Title image - BAI takes you to: Aconcagua

Aconcagua Expedition Dispatch

January 7, 2017 – Team Made it to Plaza de Mules

Osvaldo’s morning call from Aconcagua was another one with nothing but good news. The good weather report is almost getting boring: “amazing, still no wind, perfect conditions.”

The medical checkups last evening were great. Everyone was checked by the attending physician; she said that all oxygen saturation levels were high and that the team members were in excellent condition to continue their ascent.

As planned the mules that will take the teams duffel bags arrived very early. They were loaded and on the way while breakfast was being served.

The team started walking at 8:00am. Osvi’s report from Playa Ancha, the beginning of the long, flat sweep of broad valley that reaches for many miles up the Horcones River, came in at 9:30. One and one – half hour to cover that distance is very good time. This is indeed a strong team.

In a few hours’ time Chad, Francisco, Colin, Winston and Marten, along with their BAI guides, Osvaldo, Sergio and Maria will reach Ibanez at 3,800 meters (12,400 feet). This will be the half –way point in today’s long walk to our Base Camp at Plaza de Mulas where most of the climbing starts.

Sergio and Maria will go ahead after the mid-day stop at Ibanez. By then the mules will have already arrived at Base Camp, dropping off our loads.

We think the team can expect the valley winds to pick up sometime today. The wind always blows in Playa Ancha. It will be a beautiful, challenging day - the first real test. Osvi’s next call should be after a tired team has arrived at Plaza de Mulas, elevation 4,300meters/14,200ft.

Later today

Osvi just called us to report that the team had made it all the way to Plaza de Mulas; which will be our base camp throughout the rest of the climb.

This is a long day, but our team arrived at 4:30pm, a very good sign indeed.

We hope that you enjoy some of these photos sent by the guys of their trip so far…