The crew will be trekking to Plaza de Mulas (Base Camp 4200m) today. It’s about an 8 hr trek which follows the banks of the river.  The walk into BC is long but the terrain is mostly flat until the last hour.

Today the group are doing an acclimatisation trek to Plaza Francia at 4200m and will spend a bit of time there getting used to the thinner air. They will descend back to Confluencia this afternoon and rest well before the long day ahead tomorrow trekking up to Plaza de Mulas (base camp).

Pic of the group in Mendoza before they left for the climb.

The group will have breakfast at the Penitentes hostel and then take a short drive to the Aconcagua Park entrance. Here, the permits are checked by the park rangers and then the trek begins.  It will take them about 4 hours to reach camp Confluencia.  Mules will transport most of their heavy […]

Permits and gear hire sorted.  The group have left the lovely city of Mendoza and are now on the 4 hr bus journey to Penitentes (2700 m) where they will spend the night.  The trek starts tomorrow to Confluencia (3368m).

The group departed O R Tambo for Sao Paulo yesterday on our hopeless local airline SAA – without Molly’s gear bag.  They are now on their way to Buenos Aires and will reach Mendoza this evening.  It seems these days that flying has become more of a challenge than mountain climbing.

From Sean – ‘We summited at 06:30 this morning.  Rough night – very windy. Best news is that Rands and Lynn got engaged!’

The group will be on their way  through the wild alpine desert (approx 3 to 4 hrs) to Barafu hut (4600m).  Leaving camp, the path immediately begins to rise and does so most of the way to Barafu. The landscape is now barren and desolate.  Once in camp, they will enjoy a solid meal and […]

Today’s climb was shorter than the previous days. This is where the Umbwe route joins the other routes – such as the popular and often crowded Machame route.  The main obstacle was the near vertical Barranco Wall.  It looks more imposing that it is.  A path zigzags up to the top and […]

From Sean earlier today  ‘All in Baranco camp.  Misty all day.  Having lotsa fun.  We’re off now uphill to the waterfall on an acclimatisation walk after a popcorn and tea stop.  The summit dome has just cleared’.

From Sean this evening ‘It’s very cold at Baranco camp.  The wind is lambasting the summit.  Everyone is well […]