After too much fun and games in Peru & Bolivia the girls went home and Buzz & I headed down to Argentina to attempt to climb Aconcagua, 22,841 feet, the highest peak in the Americas. < Click on the thumbnail to see a larger view! > < Click here to see my long-winded text report. >

Flying from Santiago to Mendoza the peak looms in the upper right

After a 4.5 hour bus ride we arrived at the trail head at 8,900 feet.  Then it was a 16 mile slog up the huge, desolate Horcones Valley to base camp at Plaza de Mulas

Every climb of Aconcagua begins in Mendoza where you must obtain your permit

At 11,000 feet we reached Confluencia Camp.  Many climbers stop here for a day or two to acclimate, but we pushed on to the main base camp at Plaza de Mulas (14,300 feet).

This photo shows base camp (lower center), the hotel (lower right) and pretty much the entire route up the mountain, going straight up from base camp and then following the ridge.

Plaza de Mulas is a remarkable tent city with all manner of vital services.  We elected to stay in the amazing 90-bed hotel about 1 km from the main camp

Base camp and the lower section of the route

Aconcagua (22,841 feet)

The day after arriving at base camp the wind was raging up high, so we took a side hike up a small peak (16,000 feet).

The next day we made an attempt on the peak, but still the deadly Viento Blanco was raging.  We turned back at Nido de Condores (17,500 feet)

Buzz had been the victim of a theft at the bus station in Mendoza.  He lost his passport and other valuables.  He had to leave the mountain to travel to Buenos Aires and get a new passport.

"Let's get the hell out of here!"

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