Comments on: Gear List http://rideabout.com Tales from a traveling technologist... Fri, 25 Sep 2009 16:58:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Checkpoint Tango » Aconcagua Days 1-5: Mendoza, Los Penitentes and the trek to Base Camp http://rideabout.com/gear-list/comment-page-1/#comment-281 Checkpoint Tango » Aconcagua Days 1-5: Mendoza, Los Penitentes and the trek to Base Camp Wed, 21 Mar 2007 03:16:26 +0000 http://www.rideabout.com/?page_id=5#comment-281 [...] On the first afternoon I waited to do my gear check in the hotel room with a fellow expedition member named Mark who would become my tentmate for the duration of the expedition. Mark is from Hawaii and this was his fourth attempt to summit Aconcagua. His first attempt ended when he came down with a severe case of bronchitis and had to ride a mule off the mountain. Having lost his glove liners during a river crossing earlier in the trip he found himself adjusting his crampons at altitude on summit day.  Touching his hands to bare metal bled any remaining heat from his hands brought on a case of frost nip which ended his second attempt.  Bad weather last year prevented a summit bid on third try. Mark was a wealth of knowledge about Aconcagua and obviously had a lot of experience to share and he patiently answered all my questions about what was in store for the next three weeks.  I certainly hoped having Mark along would be a good omen and the fourth time would be a charm for him.  Mid-afternoon there was a knock on the door and we met our head guide who also happened to be named Mark but was from Oregon. He looked like a mountaineer and had a very laid back attitude. During the trip Mark we would learn while Mark did not take himself too seriously he was very serious and realistic about the endeavor in front of us and had years of experience. The gear check went well and Mark approved all of the gear I had lugged down from Chicago, much of which was new and purchased especially for this trip. [...] [...] On the first afternoon I waited to do my gear check in the hotel room with a fellow expedition member named Mark who would become my tentmate for the duration of the expedition. Mark is from Hawaii and this was his fourth attempt to summit Aconcagua. His first attempt ended when he came down with a severe case of bronchitis and had to ride a mule off the mountain. Having lost his glove liners during a river crossing earlier in the trip he found himself adjusting his crampons at altitude on summit day.  Touching his hands to bare metal bled any remaining heat from his hands brought on a case of frost nip which ended his second attempt.  Bad weather last year prevented a summit bid on third try. Mark was a wealth of knowledge about Aconcagua and obviously had a lot of experience to share and he patiently answered all my questions about what was in store for the next three weeks.  I certainly hoped having Mark along would be a good omen and the fourth time would be a charm for him.  Mid-afternoon there was a knock on the door and we met our head guide who also happened to be named Mark but was from Oregon. He looked like a mountaineer and had a very laid back attitude. During the trip Mark we would learn while Mark did not take himself too seriously he was very serious and realistic about the endeavor in front of us and had years of experience. The gear check went well and Mark approved all of the gear I had lugged down from Chicago, much of which was new and purchased especially for this trip. [...]

]]> By: Aunt MaryAnne http://rideabout.com/gear-list/comment-page-1/#comment-56 Aunt MaryAnne Thu, 22 Feb 2007 17:40:03 +0000 http://www.rideabout.com/?page_id=5#comment-56 Happy Belated Valentines Day Chuck! Reading your tales is an advenure iteself for us your following of readers. (You most certainly have gained verbal writing skills for your father, editor of Clark Chronicals.) I can't imagine your disappointment not getting to the top of your mountain that you have dreamed about. But do not discount your adventure is still that, a GREAT adventure. The majority of us will forever climb our own dreams in our minds over & over again and never step foot any further. You, my nephew, are an inspiration. The biggest news here is that little Matthew has begun to crawl on all 4's. Angela hasd all 4 wisdom teeth removed last Friday. I stayed with them to help with the boys. She, like me, did not do well with anesthesia, & it was a good thing they had my services. She is much better & can eat again. Dave should close on house #2 tomorrow. We are going to Cleveland tomorrow for a Joel Osteen conference & be back Sat. Angela & Brady has ther 1st anniversary Sunday on Poppi's Bday. By the way, I have printed your chronicles out for him to reas, review and read again. Then he put on his clipboard to share with friends to lovingly boast & ask them to pray for you. Paul may get a job at a restaurant--sorry, I can't remember the name. Tally ho!Love, Aunt MaryAnne Don't forget any sand! Happy Belated Valentines Day Chuck!
Reading your tales is an advenure iteself for us your following of readers. (You most certainly have gained verbal writing skills for your father, editor of Clark Chronicals.) I can’t imagine your disappointment not getting to the top of your mountain that you have dreamed about. But do not discount your adventure is still that, a GREAT adventure. The majority of us will forever climb our own dreams in our minds over & over again and never step foot any further. You, my nephew, are an inspiration.

The biggest news here is that little Matthew has begun to crawl on all 4′s.
Angela hasd all 4 wisdom teeth removed last Friday. I stayed with them to help with the boys. She, like me, did not do well with anesthesia, & it was a good thing they had my services. She is much better & can eat again.
Dave should close on house #2 tomorrow.
We are going to Cleveland tomorrow for a Joel Osteen conference & be back Sat.
Angela & Brady has ther 1st anniversary Sunday on Poppi’s Bday. By the way, I have printed your chronicles out for him to reas, review and read again. Then he put on his clipboard to share with friends to lovingly boast & ask them to pray for you.
Paul may get a job at a restaurant–sorry, I can’t remember the name.
Tally ho!Love,
Aunt MaryAnne
Don’t forget any sand!

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