Aconcagua Expedition Dispatch

February 8, 2015 – The Dirty Dozen Gets Clean in Mendoza

Well the Dirty Dozen has returned to Mendoza. I am standing in front of the Park Hyatt Hotel, right across from the Plaza. We are in summertime Mendoza and all I can say is the Dirty Dozen is definitely an understatement.

I am watching the trolleys go into the hotel, stacked with very dirty duffel bags.

This morning we left Plaza de Mulas. The team was very motivated to go. We got up very early. By 7:30 we were walking, that's a long walk up the Harcones river valley. It's legendary really in adventure and climbing lore of getting in and out of Aconcagua. Of course we did it coming in. The team knows in amazing fashion about Aconcagua. Of course anyone who has ever been to Aconcagua knows it's true. When you walk up that valley approaching the mountain there is a strong head wind. When you go down the 32 KM walking out in one day, there is also a strong head wind in your face. Don't ask me how it is that way but any Aconcagua climber can tell you that.

It was just after 4pm after that 7:30 start from Plaza de Mulas that the team met Mario and Deirdre, who has just come down from Canada, at the parking lot. There was beer, soft drinks, sandwiches and it was a great feeling to know the walking was finally over.

We went to the corral's then where the duffel bags had been delivered by the mules who rode quickly down the valley earlier today. We saw them pass us around mid-day, about 12 or 12:30. We loaded up the duffel bags and as i said they are quite a site here at the Park Hyatt Hotel.

We are going to get moved in, checked in. Jim and Ed already moved across the Plaza to the McDonald's. They are going to have a bite to eat before they come deal with their duffel bags. But i know everyone is happy to be having their showers and feeling so accomplished having come back from climbing the greatest mountain in the Western Hemisphere, Aconcagua. Just under 23,000ft high, just under 7,000m. What a team, what a great accomplishment.

The Dirty Dozen did great and we will send you some more photos from here in Mendoza.

We are proud of the team, everybody misses their families. I know they are looking forward to getting clean. They will be the Clean Dozen by tomorrow morning. We will have breakfast together and then see what's going on in Mendoza.