Aconcagua Summit with Julian Insarralde via Normal Route 2020.

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

Mark Twain

Just as my three daughters turned 2, 3, and 5 years old, I decided to slowly get back to my hobbies - running, hiking, mountaineering and exploring beautiful parts of our planet.

So, on my 41st birthday, I decided to climb Aconcagua 6962 m / 22841 ft, in Argentina, the 2nd tallest of the 7 Summits.

Aconcagua Summit January 14, 2020. Team Julian Insarralde

For many mothers, there's life before children and life after children and family.

My last trail event, before children, was Mt Everest marathon at 5684m in 2009. While my last speed-ascent on a mountain was on Kilimanjaro 5895m, again in 2009.

In the next two years, just before I would have my first baby in 2013, I ended up running the Boston marathon and a few halfs and marathons in Texas mainly based on my swim fitness as I pursued swimming and triathlons while living in Dallas, TX.

Fast forward to 2012, I moved to Sydney Australia where I started a family with my Guy.

Eight years and three babies later, I decided to climb Aconcagua.

Aconcagua at 6962 m / 22840 ft was a natural step up for me.

I called my friend Julian Insarralde and we started to plan.

With Julian on Santa Elena 4500m. in 2020.

Julian was excited I was finally coming to Argentina to pursue my long lost dream :)

10 years!

Julian suggested I work on strength and endurance, and we kept in touch almost weekly.

He also mentioned we would have another four climbers joining us - Guido, his assistant, and Federico from Uruguay, Renzo and German from Argentina. I was excited!

The best part was my friend Hans, from San Francisco, decided to join.

Hans and I met running the Everest marathon in 2009 and we stayed close friends while living and working in San Francisco California (this was prior to my life in Texas and in Australia).

Hans was 79 years old at the time and he decided to climb Aconcagua for his 80th!

I said "Absolutely, let's do it"

PRE-ACCLIMATISATION IN LAS CUEVAS - THE TEAM

As a group of six and two guides, we spend a couple of days pre-acclimatising in Las Cuevas near Aconcagua park. Portezuelo del Viento at 3200m, a beautiful mountain hostel, is situated in this little town surrounded with many peaks and runnable valleys.

We climbed Santa Elena 4500m one day and enjoyed another nearby peak the following day. Julian helped us sort our gear and equipment for Aconcagua and we were on our way to Penitentes to drop our expedition bags.

SUMMIT EXPEDITION

The excitement was real as we pulled into Horcones gate where we could see Aconcagua far in the distance, looking majestic.

The trek to our first camp Confluencia brought some rain and wind, but the sun came out the next day and we had an amazing hike to Basecamp Mulas 4200m.

We had a pretty quick acclimatisation as the entire team felt good and strong. In just two days, we were off to Camp 2 Nido 5500m, where we stayed for two days. Camp Nido was cold and with a little bit of snow at this point. We practiced walking in double boots (no crampons). From Nido, we were off to Camp Berlin 5900m. The next morning at 2am, we were all up, bright eyed and bushy tails and ready for the Summit push.

The Summit push was long, dark, and challenging. I don't remember much except doing my best to stayed focused on my steps and to keep moving.

Eventually the sun came out and it made all the difference. We all felt warmer and more relaxed in a way. A quick break in the infamous cave, some 100m from the Summit, and we were ready for the Summit.

It was the most incredible feeling being on the summit of Aconcagua after so many years of dreaming about it. :)

I was 12 yo when I first heard of Aconcagua. Almost 30 years later, I was standing on the Summit :)

The best part of this journey is that my friend Hans made the summit as well and we all celebrated his 80th birthday at 22840 ft.

What's interesting is that for the month of January - February, anyone standing on Aconcagua is practically standing on Top of the World - as no 8,000m expeditions are happening during this time. :)

My 1st Aconcagua Summit, January 14, 2020. with Julian Insarralde.

To plan your next expedition, you can reach out to Julian Insarralde here or via Instagram or Facebook. #JITEAM

Julian's Blog: Link here

Happy Climbing!