The team made their carry to Camp 1 today. They took the majority of their food and fuel and loaded up their backpacks to make the tough push up to Camp 1. They departed basecamp and crossed a field of "penitentes" which are fins of snow that can sometimes stand 4 meters tall. They are essentially exaggerated sun cups of snow, which get further carved out by the wind. Occasionally, you will need to negotiate a particularly challenging field of these, and it is very much like being in a snowy labyrinth.
Following the penitente field, they climbed up onto an old, gravel covered glacier and wound their way toward the final snowfield that led them to Camp 1. the uphill portion took them about four hours, which is a really good time. They piled their supplies up next to an established rock wall, which they will use to help shield their tents from the wind when they move up to Camp 1. The descent took another couple of hours and they are pretty tuckered out right now.
The wind, which Aconcagua is so famous for, made its presence known today. Basecamp is receiving some substantial gusts and Camp 1 is really getting hammered.
Everyone is doing great and they plan to move up to Camp 1 tomorrow, weather permitting.
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2 comments:
Well done team!!
I can almost feel the wind from your descriptions!
It sounds like you've reached the real Aconcagua, what with penitentes etc. It must be tough.
Kia kaha!! (Ask Hazel what that means)
An admiring and loving Fred
Hi All! So glad that everyone is doing well and that Camp 1 has been safely reached. I assume that everyone is coping well with the Altitude.
It sounds fantastic!
The Schoemans from SA
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