The North Face of Nuptse: Willie and Damian Benegas

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Follow Along: Dispatch One: During the 3 times Willie summited Everest, he had to walk from base camp to Camp 2 several times--- every time he arrived at Camp 1 he keep looking to the north face of Nuptse. Wishing he was there hanging on the buttress. We worked very hard to be a climber and a full time guide and more for us that we are climbers by heart. Since we started climbing almost 17 years ago we almost usually spent all our energy exploring, hanging or breathing some very cool and oxygen deprived air up some big peak somewhere in the world. Our adventures have taken us to almost every continent. Check here for the full dispatch.

Damien and Guillermo (Willie) Benegas, the "Patagonian Brothers," were both born and raised in Argentina and are among the elite of world-class mountain guides. Their list of accomplishments is extraordinary, from first ascents in Patagonia, where they developed their passion for mountains early in life, to Baffin Island, to Everest. The Patagonian Brothers have guided for more than 15 years across the globe. Each have 25-30 ascents of Aconcagua, making them perhaps the most qualified guides on the mountain. Both are members of the North Face Athlete Team

Willie Benegas © David Keaton

This spring they head to the land of the Himalayas! To attempt the north face of Nuptse--- "A direct start and finish": to the north spur on the north face.

Willie's Brief Resume below courtesy of The North Face

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ABOUT WILLIE: Born and raised in the wild heart of Patagonia, Willie Benegas has pursued a long apprenticeship in the mountains. Willie has pushed his craft on the big walls of Yosemite, the airy summits of South America, and the loftiest peaks of the Himalayas. Willie completed his first major ascent in the winter of 1987 with a route up Patagonia's West Face of Pitriquitron (VI, 5.9 A3 W2/3), which has still not been repeated. At age 20, he climbed Aconcagua's impressive South Face, as well as Fitzroy. In the following years, Willie "ticked off" the first ascent of the North Face of Pakistan's Nameless Tower "Book of Shadows" (VII, 5.10+ A4 W14), made record speed ascents in Yosemite Valley, and attempted major new routes on the legendary North Faces of Thalay Sagar and Jannu. In 2001, he set the world record speed ascent/descent of the highest mountain in the Western Hemisphere, Aconcagua (22,831 ft.), summited Everest for a second time, and ran the legendary Leadville Ultra 100-mile Race. In the spring of 2002, Willie reached the Top of the World yet a third time. However, simply overcoming technical routes and conquering summits around the world is not enough for this 34-year-old climber. He gathers equal satisfaction by introducing others to the world of mountain experiences and exploration.

Willie has many plans for the future, but he often gets the same question, why do you climb? To this he simply says, "A mountain adventure will carry over into the many facets of life, teaching yourself about yourself, your co-existence with nature, and the respect for people's cultures."