OPASE partner of sport performance reaches 6962 m
An expedition, part of France January 18, 2008 to Santiago, had the ambition to climb two peaks before February 6. The first was to "get legs" was "Cerro El Plomo in Chile. Back in Santiago, the second summit flouted the expedition from its height of 6962m: it was of course the Aconcagua. Philip, exhausted but happy to reach the summit January 31, 2008, we made a snap opas by flying the flag with pride.
Arriving from France to Santiago de Chile, our brave explorer left for five days of shipment with 5 of his new classmates for the ascent of the peak Cerro El Plomo "at 5424m.
Cerro El Plomo is a giant dome over the city of Santiago de Chile. It is a popular destination for andinist because the climb is not too technical, anyone in good physical condition can run it. However, the altitude, snow and low temperatures make it a serious challenge requiring mountain guides and equipment quality. The mountain became world famous in 1954, when a child Inca mummy was discovered a few meters from the summit. Today, the remains are visible on the Inca who was the extreme south of their empire.
After three days of acclimatization, the ascent itself takes two days. And there, the first challenge done with him to opas 5424 m.
After a break for one day in Mendoza, necessary step for obtaining permits to climb, the expedition set off again for 11 days, heading to the summit (6962m) in the Americas and the Andes in Argentina , about ten kilometers from the Chilean border. Aconcagua dominates the entire southern hemisphere and remains the highest peak outside of Asia.
Its coordinates are: 69 º 59 'West longitude and 32 º 39' South latitude in the Aconcagua Provincial Park, the heart of the Province of Mendoza.
For the record, the discovery of Aconcagua is due to the German Paul Güssfeldt in 1889, reached an altitude of 6560m, was forced to retire due to bad weather. The first truly successful ascent by the North Slope was conducted by Matthias Zurbriggen arrived independently at the summit January 14, 1897, his colleague Fitz Gerald had abandoned at 6700m.
The amount of oxygen at the top is more than 40% of the value measured at sea level, which makes the performance much more difficult to climb! Other factors are increasing the difficulty: the fog and cold winds, especially the "Viento Blanco, icy wind which can reach 180 km / h, where the temperature can drop to -45 ° C.
The expedition consisted of six people and two guides. Only four people and a guide to reach the summit. Indeed, the problem of acclimatization at this altitude is such that even experienced people can be forced to abandon
The first arrival is a lady who accumulates fiftieth athletic performance (browsing the maraton in 2:40). The second, quarantine, and completes its goal of having its assets to the "seven summits" (the highest peaks of all seven continents). The third is our talented climber (worthy representative of our organization), always at the service of performance and the appointment to carry the colors of the highest opas! The fourth, the second husband, arrived exhausted and exhausted, he was assisted by Philip to go down
Again, congratulations to Philippe Legros has achieved this feat and has been kind enough to share it.
His travelogue will be available soon on this site. If you want to contact him, please send an email by clicking here.
Unfortunately, the summit was in the fog and snow: the photo has been taken a little lower, 6400 m anyway!
Our brave adventure, barely recovered from his efforts, gives us an appointment for his next challenge: the "ice patrol" in Zermatt in the Swiss Alps. This is a raid of 57 km and 4000m in altitude, which must be traversed by ski trails in less than 18 hours.
We will post course, informed, knowing that his goal is to achieve this feat in less than 15 hours!