It’s mountaineering season in Utah! Anyone have plans to hit some fun couloirs this weekend? …there are lots of options to choose from: Mt. Timpanogos Cold Fusion Forked Tongue Grunge Everest Ridge, although that’s getting thin up high from recent pics I saw Mt. Olympus Memorial 1 Memorial 2 Apollo Tolcat, maybe there’s still enough…
Echo Flask Hydrogen Water: Next Level Hydration?
I pre-ordered an Echo Flask water bottle in early January hoping to get this in time for my Aconcagua Expedition. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen but was just as excited to get it when I returned home. My wife is always on the lookout for ways to optimize our health and discovered this new product from…
Bagging Bierstadt from the Winter Route
After being home only 10 days from my Aconcagua Expedition, I was back on a plane headed for Denver to try a few winter ascents with my local hiking club. The original plan was to hit Grays and Torreys on one day and then Bierstadt and possibly Evans on another. I had already done Grays…
2025: A Record-Setting Year on Aconcagua
From speed ascents to summit milestones, 2025 pushed the limits on South America’s tallest peak! Ariel Perinetti — 60 Aconcagua Ascents The first record I had the privilege to witness was with Ariel, the lead guide for our expedition last month. About halfway through the climb, he revealed that this would be his sixtieth summit…
Adiós Argentina
My final day was spent organizing gear for the long flight home — and taking one last walkabout through the city. This time, I set out to explore Parque San Martín, a 1.5-square-mile nature area just west of Mendoza’s main plaza. I’d heard so much about this park that I couldn’t leave without seeing it….
Argentina Day 16 – Back in Mendoza
As much as I thought one more day at Plaza de Mulas would have been nice, I was so glad we pushed through and made it back to Mendoza last night. It was well worth the long bus ride and late-night return to wake up in a real bed after so many days on the…
Aconcagua Day 15: Return to Puente de Inca
Morning came quickly, and before long we were re-sorting our bags for the 15-mile trek out. Just as our guides had instructed us on Day 2, we returned to the same distribution of gear — for one last time: One bag for our high altitude gear, which would be loaded on a mule One bag…
Aconcagua Day 14: Descend to Plaza de Mulas
No one was in any hurry to get up and out after yesterday’s long summit day. We had breakfast, packed our high-altitude gear for the last time, and began the 4-mile descent to Plaza de Mulas Base Camp. As we headed down the Normal Route, I spotted the Berlin Refuge off to my left —…
Aconcagua Day 13: Summit Day!
Camp began to stir around 4am in the cold darkness of early morning. Some of us managed to catch a few zzzz’s, but nothing great. Most of our energy was fueled by anticipation and adrenaline at this point in the trip. The remaining distance to the summit was short—only 2 miles—but it would take us…
Aconcagua Day 12: Move to Camp 3
The day started as usual–cheese quesadillas, a cup of hot chocolate, and salami with assorted cheeses for breakfast. Afterwards, we loaded up and began the arduous climb to Camp 3. Spirits were high! Elevation gain kicked in right out of Camp 2, with 1,500 more feet to climb over the next mile and a half….