Argentina,
South America
Made it
to the summit of Aconcagua on the millennium, New Year’s Eve 1999 /
2000 at 22,841 ft. There were approximately 15 climbers who summited
that day. Three were women or “chicks with picks” as we are
sometimes called. Japanese, German, Spanish, French and American,
all knelt down together and sang Old Lang Sine. |
 Aconcagua journal entry:
New Year's Eve 1999 / 2000
“ How do I sum up a day
like summit day? I was exhausted, freezing, couldn’t see well,
ecstatic, feeling powerful, and worrying about Dad, all at the same
time. The climb lasted 12 and 1/2 hours from high camp to the
summit and back. Held my pee due to the bitter cold for 8
hours. At the summit I asked the guide if I could relieve myself
behind a rock. He said yes, but just don’t pee on the grave. I kept
wondering who had died on top and who had the strength to bury the
poor soul. I was not able to eat or hydrate all day, because my
food and water had frozen. Should have known better and kept them
under my coat. I was too exhausted to think by that point. On the
descent, I was startled by a scream of “Lori run!”. I turned to see
a huge boulder rolling toward me, which had been dislodged by
another climber. When I returned to high camp, my eyelashes
were frozen, I had a hemorrhage in my left eye, and I was wearing a
smile from ear to ear.” |
