• SKIING THE ANTARCTIC PENINSULA PART 1
• GETTING INTO WINTER CLIMBING SHAPE WITH FA GUIDE CHAD PEELE
• CARSTENSZ PYRAMID THE HEROES PROJECT EXPEDITION IN THREE ACTS
• KYLE MILLER ON FIRST FILM PREMIERE AND TRANSITIONING FROM SKI BUM TO PRO ATHLETE
• BE FIRST RECIPIENT JON TURK RECAPS HIS EPIC, FIRST CIRCUMNAVIGATION OF ELLESMERE ISLAND
• TAHOE GUIDE MEETING DAY 2 THE GUIDE BUILT PROCESS

By Melissa Arnot

One of the first major expeditions Eddie outfitted was in 1953 and 54. The Inca Highway Expedition was a 2-year archaeological exploration of the “Royal Road” that stretched from Quito, Ecuador to Santiago, Chile. This spring, in honor of our 90th year of adventuring, First Ascent’s Melissa Arnot went back to Ecuador, to serve as our guide traveling from beach to rainforest to giant peak. Melissa was joined by climb client Jeff Dossett, photographer Jake Norton and cameraman Bob Poole.

Climbing trips are not just about climbing. That is why I travel rather than choosing to spend time only on the mountains close to my home. You can experience amazing culture and diversity while also staying focused on the goal of a summit. Almost all of the traveling I have done has been for climbing, yet I have ridden elephants, snorkeled with exotic fish and witnessed native tribes in their homes (whether on the ice or in the jungle). For me, climbing is just the passport to the experiences the world can hold. My first international climbing trip was to Ecuador, and I fell in love upon that first visit. I have returned to Ecuador every year since then, and as I explore this diverse country I am constantly amazed and only love it more.

Today is the first day of our visit to the Galapagos. It is a beautifully clear and sunny day as we land on San Cristobal Island. This is the largest of all of the Galapagos Islands and this is where we board our ship, La Pinta. I am a little nervous. I have never been on a ship before and I wonder if I will have “sea legs.” My concern is rapidly distracted by the awe-inspiring landscape. The water is turquoise blue and peppered by black spots which turn out to be sea lions. This is my first time witnessing sea lions in the wild, and I have to keep my feet on the ground through my excitement at the little ones (pups). As we make our first landing from the ship (we take a small dinghy called a panga) the white beach sand is very inviting. All of the guests make their way around the playa (Spanish for “beach”); some choose to bask in the sun while others wander around to gather photographs. We are lucky to have three naturalists who are experts on all things Galapagos, and they readily answer all our questions. They also explain that the animals here are very naïve and they do not mind people at all. This strikes me to be particularly true as a baby sea lion is washed onto the shore and directly into the legs of the man taking pictures of him. I am pretty sure I could hear the sea lion giggle as he swam back into the water. This is a great way to start an adventure.

The nature is the reason to come here, but life on the ship is pretty great. The ship houses 45 people, including an entire staff for everything from feeding you amazing food to cleaning off your shoes and feet after an outing. As the sun sets on the water and the ship is rocking, I am sure I now have my sea legs. In fact, I am thinking about retiring my climbing legs and spending more time at sea… but then, this is only my first day and there is so much more to see.

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