Neil calls from Aconcagua High Camp
Here’s Neil calling in from the “White Rocks” high camp on Aconcagua. They moved up early this afternoon and hope to head for the summit late tonight! recording
Trip Reports
Here’s Neil calling in from the “White Rocks” high camp on Aconcagua. They moved up early this afternoon and hope to head for the summit late tonight! recording
Here’s Ron calling in from base camp this afternoon after a good day of carrying loads up to (or almost to) camp 1. Aconcagua is a notoriously windy place, and it has been living up to its reputation lately. They are doing great and are happy to be taking a final rest and acclimatization day…
The team is taking a well deserved day off today to rest and acclimatize before pushing further up the mountain tomorrow. They are doing great, enjoying the luxuries of base camp, and catching up on afternoon naps. Rich called in from the mountain today, listen to his call from Plaza Argentina base camp. recording
Neil and Eli moved up to Camp 2 and built rock walls around their tent to protect them from the sometimes ferocious winds high up on Aconcagua today. They plan to take a rest day tomorrow and watch what the winds do for the next few days. Here’s Neil: recording
I spoke with Eliana earlier today. The wind was howling and visibility was quite poor, with blowing snow. They did not plan to go anywhere unless visibility improved, and I did not hear that anything had changed. They are in a well-fortified camp, and have all their food, fel and supplies, so they are prepared…
Laura Duncan called in from Plaza Argentina at about 13,800′ on the east flank of Aconcagua today. She reiterated what lead guide Joe Butler told me a bit earlier- it got WINDY! They hiked up into a 30 mph headwind, and it began to snow as they approached camp. Today’s hike began on the flat…
It was a tough day moving up to Camp 1 at about 16,400′ today. About 2/3 of their way up, the wind picked up and blew so hard that Eliana, who weighs about 70 lbs less than Neil, was almost blown off her feet! Neil joked about perhaps flying her like a kite to help…
Jack Strickland called in to give us an update on the team. Today, they hiked for about eight miles, gaining a little over 1,200′, along the east bank of the Rio Vacas. I spoke with Laura and Joe earlier and they said that they saw two guanacos (relatives of the llama and alpaca) as they…
Joe called from the team’s first camp on the approach to the mountain. The team made good time this morning, arriving at the Pampas de Lenas camp in about 5 hours. Today’s hike took them alongside the roaring Rio Vacas, tucked deep in a high desert canyon. The terrain is reminiscent to areas in the…