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01-30-2010, 07:37 PM #1
TR: South America Oct-Dec 2009: high Andes, Antarctica, Aconcagua
Well, I haven't posted here in forever, but figured I'd come back and share some stoke as I had perhaps the raddest fall of my life . . . I finally just finished the blog updates, so I hope you enjoy!!!! Click on the links to read the full story and see all the pics . . .
The first two weeks was road tripping in Chile . . . Lacy and I had no plan other than to rent a car and see what we could find basing out of Santiago.
First, we explored the Valle Nevado area
Then, we skied Cerro el Plomo (5,424 metres - 17,795 ft) with Les Manley
And finished it off with some exploration of the Cajon de Maipo
From there, it was off for Ski Cruise 2009 to Antarctica!!!
First, a welcome dinner and a few days crossing the Southern Ocean . . .
Then skiing at Ciervo Cove on the continent!
Day 2 was the most fun skiing (IMHO) - near Port Lockroy!
Unfortunately, we had an injury and spent day 3 in transit
Day 4 was a great day of skiing in the South Shetland Islands . . . beautiful!!!
(photo: Scott Fennell)
Day 5 was a double day . . . more couloirs and skiing to the sea!!
(photo: Scott Fennell)
And we finished it off on Greenwich Island under the sun!
(photo: Scott Fennell)
From there, I was off for a week in Vallecitos, ultimately skiing 5435m Cerro Vallecitos
And the trip ended with a summit ski descent of Aconcagua via the Polish Glacier with Ollie Nieuwland-Zlotnicki and Anton Sponar!!!!
I feel like this trip was remarkable in that it felt like a true journey. It was a voyage of self discovery, an exploration of new corners in the Andes, a chance to strengthen old friendships with the feeling that not a day has past despite the fact that years have past, and a plethora of new friends both in the mountain and in the city who have forever changed my life and made it a much richer place to be. There were challenges that have given me plenty to think about and grow from, solo time to let it sink in and to dream, serious suspension of disbelief and amazing rewards for doing so, risk taking and risk management, incredibly fulfilling human interactions, great practice speaking spanish, laughts, and tears. It was wonderful, challenging, insightful, rewarding, exhausting, hilarious, and overall a truly extraordinary adventure . . . un camino alucinante.Last edited by Kellie; 01-30-2010 at 09:46 PM.
Everything in moderation, including moderation . . .
Life According to Kellie, Specialized Gear for Endurance and Winter Cycling,
Spanish in the Mountains, Andes Cross Guiding in Bariloche
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01-30-2010, 07:45 PM #2
eeeee.....yow!!!
props on the polish and everything else!
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01-30-2010, 07:46 PM #3
Yeah, yeah, skiing, climbing, fun, smiling, etc.. But what were you FEELING Kellie?
Great photos and report, as always.
Yer Penguin Pal,
AMac
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01-30-2010, 07:52 PM #4
This is good.
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01-30-2010, 08:15 PM #5
Holy trip reports batman!!
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01-30-2010, 08:25 PM #6
Very well done. looks like you nailed it up and down!
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01-30-2010, 08:32 PM #7Registered User
- Join Date
- May 2002
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- 688
you're a badass
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01-30-2010, 08:37 PM #8
Gorgeous! Nice pics. Post some more if you get a chance!
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01-30-2010, 11:13 PM #9Mike Pow
- Join Date
- Apr 2005
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- Between a rock and a soft place. Aberdare and The Brecon Beacons, Wales
- Posts
- 3,208
Most excellent.
Blog posts were captivating
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01-30-2010, 11:41 PM #10
beautiful! thanks for sharing
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01-30-2010, 11:43 PM #11
The best and most justified use of the one pic TR link to the blog.
Great trips!
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01-30-2010, 11:47 PM #12Registered User
- Join Date
- Apr 2006
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- SF & the Ho
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- 9,299
FTMFW!!!
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01-30-2010, 11:50 PM #13in the zone of excess
- Join Date
- Oct 2007
- Location
- 3rd floor
- Posts
- 358
that is a win.
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01-31-2010, 03:41 AM #14
wow - your autumn was better than 99% of peeps winter!
great photos and write up.
You clearly rock living the dreamLast edited by Scottish_Skier; 01-31-2010 at 03:51 AM.
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01-31-2010, 04:14 AM #15
Excellent as always, and I love the pro model Buff cameos.
Putting the "core" in corporate, one turn at a time.
Metalmücil 2010 - 2013 "Go Home" album is now a free download
The Bonin Petrels
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01-31-2010, 05:47 AM #16
And now for the Winter-Spring encore!
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01-31-2010, 12:28 PM #17
I have no words!
Well, I'll start with "holy crap fkna awesome!" and "you lucky SOB!"
Those must have been some experiences. Thanks for sharing the linkies. The stuff daydreams area made of!
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01-31-2010, 05:21 PM #18
wow, that was awesome. you skied a burly line at Cerro Vallecitos
and killed it on aconcagua. very impressive. can you send me some awesome in a bottle?god created man. winchester and baseball bats made them equal - evel kenievel
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01-31-2010, 05:22 PM #19
Now that is some epicness.....
Oski on the polish glacier..... dangerwww.dpsskis.com
www.point6.com
formerly an ambassador for a few others, but the ski industry is... interesting.
Fukt: a very small amount of snow.
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01-31-2010, 05:43 PM #20
This photo made my day:
http://kellieokonek.blogspot.com/201...allecitos.html
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01-31-2010, 08:00 PM #21
Damn, that's awesome. Congrats on the Polish. Summiting Aconcagua 5 days from the road is impressive and incredible luck on the weather. Thanks for sharing.
Ride Fast, Live slow.
We're mountain people. This is what we do, this is how we live. -D.C.
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02-01-2010, 02:51 PM #22
I can't see any of your pictures or blog posts as blogspot is blocked at work. This is a note for me to look at this from home and edit this post with comments like, FKNA! And Thanks for sharing!
Edit: Great pictures and storytelling. The above comments definitely apply... FKNA. Thanks for sharing!Last edited by spanky; 02-02-2010 at 08:48 PM.
Because rich has nothing to do with money.
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02-01-2010, 02:58 PM #23
I feel lazy.....
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02-01-2010, 05:06 PM #24
did vallecitos have much snow??? My brother and I went there mid august and it was bare, we were trying to ski cerro rincon but there really wasn't any snow till 14000', and it was nasty at that. Also, did you approach aconcagua from the argentine side or the chilean? thanks for sharing, looks like you had a memorable trip
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02-01-2010, 05:16 PM #25
The stuff of dreams.
"The skis just popped me up out of the snow and I went screaming down the hill on a high better than any heroin junkie." She Ra
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