Post 1: Flight from Atlanta to Santiago

Aconcagua 2016

    

24 hours flying plus 4 hours by van and I will be on this frozen rock again Aconcagua the highest peak in America and second highest of the seven summits. My tent mate and climbing partner last year from Israel, Roi called me and said we have unfinished business and would like to give Aconcagua another try.  I don't have any friends that enjoy the punishment these high peaks bring so after getting it blessed by wife and looking at work window I said yes.  

I have been accepted to climb Everest in April and have been training in preparation.  I climbed a glacier in Russia, Elbrus the highest peak in Europe, Kilimanjaro the highest peak in Africa and a few 14ers in Colorado. I get better every mountain I climb but I also get older and physical ability lessens.  I have been feeling the aches and pains my knees, back, feet and I enjoy every second of it. I have a long way to go before I stand on Everest and this will be a good test to see if my skills and conditioning are staying ahead of my tired old ass. 

I still am asking myself "Why" I have more answers than last year and every mountain gives me more reasons. I also for the first time will be climbing for a cause "Les wrestles MS". My college wrestling teammate. Fraternity brother, CMSU alum was diagnosed with MS a few years ago and a group of friends have reunited to help, the past year we have seen him push back the effects of MS in his words "without drugs but with a bike and friends"we created a fund raiser that raised over 40,000 dollars for the wrestling program and MS society, rode several trips on the Katy trail, and rekindled old friendships and even changed some people's lives.  I am climbing these mountains everyone thinks is hard but it is easy compared to the mountain Les and people with MS have to climb every day . Every time I start listening to the pain or the cold I think to myself how blessed I am to be able to do this and how people with MS will trade me spots any day.  So I will have a link to a fund raising sight and asking for donations.

Roi and me watching his IPad that has every episode of Breaking Bad