Aconcagua Expedition Dispatch
January 14, 2010 – Recharging at Confluencia Camp
Oswaldo and Nelson pose in front of the South Face of Aconcagua
It’s 1:30 in the afternoon and I’m calling you from 4000m/13,100ft above sea-level on the edge of a glacier beneath the massive South Face of Aconcagua. The team’s acclimatization walk today took us up from Confluencia and we arrived at this point in about 3.5 hours after leaving Confluencia Camp. Everyone looks strong and we’re all doing very well.
You remember just two days ago we were at 4000m/13,100ft but that time we drove in a van to that elevation. Two more nights sleeping to acclimatize to higher altitudes and the walking that we’ve done have made a big difference and everyone looks great here today.
One of the mules, packed up and ready to go
When we arrived at Confluencia Camp yesterday, our cook Simon prepared a really nice afternoon tea for everyone that consisted of hot herbal and black tea and various hot drinks, cold fruit juice, popcorn, cookies and potato chips. It seemed like not long after that, Simon and the Berg Adventures staff served dinner. The meal was a wonderful beef stew with rice. The first course was, as always, Simon’s delicious homemade soup which consisted of fresh vegetables and lots of delicious broth to help us rehydrate from our hiking.
Line is a vegetarian and she was surprised to see what appeared to be the same meal we all had set in front of her. She was reluctant at first, but Simon said “Just taste it” and sure enough it was a textured soya protein substitute. I tried both the real beef and Line’s soy protein beef and I thought hers was actually a little bit better. So the vegetarians are eating well. We’re always eating well on this trip.
Before we settled down last night, we went over to visit the National Park Service doctors who reside here and everyone had an exam. Of course we have our own expertise within this Berg Adventures team, but we’re always glad to be evaluated by Parks Service doctors. We had our blood pressures taken as well as our oxygen saturation levels and our pulse.
Tomorrow morning is going to be a very early start for us. The mules will carry our big bags up to Plaza de Mulas while we hike behind. The mules are going to arrive at 6:45 in the morning and we have to have our duffel bags packed so the staff can take down our tents. We hope to have our bags packed and loaded on the mules before 7am.
So we plan to tuck in early again tonight. Another one of Simon’s wonderful meals will help us get a good sleep and power up. Things are looking good as we prepare to move up to our base camp at Plaza de Mulas.