Back in town
After two brave summit atempts, the group completed the Aconcagua traverse and came back to Mendoza yersterday. They tried the summit twice from High Camp, but the intense cold and wind made it unsafe to push on. "We saw climbers going down with their noses white as that wall", one AP climber told us. The group did complete the traverse, which means they did both sides of the mountain. Then we had a solid Argentinean meat and red wine dinner last...
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Big day tomorrow - Dispatch 4
Before the sun rises, the team is going to leave the warmth of the sleeping bags, force some tea into their stomachs and face the hostile atmosphere of the 6.000m high camp. Even before that, the guides will be ready, melting snow and preparing everything for the summit push. Then it is one or two hours of really cold walking, usually in silence, with headlamps on, and every part of the body covered. But then the sun goes up, warming climbers and...
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Carry to high camp
The climbers and the 4 guides -Calvin, Eliana, Marco and Marian- are in Camp II, the Chopper Camp (17700 ft). They are having a rest day now, after some windy days (and nights) . Tomorrow they will do a carry of gear and food to High Camp. This means they will get to 6000 meters! (19,685 ft). After this comes the move to high camp to sleep, and try the summit next day. But it all depends on the group condition, the weather and the guides' desitio...
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New Year Party at Plaza Argentina
Hello and happy new year to all. Guide Calvin Herbert called us last night, as his group was getting ready for a New Year party in base camp Plaza Argentina, at 13,900 ft. "Everyone is well and strong, and we have perfect weather", said Calvin. The hike in was completed as scheduled. During the 3 day trek they had a view of the imposing East face of Mt Aconcagua (picture, from a previous trip). lude the names of the climbers, as request by ...
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Good start
The 12 climbers and 4 guides of this expedition left Mendoza today. After a team meeting and a steak dinner yesterday, they bought their climbing permits today and left in two vans. They completed the 3 hour scenic ride to Los Penitentes (small ski resort at the foot of Mt Aconcagua), and will sleep in the lodge there. The group will begin the hike in tomorrow. It will take them 3 days to reach base camp (Plaza Argentina, 4250m). Tomorrow night t...
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