Aconcagua Expedition Dispatch
January 24, 2012 – Taco Night at Plaza Canada
It is early morning at Plaza de Mulas. This is the fourth morning that we have wakened here. Yesterday we saw a significant change in our weather here at 14,436ft/4,400m, one that made us feel we made the right decision to not move up yesterday; it snowed. Our world began to turn white here right after lunch. Those of us who had not yet taken our showers learned that the hot water did not last through a snowstorm.
Our tents became a cozy refuge. Maria and Sergio prepared hot water and Linda and Paule reported that the sponge baths that they took in the vestibule of their tent felt great.
This morning is completely different – clear skies. We expected this change for the better because the small altimeter watch that Paul’s daughter gave him for Christmas, contains a barometer. The rising air pressure which brought us these clear skies was indicated on Paul’s watch in the middle of the snowstorm yesterday afternoon.
Today we will move up to Camp I to sleep. Rocia will have breakfast waiting for us at 8:30 AM. The sun does not rise over the mountain wall of Aconcagua to warm us until 9:30; by that time we will be ready to pack for the move up the mountain.
Later this afternoon:
It is now 4:30 in the afternoon and the team has arrived at Plaza Canada 16,570ft/5,050m. We are settling in for the night. We are on our way up the mountain. We have had beautiful weather for the climb today. Of course, it is a hike that we have done before on Sunday. We did it somewhat faster today because of our four nights of acclimatization at Plaza de Mulas and because our legs are getting stronger from carrying up the mountain.
Maria and Sergio took off just ahead of us with very large loads. They moved very quickly and arrived ahead of us. They set up our tents to have them ready for us when we arrived.
Tonight is a change in our trip because since we have arrived we’ve had wonderful accommodations and food. In particular, the meals at the Hyatt in Mendoza, at the hotel in Penitentes, at Confluencia and at Rocia’s restaurant at Plaza de Mulas. But now it is going to get really good. We are now cooking our own Berg Adventures rations and Maria will be cooking for us. I am looking forward to that.
People who have been following Berg Adventures Aconcagau Expeditions over the years will know that we have a tradition. The night that we arrive at Camp 1, it is always taco night. So we will be enjoying tacos and hot soup and other delicacies in a few minutes. The sun is still up here and we will enjoy the warmth while we still can.
Here we go. We are at Plaza Canada and everyone is feeling really great.