Aconcagua departure

Packed and ready
Leaving tonight, arriving in Mendoza by 1900 hrs. Monday Dec. 21
sP

1 week to Aconcagua

Just a week away, nearly all set for Argentina. I'll leave on Sunday Dec. 20. Should start the approach on Dec. 22. Here's a look at the proposed acclimatization schedule. Will hopefully put us on top by Jan. 4 sP

Denali and the Death Race

Aconcagua is now nearly a month away. I'm pretty excited, nervous, etc.
Since I'll have plenty of time to think up there, what better time to plan for next year's fun.
So far I have now committed to Mt. McKinley (Denali) May 17 and an interesting adventure race (a crazy one) called the death race. You can learn more about it at www.youmaydie.com
Denali is set, just an application, deposit, medical, and good to go.
For the Death race however I had to create a short video outlining my training. It doesn't really capture everything, in fact not even close, but here it is.
Andy, I hope it works for ya.
sP

Good days - Bad days in Ecuador

Well, the Ecuador trip is now concluding. Day 2 of the acclimatization plan went well. We climbed Illinizas N. on Saturday. It was great, a relatively short trip to 5100m. All of which I felt great.
Started the Cotopaxi climb on Sunday. Went to the refuge at 4800m in the afternoon to rest until midnight. Still feeling good we set of a 1:00 am. The wind from the time we arrived at the refuge was relentless. sudden gusts capable of knocking one over. This also starting making things pretty cold. The entire time in Ecuador right up until about 5300m on Cotopaxi I was feeling great. Acclimatizing in just 3 days to go above 5000m was the goal. But unfortunately Cotopaxi was also a goal. At around 5700m it was time to turnaround. Between the wind and a newly experienced sense of tiredness, Cotopaxi will have to wait.
Of course this is disappointing. Could I have pushed the last 200 vertical meters?, how dangerous would the last traverses really be with the wind?. I´ll never know for sure. But I will be back to avenge.

sP

Ecuador acclimatization day 1 complete (Rucu Pinchincha round 2)

Just finished hiking Rucu Pinchinca. Went to 4700m. Felt good all day, but a bit tired. Tomorrow I´ll try 5100m on Illanizas North.
Back in Quito now, going to rest for tomorrow.
sP

Ecuador trip

Since I'll be leaving Houston Sept. 3 and trying to summit Cotopaxi Sept. 6, there's not a lot of time for acclimatization. However with the availability of good day hiking and lesser challenging volcanoes around Quito, I can maximize the days between to acclimatize. First on Sept. 4 Rucu Pinchincha (a relatively easy day hike/scrample) then on Sept. 5 Ilinizas North (a good climb to > 5000m). Then, depeding on how I feel at that point, a Cotopaxi summit attempt can be made around midnight Sept. 6.
sP

Mt. Indefatigable round 2

Had a great weekend hiking in the Kananaskis. Still had the North summit of Indefatigable on the to-do list from last time. Started with a South summit then traversed to the North. Great day, great weather. Missing Calgary and the Kananaskis all over agin.
Thanks to Steffen for the photos.
sP