Aconcagua Expedition Dispatches

January 15, 2009 – Team Takes a Break in the Warm Sunshine

It’s about 1:30 in the afternoon on the 15th of January and I’m calling you from an elevation of 3,900m/ 12,800 ft on a glacier moraine that meets the massive south face of Aconcagua.

It’s sunny and the entire team, all twelve members, Leila and our Bolivian guides, are stretched out in the sun. It’s a bit windy so we are behind rocks but we’re napping and passing time after a lunch of ham sandwiches. We are thinking of walking further up the glacier to attain more acclimatization. It’s been really beautiful here.

Yesterday, we left the hotel back in Penitentes at about 10:00 am and then by 11:00 am we had taken care of all the formalities to enter into the park. We then made our way to Confluencia where we spent last night and will stay tonight. The elevation at the Confluencia Camp is at about 3,350 m/11,000 ft above sea level. The team commented to me how beautiful the walk to the camp was; with massive mountain walls all around us and exceptionally blue skies.

The weather has been really great except for a wind that is always present on Aconcagua. I should also mention that were some cirrus clouds and a lenticular cloud cap on the top of Aconcagua this morning. Our weather forecast so far says it is going to be stable weather for the next few days but I’m thinking these clouds mean unsettled weather is on the way.

Of course we are still down low, acclimatizing and approaching our base camp at Plaza de Mulas, so were not so worried about the weather up high just yet.

It’s great to be on our way! The team all looks strong and certainly motivated and happy. We are having a great time together.