Back in Punta Arenas

Well gang, I am back in Chile now. It was a long flight from Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas to Santiago de Chile and on to Punta Arenas, but I am here. It is strange, but I feel as though I were here yesterday. It is as though not much has changed really. With all the time that has elapsed since I was in this very hotel, the infamous Condor del Plata, it seems only hours ago I was here. Time has flown by. This last year has been jam packed year or climbing and fun. I have had to pleasure I getting to climb the majority or the year and was able to climb in Mexico, Colorado, Quebec, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, California, and Alaska this year. I got the opportunity to climb with old friends and new and push myself and new ways and in new areas. I am excited to be going back down to Antarctica this year. I will be the first to admit how hard it is to leave loved ones behind, but in the end this is my passion, it is what I do, it is an inner voice I cannot ignore. I am lucky to have a strong group of people who I surround myself with who love and support me. They are truly what keeps me going when times are difficult out here.

Over the next week we will be preparing to fly onto the ice, which is scheduled for November 12th. We will be training, packing gear, loading planes, and making last minute preparations for this seasons activities. Much work needs to be done on the mountain and my time on the ice will be busy. The fixed line that I helped establish last year and the year prior is due for more maintenance. The repeater, that relays a radio signal from base camp to high camp and summit needs to be tested in more remote areas of the mountain, i.e. in crevasses. Alternative routes need to be established on the mountains and safe ski descents need to be determined. A mock rescue from high camp to low camp, and low camp to base camp needs to take place at some point during the season as well. I am intended to be on the ice from Nov 12th-Dec 31, weather permitting. I will do my best to keep up to date on this blog. Since I will be updating this blog via satellite phone through SMS or text I wont be able to answer any questions until after I return from Antarctica, but please comment, I will still read them at some point! Thanks again for checking this out and for the continued support! Much love!

Chris