The team moved quickly up to High Camp this morning. They had a nice day for their hike and the weather was kind enough to remain pleasant while they set up their tents. About an hour into their post-hike nap, the snow began to fall and the wind then began to pick up. Chris reports that they are all tucked into their tents and finishing dinner, while 25 mph gusts and falling snow make for a winter wonderland outside.
Everyone did well, and although they are feeling the altitude a bit (who doesn't at 20,000 feet?). They will waken before dawn to check on the weather. If the wind dies, they will make a push for the summit! I've been keeping an eye on some weather models, and they all predict a nice day tomorrow. Hopefully they are correct and our crew can make a bid for the top.
Summit day is a long one. The team will get up at about 5:30 a.m., eat breakfast and pack up their summit gear. What they wear will really depend on how chilly the morning is, but it is not uncommon to wear every stitch of clothing you brought with you for the first hour of hiking, primarily because you are hiking in the dark.
The first hour ascends a scree field and joins the summit route shared by the two most traveled routes on the mountain, while it ascends the east side of the north ridge of the mountain. After the sun hits, temperatures often rise and make for comfortable climbing as they ascend to the skeletal remains of the Independencia Hut at roughly 21,500 feet. Just above this point, they will cross over the north ridge to the shady west side of the mountain (brrr!) and make along traverse across the top of the West Face of Aconcagua to the base of an 1300 foot gully known as the Canaleta. The Canaleta can be tricky, as it is filled with loose rocks. Chris will pick a route through the boulders and they will reach a point where it is possible to look down the dramatic 9,000+ foot South Face. There are few views in this world which take you breath away as literally as this one.
The final climb to the summit has a couple of rocky steps that need to be negotiated. Once on top, they will need to pay heed to the old climbing adage that, "the top is only halfway." The descent can be quick and straightforward or long and tricky, depending on snow conditions and on how everyone is feeling. Hopefully, they will make good time and get back to their High Camp in time for a nice dinner and a good night's sleep before descending the west side to the Plaza de Mulas Base Camp.
Good luck up there everybody. We'll keep you all in our thoughts. I'll post an update as soon as I hear from the crew.
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