ONE giant step for man…

ONE member Dan Robinson made it to the top of Mt. Aconcagua today where he planted a ONE flag! (We hope to get a photo of that soon.) Just 6 summits left to go…

You can read about the day-to-day journey on Dan’s blog at: http://www.dan-robinson.com/. His post for today:

Monday, January 28, 2008

At the top!

Today at 10:45 EST we finally reached the summit! Our original plan was to attempt the summit yesterday but a terrible storm kept us pinned down at 19,200 feet. The storm forced us to stay in our tents the entire day and we also had to endure temperatures of 50 below zero. The winds were absolutely brutal and made the most routine tasks incredibly difficult to do.

All the time and effort that went into this climb was justified when we got to the top of the mountain. Being able to experience the view from the highest point in South America was an emotional time for the entire group. It was a serene moment for each individual, and I was reminded of the reason for my climb to the top.

The ONE flag was proudly displayed at the top of Aconcagua and I know this is only the beginning of my journey to raise awareness. I want to thank everyone who has kept me in their thoughts and prayers and for all the support I have received over the past few weeks. Please continue to spread the message and support this important cause!

-Dan Robinson

ONE Member Continues Climb Up Mt. Aconcagua

Here’s the latest from ONE member Dan Robinson as he progresses up Mt. Aconcagua. There’s been some illness among the group, and breathing gets harder and harder. Once they reach Camp 4, they’ll tackle the summit. For those of you just tuning in, Dan is voluntarily climbing each of the Seven Summits and planting the ONE flag on top of each. Check out his blog at: http://www.dan-robinson.com/.

-Chandler Smith

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Moving on to camp 2….

We spent most of today carrying equipment and supplies from 17,500 feet to 19,200 feet. It was a grueling process but I felt really strong climbing up the mountain. The air up here is really thin and with every step it is getting harder to breathe. We will spend another night at 17,500 feet then climb up to Camp 2 tomorrow. The storm seems to be passing and there might be a chance to summit sometime next week. The views up here are absolutely breathtaking! We are just above the clouds and you can see a magnificent view of the Andes. I can’t wait to share my pictures with everyone when I get back!
8:48 pm est

-Dan Robinson

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Leaving Camp 1

Today we climbed from 15,500 feet to 17,500 feet. It is extremely windy at this altitude and there seems to be a really bad storm coming in. We will stay here for the night then return to Camp 1 tomorrow to haul equipment and supplies to the higher camp. I’m still recovering from a bad stomach bug and I have been having headaches during most of the day. This is getting extremely tough but all the encouraging messages and support has definitely kept me motivated. Thank you for taking the time to spread the message and support the cause!

-Dan Robinson

Dan Climbing Mt. Aconcagua for ONE

Dan Robinson, ONE member, mountaineer and British navy pilot, has begun his climb up Mt. Aconcagua. This is the first peak of seven that he will climb in the name of ONE. As he climbs the Seven Summits, he’s planting a ONE flag on the top of each. Read his almost daily updates at www.dan-robinson.com.

-Chandler Smith

Thursday, January 17, 2008

15-16th Jan…Casa de Piedra to Plaza Argentina (Base Camp)

Hey guys. Managed to get some internet access but it is very slow and very expensive so I’ll combine the last two days. Yesterday we moved from Casa de Piedra to Base Camp at Plaza Argentina. It was a climb of over 3000ft in elevation and around 8 miles. The climb took just over 6 hours and upon arriving at base camp, it was the first time that I really noticed the affects of altitude. Base camp itself is like something out of a Star Wars movie as it is a very dry, rocky environment surrounded by huge mountains including Aconcagua and its Polish Glacier. I woke up this morning with a mild headache, sore throat and a nose bleed that have stayed with me throughout the day. Other than that I feel okay! I look up at the summit of Aconcagua and sometimes I dare to imagine myself raising the ONE campaign banner at the top. It is a very long way and there are lenticular clouds sitting menacingly on the summit. An indication of very high winds that sometimes can range from 100-200mph. I have a lot of work ahead.

Thought for the day:

Our generations challenge is to help the poorest of the poor to escape the misery of extreme poverty so that they can begin their own ascent up the ladder of economic development. The end of poverty, in this sense, is not only the end of extreme suffering but also the beginning of economic progress and of the hope and security that accompany economic development.

See you all soon.

-Dan Robinson

Member To Climb Seven Summits for ONE

Today I’m heading to Argentina to begin climbing the first of the Seven Summits for ONE. As the team and I reach the peak of each mountain, we’ll plant the ONE flag on top, symbolically bringing each continent under ONE’s cause—to beat extreme poverty and disease.

Our adventure begins this morning when we fly to Mendoza, Argentina, to ascend Mt. Aconcagua. At 22,840 ft., this is the tallest mountain in the Americas, and the highest mountain in the world outside of Asia.

All of these climbs will take about two years to complete. My hope is that, by working with my partner Eddie, we will put together a series of programs that will allow students to get involved, whether by tracking my progress or establishing service projects in the mountains’ respective locations communities. Stay tuned as we get working on that—we will want ONE members’ involvement!

When I’m not furiously planning for the next two years of climbs, I spend my “free time” flying the F-22A Raptor supersonic stealth fighter. I’m a Lieutenant in the British Royal Air Force, and currently stationed at Langley Air Force base as Britain’s representative to fly this jet. While my day job isn’t exactly a walk in the park, I expect that these climbs will be an even greater challenge. After all, ending poverty and finding ways to save millions of lives around the world isn’t easy either.

I’m working with a team at Alpine Ascents to help me get up and, even more importantly, get down the mountain safely. We believe in what ONE is doing, and we want to do all that we can to raise awareness of these critical issues. I hope that you will join me checking out my blog at www.dan-robinson.com.

-Dan Robinson, ONE member