Post created by Laurence Tseng

January 7, 2013

3 days after the climbing, my mind still stays at Chachani…

Sitting on the ground at 19200 feet, feeling my body shaking in strong wind, I was asked if I wanted to go up. Since the headache and dizziness were all gone, I felt I should be able to keep climbing, so I said yes. But was it a right decision? Even until our reflection the next day, I believed my decision was right. However, on my flight back to Durham, this question still lingered in my mind and I came to realize that I made a lot of mistakes at that critical moment.

When I made such a decision, I considered only my own condition. Unlike Rebecca, I didn’t think of the potential risks my decision might bring to the leading group because apparently my fitness condition was not as good as those 3-4 leading guys’ at that time. And unlike Brian and Jack, I didn’t consider what constructive role I could play at that moment. I should have done something to help the team to make a quicker decision instead of sitting there and waiting for the team’s decision. So, apparently I failed in terms of teamwork and leadership. But do I think not being able to summit means that the whole climbing was a failure? I probably won’t put any label on that because I feel the climbing could be both a success and a failure for me depending on which perspective I look at. Even though I failed on teamwork and leadership, but reaching 19,200 feet really builds up my confidence to climb high mountains in the future because I didn’t know that I could have the ability to reach such a high altitude before this trip. And just like what Zach said, if we had decided to go up and reached the top, I might just have celebrated the victory and lost the opportunity to reflect my decision deeper. We might not make the best decision for everyone, but for most team members, I think we made a good decision because in retrospect we might have been stuck in the snow if we had decided to go up. And as Carolyn reminded me, if I had kept going up, I might still have had the gastric acid problem and would have had a much more difficult time to get down the Chachani.

To be frank, even though BOLD fellows kept saying that this trip would become a transformational experience for us and even though the word “leader” is embedded in BOLD, I didn’t take these seriously. I doubted how a mountain-climbing activity could transform me and I always thought leadership was such a vague idea. However, after the trip, I totally changed my mind not because of climbing Chachani per se, but because of the lessons that I have learned from my Barfeez teammates. They showed me how a good leader/team player should think and act, and how to learn from our decision making. Besides, just like what Greg said, a good leader will build up a framework for his/her team members to help each other, which I believe Kirsten and Jesse did very well. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have got so much unselfish help from every team member not just on the way down the Chachani but during the whole trip! Thank you, all of my Barfeez teammates. You guys gave me a transformational experience, which is and will still be one of the best experiences in my life!

Post created by Kirsten Hagfors

January 7, 2013

I will let our documentarians give you the full scoop of Team 2′s wild adventure on Chachani, but the key takeaway was: “Era un tormento.” It was a torment.

The winds were such that reaching the summit required an impromptu rope-up at 19,200 feet. While we had a number of individuals wanting to go to the summit (and very capable of reaching it), the conditions and the methods by which we would have to reach it was not within the risk profile of the institution that is Duke BOLD.

As you may expect, the decision was challenging. But this is what BOLD is all about. Taking a set of variables and making bold decisions. Putting the safety and well-being of the team first. Turning back when we could no longer meet our ultimate goal.

However, turning back as an entire team of 11 Barfeez at 19,200 feet was the most powerful thing I have ever experienced. We climbed together the entire way. We checked in with one another at every stop despite the extremely strong winds, cold temperatures and occasional snow flurries. We always had an awareness of where we all stood. Who was getting stronger and more confident with every step; who was managing a bit of light-headedness or frozen fingers; who was hungry and who was tired.

This full insight and group mentality was something I had only dreamed of in past expeditions. This was the moment I had always aspired to experience. This was it. This was what being BOLD had always been about. And the fact that it came on the final summit attempt of my final expedition was truly the capstone of the transformational experience that has been BOLD.

While I plan to continue to pursue great heights (Mount Rainier in July), I’m not sure that I will ever experience the unexpected bliss and pride that was leading and working with Team Barfeez.

I want to thank everyone for their commitment to the program and for allowing me to grow through this opportunity. Barfeez co-BOLD fellow, Jesse Johnson, was my perfect balance when I got frustrated with situations out of our control. BOLD fellows Jonathan and Michael led their team to great successes and shared important learnings with Team 2. Jack and Bernardo were essential for our planning purposes as we sorted out hostel, transportation and guide services; their willingness to spend hours on these logistics in preparation and their expertise in Peru was absolutely critical to the success of the program.

Further, the ownership that BOLDers took over their individual roles allowed the fellows to operate efficiently without worrying about other tasks. The work on the field guide and documenting our BOLD experience will help preserve it for future generations. The fun factors were high due to dance parties, secret Santa exchanges and cultural experiences. The training on Misti (or the backside of Chachani in the case of Team 2′s second hike) was well executed despite multiple challenges. We were always well-fed and hydrated thanks to the nutritionists, also working within a limited budget to provide the energy that we needed to be successful on the mountain.

Well, this post turned into being more than a brief update, but I couldn’t help myself. I am just so thankful for this program, founded three years ago by Andrew Dietrich, who was so passionate about the idea of combining extreme physical accomplishments with leadership development.

MUCHAS GRACIAS! Can’t wait to see where BOLD ends up next! And stay tuned for a full debrief of Team 2′s experience as well as more galleries of photos from both expeditions.

January 4, 2013

“If adventure has a final and all-embracing motive, it is surely this: We go out because it is our nature to go out, to climb mountains, and to paddle rivers, to fly to the planets nd plunge into the depths of the ocean. When man ceases to do these things, he is no longer man.”

-Wilfrid Noyce

The attempt to summit was held over the span of two days. The first day consisted of crossing a rocky boulder field starting at 15,500 feet to base camp at 17,000 feet. Our team ate a delicious dinner provided by our guides of soup and pasta, went to sleep at 8pm and got up at midnight to start preparing for the climb.

Our group garnered our crampons, ice axes, helmets, copious amounts of layers, water and snacks and started to hike at 1:30 am. It was completely dark, yet the golden glow of the moon, stars and our headlamps led us up the steep switchbacks.

The Sun Starting to Rise as Climb up Nevado Chachani

Adventure and the unwavering will to summit a mountain in extreme altitude held true as our team began our ascent up the 19,872 foot peak. During the numerous traverses in the dark night until the sun rose, our team´s encouragment was incredible. In moments of nausea, headaches, and muscle cramps, a teammate was always there to help, offering a sip of hot water and encouragement. Everyone in the team, despite the way that they felt, helped another team member through the “pain tunnel” to get them as close to the summit as possible.

When we ascended past 18,000 feet, we saw the summit. We asked the guide how close to the summit we were, and he stated three hours. Never has 400 meters seemed so far. Slowly but surely, the first group hit the summit at 8:15 am and the second group at 9:45 am.

First Summit at 8:15 am--19,872 feet (6,057 meters)

The second team summits at 9:45am--Go tortugas!!

The final climb down was long and painful, through crag ridgelines, scree fields and deep sand combined with volcanic ash. One of the most impressive aspects throughout the journey to the summit was the high morale and selflessness.

After our descent to basecamp, we packed our belongings and hiked two hours through the boulder field to the cars. Once we reached the cars, we had a three-hour bumpy ride to our hostel. Everyone´s first stop was a shower (although they were freezing cold) then a delicious plate of warm food–alpaca was on the mind. We went to a local restaurant and celebrated the success of strong and united teamwork and accomplishing the physical goal of climbing Nevado Chachani.

Post written by Rebecca Schoonover

January 2, 2013!

It is our last day in Arequipa. Tomorrow we leave for base camp on Nevado Chachani and we will not return until after our final ascent. Yesterday we had our second training hike, again reaching 15,000 feet in elevation. This time, our picturesque panoramic featured El Misti center stage, her grooved channels majestically descending downwards to where she protrudes from the xeric sands of the highland Peruvian desert.

Last night we did a “Secret Santa: New Years Edition”, exchanging gag gifts from the markets of Arequipa. Adorned in our new gear, we hit the town for pisco sours and a good time. Let’s just say a raging dance party ensued, starring a jester, a man-fairy, a Taiwanese gnome, and various white-looking Incans.

Today is spent in preparation, with each Barfee having their own unique pre-game ritual.  Greg, Brian, Carolyn, Laurence, & Zach are go-karting. BOLD Fellows Kirsten & Jesse are ensuring last minute details and answering questions about gear. Molly & Lisa are fighting a hard battle against the noxious fumes in their room, coming from a place they cannot seem to find. I myself am clearing out the memories on our video & digital cameras, to have a fresh start for our trek.

As I go through the footage, I am reliving the earlier parts of our journey together, which began in the early fall months of 2012. El Misti’s ashen dunes remind me of the gray gothic stones that we ran around, lunged alongside, and squatted on back home on Duke’s campus. I remember our first run together, which we all did before we even knew one another’s names. It is daunting and daring to commit to a team before it has formed, and to do so with the goal of climbing a 6,075 meter mountain together seems sort of outrageous. In reflecting on where we started, how far we have come, and how much has changed–both within and among us– it seems that what has been guiding us on this journey is a harmonious unification. As we make our final preparations in anticipation of what is to come, we go forth knowing that in a way, we have already accomplished what we have set out to do.