Aconcagua Day #01

Jan 31, 2018- Today we finally started. The months of training and prep were over and now it would start. In so many days time I would be testing myself on the summit and seeing yet again how deep I could dig. That time would come but today was day #01 on the mountain.

We started at a place called Punta de Vacas and followed the Rio Vacas towards its source high on Aconcagua. Following the river gave us a secure source for water but we would have to treat everything we drank. I used iodine tablets because they’re easy to use and I don’t mind the taste. Hiking through the valley there was zero shade so it was super hot. We had been hiking for about two hours when our mule teams caught up to us. We waved to the mule drivers called Arrieros as they continued on their way.

After three more hours of hiking we rolled into camp and got set up. I was paired up to be tent-mates with Mike Tancer whom I had met up with in Santiago, Chile at the start of my trip. We got our tent up and then it was time for dinner. Tonight the Arrieros were cooking. No clue what cut of beef they grilled but it was incredible. We also had a bottle or two of some Malbec we had packed in our supplies. We would be roughing it soon enough on the mountain so why not enjoy ourselves now?

Since the amazing dinner wasn’t enough we had also had a gorgeous sunset to go with it.

We still haven’t seen Aconcagua but we are told that tomorrow we will be able to have our first look at it. We all headed to bed ready and excited for day #02.