The Aconcagua effect

Hamburglar asked a while ago about my goals for 2008. I don't have any major ones - but here is one for 2009 (apart from getting married!) :-)

At 6,962m (or 22,841ft if that means anything to you), Aconcagua is not only the highest mountain in South America - and therefore one of the "Seven Summits" (the highest mountains on each of the seven continents) - but it is the highest mountain in the world outside the Himalayas.



My goal for 2009 is to climb it :-)

I've had goals which scared me before - but this is scary & serious. Only a relatively small number of those who attempt to climb Aconcagua actually succeed. From what I understand, it is not so much the difficulty of the climb that is the problem as the altitude and weather. It can get down to -35 degrees (yes, that's a minus) on the summit. Throw in high winds and the fact that at the summit there is only about 40% of the oxygen as at sea level and it is a serious, and very difficult, endeavour. And I am very much looking forward to the challenge.

I have a long journey ahead of me between now & then. I will need to be in the best shape I have ever been in if I am even going to have a chance of standing on the summit. I recognise and accept that whether in fact I do or not may ultimately be outside my control. I know that my preparation could be perfect & I could be the fittest I've ever been & I still may not make it to the summit, particularly if the weather gods do not cooperate. Thankfully, during my preparation for Six Foot last year, I challenged, and ultimately, redefined my notions of "success" and "failure". If I don't make it to the summit, it won't be a "failure" in my book. I will only have failed myself if I do not try or allow (unfounded) fear to hold me back.

This goal has led me to discover a sport more expensive than triathlons ;-) From ice axes, crampons, down jackets & heavy duty gore-tex jackets and pants, I've had a lot of research - not to mention shopping - to do. In the process of doing so, I've discovered what I have coined "the Aconcagua effect" - that is, the effect that the statement "I'm planning to climb Aconcagua next year and I need....[insert name of expensive equipment]" or answering "Aconcagua", when asked in a shop "Where are you off to?", has on the eyes of the salesperson to whom the statement is made (even when made in a speciality, mountaineering/gear store). I'm sure the effect is the same no matter what (big) mountain peak is named - but I haven't had an opportunity to conduct that study. Yet ;-) I've said it 4 times now & each time the effect was been the same. A slight, but perceptible, widening of the eyes. Occasionally accompanied by "wow". Whether it is from surprise, awe, jealousy, thinking to themselves "she has no idea what she's in for" or downright amusement, I have no idea. And I really don't care (another lesson learnt thanks to Six Foot). I am the only one who will know how hard it was to summit.

I am ohhh so very excited about this adventure. And nervous :-)

And just to add icing to the cake, I'll be somewhere high on the slopes of Aconcagua (fingers crossed) on my 34th birthday :-D