Greetings from somewhere above the Atlantic Ocean! I am completing my first trip around the World as I am returning to Helsinki from my Aconcagua trek! Started by flying to Sydney in December, from where to Santiago de Chile and on to Mendoza.

This Aventura’s expedition was my third time on Aconcagua and I can say am starting to get a hang of the mountain and it’s character. I do like the mountain and the region! I keep hearing some say this would be a not-that-picturesque a mountain but I strongly disagree. Yes, it is a very different peak as it is not snow-covered and yes, it through it’s normal routes really is a trek and not a climb! I do though like the desert-like landscape and the amazing dry-air deep-blue skies as well as it’s rocky flanks alternating colors in evening light.

Argentina is in many senses a little different country to run a trip at compared to f.ex. Nepal. I am happy to have again seen the clockwork-like precision at which the trips are operated. Guides are professional, friendly and helpful and the atmosphere at basecamp very unique indeed!
Weather can be an issue as the peak gets a lot of wind. The region benefits of fairly accurate forecasts which we with good planning can use to our advantage picking up the most suitable summit date.
Climbs from camp to camp are short and easy but the summit day is long and fairly strenuous due to high altitude.

I will be adding pictures under ’Previous trips’ very soon! The next trip starts late January 2015 aiming to summit around Feb 10th 2016. This is a very good time of the year condition-wise. Join us to get the best possible changes to summit this interesting peak!

I recently announced that I will be attempting Annapurna in March! Why this early in the season? It is fairly common for Annapurna to receive new snow in April which might be dangerous on this avalanche-prone mountain. Therefore some teams are aiming to complete the climb already by end of March or early April.
I am again climbing alone on the mountain but due to expected heavy need for trail-breaking and rope-fixing I will be working together with the other teams on the mountain, namely Mingma G. Sherpa’s guided group as well as Carlos Soria’s team.
Route of ascent will be the first ascent route or a variation according to conditions. Teams are flying to Annapurna North basecamp on March 3rd. It might be a cold climb!

After Annapurna I will be leading Aventura’s Mt. Everest Basecamp trek and an Island Peak climb on April 9th through May 1st. We still have spots available for this World trekking classic so sign-up through Aventura!

Best wishes,

Samuli

Greetings from Santiago de Chile! I arrived here yesterday and am flying to Mendoza tomorrow on Sunday!
The last slightly over two weeks I spent in Sydney which I can say easily became one of my favorite cities in the World! Sydney has everything! Beaches, good restaurant, lively and super-friendly people, very high standard of living and amazing climate. Super clean, organized and well-functioning too! What more can you expect? Even got a slight hang of surfing which proved super-fun although quite demanding.

Now I am in Santiago de Chile relaxing and getting everything sorted for Aventura’s Aconcagua trip. Our group of 7 members arrives in Mendoza, Argentina on sunday and we’ll start the trek to basecamp on Tuesday. Aconcagua is an easy trekking peak but is not trivial. At 6959m it is high and very prone to weather and especially high winds. I really hope we get a good change to summit the peak comfortably!
At least hearing the latest from Kilian Jornet’s trip to the mountain gives us impression that the route is in good shape. Less than 13hrs from park entrance to summit and back! That is, pardon my French, fuckin’ insane!

I will be tweeting and sending pics to Instagram occasionally so follow at Twitter and Instagram!