The following
images are displayed in chronological order. Click the small
thumbnail image to view teach photograph in its larger, original
size.
Campo Base Hostel
Upon arrival in Mendoza Argentina, the
team stayed at this Hostel, where little or no sleep was to be
had, but bed-bugs bites were free of charge.
Keith at Campo Base - Upper Bunk
Keith displays his third story bunk at
the Hostel. Fortunately, the bed-bugs tended to like lower
bunks.
Rocky and Mendoza Bike Cops
Mendoza has a 6,000 man police
department. Rocky meets a few fellow bike officers.
Team Las Tinajas Dinner
On their first night in Mendoza, the team
gathered for an outstanding meal at Las Tinajas. Pictured are
Kaley, Spencer, Chris, Rocky, Stu, Jim, and Shane (left to
right).
Las Tinajas BBQ Selection
The selection of meats at the restaurant,
Las Tinajas, was incredible.
Plaza Indenpencia Mendoza
The Hostel was right by Plaza Indepencia,
the main city park in the downtown area. Here is the Mendoza
city emblem displayed in the plaza.
Sunset at Los Penitentes
From Mendoza, the team traveled to Los
Penitentes, a ski village near the trailhead where we spent our
last night before beginning the climb.
Team Photo at the Trailhead
The next day we were dropped off at the
trailhead to Aconcagua’s Polish Glacier Route near the Punta de
Vacas. Pictured are Shane, Spencer, Chris, Jim, Kaley, Keith,
Rocky, and Stu (left to right). Elevation 7,628 feet.
Rocky and the Last Tree
Within minutes of leaving the trailhead,
Rocky passes the last tree we would see till our return from the
mountain.
Las Lena Camp
The team hiked approximately 8 miles to
their first camp, Las Lena, where park rangers checked their
permits and issued out trash bags. Elevation, 8,858 feet.
Spencer at Las Lena
Spencer stands before the Las Lena park
ranger station.
Shane, Stu and Chris on the Vacas River Footbridge
Shane, Stu, and Chris cross the Vacas
River on their way to the team’s second camp up the Vacas
valley, Casa Piedra.
Casa Piedra Camp
On their second day, the team hiked
approximately 9 miles to the Casa Piedra Camp, located at the
mouth of the Relinchos Valley. Elevation, 10,500 feet.
Casa Piedra Camp and Relinchos Valley
A small stone shelter against a large
rock of volcanic debris housed the park rangers at Casa Piedra.
Visible in the background is the mouth of the Relinchos Valley.
Casa Piedra Vicuna
An orphaned vicuna had been adopted by
the Casa Piedra rangers. While it was busy eating the small
yellow blossoms off of an abundant thorny shrub, the vicuna
could be approached quite closely.
Shane, Chris, Spencer, Kaley, Jim and Stu at Casa Piedra Camp
Shane, Chris, Spencer, Kaley, Jim, and
Stu discuss the next day’s climb at Casa Piedra.
Rocky crossing Vacas River
The next day, the team would have to
cross the cold and swift Vacas River. Here, Rocky crosses the
last of numerous braids of the Vacas River.
Stu crosses Relinchos River
The team would have to cross the
Relinchos River 3 times on their way to base camp, Plaza
Argentina. Here Stu makes a jump with full pack to cross the
river.
Shane in Relinchos Valley
Shane takes a break in the Relinchos
Valley.
First View of Aconcagua
During the 8 mile hike and 3,200 foot
altitude gain on the way to Plaza Argentina from Casa Piedra,
the team got their first glimpse of Aconcagua.
Aconcagua and Amegino from Relinchos Valley
As the team neared Plaza Argentina,
Aconcagua (left) and Ameghino (right) came into view.
Plaza Argentina
The team arrived at Plaza Argentina just
in time for a snow storm that blanketed the normally dry Plaza
Argentina. Elevation, 13,780 feet.
Plaza Argentina (2)
The summit of Aconcagua can be glimpsed
in the clouds behind the mountains at the foot of which is Plaza
Argentina. The route to Camp I proceeds up the col to the right.
Elevation, 13,780 feet.
Aconcagua and Polish Glacier from Plaza Argentina
During a rest day at Plaza Argentina,
clear weather provided a great view of the Polish Glacier on the
upper reaches of Aconcagua.
Plaza Argentina from Camp I Trail
Plaza Argentina can be seen on the
moraine of the Polish Glacier during the climb to Camp I.
Team at Camp I
Jim, Shane, Chris, Rocky, Spencer, Kaley,
and Stu rest after carrying supplies to cache at Camp I from
Plaza Argentina. Elevation, 16,400 feet.
Upper Camp I and Penintentes
The upper portions of Camp I are visible
before a field of Penitentes and Ameghino Col. Elevation, 16,400
feet.
Camp I
Camp I rests on a narrow band of rocks
below Ameghino Col. Elevation 16,400 feet.
Stu at Camp I
Stu takes a break at Camp I. Elevation
16,400 feet.
Team after Camp II Carry
Spencer, Stu, and Jim rest after carrying
supplies to Camp II. Elevation 19,100 feet.
Amegino Summit and Sulfur Lakes
The summit of Ameghino can be seen above
Ameghino Col. Note the sulfur lakes at the bottom of the col.
Elevation 17,650 feet.
Polish Glacier Route and Piedra Bandara
From Camp II, the Polish Glacier Route
and Piedra Bandara were clearly visible. Three climbers are
attempting a traverse to Piedra Bandara, so named as it somewhat
resembles the Argentine flag.
View from Camp II
Mercedario (22,211 feet) can be seen
along with its companion from Camp II.
Sunset at Camp II
The sun sets at Camp II, illuminating
Mercedario in the distance.
Spencer and Stu Back from Summit
Spencer (left) and Stu (right) relax
after successfully reaching the summit of Aconcagua on January
25, 2004 and returning to Camp II safely!
Keith at Indepencia Hut
Keith takes a break among the crowds
resting at the Indepencia Hut. Elevation, 20,997 feet.
Traverse from Indepencia to Caneleta
The traversing trail from Indepencia Hut
to the base of the Canaleta. Elevation, 21,500 feet.
Caneleta Formation
This formation of solidified volcanic
debris marks the start of the Canaleta. Elevation 21,500 feet.
Chris on Caneleta
Chris takes a break while on the Canaleta,
the notorious scree slope that comprises the last 1,300 feet of
Aconcagua’s defenses. Elevation 22,000 feet.
Aconcagua Caneleta
The infamous Canaleta leading to the
summit of Aconcagua. It would take Chris and Keith 2 hours to
climb the 1,300 foot, 30 degree, scree and talus slope.
Summit Marker and South Face
The summit of Aconcagua, 22,841 feet, is
marked by a small cross adorned with numerous flags and emblems.
A metal box contains the summit logbook. Items from the family
of James Cawley and the Salt Lake City Police Department were
placed into the summit box. The South Face of Aconcagua can be
seen emanating from the clouds behind the summit marker.
Elevation 22,841 feet.
Keith and Chris on the Summit
Keith and Chris display the American
flag, Cops on Top summit banner, and memorial plaque that were
carried to the summit then returned to America for delivery to
the family and co-workers of Detective James Cawley. The
American flag had also been flown on King’s Peak, the highest
point in Detective Cawley’s home state of Utah. Elevation 22,841
feet.
Keith and Chris on the Summit (2)
The two Cops on Top summit banners that
were carried to the summit were signed by all members of the
team. One banner, along with a Cops on Top patch also carried to
the summit, were provided to the family of James Cawley. Two
Cops on Top pins were also carried to the summit for Detective
Cawley’s two children. The second banner was delivered to the
Salt Lake City Police Department’s unit where Detective Cawley
worked. A Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS) ribbon was tied to
the summit cross.
Stu's Sunburn from Summit Day
A close look at Stu’s face after his
summit of Aconcagua shows just how damaging the effects of such
an expedition can be on the human body.
Stu Impaled on Penitente
The thought of staying one more night in
a tent with Spencer drives to Stu to end it all on a nearby
penitente. Elevation 16,000 feet.
Team Celebration Meal Plaza Argentina
The team celebrated their success on
Argentina and their safe return to Plaza Argentina by purchasing
a “steak dinner” from a camp host, Maria, at Plaza Argentina.
Pictured are Rocky, Jim, Stu, Spencer, Chris, Kaley, and Shane
(left to right). Elevation 13,780 feet.
Rocky at Las Lena Camp
After descending the 6,000 feet from Camp
II to Plaza Argentina in one day after the summit, the team
descended all the way out to La Lena Camp on the next day. Rocky
stands near the center of La Lena Camp. Elevation 8,858 feet.
Punta Del Inca
The natural bridge over the Mendoza river
at Punta Del Inca was formed by thermal hot springs whose
deposits formed the bridge over the top of glacial ice. The
ruins of a spa resort are visible being encrusted by the hot
springs deposits. Note the color of the Mendoza river.
Rocky, Kaley, Chris and Jim at Punta Del Inca
Rocky, Kaley, Chris, and Jim enjoy
soaking their feet in the “Champagne Cup” thermal spring at
Punta Del Inca.
Stu and Motor Cops in Mendoza
Stu meets with some fellow Mendoza Police
motor officers.
Team and General Calderon of the Mendoza PD
The team met with the Chief of the
Mendoza Police and his staff on February 2 for several hours.
Pictured are Shane, Keith, General Ricardo Calderon (Chief of
Police), Elizabeth (the wife of the Deputy Chief of Police who
kindly offered her translation skills to the team), the
commander of the Mendoza GES (SWAT) and Mountain Rescue teams,
Stu and Spencer.
