Feliz Nuevo Año

The New Year entered cold and clear in Camp Confluencia - the intermediate camp on our way to Plaza de Mulas, Base Camp.  We shared a bottle of Argentinian sparkling wine (quite good!)and turned in early.  I was awakened shortly after midnight by revelers and went outside. The sky was a riot of stars - the only constellation I recognized was Orion in the northern sky, and the Milky was as dense as I have ever seen it.  As I was gazing up, a shooting star blazed across the sky above me in the direction of the Aconcagua summit.  Wow!  What a way to kick off the second decade of the millennium!

New Years Day morning Steve, Ben and I set off for Base Camp; Rich and Brad remained in Confluencia to further acclimitize.  The trek to Base Camp was long and tiring but not too hot.  Thanks to recent, somewhat unseasonal rain expeerienced when we first arrived at Los Puquios - the Mule loading station, the Horcones Valley through which we trekkek to Base Camp had a subtle tinge of green, softening the stark, majestic beauty of the Andes.  11 miles, seven and a half hours and 3,000 ft (905m) of elevation gain later we arrived at Plaza de Mulas at 14,300 ft (4,370m) elevation in a snow squall.  After quickly setting up camp and resting for a bit, we had a good, filling hot meal in the mess tent of the expedition guiding service through which we booked mule service, and turned in for a well-deserved sleep. 

All three of us feel great and have minimal ill-effects of altitude.  We'll hang here in Base Camp for several days to acclimitize before heading up the mountain.

Steve, Ben and Geoff at Camp Tacoma in the Plaza de Mulas