Cumbre!!!

WOW are we the luckiest climbers and travelers EVER!!! Patagonia is known for it´s horrendous weather. People come here from all over and spend weeks or even months and sometimes don´t even get to do one climb. This is the reason we planned to have so much time down here and not much in B.A. and other places. However, it´s been sunny and beautiful everyday since we got here!!! We got our first summit (Media Luna) on the sixth day after we arrived in Chalten and climbed again the day before yesterday (el Mocho). It´s very awe inspiring here and the 20 hours of light a day gives us even more energy than we´d already have. We have probably hiked about 40 miles or so, at least 15 of those with packs of 40 lbs or more and we would have run out of food at high camp if it weren´t for my friend Jean. I love the glaciers-- the colors are incredible. We saw a condor on one of our hikes back down to Chalten... I could go on and on, but we just got a great little Casita to stay in tonight and I haven´t showered in 8 days.

Buenos Aires was incredible too and I really want to spend more time there. Since we´ve already gotten a couple climbs in and the weather may be holding, maybe we will get to do a lot more traveling. I´m hoping to get out of here by the end of February. We want to try to climb San Raphael and Exupery before we leave. I´ll try to write more detail later.

Added later... the above photo was taken from our high point on San Raphael. In it you can see the two little peaks we climbed below Cerro Torre (Media Luna and El Mocho). If I was techy I would put little stars on them or something... I guess I can try to do that tomorrow.

This is it!

We leave for Patagonia in less than an hour. I have a few last minute things to do, but I haven't written in weeks and wanted to get one last word in before I depart. I'm excited and nervous and ready to be out of this country all at the same time. Jay has been up since 3 am making things (like a down comforter for base camp) for the trip. I spent four hours running last minute errands and made the final trip to REI. They made some major money off of us in the last few weeks!! Jay's parents are the best and I just finished a home cooked gourmet meal from Gwen, AND last night they took us to probably the best sushi restaurants I've ever been. They spoil us and make it hard to leave, but I think we're really off.

Over the last two weeks, aside from getting ready for tonight, we've spent some very quality time with some amazing people. I am more taken with my friendships every day! I had a great weekend at Mt Madonna and figured out who, exactly, is on my bus. These are things we should all think about once in a while. I was so glad that the girls made the long trip out and somehow I think the theme ended up being something to do with career changes and finding our ultimate purpose. A few days ago I got to catch my favorite baby's puke. Overall, I got VERY LITTLE exercise, and I ate a lot. Building up the reserves to burn off in Argentina. I had to say goodbye to my Brutus for the longest time in his little life and I can't think about it too much. :(

We did get a couple good climbs in in Yosemite, but I'm sure it'll be hard to transition into camping from the comfort we've been in. Don't worry about us, we'll be GREAT! Email if you need us, and I'll try to keep updating this if at all possible. We aren't bringing the computer, so it'll be hit or miss most likely! Oh-- and I put a bunch of photos on picasa... mom might be able to comment with the link? I don't have it right now.

Love you all! Adios!

Happy New Year!!

We've made it to 2008!! We are in Yosemite Valley with our friends Martin and Sherri and it has been a great way to bring in the New Year. Yesterday Jay and I climbed Serenity Crack and Sons of Yesterday, a classic line that gets sun all day long. Crack climbing uses different muscles and definitely stresses the joints in a much different way than what we have been doing, so it was a long, tiring day. It was great though, and felt easier than I ever thought that climb would feel to me. On the way to the climb Jay and I listed some of the many reasons 2007 was great and I was surprised at how many things we came up with and how quickly they came to us. There are obviously a lot of reasons that 2007 was a tough year, but as always, the good does seem to outweigh the bad.

Martin and Sherri are on the brinik of their own year long (or more) adventure, and Sherri only has two more work days. It's fun talking to them about their plan and reassuring them that we were stressed at the beginning from all the planning and life altering too. Soon enough they will be on the road and content as ever. We hope to meet up with them in the spring and climb or hike or just be outside somewhere beautiful.

Tomorrow we plan to climb the East Buttress of El Cap and then some weather is supposed to come in, so we'll probably head back to Tulare county. Life is so good! Happy 2008 everyone!