Climbers Have Reached the Summit!
A team of Cops on Top memorial expedition climbers are on an expedition to summit Mt. Aconcagua, Argentina

Memorial climbs honor fallen peace officers who have died in the line of duty

We will post any updates as soon as possible after they are received. (View the expedition itinerary)
 

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Expedition Photographs!
The team is now off the mountain after successfully summiting Aconcagua. Expedition leader Keith McPheeters has sent in a whole set of photographs chronicling the team's memorial expedition experiences.
 

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A Return-Trip Letter from the Expedition Team

Hey! to all our friends and family.

We have begun our journey home, having said a sad farewell to Mendoza.  The
team truly enjoyed their time in Mendoza... It was a beautiful and friendly
city.  By unanimous opinion, the restaurants were of the highest quality and
yet of the cheapest prices... We have been horribly spoiled at the Mendoza
restaurants and we have all promptly gained back all the weight lost on the
mountain.

We have all arrived in Santiago Chile, and are awaiting our flight to Dallas. 
Once in Dallas, we all part our individual ways to our final destinations.  Our
flight from Mendoza to Santiago passed right by the summit of Aconcagua during
good weather.  It really put things into perspective at how high the mountain
really is, as we flew by at cruising altitude and were just barely above it.

As we speak with more and more teams that attempted the mountain, we are
greatly pleased with the success that we enjoyed on the mountain.  Six out of
eight climbers on our team summated... an outstanding success by anybody's
standard.

It has been a great adventure, more so because we all return safe and healthy,
than because we made the summit of Aconcagua.  The people of Argentina were
wonderful.  Indeed, we spent a good many hours meeting with the Chief of Police
for the City of Mendoza, a 6,000 man department.  General Ricardo Calderon
treated us as honored guests and we exchanged what gifts we had to offer. 
Calderon and his assistants were true gentlemen and we enjoyed our goodwill
efforts with the police of Argentina.  We leave many new friends behind.

And so, our 2004 Aconcagua Expedition in memory of James Cawley comes to a
close.  We look forward to being with our families, showing our photos, and
telling our stories.  After all, this is why we climb... to tell the stories of
those who have sacrificed so much.

When can their glory fade?

Sergeant Keith McPheeters
Expedition Leader
Cops on Top 2004 Aconcagua Expedition
 

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Friday January 30th:
Right on schedule, the team is now off the mountain after successfully summiting Aconcagua. Their satellite telephone report from Argentina can be heard at this link. In addition, expedition team leader Keith McPheeters emailed an update from the team's hotel in Mendoza.

Friday, January 30 - Email message from Keith McPheeters
Friday, January 30 - Sat-Phone call - Back in Mendoza (WinMedia audio)
 

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Monday January 26th - More Climbers on the Summit!

At last report (Monday), Keith McPheeters and Chris Singleton, who did not summit on Sunday due to the need to further acclimate to the altitude, successfully summited Aconcagua on Monday morning, and had returned safely to Camp Two. Keith called in via sat-phone from the summit:

"We are thinking of Cawley family, our thoughts are with them. We realize that no action of ours can bring any more honor to that name than what James Cawley already did in life. We are grateful for this opportunity to do something on his behalf."

Monday, January 26 - Sat-Phone call - Keith and Chris on the Summit! (WinMedia audio)
Monday, January 26 - Sat-Phone call - All climbers are Back and Safe (WinMedia audio)

They will call again once they have returned to Camp Two.
 

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Monday January 26th - First Climbers on the Summit!
Stu Frink called in via sat-phone on Sunday January 25th to file an emotional report from the summit of Aconcagua, the highest point in the earth's western hemisphere: Four of the five team members who attempted to summit today were successful. One member turned back due to a headache, and two additional team members plan to make an attempt tomorrow (Monday). CONGRATULATIONS!

Sunday, January 25 - Sat-Phone call - TEAM IS ON THE SUMMIT!!! (WinMedia audio)
Sunday, January 25 - Sat-Phone call - Retuned Safely to Camp Two (WinMedia audio)
 

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Friday, January 23 - Sat-Phone call - Arrived Camp Two (WinMedia audio)
Tuesday Evening, January 20 - Sat-Phone call - Arrived Camp One (WinMedia audio)
Sunday Evening, January 18 - Sat-Phone call - Camp One Info (WinMedia audio)
Saturday, January 17 - Sat-Phone call from Stu Frink (WinMedia audio)
Friday Evening, January 16 - Sat-Phone call from Keith at Base Camp (WinMedia audio)
Tuesday Evening, January 13 - Sat-Phone call from trailhead (WinMedia audio)
Tuesday January 13 - First Night in Mendoza (email text)
Monday January 12 - Team Arrives in Mendoza, Argentina (email text)
 

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2004 Aconcagua Expedition
11 January to 3 February 2004
Cerro Aconcagua, Argentina

Cops on Top has undertaken an expedition to Mount Aconcagua, the highest mountain in the Western Hemisphere at 22,841 feet (6,962 meters).  Aconcagua, “The Sentinel of Stone,” as the name is believed to mean in an indigenous language, holds the distinction of being the highest summit outside of the Himalayas in Asia and one of the Seven Summits – the tallest mountains on each of the seven continents.

Sergeant Keith McPheeters of the Farmington, New Mexico Police Department leads another ambitious expedition with the purpose of honoring police officers killed in the line of duty and promoting support for their survivors.

In Memory of James W. Cawley This Memorial Climb is officially dedicated to Marine Staff Sergeant James W. Cawley, a Salt Lake City Police Department Detective and SWAT team member, killed during a firefight in Iraq on Saturday 29 March 2003.  He was serving as Platoon Sergeant of the 1st Platoon, Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marine Division. The memorial plaque pictured at right is being carried by the expedition team to the summit in memory of SSG Cawley. More information about SSG James W. Cawley is available at: http://www.ci.slc.ut.us/police/press/cawley_james.htm

The Expedition Teams

The expedition is comprised of a primary team, lead by Keith McPheeters, attempting the False Polish Route. This team originally intended to attempt the Polish Glacier Route, but changed plans on the mountain due to conditions for safety reasons. The members of this team are all returning participants from previous Cops on Top expeditions (click on a team member's name for pictures and more information):

A second team under the Cops on Top banner will attempt the False Polish Route. While the team's original plan was to separate from the primary team at the base of the Polish Glacier, both teams are now attempting the same route.  In addition, they will be carrying with them all the names and photos of California peace officers killed in the line of duty in 2003, along with a memorial poem.

Also on the mountain, undertaking the Normal Route, will be two Louisville Metro Police Department Police Officers from Kentucky: Charlie Newman and Eric Culver. Information about their progress is available here.