Seven Summits Quest Series on Amazon

The Seven Summits Quest Series on Amazon has been a persistently good seller from among all my books since I published the first one, Elbrus, My Waterloo.

Seven Summits Quest Series Click to check it out on Amazon.

Note that the book "Die Trying" by Bo Parfet comes up in this search. This book was instrumental in my decision to pursue the Seven Summits Quest and name my series. His experiences on Carstensz foreshadowed mine in several details.

Here are a few of the many 5-Star reviews:

I love the way this author writes! I suspect he keeps people in stitches and on the edge of their seats when he relates his adventures in real life. I love how he can be wry and make fun of things all while being serious and sharing real information. -- Orizaba

An unbelievable account that had me giggling, gasping, and in awe over what Mr. Miske went through. He made it easy to read for someone who knows absolutely nothing about climbing, I appreciated that. (Although I had to Google what "scree" was. Haha) Britney Spears makes an appearance, also some witty commentary that made me just shake my head at what life is like over there. Holy snot! It's an amazing story. Finished it in one sitting while sacrificing sleep. I had to see him home and safe first. :) -- Carstensz

This is really an excellent and enjoyable read. It's a detailed account of the author's attempt at climbing one of the Seven Summits. It's easier to write about one's successes but not always easy to put your failures out there for the world to see. The main point, I believe, is that "failure" isn't necessarily a bad thing. He didn't summit, but he got to experience things that the other 99% of us only dream about. Its pretty remarkable. Recommended for anyone who is considering taking on a mountain of this proportion, there is a lot of useful tidbits in there. Look forward to seeing "Owning Elbrus" from this author someday. -- Elbrus, My Waterloo

I read this an immediately turned around and had my pre-teen boys read it as well. Interspersed with the adventure itself are some great survival in the cold techniques that will make their Klondike outing with the scouts safer. I love that the author chases his dreams with a passion and shared the experience with a friend who was kind of a newbie at this. Their friendship also transpires through the book. -- Elbrus Race 2013

Help me with Volume 5 - South America CLICK HERE

Seven Summits Quest - Volume 5 - South America - Kickstarter Trailer from Charles Miske on Vimeo.

Aconcagua Logistics-Only Expedition Itinerary

If you've been wanting to go to Aconcagua, but have been scared away by high prices, this is the trip for you.

If you've been wanting to test your own organizational and team skills in a high altitude foreign expedition, this is the trip for you.

If you are strong, fit, and have your own gear, this is the trip for you.

With this logistics-only option, you still get the benefits of the full support trip down low, but once you leave base camp at Plaza de Mulas, you're able to climb this mountain on your own. You can truly say that you earned it.

Plaza de Mulas Base Camp on Aconcagua

Itinerary for the Logistics-Only Aconcagua Expedition:

Day 1: Arrive Mendoza, transport to hotel.
Day 2: Obtain permit, groceries, transport to Penitentes, pack mule bags
Day 3: Transport to Horcones trail head. Trek (6 miles) to Confluencia. Check in with Rangers.
Day 4: Local acclimatization hike. Overnight in Confluencia.
Day 5: Trek (10 miles) to Plaza de Mulas. Check in with Rangers. Overnight at PdM.
Day 6: Local acclimatization hike. Check in with Rangers. Overnight at PdM.
Day 7: Ferry loads to Camp 1. Overnight at PdM.
Day 8: Ferry loads to Camp 1. Overnight at PdM.
Day 9: Move to Camp 1. Overnight Camp 1.
Day 10: Ferry loads to Camp 2. Overnight Camp 1.
Day 11: Ferry loads to Camp 2. Overnight Camp 1.
Day 12: Move to Camp 2. Overnight Camp 2.
Day 13: Ferry loads to Camp 3. Overnight Camp 2.
Day 14: Move to Camp 3. Overnight Camp 3.
Day 15: Summit Day #1. Overnight Camp 2 or 3.
Day 16: Summit Day #2. Overnight Camp 2 or 3.
Day 17: Descend to PdM. Overnight PdM.
Day 18: Descend (16 miles) to Horcones. Transport to Penitentes. Overnight Penitentes.
Day 19: Arrive Mendoza. Overnight hotel.
Day 20: Depart Mendoza.

If you want more information, including services with the package and the amazingly low prices, please check it out on my Adventure Blog Page CLICK HERE or make deposit below if you're ready to go.

$400.00 Deposit Due Now. Pay with my PayPal merchant account, no fees to you. Pay with Credit Card, PayPal or E-check. Your deposit reserves your space on this amazing yet economical alternative to Aconcagua that lets you take more responsibility for your own success.

Cotopaxi & Chimborazo Trek & Climb - Book Now Reserve Your Spot

Booking will be closing soon. November 20th is the last day to book your spot on the Ecuador Adventure Trek and Climb.

Illiniza Sur in Ecuador

January 9-22 2015

• Acclimatization Trek to the summit of Cotopaxi 5.897 m / 19,300′
• New Higher Success Route on Chimborazo 6,268 m / 20,564′ 

Supporting Ecuador Sustainable Tourism

• We'll be using local porters, drivers, cooks and camp staff
• We'll be using local English Speaking guides
• We'll be using a local company for our support in Ecuador
• Most of the money stays in Ecuador to support the economy

More Details CLICK HERE

$400.00 Deposit Reserves Your Spot
Pay now on my PayPal Merchant Account with Credit Card or eCheck

Glacier Climbing in Ecuador

Schedule for Payment

• Be sure to read CANCELLATION POLICY
• $400 Deposit Due upon registration
• Balance due 30 days before trip – December 10 2014 ($2600)
• Price was $3200 NOW $3000! for this adventure trip as listed
• Similar trips including Chimbo are $3500 and UP!
• Groups of 2 or more qualify for an even more discounted rate*

* - After all members of group pay deposit group leader sends me email and I'll deduct $120 each from the balance due from each group member.

Register for newsletter to the right to learn about  upcoming trips:

• Aconcagua
• Everest Base Camp
• Island Peak (Nepal)
• Kilimanjaro
• Elbrus
• And More!

Aconcagua 2012 Memories

Aconcagua in November 2012. I had gone on my second attempt at a solo summit, and due to some scheduling issues, late November seemed like the right time to go. Unfortunately the weather thought it would be a really bad time to go. Everything froze up in Confluencia, first camp on the Horcones approach to the normal route. The wind was pretty rough at Plaza de Mulas, the normal route base camp. It snowed and blowed every day I was there. Not sure if the weather was part of the problem, but my health deteriorated, and the Rangers didn't clear me to ascend past base camp and recommended I descend. I hung out for a few days to see what would happen, but the weather was bad enough that the Rangers also declared that no one should go above Camp One at about 16,000'.

Goal Zero Solar Charger and Battery Pack

Holy Snot! Only 79?

Purificup filtration, glacial sediment and ice and all that.

Half Mile visibility seemed about the norm

Water bottle frozen even after spending the night in my -20 bag

Yeah, about that visibility thing

Frozen water barrels at Plaza de Mulas made it tough to get water

I basically ran out of acclimatization time, since the Rangers promised they could open the upper mountain again about 3 days before I had to catch my plane. Take out the day to descend to Puenta Del Incas, a day to travel to Mendoza, and that left me a day to summit. No thanks. I took off for the long haul to Horcones Ranger Station in the blowing drifting snow and lower down gritty sand. I got there after the Ranger Station closed, but some Rangers cleaning up were able to call down for my ride and soon I was in the lodge again.

I did learn a lot about Aconcagua, in spite of not really being able to go past Base Camp this time. Last time I was near Camp One when I twisted my knee outrunning the lightning blast. I figured out a lot about how to use my Goal Zero Solar battery packs to keep my electronics charged and how to keep the water flowing in my Purificup Water Purifier in spite of ice and gritty minerals. Both of these skills were essential for when I successfully climbed Carstensz Pyramid in Indonesia [book] and finished the Elbrus Race 2013 [book].

I might be going back in 2014. If so, I'll keep you in the loop.

Standing at the Equator - November 2008

I went with Mountain Madness for an Ecuador Volcano Climb. We went to the Equator museums and displays and had a great fun day as part of the acclimatization process. We climbed Illiniza Norte and Illiniza Sur, but when we went to do Antisana found conditions to be too dangerous with heavy slab over loose hoar so we didn't climb it. Sur was my high altitude mark at 17,218'

Post by Seven Summits Quest.

Alpamayo Gear List

From the San Juan Mountain Guides Website, here's the gear list for Alpamayo:

6000 Meter Double Boots with Crampons

General Equipment

Duffel Bag: Large durable bag for airline and in-country travel and organization.
Backpack: Internal frame, 50-60 liters max. Guides’ pick: Osprey Aether 60 or Variant 52
Sleeping bag: Down or synthetic bag rated between 15-20 degrees with compression stuff sack. Guides’ pick: Neutrino Endurance 400
Sleeping Pad:  Full-length Therm-a-Rest air mattress.
Pocket knife: 2-3 inch blade, simple, light
Cup/Bowl & Spoon:  Versatile plastic/lexan type.
Small thermos: Optional, but nice to have
Water bottles: 2 liters combined capacity; bottles or bladder. Guides’ pick: Nalgene or Platypus
Water Bottle Insulators: OR or similar sleeve type water bottle insulators

Weighing gear in Talkeetna Alaska

Climbing Equipment

Adjustable Trekking Poles
Harness: Adjustable leg loops are essential.
Locking carabiner (2): Pear shaped, wide mouth.
Non-locking carabiners (4): Wire gate biners are best
Helmet
Boots: Climbing boots.  Double boots or insulated single boots with zippered gaiter.
Crampons: Step in crampons.  Guides’ Pick: BD Sabretooth
Ice Axes: 2 Technical Ice Tools.  Guides’ Pick: BD Cobra

Clothing and Personal Equipment

Travel Clothing: 2 sets of travel/town clothing is usually suffiicient
Hiking boots: Lightweight hiking boots or approach shoes for acclimatization hikes and around town.
Socks: 2-3 pair of medium weight wool or synthetic blend socks.
Base layers: Synthetic t-shirt and synthetic long underwear
Mid-weight Layer: For over your long underwear and under other external layers. Guides’ Pick: OR Centrifuge Jacket
Soft shell pants: Warm enough for cool mornings and nights, yet light enough for warm days. Guides’ Pick: OR Cirque Pant
Soft shell jacket: Your workhorse jacket with a hood. Guides’ Pick: OR Alibi Jacket
Insulated Jacket: Down or synthetic with a hood. Guides’ pick: OR Virtuoso Hoody
Hard shell jacket: waterproof and breathable, no insulation. Guides’ Pick: OR Axiom Jacket
Gloves: 3 pair. 1 mid-weight, 1 heavy-weight, 1 light-weight. Bring mittens if you get cold hands easily.
Hand Warmers: 2 – 3 packets to stick in your gloves.
Hats: one with brim, one for warmth
Balaclava: BUFF’s are also acceptable.
Sunglasses: With Category 4 lenses.
Goggles: A standard paid of ski goggles will suffice.
Sunscreen and lip balm: water/sweat-proof. SPF 50 or higher recommended.
Headlamp: with extra batteries. Guides’ pick: Black Diamond Spot
Toiletries: Toilet paper, baggie for used TP, toothbrush/paste, wet wipes, hand sanitizer, etc.
Personal first-aid kit: for your personal meds/needs; guide will have a large one as well
Stuff sacks: for convenient packing
Digital Camera
Book and/or iPod/iPad
Lunch food: Everything you eat between breakfast and dinner. May include: bagels, dried meats, cheese, trail mix, candy bars, peanut butter, etc…

Alpamayo Itinerary

It's not one of the Seven, but I think it's one of the most beautiful mountains on our planet. For that reason alone I've decided to head to Peru and climb 19,512' Alpamayo. Summit day includes a couple thousand feet of steep snow and ice climbing up to 70 degrees or so. AI 2-3.

I'll be going with San Juan Mountain Guides in Ouray CO and for more information on this climb, and to reserve your spot for next year, [CLICK HERE]

Here is the itinerary as listed on their website:

DAY 1

Depart U.S. for Peru arriving late evening. We will be there to pick you up at the airport and transport you to our hotel near the US Embassy in the Mariscal Sur district.

DAY 2

Today we travel to the high mountain town of Huaraz (9,500 ft.), and our hotel accommodations for the evening.

DAY 3

In Huaraz, we organize equipment and food for our expedition.  This also serves as a valuable acclimatization day.

DAY 4

Drive to Cashapampa (9,000').  Along the way we will pass through many smaller Peruvian villages and enjoy beautiful views of many Cordillera Blanca peaks, including the massive Huascaran. We begin our trek up the lovely Santa Cruz Valley to camp at Illma Corral (11,500').

DAY 5

Another splendid day of trekking in the high Andes to reach our base camp (13,500') for Alpamayo.

DAY 6

We hike a load of equipment and supplies to camp 1 (moraine) and return to base camp.

DAY 7

Today we hike to and stay at moraine camp.

DAY 8

A rest and acclimatization day at moraine camp.

DAY 9

Today we will move to Camp 2, also known as Col Camp.  This is one of the more challenging days of the expedition, as we will be navigating crevasses and some steep two-tool climbing with heavier packs on the way to our camp at 18,000'.

DAY 10

Summit Day on Alpamayo (19,512').  After we cross the bergschrund it is approximately 7 – 9 pitches of 55 – 70 degree neve and ice climbing to the summit ridge and the top of this sought after peak.  We will rappel the route back to high camp.

DAY 11

Extra summit day or rest day at Col Camp.

DAY 12

Extra summit day on Alpamayo.  Alternatively and if the group is feeling strong, we may choose to climb Quitaraju (19,820') by it’s North Face.  Though not as steep as Alpamayo, the route is longer and crests the magical 6000 meter mark.

DAY 13

Descend to basecamp from Col Camp.

DAY 14

With the aid of horses we will descend from basecamp back to Cashapampa and continue to Huaraz.

DAY 15

Depart Huaraz and return to Lima.

DAY 16

Return to the US.

Photo and information from San Juan Mountain Guides website.