The 12 climbers and 4 guides of this expedition left Mendoza today. After a team meeting and a steak dinner yesterday, they bought their climbing permits today and left in two vans. They completed the 3 hour scenic ride to Los Penitentes (small ski resort at the foot of Mt Aconcagua), and will sleep in the lodge there. The group will begin the hike in tomorrow. It will take them 3 days to reach base camp (Plaza Argentina, 4250m). Tomorrow night they will share a barbecue with our gauchos (the muleteers who handle the load mules). Here is a pic of the group before leaving -while they still look (and smell) good-. I will be sending you all the news of this expedition, every time leading guide Calvin Herbert calls me from his sat phone. Regards from Mendoza!
Nicolás García
AP Mendoza
