Didn't wake up until 9am. We were really konked. We had to get our gear together to be picked up. Herman our guide and Carlos our driver were very helpful telling us the Spanish names of the things we passed. We headed back toward Chile. Just outside of Mendoza were the grapevines and some wineries. There were oil wells interspersed in the surrounding fields. Wine and petroleum are the major industries along with tourism for Argentina. It wss like S. California. As we climbed up into the mountains, the country was very much like Colorado. In fact they called one area Colorado. One could trace the path of the river by the line of poplars or in Spanish - alamo.
After a three hour drive we arrived in Penitentes which is a ski resort. Of course it is closed for the summer. Now it serves as a staging area for Aconcagua climbers.
We organized our gear again. One pile was going on the mules to Confluencia, the other to an upper camp at Mulas. At Mulas, I will hire a porter to carry my gear . ..lazy spoiled woman that I am :).
I spent a lot of time talking with Niv from Isreal. Interesting to learn about his life. He just finished his mandatory military service of 5 years and was taking a year off to tour the world. He has a degree as an electrical engineer and will pursue his career when he is finished in 7 months.
Tomorrow will be our first true day of trekking. I am anxious to begin. The stopover in Penitentes is for acclimatization for our friends from sea level. For Jamie and me, the 9k altitude is no big deal. The trek will be easy - only 3 to 3 1\2 hours. The day after is seven hours , so easing in is a good way to prep for the daunting task ahead.
Packing up. John from N. Ireland and Jamie
Jamie
Nev weighing his gear so the loiad is balanced on the mules
Ski resort poster
Our hotel
Lake along the journey
After a three hour drive we arrived in Penitentes which is a ski resort. Of course it is closed for the summer. Now it serves as a staging area for Aconcagua climbers.
We organized our gear again. One pile was going on the mules to Confluencia, the other to an upper camp at Mulas. At Mulas, I will hire a porter to carry my gear . ..lazy spoiled woman that I am :).
I spent a lot of time talking with Niv from Isreal. Interesting to learn about his life. He just finished his mandatory military service of 5 years and was taking a year off to tour the world. He has a degree as an electrical engineer and will pursue his career when he is finished in 7 months.
Tomorrow will be our first true day of trekking. I am anxious to begin. The stopover in Penitentes is for acclimatization for our friends from sea level. For Jamie and me, the 9k altitude is no big deal. The trek will be easy - only 3 to 3 1\2 hours. The day after is seven hours , so easing in is a good way to prep for the daunting task ahead.
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