The Mountain Fest was a great experience and success this year.It began with returning to Camp Muir and putting one sticker on RMI’s shack under a big, blue and clear sky, with open snow fields below and memories everywhere.
Back in Ashford the grassroots efforts of the foundation to raise money for rescue equipment and training began with a communal dinner in the employee housing. Basically, everyone offered any food that they had. Every bit of effort resulted in a feast and a celebration of the mountaineering feast and remembering Federico Campanini.
The next two days at Mountain Fest were emotional and fruitful as we were able to raise money to getting closer to our goals. We sold t-shirts and hats made by Katy Laveck.

Others gave some donations of what they could.
Eric Schafer participated in a speed boulder climb at the festival and donated his winnings ($75) to the foundation.

Thanks to everyone who helped in the efforts to keep moving Aconcagua.

Come join the Mountain Festival on September 10th and 11th in Ashford, Washington. The festival will have feature well-known mountaineers talking about their experiences and adventures in the mountains. The foundation will also be there trying to raise awareness and funds for future projects on Aconcagua, such as implementing a protocol and medical and rescue training.

Unfortunately, the Tribute Climb on August 30-31st has been canceled. Sometimes mountain moving means just being there for a loved one. It may be scheduled for next week before Mountain Fest in Ashford, Washington on September 10th and 11th. I will be at Mountain Fest with the hopes of raising awareness and funds for improvements of Aconcagua’s rescue system. Come to Mountain Fest or donate to our cause, or at least, be safe in the mountains.

A tribute climb to honor Federico Campanini will be on August 30-31. It is also our intent to raise awareness for organized Search and Rescues on Aconcagua as well as the funds to continue our endeavors to implement an emergency protocol and rescue training for those that work on the mountain. Please donate to our cause today on the website and help us to continue moving mountains.
Ever little bit helps…

August 5th has been deemed Mountaineer Day in Argentina. On this day do something mountaineer-esque that will help promote safety in the mountains.
-Donate to the “El Fede” Campanini Foundation who is trying to implement an emergency protocol for the 2011-2012 season
-Teach a fellow, yet perhaps new mountaineer a safety technique
-Read up on new self-rescue techniques
-Take a refresher CPR, First Aid or wilderness first aid course
-Check out CIMA’s new weather website www.aconcaguaweather.com

“Your mountain is waiting so get on your way”

Vamos! Let’s work together to get an emergency protocol written for Aconcagua!!!!

Everest base camp is a unique environment in which people from all over the world come to try and summit the highest mountain in the world. Climbers, guide companies, sherpas and the volunteer doctors at the ER clinic co-habitate anywhere from 1-3 months in order to reach their goal. Another goal, especially that of the doctors, is to ensure that the mountain is safe in case an accident does occur. RMI has already gone to Camp 1 where rescue equipment such as a sked, oxygen and ropes has been stored.
The community of Everest base camp is distinct to that on Aconcagua. The government is not involved on Everest and therefore the companies work together to make sure that there is rescue equipment. They also promise to work together in any rescue situation that may come up. Thus far, the system has worked well, but will it forever?
Luanne Freer would like to organize a Search and Rescue team but other companies aren’t too keen on the idea. What do you think? Please leave your comments here.

The Puja ceremony is when the Sherpas pay homage to the mountain deity, and it is done before all Everest expeditions.
A lama (a spiritual master) visits the camp in order to bless the expedition. Members of the expedition, including the climbers, the guides and all of the sherpas who will be assisting the expedition offer everything from cookies and popcorn to soda and beer in order to receive a blessing. The ceremony ends with Sherpas throwing tsampa (a roasted barley flour) on all of the members of the expedition while dancing together. The ceremony is a humble reminder to respect the mountain and that it is the journey that matters, not the summit.

I was invited to the Puja ceremony of the Benegas brothers, Willie and Damian, serious and respected mountaineers who also helped me last year in the efforts to install rescue caches on Aconcagua. The Benegas brothers work with conviction and I highly respect and appreciate their work ethic.

“Although mountains belong to the nation, mountains really belong to people who love them”–Mountain and Water Sutra, Dogan 13th century Zen master

I have been talking about my mission to implement an adequate rescue system on Aconcagua and potentially all of the seven summits with trekkers and climbers on the path to base camp. A woman named Carol, from Canada donated money to the foundation and my efforts. In addition, at Everest base camp, I visited RMI’s camp, the company that Federico Campanini used to work for. Dave Hahn and Matt Tucker were there as well as one of their clients, Bill, from Atlanta, Georgia who was there attempting to summit Everest with his 16-year old daughter. He also donated to the foundation’s efforts.
Thank you for your contributions and may we continue to work as an international climbing community.

Pheriche, at 14,600 feet (approximately 4600 metres)is the location of the Himalayan Rescue Association (HRA), one of the aid posts in this region of the non-profit organization which was founded in 1973 in order to help locals and foreigners receive health care in the Himalayas. The HRA also seeks to educate trekkers and climbers on the effects of altitude in order to prevent possible incidents. Every day one of the volunteer doctors holds an informal talk on high-altitude sickness and how individuals can prevent themselves from getting sick, therein being proactive. The clinic also offers health care assistance as well as evacuations when necessary. The HRA is a very effective system and some of the ideas, such as the daily talks on altitude sickness could be implemented into Aconcagua’s system. In addition, clients are charged for their services following a simple system in which individuals must pay for the services and therein must seek reimbursement from their insurance companies. What a revolutionary concept. Perhaps Aconcagua should follow such an example.