The Ferris Files

Today I’m sad to learn that Mt. Aconcagua, a giant South American peak I attempted to climb several years ago, has become a collection point for the dangerous chemicals known as PCBs.

Today Sierra magazine published a story I wrote about those bizarre ice pinnacles I saw on Mt. Aconcagua earlier this year. The penitentes are a fascinating phenomenon, and even better, they may play a role in saving the glaciers of the Southern Andes. Have a look…
http://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/200711/goodgoing.asp

In December, when I was looking about for a point man to manage my blog in my absence, I turned to my brother-in-law Steve because he’s good with bits and bytes and generous with his time. Little did I know what a good choice I’d made.
If you enjoyed the maps of Aconcagua that gave context [...]

The last few days I have been unpacking my bags and found these items of interest:
Pre-Trip To-Do Lists, Urgent (3)
Undone Items (17)
Socks Which, When Turned Inside Out, Explode in a Mushroom Cloud of Volcanic Dust (1 pair)
Items That Smell of Volcanic Dust (47)
Items that Smell of Spilled Sports-Drink Dust (5)
Extra Dust
Water bottles, Dirty (2)
Pee Bottle, [...]

I´ve created a gallery of photos of our Aconcagua saga. No captions yet, but they´ll give you a sense of the variety of climates and vicissitudes of weather we experienced, as well as some of the laughs we had. Enjoy!

Audio Post:
Descent from Base Camp to Pampa de Lenas (9,100 ft. / 2,800 m)
“…Bursts of wind and snow clattering against the tent…”
Click to play (1 min. 59 sec.)

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Podcast: [...]

Audio Post:
Plaza Argentina (Base Camp) (elevation 13,790 ft. / 4,203 m.)
“…it’s a question that hurts to ask right now.”
Click to Play (1 min  42 sec)

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Podcast: Play in new [...]

Audio Post:

Plaza Argentina (Base Camp) (elevation 13,790 ft. / 4,203 m.)
“…from the beginning I felt like a frozen lobster…”
Click to Play (6 min 51 sec)

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Podcast: Play in new [...]