Our heroic leader returned safe and sound from his adventure up Cerro Aconcagua and although his trip was extremely challenging he enjoyed it thoroughly.

John commented on his achievement by saying "It is the toughest thing I have ever done. It's a very tough mountain and not everyone is successful in accomplishing their goal to make it to the top."

After three weeks of climbing to reach the summit I humbly endorse the words of the Edward Fitz Gerald as he recounts the first summiting of Aconcagua in 1897:

"It was 1pm on January 14th when I felt I just could no longer move. Needless to say how frustrated I felt. I told Zuerbriggen to go ahead....I will never forget what came next. My legs bent and bruised with the rocks, crawling my way back to the bivouac in Nido de Cordores, which we reached at 5 pm. Zuerbriggen arrived an hour and a half later, having reached the summit, where he had left his ice axe. He was numb by exhaustion. He was so tired and weak that he did not seem to care about his achievement. It was an unusual night, full of the strangest sounds: sighs, breathing, coughs.....The following morning, we gathered our belongings and went back to Inca. That was how the Aconcagua was conquered."

"That is still how Aconcagua is conquered." Commented John Battley upon his return.

With only 20% of those who set out on their journey making it to the summit, John and 7 others in his group of 10 were successful - an amazing result.

Congratulation John it really was a great accomplishment!