Cerro Mercedario

This is a GREAT mountaineering story - one that could have taken his life if he wouldn't have pushed on!

RE: http://www.bootsnall.com/adventures/articles/05-06/cerro-mercedario.html

Hey Dan,
When I was searching the www a couple of days ago for informations on other Mercedario South Face Expeditions I got to BootsnAll and read your story. I can remember that day very well. I was sitting on top of that huge boulder in Base Camp trying to radio you and Jono, when I could suddenly see you guys with the binoculars as tiny dots walking along the ridge of Cerro Negro!
Together with Kylie, Celeste and the British Expedition we were watching your descent and started preparing dinner.
You were so exhausted when you reached Base Camp and to be honest, you looked horrible after this 17-hour climb. :-)

Anyway,I guess Jono you and I had a great time in the Valle Colorado and our expedition was quite an adventure. I would say we can be satisfied with our achievements even though Mercedario, our main objective, didn't see us summit.
As a team we got to the summits of Ramada, Cerro Negro (with you and Jono making the first Australian ascent!) and Alma Negra and managed to climb through the South Face on Mercedario. Just yesterday I read the expedition report of the NORTH FACE PRO-TEAM about their Mercedario climb through the South Face and figured out that Jono (11 hours) and I(12 hours) where faster than those guys (12-16hours). Isn't that funny?? What a disgrace for fully sponsored professional mountaineers! ;-)

I had a great time on that Expedition and it was surely one of the greatest highlights on my 10-month trip in South America! Thanks again for having given me the opportunity to join you guys! I really hope we'll catch up next year for some climbing in the Peruvian Andes!

Hasta pronto
Andre

Hola Andre

Was a pleasure having you along on the trip, hope to catch up with you in Peru next year

For anyone interested click here to read the entire report on Mercedario with photos.

dan