Here we
are again, planning another trip in the near future. This is going to be
another climb – feeling confident after the trip to Stok Kangri and realizing
that I am getting in gradually better and better shape with my regular workouts
and runs, I wanted to try and push things a little. Deep down I think I have
been wanting to go for quite some time, but after realizing the departure was
filling up (and it is only once a year) and went to a presentation by the
travel company, there was really no other alternative. It will without a doubt
be an amazing trip and I am just hoping that it won’t be involving regrets on
the way up. Because, let’s face it; this is going to be a massive undertaking
for me.
On to
the part you came here for.
21st
– 22nd of January
Flight
to Mendoza in Argentina via Spain (Madrid) and Chile (Santiago). Finally I have
found a trip where you don’t have to show up at the airport until afternoon. No
showing up at inhuman 0400 in the morning. Nope – check in at 1330. Starting
off easy.
23rd
– 25th of January
Spending
a day in Mendoza to get permits and the like before transferring to a hut at
2800m in Vallecitos. From here we will acclimatize up to 3664m on Loma Blanca.
26th
– 28th of January
Trek to the
Vega Superior camp at 3448m. It’s a short trek so there will be time for
relaxing. From this camp we will acclimatize on Cerro Adolfo Calle which gets
us up to 4270m. The following day we will have another walk, this time to El
Salto at 4288m.
29th
– 30th of January
Return
to El Salto, this time to set up camp and use as base camp for the climb of
Cerro Vallecitos, which is 5461m. The climb will have quite an ascent (app.
1200m from base camp), but it will ensure an effective acclimatization for the
following days. From the summit you are able to see Aconcagua, assuming the
weather is clear. This summit is almost as high as Elbrus – which was a
very hard-earned summit back in 2012. This will be interesting.
31st
of January – 2nd of February
Transfer
from El Salto and spending 3 days reaching Plaza de Mulas at 4230m, Aconcagua
base camp. On the way there we will pass by Puenta del Inca on the first night
and Confluencia camp the second. Apparently we have mules these days so we will
be able to walk with a smaller load than usual. That will likely be a relief at
this point.
3rd
of February
In base
camp – rest day!
From
here on everything depends on the weather, but the following is what they will
be trying to get us through.
4th
– 6th of February
Trek
from Camp I to Camp III, located at 4910m, 5380m and 5979m, respectively. They
are named Canadian Place, Nido de Condores and Camp Colera (charming…). The
days are relatively short, and with the climbs before arriving here we will
have plenty of acclimatization done making it easier – but reaching Camp Colera
(…) it will be obvious to all that we are up high and breathing is labored.
Note, the highest camp is just below the summit of Stok Kangri.
7th
– 9th of February
3 days
are reserved for summit attempts. Everything depends on the weather. We might
be stranded in the tents for two days before we are able to make a push (or even all three days and having to return back down), or we
might be able to go the first night. Only time (and the weather Gods) will
tell. In any case this will be a very hard day, but reaching the top it will be
very rewarding. Reaching the summit will bring us up to an altitude of 6959m, the tallest point outside Himalaya.
10th
– 11th of February
Descend
from Camp Colera all the way down to base camp, and the next day all the way
down and back to Mendoza. Some very long days, but at least we are only
descending at this point.
12th
– 13th of February
The flight
home is the same way as when we arrived.
Again,
just as I have concluded several other trip descriptions that involved
climbing, I’ll state that this will by far be the hardest trip I have been on
yet. It’ll be fun. And hard. And mentally and physically tiring. Yeah, some
people do this voluntarily. No, I don’t know why, either. People are weird.
