Colin

Have to mention Colin my trainer who has been a total legend for the last four months and whose training last thursday culminated in my seriously wanting to hit him or at the least give up and go home he pushed me so much. (I didn't do either) If you read this thanks mate for everything I think a lot of my confidence has come from your training and your really positive approach and encouragement.

Ground Hog Day!

Well after 30 hours I am here! My vendetta with BA added considerably to my journey time but principles are principles! And Air Canada are brilliant, Seem less through Toronto and Santiago really easy. Slept almost the whole way , the last leg to Mendoza was hideously turbulent and Aconcagua was bathed in Stygian cloud.

It is very weird being back here, It really feels like I left yesterday its a very weird ground hog day feeling. I think I am even in the same room as last time eeek! I'm sitting surrounded by all my kit no doubt the guides will whittle it down quite a lot there does seem to be quite a lot of stuff.

I met Carlos and Larry my guides last night, they seem pretty cool Carlos is from Santiago and Larry is an Alaskan and my confidence has soared, I am feeling alarmingly positive and very excited now I am here. I'm also apprehensive certainly, but the gloom's of the last few weeks have vanished totally.

I'm also relieved I decided to do the private climb, the group I would have been with left yesterday, there are 13 of them my idea of hell.. both my guides from last year Wesley and Maria Jose are guiding them so we should hook up at Base Camp which is really great and something to look forward too.

Went out to dinner last night and ate most of a cow well left most of it I have never seen a sodding steak so big! Also I am in the heart of the Argentinian wine growing region, AHHH! Bliss, even my shampoo in my hotel room is White Wine Shampoo, Honestly! No Nickers.... I haven't tasted it!

Really interesting to hear from Rodrigo and Carlos that the extreme conditions on my last trip are now in the annals of the history of Aconcagua, it was a famous storm, that in itself is cause for a minor confidence boost I had assumed it was always like that!

Any way the guys are here to check my stuff see yah XXXX