Received a call from Simon at 16.06 our time today Wednesday 31st January.
"Yes! Made it!"
"Wow! What a day! After 'breakfast' at 11p.m. last night we started out. After half an hour we crossed the scree. We put on the crampons then slogged through the night constantly heading up hill, crossing snow bridges, crevasses and making vertical climbs. The task was made so much harder by the very thin air. We were all roped to a guide.
Some of us reached the summit. Our .... time was 4.40 a.m. All those who made the summit got there just after sunrise. Magnificent views of the crater and surrounding mountain scenery.
The wind chill factor at the summit was minus 32 degrees - and temperatures during the night were a lot less than that!
All now returned safely to the hut."
(Simon was very breathless and the line was breaking up but this is a near approximation of what he said).
Many congratulations to the team. Well done.
Sheila
Wednesday, 31 January 2007
Tuesday, 30 January 2007
Message from Chad at Charity Challenge
Tuesday 30th January
Chad had just received a phone call from Brian Jackson, the expedition leader. The glacier practice had gone very well. Tonight the group will be at the Jose Refugio. All were looking forward to attempting the summit tomorrow, except poor Julian with his twisted knee. There are 12 mountain guides with the party who will be helping them with their climb in the morning.
Chad asked me to point out that the summit climb mentioned in Simon's blog of Sunday 28th January was of Illiniza Norte, and the walk yesterday (Monday) was the Ruminahui Trek.
Best wishes and good luck for tomorrow morning.
Sheila
Chad had just received a phone call from Brian Jackson, the expedition leader. The glacier practice had gone very well. Tonight the group will be at the Jose Refugio. All were looking forward to attempting the summit tomorrow, except poor Julian with his twisted knee. There are 12 mountain guides with the party who will be helping them with their climb in the morning.
Chad asked me to point out that the summit climb mentioned in Simon's blog of Sunday 28th January was of Illiniza Norte, and the walk yesterday (Monday) was the Ruminahui Trek.
Best wishes and good luck for tomorrow morning.
Sheila
Monday 29th January - Ice Training Day
Phone call received from Simon - Tuesday 30th at 13.00 UK time - 08.00 Ecuador time.
"After donning our climbing boots, crampons and ice axes we set off for the glacier. The bus driver took us halfway and we then had to walk the equivalent of .... well, the rest of the way!
It's beautiful weather giving amazing views of the whole valley, a real relief after the rain of the first few days.
Following our lunch at the hut - shared with a greedy Andean wolf! - quite tame - eating out of our hands - the ice training consisted of walking across, down and back on a steep section of melting glacier. The danger and excitement was increased by falling rocks. Our guides, Brian and Nelson, did a good job and we all feel confident now in our crampons.
Kit inspection took a more serious turn back at Tambopaxi Lodge, and we are prepared for high winds and freezing temperatures.
Excitement and nervous anticipation seem to be the group mood. We hope for good weather for our summit attempt which we start at 01.00 (1 a.m.) on Wednesday morning.
We have been staying in dormitory accommodation for the last three nights - Julian may have been maligned and has been overtaken by Paul and Dr Tim on the snoring front!
All are well and send their love."
Simon.
"After donning our climbing boots, crampons and ice axes we set off for the glacier. The bus driver took us halfway and we then had to walk the equivalent of .... well, the rest of the way!
It's beautiful weather giving amazing views of the whole valley, a real relief after the rain of the first few days.
Following our lunch at the hut - shared with a greedy Andean wolf! - quite tame - eating out of our hands - the ice training consisted of walking across, down and back on a steep section of melting glacier. The danger and excitement was increased by falling rocks. Our guides, Brian and Nelson, did a good job and we all feel confident now in our crampons.
Kit inspection took a more serious turn back at Tambopaxi Lodge, and we are prepared for high winds and freezing temperatures.
Excitement and nervous anticipation seem to be the group mood. We hope for good weather for our summit attempt which we start at 01.00 (1 a.m.) on Wednesday morning.
We have been staying in dormitory accommodation for the last three nights - Julian may have been maligned and has been overtaken by Paul and Dr Tim on the snoring front!
All are well and send their love."
Simon.
Monday, 29 January 2007
Sunday 28th January
On Friday we walked to the camp site arriving just before the rain! After our lunch we retired to the tent in an attempt to get some sleep - stopping us was the rain beating against the tent, the altitude (4000m) and Julian's snoring.
The tent proved more or less leak-free; more damage was done by us bringing our own water supply.
On Saturday we got up at 2 a.m. for breakfast before starting walking at 3 a.m. It wasn't raining and the walking was steep but sound. We made good progress and arrived at the hut near the top (4750m) just after dawn. We rested and had part of our lunch before attempting the summit. The final stretch was very hard work, scrambling across a partially frozen snow scree slope.
The guides were brilliant and we all made it to the summit (bar Julian who stayed in camp because he twisted his knee badly on the first day).
We arrived at summit by 9.00 a.m. Exhausted, we were rewarded by spectacular views between the clouds. We were above cloud level and saw our first glimpse of Cotopaxi, its glacier covered peak peeping above the clouds. Fantastic.
We all made it down safely to the very comfortable lodge at the base of Cotopaxi. Food & accommodation has been excellent.
'Worms', invented by (… ?) involves getting into your sleeping bag upside down & having a wrestling match! Having a rest day today (Sunday).
Simon
The tent proved more or less leak-free; more damage was done by us bringing our own water supply.
On Saturday we got up at 2 a.m. for breakfast before starting walking at 3 a.m. It wasn't raining and the walking was steep but sound. We made good progress and arrived at the hut near the top (4750m) just after dawn. We rested and had part of our lunch before attempting the summit. The final stretch was very hard work, scrambling across a partially frozen snow scree slope.
The guides were brilliant and we all made it to the summit (bar Julian who stayed in camp because he twisted his knee badly on the first day).
We arrived at summit by 9.00 a.m. Exhausted, we were rewarded by spectacular views between the clouds. We were above cloud level and saw our first glimpse of Cotopaxi, its glacier covered peak peeping above the clouds. Fantastic.
We all made it down safely to the very comfortable lodge at the base of Cotopaxi. Food & accommodation has been excellent.
'Worms', invented by (… ?) involves getting into your sleeping bag upside down & having a wrestling match! Having a rest day today (Sunday).
Simon
Monday, 22 January 2007
Cotopaxi Itinerary
Wishing good luck to the team who fly out from Heathrow at an ungodly hour on 22nd January. Here is the link to the itinerary so you'll know where they are, and when. http://www.charitychallenge.com/pdf/Avenue%20of%20the%20Volcanoes%20Itinerary%2022_01_07.pdf
Thursday, 11 January 2007
Welcome
Welcome to the Cotopaxi 2007 Reach/ Steps expedition blog!Here are a few words from some of the members of the expedition:
Here are some snippets about the people taking part:
SIMON WEBSTER
"I'm excited although a little daunted about doing this trip and realising how difficult it will be to walk and climb at this altitude. I'm 46 and maybe getting a bit long in the tooth for this sort of thing! I'm really excited at being part of the team and having the opportunity to reach the top of more than one volcano.I work for RSLSteeper. We realize and appreciate the good work which Reach and Steps undertake. If you would like to sponsor the group, please go to www.justgiving.com and enter my name "Simon Webster" in the name box.
HOWARD WOOLLEY:
I live in Manchester near the Old Trafford football ground. I work in Stoke on Trent as a prosthetist. I'm married and have a 12 year old son. Some years ago I cycled from London to Moscow withmy wife on a tandem for charity!
CHARLES MURRAY:
I'm Charles Murray, 44 years old, property company director, live in Sale, S.Manchester. I'm also the chairman of the board of trustees for STEPS one of the benefiting charities. I'm a trustee as my daughter Georgina, who is now 12, was born with developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) so it's a bit corny, but"I'm trying to put something back into the charity that helped us when we needed help". So far I've raised £20,500 and rising.
PAUL DONNELLY:
Hi, I’m Paul.
Living in Ireland I bring an international dimension to the group. I must confess that until I heard of the Avenue of the Volcanoes, a vacation would have meant lazy days, good food and lots of drink. How times have changed! I only hope my former (and perhaps future) indulgencies do not hinder me as I strive to conquer the peaks and meet the challenges that lie ahead.
My reason for signing up for this trip is because my 3 year old son Eamon was born missing his right hand and I wanted to raise some funds for the charities that support children with limb deficiencies. Even before I depart, the journey has renewed and rekindled my belief in human kindness as people have donated towards the venture with a generosity I could not have imagined. Thank you to everyone who has given money, time and support. As I prepare to head off in a few days my greatest hope is that I can repay everyone who has supported me by getting to the top and coming home safely.
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