Books
Aconcagua, Argentina 1992
Aconcagua, Argentina 1992
In March 1991 I am working in my father's clothing business, doing nothing very much in particular, when I get a call from dad, instructing me to grab my colleague James Carnegie and come to see him. I prise James away from his computer, and we wander down the hall to Dad's office. Typically he is on the phone, simultaneously praising, congratulating and chastising a distant member of his team. Dad winds up the call and hangs up the phone. He announces, 'It's been bloody raining in Queensland all week. We have got too many shorts and not enough jeans - sales are shithouse! We will miss budget for the month if the sun doesn't come out soon, and to make matters worse, the school holidays are a week later this year.' James and I take a seat and reassure Dad that the weather is bound to improve soon.
Dad informs us that he had been approached by one Peter O'Brien, who is seeking to put together a team of mountaineering novices for the purpose of climbing Mount Aconcague in Argentina, South America, under the banner of 'MAST - Leaders to the top.' At 6960 metres, Aconcagua is the world's highest mountain outside the Himalayas. Dad explains that while he has no interest in going himself, he thinks that it would be a good idea for the company to send James and me away to develop our leadership skills.
