7 Summits Climb For Alzheimer's: Camp 2 On Aconcagua

It has been about a week and a half since we last checked in on Alan Arnette. At that time he was in Argentina, where he was preparing for the trek to Aconcagua, the highest peak in South America, and next on his Seven Summits hit list. Since that time, he has not only arrived on the mountain, but has been working hard to help shuttle gear to the high camps in preparation for the summit push. Yesterday, he and the rest of the team were in Camp 2, located at 18,000 feet (5486 meters), with plans to move up to High Camp today. With their gear in place at that location, they'll be all set for their final push when the weather allows.

For Alan, hiking around Aconcagua is like visiting an old friend. He has successfully climbed the 22'841 foot peak (6962 meters) on two other occasions. But Alan is also a safe and deliberate climber who doesn't take anything for granted. I can assure you that he doesn't look at this summit as a fore-gone conclusion, and he is focused on getting up and down very safely.

For those who aren't aware, Alan is climbing the Seven Summits to raise $1 million for the Cure Alzheimer's Fund. Since announcing this project back in November, he has already successfully climbed Mt. Vinson in Antarctica, and after Aconcagua he'll move on to Everest, a mountain that he has also been on several times in the past. Most Seven Summiteers wait to do Everest last, but Alan will make it the third peak on his list.

Good luck on Aconcagua this week Alan! Climb on!

Climbers, Skiers Stuck in Antarctica, Travelers Stranded in Punta Arenas

As the Antarctic climbing and skiing season moves toward the finish line, bad weather is making it difficult for the teams to head home. Meanwhile, strikes and road blockades are preventing travelers from escape Punta Arenas, Chile as well.

The First Ascent Team, who completed a climb of Mt. Vinson and have been doing some skiing over the past week, are back at the Union Glacier camp where they are waiting, along with plenty of others, for a lift back to Punta Arenas, where they can eventually catch a flight home. According to their most recent blog post, filed by Jake Norton, the team has been waiting for a couple of days for a ALE flight to come pick them up. The weather has been less than cooperative however, as thick fog has prevented any kind of movement off the ice, and apparently some people have been stuck at the base for over 11 days now. Jake explains how they fill the days  waiting, saying: "We read. We sleep. We listen to music. We eat. We repeat."

South Pole skier Willem ter Horst and guide Hannah McKeand are also stuck in Union Glacier, and have been there for about five days as well. Willem says that they hope to get a flight out tomorrow, but it all depends on the conditions. He does say that if he has to be stuck somewhere, there are few places more beautiful.

The teams may actually be happy to be stuck on the Antarctic ice, as conditions are not good in Punta Arenas at the moment. In fact, it may be worse to go back to Chile, where a government proposed 17% rise in fuel costs has sent a wave of dissatisfaction through works, who have now gone on strike and have clashed with police.

Reports indicate that there are road blocks set up all over the region, and thousands of tourists and other travelers are currently stranded in the city. Worse yet, most of the shops and restaurants in the city are also closed, and there are reports of food shortages too.

While Punta Arenas is the gateway for the explorers and climbers who go to Antarctica each year, it is also a major cruise ship port for tourists who are sailing in the waters off the frozen continent. During the high season, which is in full swing at the moment, a great deal of traffic moves through Punta and these strikes are playing havoc with the tourist trade there. There are some reports that many of them are attempting to get passage to Argentina, where they hope to be able to get a flight back home.

The situation seems rather grim, and the BBC reports that some countries have advised their citizens to stay away from the area for now.

7 Summits Climb For Alzheimer's: Alan's Off To Aconcagua!

This past weekend, our friend Alan Arnette flew off to Argentina where he is attempting to climb Aconcagua, the tallest mountain in South America, as part of his 7 Summits Climbs for Alzheimer's. Alan is currently en route to the mountain, which stands 6962 meters (22,841 ft) in height. While it is a mostly non-technical climb, at least along the regular route, the altitude alone is enough to cause some problems for those that are unprepared.

Alan will not arrive in BC for a few more days yet, as he and his IMG guides are now in Mendoza awaiting the rest of the team and preparing the last of their gear before purchasing their climbing permits for the mountain. Expect good updates at every step of the process, as Alan always does an excellent job of keeping us informed of his progress and giving great insights into what it is like to climb the mountain he is currently on. I expect no less this time, especially considering that he has already successfully climbed Aconcagua in the past.

An example of Alan's great work is the video below, during which he talks about his prep work for the mountain and shows off the gear he's using on this climb. He doesn't just show us the individual pieces however, as he actually shows us each piece in regards to where it is used during the climb. It is very insightful for those that wonder where all that gear is put to use.