Aconcagua Expedition Dispatch

January 20, 2012 – The Trek to Plaza de Mulas

It is Friday, January 20. I am calling from an elevation of 12,140ft/3,700m on the broad alluvial fan of the Horcones River. We are about three hours into what will most certainly be a 9 or 10 hour walk to our Base Camp at Plaza de Mulas which is 14,500ft/4,420m above sea level. The group is doing really well and the trip is going really smoothly so far.

Yesterday we took an acclimatization hike and climbed to 12,795ft/3,900m and viewed the South Face of Aconcauga. We were at approximately the same elevation as we had been a few days earlier when we drove to the pass on the Chilean border. We are slowly increasing our elevations, hiking higher and sleeping at constant elevations so that we will be prepared to go all the way to the summit on Aconcauga.

We took our own oxygen saturations when we reached our high point on our acclimatization hike yesterday and we were mostly in the low 80% of oxygen saturation in our blood. When we returned to Confluencia Camp, we went to check in with the doctor there for an exam before we climbed higher and we were all between 92% and 96% once we had descended back to 11,200ft/3,415m. This is the way acclimatization works and it is why we move slowly, allowing our bodies to adapt as we continue higher.

The entire group, Paule, Linda, Winston, Howard, Paul and Lisa, as well as the Bolivian guides, are all doing great. We’re having a wonderful experience. The skies are still blue. Today’s hike will be on the long side, but it will be a beautiful hike.

Note from the Office: The team has just reached Plaza de Mulas Base Camp. The hike took 9 hours today and the team is tired, but excited to be there. They will spend at least three nights at Base Camp before climbing higher. They will rest up, do some acclimatization hikes and prepare for the climb ahead. Check back on Monday for another update!