NEW YEAR GREETINGS: From Ivan Vallejo Ricaurte 

NEW YEAR GREETINGS

Dear friends of Ecuador and the world:

From Quito – Ecuador,  I write to thank you all for your support, the company and the encouragement I have received from you this year, with my project, DESAFIO 14 (Challenge 14).

By the end of this 2006 the balance is highly positive, with the addition of a very important achievement: the summit of Kangchenjunga (8,586m), and also with a setback: the attempt of the summit of Dhaulagiri.

Having reached the summit of Kangchenjunga in the conditions I did it leaves a very sweet taste of gratitude with God and with life.  I reached that summit on the third attempt.  When all my teammates decided to leave the mountain I bet once more and I made it.  The gift was great and precious: one of the highest summits in the world, beautifully ready for both of us, insignificant human beings (with my teammate Joao García), who got there tired, wasted but immensely happy.  Under our feet there was only the mountains, clouds and a very wide horizon.  Above us only the impeccable blue and quite sky which saw us from above.

What a magnificent gift!

Then Dhaulagiri came, complicated again, dangerous and difficult; which made me postpone my dream of getting to its highest point. But I came down in one piece and with the same spirit of continuing with the project, next 2007.  Kangchenjunga itself made me see that I should never give up, not even on the second attempt, so that is why I will achieve the pending objective of the summit of that mountain on 2008.

The particular lesson of Chaula is also very valuable: It didn’t matter that I got to that mountain with twelve eight-thousands on my back; that was a guarantee of my knowledge, of course, but the HUMBLENESS I had to gather to accept that I should quit is now the most important value to conclude this year that has been abundant in ACHIEVEMENTS AND GOOD LESSONS.

Thanks a lot again:

Because you were with me

Because of the prayers you made

Because of the good vibrations you sent to the Cosmos

Because you also made the summit of Kangchenjunga your own

And because you expressed solidarity with my on my Dhaulagiri setback.

I wish you a year 2007 with a lot of health.  Let’s not lack enthusiasm for every thing we make, that we always have time to laugh and room for sense of humor, and that we don’t lack work. 

With my affection, 

Iván Vallejo Ricaurte 

Translated from Spanish by Jorge Rivera

Millet One Sport Everest Boot  has made some minor changes by adding more Kevlar. USES Expeditions / High altitude / Mountaineering in extremely cold conditions / Isothermal to -75°F Gore-Tex® Top dry / Evazote Reinforcements with aramid threads. Avg. Weight: 5 lbs 13 oz Sizes: 5 - 14 DESCRIPTION Boot with semi-rigid shell and built-in Gore-Tex® gaiter reinforced by aramid threads, and removable inner slipper Automatic crampon attachment Non-compressive fastening Double zip, so easier to put on Microcellular midsole to increase insulation Removable inner slipper in aluminized alveolate Fiberglass and carbon footbed Cordura + Evazote upper Elasticated collar. Expedition footwear for mountaineering in conditions of extreme cold.  NOTE US SIZES LISTED. See more here.

A cold weather, high altitude double boot for extreme conditions The Olympus Mons is the perfect choice for 8000-meter peaks. This super lightweight double boot has a PE thermal insulating inner boot that is coupled with a thermo-reflective outer boot with an integrated gaiter. We used a super insulating lightweight PE outsole to keep the weight down and the TPU midsole is excellent for crampon compatibility and stability on steep terrain. WEIGHT: 39.86 oz • 1130 g LAST: Olympus Mons CONSTRUCTION: Inner: Slip lasted Outer: Board Lasted OUTER BOOT: Cordura® upper lined with dual-density PE micro-cellular thermal insulating closed cell foam and thermo-reflective aluminium facing/ Insulated removable footbed/ Vibram® rubber rand See more here.

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