Aconcagua - Amazing Adventure

Two Idiots - One Summit

Aconcagua is the highest peak in the Western Hemisphere at 22,841 ft. located in Mendoza, Argentina. It is a majestic sight and has a variety of approaches. My young friend and his climbing partner are set to climb this mountain and leave the Northwest on December 12. They are preparing and planning on ascending on the Polish Direct Route. This is an alternate route developed across a glacier and up an ice field which requires rock and ice climbing gear and skills. It is a straight up route that appears to be one of the most direct but extremely demanding and taxing especially at these altitudes.


The most intriguing part of this expedition to me is what it takes mentally to complete such an adventure. The preparation, planning, and mind set it must take to accomplish this is amazing and takes a commitment both financial and personal that is unbelievable. It is a good thing that these are young dedicated men who are driven to accomplish a goal for the fun of it.

I know that there has been several months in preparation for this including practice climbs and treks testing skills and gear, workout routines and routes designed to prepare for the ascent. The workout routines and scheduled workout routes alone are enough to challenge even the most rigorous athletes. Add to this a daily stair climbing routine and sleeping in a simulated high altitude enclosure for weeks and you have a climber that is physically ready for the challenge.
The mental preparation is another story. Is this months of self discipline and rigorous preparation worth the effort? I can only guess that the motivation lies in the glorious feeling one must have at the top of a mountain, the free feeling and exhilaration experienced when a person accomplishes a very difficult task.    It must be like that feeling you had when you first learned to ride a bicycle, only better and lasting several days.   The joy filled smiles and total excitement will be indelibly etched and imprinted in their memories forever serving them throughout their lives.

It is not your average man who can take on this challenge, face his fears, and accomplish the challenge of a lifetime.   I am in awe of these young men, and I intend to follow them as closely as possible.    I actually know only one of these guys, but he is a fascinating individual and I would describe him as fairly reserved with a great sense of self and family.   I enjoy his company immensely and I am glad that I have come to know him and that he has allowed me to see into his world just a little.

They are young enough to see this huge deal as a “fun outing” and they are doing this for fun.   Yet they are mature enough to know that their goal takes months of constant physical and mental preparation.   Their daring journey and expedition has caused me to pause.   I follow their blog and they have motivated me to set some personal goals for myself.   I thought that I was past that at the age of 62 but realize now that goals to accomplish something that I might have to work hard for, and that I think that might be impossible, or that I am afraid to do is just what I need to move to another phase of my life.   I am now in the process of setting some personal goals which I believe will change my life.    I will undoubtedly share these in the future.

I know little about climbing, just what I have read in books and articles. There is nothing about the actual climbing that I can share or instruct you about. I have gained a glimpse here that I am glad to share.

Please take the time to look through the Blog posts at Two Idiots, One Summit. I have enjoyed their blog and what they have had to say. I love the feel of the blog and the funny stuff there. Please subscribe to their feed and follow along with me as we are allowed to see what happens.