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[Oriol Rios]

Hey hey mountaineers!!!!

Here we go with plenty of updates (even for those who were there on saturday's meeting... I finally manage to talk to Taylan!! ;)

The first Ararat meeting-training held last saturday was a success although we could not perform the expected route due to high gust winds (120km/h according to meteocat!!). And indeed it blew some of us away several times... Despite this, we kept our bravery and it was a perfect day with severe alpine conditions, snow-rock  progression, and a good 8h journey.. My personal  balance is great hike!!!! (pics below and more (nicer) pics in this album (from our expedition photographer) !!)

And since we had some time left.. we met up for the first face-to-face meeting... it was extremely productive and, as we accorded, I send out the summary and the task (and deadlines) we agreed on!!

(read it untill the end!!)

Meeting's Minutes  (drinking beer while staring at Pedraforca)

We decided to rush up some tasks and create commissions and set deadlines.. the common date (for everyone) is 10/06/13

Commission 1: Contact other expeditions to ask about (gas, water, animals, attack strategy, camps security... Mari,  Oriol R

Commission 2: Seek for official guide and ask for a budget (see note 1). Joan, Ferran

Commission 3: Sponsor's project (english-catalan/spanish versions). Budget+ sponsorship modalities (offers, money, cookies...) + paying back system. The report ready to hand it by deadline... (some possible sponsor to try: Decathlon, Kit Kat, Vertic, Cim (Manresa), Buff, Xavier, Eloi, Mari (exception!! deadline 07/06!!!)

TASK 1: Detailed list of common material, group material (tents groups of 4) and personal material (thecnical doubts as well (i.e.. would this pants be appropriate??). Oriol P

TASK 2: Contact BUFF company to arrange buff for the expedition.... and since we didn't agreed the model.. that's the poll to choose it!! Xavier

TASK 3: Create a nice blog/web page with information about the expedition for communication/sponsor purposes.. Oriol R

DO IT NOW 1: Choose LOGO! Fill this poll!!

DO IT NOW 2: Vote for BUFF model (same poll above)

DO IT NOW 3: fill this doodle for the NEXT training date!!! the idea is to plan a two days hike and check out our sleeping bags (or brake them in if you buy it new) at same time as we sleep as high as possible... what will (probably)  give us extra aclimatation (at least mentally)... We still need an organizer... and be careful Ferran left the level pretty high (how can you improve Ferran's accommodation??? I guess only with an infinite stars hotel ;) 

Note 1: I talked to Taylan... Turkey seems to have bumped into "arab spring" revolution... Taylan thinks Ararat's project is still safe (and I do think so) given the time left.

Note 2: Taylan also contacted a turkey mountaineering association (mm did you know them already?) that gonna provide us support...actually they already posted in their web page about our expedition!!!! (that was a surprise we found yesterday!! ). He is asking if they speak english so we can directly communicate with them to solve commission 1 and 2.... otherwise we'll send a questions list to Taylan and he'll ask them.

Note 3: I met a cardiologist (actually is a close friend fiancée) that is super into altitude sickness (she's been climbing high as well). We already arranged a meeting and she gonna give us medical prescriptions (receptes) for altitude medicines she considers worth carrying. We also talked about oxiometer and she agreed that was a good idea!! (although haemoglobin levels depends on subjects.. the saturation is absolute!!  (BTW.. Oriol P already bought it!!! such a great planner!!)   

So.... ready to work???

Less than 50 days to go!!! I'm already nervous!!

Big big hug!!

Oriol,

[Maria Dalmases Betriu]

Hey!

Thanks a lot for all the news and organization!! 

Uau!! The picture in front of Pedraforca it's amazing!! Of course the meeting was extremely productive!! For sure you got some inspiration there :)

Greetings from a summertime Copenhagen! No mountains, but we have been swimming in the sea this weekend!! Incredible good weather!!

Hugs!

maria

2013/6/4 Oriol Rios <orio...@gmail.com>

[Oriol Rios]

Ei, ei!

A super short mail just to let you know couple of things!!

Polls-doodle results.

Logo & buff type (you can see final stats here)

Taylan's logo is the winner!!! So we can go ahead with it and put it on the report and buff ad co.

Logo's type... we have a triple technical tie!!! Normal, polar and Federalism have the same votes!!! So people who haven't voted yet... help us out!! XD

Doodle with training dates... Take your agenda and note down weekend 13-14 July for a two days hike with bivouac  at high altitude sleeping back check!! So far this is the date with more people (if maria can make it).

Then I also think that 29-30, or 6-7 could be used to organize an excursion (can be 1-day excursion), to give more options to people that are not available the 13-14... I can take the lead to organize 13-14 training (if anyone want to do it... just speak up!) ... who volunteers for the others????

And some promotional advertising!!! Are you looking for alpine boots???

A friend of mine is selling this amazing alpine boots made of kevlar (bulletproof vests!!!). If you read some reviews.. they are a super alpine classic!!

She used them once ans is selling them for 100€!!!! (just check the normal price anywhere...)

Big big hug!!

And remember the hangout!!! (and the commission tasks!!!)

See you

Oriol,

2013/6/4 Maria Dalmases Betriu <mard...@gmail.com>

[Oriol Rios]

Hey hey everybody!!

How are the tasks going??? It is 11th, and we are slightly more than one month to gooo!!!!!

I remember the Hangout meeting next monday 17th at 20.00 to share commission's progress, I'll send the agenda this week ;). However, we got an answer from BUFF, they will not sponsor us ;( but we need to decide which kind of buff we want.... so the ones that haven't vote (or the ones that voted for federalism) please do it again so we can brake the tie!!!!... Bear in mind that we'll need to place an order for at lest 25... so we can sell the left over to relatives.. ;)

Keep it up people... we are getting into the final step!!!! ieeeie

Big hug!

Oriol,

PD: you can check now the poll results.. I didn't know I have to give you access..
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1kcVlE_JEPDoRlUOfmQ8yiflQ-jCNyJuDzof6E5HH1OI/viewanalytics

2013/6/8 Oriol Rios <orio...@gmail.com>

[Maria Dalmases Betriu]

Hey!!

Just a short email to tell you some news:

1) I have alredy bought the plane tickets Copenhagen-Barcelona and I can join for the Pre-Ararat training the 13th-14th!! Yuhuu!! Really looking forward to that! I have been talking with Mari and she told me that all of you are really fit... 

2) If we are planing of 13th-14th is to hike close to Organyà I can provide accomodation! Is definetly not an infinit stars hotel but... at least Organyà is known as "Organyà, el bressol del català" ;) 

3) Oriol!! Thanks for your email! My boots just have been broken into parts!! too bad... :( So I'm interested in the boots of that girl!! But... do you know which size are they?

4) I'm sorry, but I won't be able to be part of the hangout on Monday 17th... That day I'm going to a conference to Berlín!! :)

But, we keep in touch!! Hugs for all!!

maria

PD: Tourist-comission I will write you soon!! Sorry for the delay!

2013/6/11 Oriol Rios <orio...@gmail.com>