Aconcagua Expedition Dispatch

January 15, 2010 – On Our Way to Plaza de Mulas

This morning we had our wakeup call at 5:45am. It was still dark and the cooks brought hot drinks around to each tent. Alain’s preferred hot drink is mate de coca, the Andean coca tea. It’s his new favourite morning wakeup routine.

The mules came by right on time and our loads, which we had already packed up, were fastened onto the animals. We’re now on our way from Confluencia Camp to Plaza de Mulas, currently at a point I call “second rock” on the long 28km/17.5mile walk up the Horcones River Valley.

Rob Dunn came on this expedition as an extra support for the team, planning to go as far as Plaza de Mulas. But yesterday, the pool and the exotic buffet of the Hyatt Hotel were calling his name and he has decided to head back a day early to enjoy the hotel and the city for a few extra days. He started enthusiastically down the trail with Nelson this morning, bound for Mendoza. Leila has arranged with the hotel for a 10am pickup at the trail head.

At 8:30, Rob and Nelson called us from the bridge that crosses the Horcones River, which is only a few minutes up the trail from the highway, so they were making great time on their trip back down. At 10:30, we spoke with Nelson again via radio, and Rob had already left in a car to go back to Mendoza. Apparently the Hyatt had packed quite a nice picnic for him to enjoy on his ride back to town.

An urgent message has now been sent to Steve Slaughter, long-time friend of Berg Adventures, to come on over and join Rob in making the most of the vineyards and all the wonderful things Mendoza has to offer.

Oh, and just as a quick update from yesterday; I wanted to mention that Hugo was able to call his wife Isabella by satellite phone from Confluencia Camp to wish her a happy birthday.

Update: We just arrived at Plaza de Mulas after only 8 hours and 15 minutes of hiking, which is really quick for travelling 28km/17.5miles at high altitude.