On the approach!

Chris called from Pampas de Lenas and reported that the team made good time on the 8 mile hike to their first camp on the approach to Aconcagua. Pampas de Lenas means "Plains of Reeds," although I am not entirely sure why. It is situated at the base of a nice rock wall to the west and the Rio Vacas to the east. There are some fields of bunch grasses ringing the camp, which must give it it's name.

The weather was nice for their first day of hiking. They encountered some snow in old avalanche debris piles which filled in some gullies on their hike, but Chris said he was hiking in a shorts and a T-shirt. It was nice to get away from the 37 degree C temps of Mendoza!

Everyone is doing well, and the good time they made on this first leg of their journey bodes well for the team. Chris did not have a pen with him to write down the long list of well wishers who wanted to pass "Happy Birthdays" along to Hazel, but he promised to have one handy tomorrow evening to take notes as I read him the list of names. Thanks to all of you for sending good energy Hazel's way as she heads uphill.

Tomorrow, the team will cross a bridge to the east side of the Rio Vacas and remain off that shore for the day. They will gain about 1500 feet of elevation on their way to the next camp at "Casa de Piedra" (House of Stone), so named for a primitive hovel of stones piled around an overhanging rock, first built by gauchos herding horses and goats.

The views of Aconcagua from this camp are absolutely stunning. The peak is framed nicely within the walls of the Relinchos Valley, which they will hike up the following day.

Everyone is doing great, and the team plans to sleep out under the magnificent southern sky tonight. It is pretty amazing for folks from the northern hemisphere to sleep for a while and awaken to an unfamiliar star-scape which includes the Clouds of Magellan and the Southern Cross.