Basecamp!

Here comes the first blog update in a few days. We didn't get a chance to update it since we left Mendoza. We spent new years eve in Penitetes, a small skiing resort not far from the park entrance.

1/1/2010: We started the trek from the park entrance to Confluencia, the first camp at 3400m. Most of us were carrying heavy loads, 25-30kg. It was sunny and hot most of the way, but we were hit by cold winds just 30 minutes from the camp. The weather changes here are just insane.

2/1/2010: Acclimatizion trip to 4300 meters. It was a 4 hour trek up a valley where we should have been able to see the south face of Aconcagua, but it was too foggy. We did see a huge avalanche though, at the far southeast side of the mountain.

3/1/2010: Hike to Basecamp. The hike to basecamp (Plaza de Mulas) at 4300m took us 10 hours. It was extremely hot most of the way, and several of us were suffering from head aches at the end.

4/1: Basecamp. Today we haven't done much. Mostly relaxing and acclimatization. Head ache is a common problem throughout the group. Christen and Mona seems to be doing best. Tomorrow we will head up a nearby peak at 5050m for acclimatization. The day after we start the logistical trek up to Camp Canada. There we will deposit the high altitude gear and head back down to basecamp to sleep.


We will try to update the blog again before we had up for the high camps, which should take us 6 days. Hopefully we can make a summit attempt january 12th!