Aconcagua Expedition Dispatches
January 16, 2009 – Team Arrives at Plaza de Mulas
It’s about 6:00 pm on the 16th January; the ski is perfectly clear and is actually quite warm; which is amazing because I’m calling you from Plaza de Mulas at 4,300 m/14,100 feet. This is our base camp and the entire team has arrived.
Plaza de Mulas is base camp for our trekkers as
they prepare for their climb of Aconcagua
It took us between 9 to 10 ½ hours with walking in different small groups with guides and climbing members. We walked all the way up the Horcones River Valley to this spot which is going to be home for us as we stage our climb of Aconcagua.
The mules came by very early this morning to carry our heavy bags. We all woke up at 5:00 a. m. and had our bags packed by 6:00 a.m. The bags were on the mules and on their way soon after that. We headed off about 7:20 am and we had a very enjoyable day.
I talked about the cirrus clouds yesterday but something certainly has changed. I don’t believe I’ve seen a single day on Aconcagua quite so beautiful and with such good weather.
So we are off to a great start here at base camp! Tomorrow is definitely a rest day after such a long walk. This group is still doing really well and looking forward to what’s ahead.
Laguna de Horcones is located in the Horcones Valley and a spectacular sight to see