The team had a day of rest, acclimatization and recovery yesterday enjoying the little luxuries of the Plaza Argentina base camp.  Today they got back to work and made their first trip up to Camp 1 for an acclimatization round.  The climb takes them up from basecamp at 13,800 ft, up through some interesting snow fields to Camp 1 at 16,300 ft. This first round is mostly about acclimatizing, but they carried some extra gear up to cache and lighten their loads for the next time up. After spending a bit of time resting at Camp 1, they retraced their steps down to basecamp. This is the “climb high, sleep low” approach to acclimatization that allows them to adapt to the increasingly high altitude they’ll be climbing to.

They continue to move really well and the team is right on track.  The plan will be to rest and acclimatize for one more day at basecamp tomorrow (Sunday) before moving on up to Camp 1 and continuing up the mountain.

Thiyag making his way through the Penitentes

James and Thiyag in the Penitentes field just below Camp 1 Aconcagua

Nearing Camp 1

A well deserved dinner at basecamp!