Climbing Aconcuagua

[John.St]

Mike,

if you take 4 or 5 Viagra per hour you won't risk falling down a slope, something will definitely stop you

But why do you plan on wasting three whole days on the trip - after all Aconcagua is only som 6.97 km, easily done by an elderly lady in three or four hours, although it is a bit uphill. x 284

 

[Mike1]

Remember the summit is only half way...if you are lucky.

True, this peak isn't exactly a big wall or K2 so it's not as bad... Skiing off from the summit of K2 is suicidal. I'm always a safety 1st kinda guy, having an avalanche probe helps a lot, especially after a snowstorm on the descent when the trail is covered, thank god for GPS & tracking right???

 

[RichG]

I cycled over paso del Cristo Redentor couple of years ago. While my girlfriend and I were stood looking at the awesome sight that is the highest peak anywhere in the world outside the Himalayas a small minibus tour stopped.

One very concerned gentleman asked us if we were planning to bike up that afternoon as he thought it was a bit late in the day (4pm). 'Perhaps you should wait until morning' he advised us!.....When I think back I think his name was Mike!

 

[Mike1]

Remember the summit is only half way...if you are lucky.

and back down of course, I won't be doing K2 anytime soon, remember I'm a safety 1st, hero last, kinda guy.

 

[Mike1]

I'm at Penitentes at the moment, training on 4000+ meter peaks until November 15th. I am open to hikes up Pissis in La Rioja and climbing Ojos de Salado in Catamarca in October. I can't be reached by email because I will be down to check my messages and other stuff once a week. You can try to call me at 54 261 471-0506. I will pick it up if I have signal. Suerte!!!

 

[jez]

It seems that Mike1 has had a change of heart and wont be running up Aconcagua in 3 days in the height of winter. He has now (sensibly) waited until the climbing season and is doing in excess of 2 month training even though:

I've had no problems with acclimatization so far, up to 14,500 ft. and with a 6137 ft. gain in 1 day from Whitney Portal to the summit. Mt. Whitney is the highest elevation in the continental United States. Some people would need time to acclimatize but so far, at this height, I feel the same as I did when I'm at sea level. I guess I'm blessed with this ability and endurance.

As for the drugs, the best acclimitasation is take is slowly and 'listen to your body' if you have headaches, rest and if they persist move down the mountain. Mike1 why not find your natural limits and don't drug yourself up, get a natural high from the achievement of standing on the summit unaided...if you take drugs in professional sport you get disqualified.....

All the same good luck.

 

[gusgutier]

Sildenafil (yup, also known as VIAGRA)

It produces low blood pressure, plus less oxygen, do you want to faint with a boner?

 

[Mike1]

Guys, the drugs are there "just in case," I wouldn't be using anything except for Acetazolamide in case I need it. I would more than likely administer it to others with AMS, HAPE or HACE while I am on the way up Aconcagua. I am on a pretty good acclimatization schedule as of now. If any of you guys are in the area, my current home is Las Cuevas, on top of one of the mountains in the area, so if you´'re in the area and would like to join, just bring your gear but call ahead, I may or may not have a signal and I should be able to respond to emails if my cellular modem gets a signal.

 

[marie]

I don't think this kind of hyperbole helps make your point. I suppose I could look it up to be specific, but that would not be time well used, I think. Regardless, I would doubt that "thousands die" annually climbing all the world's mountains together, and certainly not Aconcagua, which, as I recall, averages a few deaths a year, easily less than ten.

I have also been to the cemetery up there, and it is a beautiful setting, worth the trip -- alive, of course.

I'm trying to understand why you made a comment like this, Marie, and in this tone?

Well I did not mean it seriously, Mike was my ex BF, He died on the summit of Aconcagua on Dec 5th 2009, They have recently gotten his body down. I was just insisting him on not climbing Aconcagua. With my comment I was just telling Mike that he was wrong about his ideas. He was not an experienced climber, I did not want him to die , he was obsessed with the idea. I should not have said that, but I knew for sure he was not prepared. FGS, now he is dead and I told him many times not to go. I am sorry for my comment but I just wanted to tell mike that he was not prepared for a summit.

 

[fifilafiloche]

Thanks Mary for your sincerity