stephanie and Zabil on the satellite phone but we have not been able to contact the Summit Team at all. However, we have received news from Rodrigo (the Director of Aventuras Patagonicas) and from Grajales through their radio communications with Andreas, the lead guide. So far, all is well although it has been very cold with lots of snow these last few days. Stephanie and Zabil are always in our thoughts and we pray for their success and safe return.

On Monday, 29 January 2007, the Summit Team will move to High Camp where they will spend the night before making their summit attempt in the early hours of the next morning!

Meanwhile, the Support Team is preparing to move again. On Tuesday, 30 January, we will trek in to Confluencia on the Normal Route in the hope of meeting Stephanie and Zabil as well as Brad and the Guides, when they trek out from the mountain in a couple of days time. Needless to say, we are all very excited at this prospect.

The days in Penitentes consist of sunny mornings followed by windy, cold afternoons with heavy overcast skies. We can only imagine how things must be on the mountain, especially at the higher camps. We have met many other climbers here, most of whom did not make the summit, either due to the extreme weather conditions or fatigue. But we have high hopes for our tiny Malaysian Summit Team, although it matters more that they return safe, whether or not they reach the summit of Aconcagua.

By the time we send our next email, we should know the outcome of the expedition. We hope that everyone back home is keeping Stephanie and Zabil in their thoughts also.

Warmest regards,

Rene'e - Team Leader

Additional update

Pictures of the day

Mount Aconcagua, here I come!

Main Sponsor   Official Broadcaster     Sponsors

Return to Climb with PRIDE-Aconcagua 2007 updates from the team in Argentina page