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

Why I am doing this again?

On the 18th December 2006, having endured two weeks on the mountain in particularly appalling weather culminating in two days and nights confined to our flimsy tents at 19,800 feet in winds up to 100 mile an hour and temperatures falling to -50 windchill, I descended Aconcagua, at 22.841 feet (6962 metres) the highest mountain outside of the Himalayas, in the teeth of this storm. I had ascended to the highest camp and to within one final days slog to the summit.

I arrived back in Mendoza mentally and physically exhausted and vowed I would never set foot on any mountain ever again..........

On April 21st 2008 Louis Dundas lost his tenacious and agonising 18 month battle against a brain tumour. Although I hardly knew him, this little boy, the son of my close friends Ruth and Bruce Dundas demonstrated a fortitude and courage through this appalling illness which demonstrated a strength of character, love of life and set an example of courage in the face of serious adversity which I have found totally inspirational.

Louis in his five short years achieved what we all spend a life time aspiring too; He has left a legacy which will have a profoundly positive impact on the lives of his fellow human beings.

On October 8th 2009 Ruth and Bruce announced ambitious plans in Louis memory to establish a centre for palliative care for children with life threatening illness at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Therefore in an effort to raise funds for this wonderful project I am going to attempt, one more time to climb Aconcagua.

I would love you to support me in my return to this formidable mountain between November 27th and December 23rd 2009 and thus help Ruth and Bruce to help other families who have to endure the despair of terminal illness in a child.

You can access my just giving site at

http://www.justgiving.com/Johnny-bergius0/

or pledge your support by e mailing me on

johnny@bergius.com.

I will be updating the blog on my progress both during training, and when I start the expedition.