Feb 06 | Back in Base Camp

By Willie Benegas

4 nights on the mountain with winds increasing daily, we made our retreat yesterday.  we are back at basecamp and the winds are even howling down here.  after sitting at 18,000 ft temperatures with temperatures dropping to -20F and winds hitting a steady 50-60 miles per hour, reports only call for increasing failing weather for the next few days.  it was hard to pack up the tents to head downhill.  but, the good news is, it looks like a great day for monday, very cold temperatures but winds are expected to drop to almost nothing.  so we spend two days in camp, eating, resting, washing, and plan to head back onto the mountain tomorrow. 

our team is fabulously united.  the discussion on the mountain was to maybe make a big push from camp 2 and try to beat the storm but all decided that we would rather try and get up as many as possible to the summit - thus the return to basecamp to wait for more favorable conditions that would give all much better chances.  logistically trickier, but a tender team effort.  everyone is lining up at the $2 per minute phone to try and change tickets and call their work and honeys at home to beg a few more days of hall passes. 

diane and willie made a solo training mission to 20,000 feet yesterday, as we packed camp to head down, before the winds chased them down behind us.  i have not been in the andes in 5 years and forgot how formidable and intimidating the weather is here. 

so, the new plan stands as this...saturday morning, head back up to camp two, sunday morning, camp three and monday...oh so cold and early...we hope mother nature  will be calm and sweet and we can bring as many of our team together to the summit.  besides lots of gnarly stomach crud everyone is amazingly happy and healthy - like i have never seen in such cold, dry, and communal living.  i feel we have been very lucky at every turn. 


we will be back we hope monday night!  thanks to all!   thanks scott mcguire and tnf and meredith for sending robert fry!!




diane sends love to all and is learning an entirely different set of skills from flight series!!!!

Comments

[gabriella]

following all the details from Caracas
love you all
Gaby

[Luis F. Moreno Leitzelar]

Wishing you all good luck from El Salvador!!! Enjoy the Summit!!!
Luis
TNF Central America

[Crazy Drile]

Greetings from Australia

all the best!

www.compassofthenorth.blogspot.com

[Pegasus Dating]

Thanks for the information! diane and willie made a solo training mission to 20,000 feet yesterday, as we packed camp to head down, before the winds chased them down behind us. i have not been in the andes in 5 years and forgot how formidable and intimidating the weather is here.

[Free Senior Singles Dating]

besides lots of gnarly stomach crud everyone is amazingly happy and healthy - like i have never seen in such cold, dry, and communal living. i feel we have been very lucky at every turn. !!!!