Trip Report
Polish Direct Aconcagua Attempt

by JSpencerV
Sunday December 23, 2012 2:42pm
I recently attempted the direct route on Aconcagua. I mostly post my rock climbing and big wall trip reports on this site. This route is not a rock climb but there was lots of snow. I thought the TR would be interesting for some people to read for the Holiday Season.

¨I am lying in my cocoon high on mount Aconcagua. It is snowing, minus 40 degrees outside and 100km winds are thrashing the tent. We have spent 10 days climbing the mountain but have to turn back because of weather. I should be disappointed but instead i smile slyly to myself. I realize in that moment that I don't climb mountains for the summit but for the experience...and the stories that follow¨

Here is the link:
http://jspencerv.blogspot.com.ar/2012/12/mount-aconcagua-12-10-to-12-21-2012.html

Here are a few photos:
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The route
The route
Credit: JSpencerV
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Jared Cold
Jared Cold
Credit: JSpencerV
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Tony Cold
Tony Cold
Credit: JSpencerV
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The two of us
The two of us
Credit: JSpencerV
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Basecamp- Photo courtesy of Tony
Basecamp- Photo courtesy of Tony
Credit: JSpencerV
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Base Camp - Photo courtesy of Tony
Base Camp - Photo courtesy of Tony
Credit: JSpencerV
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Dragging loads - Photo courtesy of Tony
Dragging loads - Photo courtesy of Tony
Credit: JSpencerV
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Our mule packing out from base camp - photo courtesy of Tony
Our mule packing out from base camp - photo courtesy of Tony
Credit: JSpencerV
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Hiking down from camp 1-Photo courtesy of Tony
Hiking down from camp 1-Photo courtesy of Tony
Credit: JSpencerV
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Exploded tent - Photo courtesy of Tony
Exploded tent - Photo courtesy of Tony
Credit: JSpencerV
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(reposting...posted first under an old user name)

  Trip Report Views: 3,458
JSpencerV 		About the Author
JSpencerV is a trad climber from Santa Monica, CA.

Comments
GDavis

Social climber
SOL CAL
  Dec 23, 2012 - 02:48pm PT
Adventure-y!
Nohea

Trad climber
Living Outside the Statist Quo
  Dec 23, 2012 - 03:01pm PT
Read in on your blog, hell of an adventure. It's sunny and warm where I am but had to grab a sweater when reading about the freezing windy days and nights. Big thanks for posting and way to save room for the vino.

Aloha,
Will
Stewart Johnson

Gym climber
top lake
  Dec 23, 2012 - 04:23pm PT
its a pity the weather didnt cooperate, bergheil.
10b4me

Social climber
Lida Junction
  Jan 1, 2013 - 02:28am PT
Very nice
neebee

Social climber
calif/texas
  Jan 1, 2013 - 12:53pm PT
hey there say jSpencerV...

ohhhhhhhhhhh my! the snow, :O


thanks for sharing this neat trip report...

and wow--all the pictrures show up for dial up, i AM impressed, :)


and the mule in the snow, ohhhhhmy...

hope it warm, later with you all, :)

nice share, thanks so much, again...
Rhodo-Router

Gym climber
sawatch choss
  Jan 1, 2013 - 03:20pm PT
Props to the sloggers. I am way too light for that sh#t.
SteveW

Trad climber
The state of confusion
  Jan 1, 2013 - 05:02pm PT
Congratulations!!

Unfortunately, a couple of others weren't so lucky.

https://www.rockandice.com/news/2433-two-dead-on-aconcagua?utm_source=Mountain%2BProject&utm_medium=RSS%2BFeed&utm_campaign=MP%2BFeed-News
survival

Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
  Jan 1, 2013 - 05:06pm PT
Thought I posted to this already?!

WAY TO GO!!!
JSpencerV

Trad climber
Santa Monica, CA
Author's Reply  Jan 2, 2013 - 02:03pm PT
Steve: what a tragedy. I found another article that goes a bit deeper into their account. My heart goes to their family.

http://www.mercurynews.com/nation-world/ci_22296667/two-u-s-climbers-die-argentinas-aconcagua

Survival: yeah, I reposted this an hour after my primary post because I signed in under an old username. Sorry that it deleted your comment.
roy

Social climber
NZ -> SB,CA -> Zurich
  Jan 2, 2013 - 03:02pm PT
Great trip report. I guess the mountian ultimately decides but it's worth the effort anyway. Thanks.

Cheers, Roy
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