Tag Archive for: Horcones Valley

Preparing for the Carry to Camp 1

Alpenglow on the upper mountain. Photo: Terray Sylvester

The team brought in the New Year with an acclimatization hike around Base Camp, as they prepare to make their first carry up to Camp 1 tomorrow! Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with todays dispatch from Plaza de Mulas:

Hello and happy New Year from Aconcagua Base Camp (4367m/14,327ft)! This is Terray calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Aconcagua (6961m/22,837ft) expedition – it’s January 1st.

We had a great day today! The weather was really nice – clear skies all day with great views of fresh snow on the upper mountain. We spent the morning acclimatizing by walking above base camp, beyond the historic hotel here near Plaza de Mulas. And then, in the afternoon we got some showers and started sorting gear for our first carry to Camp 1 (5060m/16,600ft), which will happen tomorrow.

So we just finished dinner! It was great – shepherds pie and then nice, chocolate mousse dessert. We’re getting ready for bed and tomorrow the plan is to carry up to Camp 1.

So, all is well here in Argentina and we’ll be in touch tomorrow!

Snow in the mountains above base camp!

Snow in the mountains above base camp!

Our climber, TJ, acclimatizing above base camp. Photo: Terray Sylvester

Our climber, TJ, acclimatizing above base camp. Photo: Terray Sylvester

Lunch in base camp.

Lunch in base camp.

Lunch is served!

Lunch is served!

In addition to these expedition dispatches, you can also follow our teams as they make their attempts on the world’s most formidable mountains on:

– Amazon Alexa devices with the Madison Mountaineering Flash Briefing skill:

  • Enable the skill and add to your flash briefing to hear our daily audio expedition updates on select expeditions.  Just say, “Alexa, play my flash briefing.“

– Instagram:

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New Years Eve on Aconcagua!

Our team in the Horcones River Valley, en route to base camp. Photo: Terray Sylvester

Happy New Years Eve from the tallest mountain in South America, Aconcagua! Today, the team moved up from Confluencia Camp to their Base Camp, where they plan to take a rest day tomorrow. The team hiked through snowy conditions today, but looks forward to sunshine in the forecast in the days coming! Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with todays dispatch from Plaza de Mulas:

Hello! This is Terray calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Aconcagua (6961m/22,837ft) expedition – it’s New Year Eve, December 31st!

Today we made good time from Confluencia Camp (3436m/11,273ft) to Base Camp at Plaza de Mulas (4367m/14,327ft)! There’s a little storm system moving through, so we had some light snow on the way. But, it was actually really nice hiking conditions with no wind and no dust in the Horcones Valley.

So, now we’re at Plaza de Mulas! We’re just about to sit down for dinner. All is well here and we’re looking forward to a rest day tomorrow. The weather forecast is sunny, so it should be a really nice day here at about 4,200 meters on Aconcagua!

We’ll be in touch tomorrow.

Gaining elevation en route to Plaza de Mulas. Photo: Terray Sylvester

Gaining elevation en route to Plaza de Mulas. Photo: Terray Sylvester

New Year’s Eve dinner in base camp: salmon and roasted potatoes.

New Year’s Eve dinner in base camp: salmon and roasted potatoes.

In addition to these expedition dispatches, you can also follow our teams as they make their attempts on the world’s most formidable mountains on:

– Amazon Alexa devices with the Madison Mountaineering Flash Briefing skill:

  • Enable the skill and add to your flash briefing to hear our daily audio expedition updates on select expeditions.  Just say, “Alexa, play my flash briefing.“

– Instagram:

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Acclimatizing in the Horcones Valley

Our team acclimatizing above Confluencia Camp. Photo: Terray Sylvester

The team spent today acclimatizing around Confluencia Camp as they prepare to continue their trek into base camp tomorrow. Some light snow made for magical conditions during their acclimatization efforts, spent moving around the valley and looking up at the towering peaks above them. Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with todays dispatch from the Horcones Valley:

Hello! This is Terray calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Aconcagua (6961m/22,837ft) expedition – it’s December 30th.

Today we acclimatized by hiking from our camp here at Confluencia (3436m/11,273ft) to Plaza Francia (4228m/13,871ft) at the base of the dramatic South Face of Aconcagua! It was a beautiful hike, we had some light snow which just made for really scenic and atmospheric conditions on the peaks above us. We took a break at Plaza Francia and checked out the hanging glaciers on the South Face, and then returned back to our camp where we had a late lunch of bruschetta with fresh veggies and prosciutto, plus some great-fresh melon! So now we’re just resting before dinner.

All is well and we’re looking forward to moving to base camp tomorrow!

Checking out the view of Aconcagua’s famous South Face! Photo: Terray Sylvester

Checking out the view of Aconcagua’s famous South Face! Photo: Terray Sylvester

Hiking toward the South Face. Photo: Terray Sylvester

Hiking toward the South Face. Photo: Terray Sylvester

Down the Lower Horcones Valley. Photo: Terray Sylvester

Down the Lower Horcones Valley. Photo: Terray Sylvester

The team returning to Confluencia Camp from Plaza Francia. Photo: Terray Sylvester

The team returning to Confluencia Camp from Plaza Francia. Photo: Terray Sylvester

 

In addition to these expedition dispatches, you can also follow our teams as they make their attempts on the world’s most formidable mountains on:

– Amazon Alexa devices with the Madison Mountaineering Flash Briefing skill:

  • Enable the skill and add to your flash briefing to hear our daily audio expedition updates on select expeditions.  Just say, “Alexa, play my flash briefing.“

– Instagram:

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Trek to Base Camp has Begun!

Approaching Confluencia Camp. Photo: Terray Sylvester

Today, our Aconcagua team hit the trail and has begun their journey towards the summit of South America’s tallest peak! Fueled by several good meals throughout the day, the team has arrived in Confluencia Camp where they’ll spend the remainder of the day. Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with todays dispatch:

Hello! This is Terray calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Aconcagua (6961m/22,837ft) expedition, it’s December 29th.

Today we had a nice breakfast in Mendoza (746m/2,449ft) and drove up to our trailhead in Horcones, then we had a nice three hour walk here to Confluencia Camp (3436m/11,273ft). It’s a beautiful day, there’s fresh snow high on the mountains, so that’s a scenic change! We got here to Confluencia and had a nice lunch – pizza, and fresh juice, and some nice apple bread and other items. Now we’re just resting until dinner!

So, tomorrow we’ll take an acclimatization hike up toward a nice viewpoint for the south face of Aconcagua.

All is well here, really pleasant, and we’ll be in touch!

Our climber, TJ, at the Horcones Valley Trailhead with guide, Laucha. Photo: Terray Sylvester

Our climber, TJ, at the Horcones Valley Trailhead with guide, Laucha. Photo: Terray Sylvester

Our team in the Horcones Valley. Photo: Terray Sylvester

Our team in the Horcones Valley. Photo: Terray Sylvester

In addition to these expedition dispatches, you can also follow our teams as they make their attempts on the world’s most formidable mountains on:

– Amazon Alexa devices with the Madison Mountaineering Flash Briefing skill:

  • Enable the skill and add to your flash briefing to hear our daily audio expedition updates on select expeditions.  Just say, “Alexa, play my flash briefing.“

– Instagram:

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Climbers complete carry to Camp 2

Yesterday our Aconcagua climbing team successfully completed a carry to Camp 2. After moving equipment and provisions higher up the mountain they returned to Camp 1 for the night. Target summit date of the Stone Sentinel is December 19. The team is in good condition and excited to climb higher!

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Aconcagua team begins their summit ascent!

After a few relaxing days in Aconcagua base camp and a carry to camp 1 yesterday we are now heading up today to begin our summit ascent. We plan to climb to camp 1 and sleep there tonight and then carry a load tomorrow to camp 2. The following day we plan to move to camp 2 and then evaluate the weather forecast. If all looks good we will carry a load to camp 3, then climb to camp 3 and sleep, going for the summit the following day on December 19th.

Garrett Madison

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Aconcagua team reaches Plaza Argentina base camp

Yesterday we arrived at Plaza Argentina base camp after a nice 3-day trek up the Vacas and Horcones valleys. We received perfect weather on our trek and enjoyed barbecues over the open campfire under starry skies. On our last day of the trek we had a couple of river crossings and noticed that the rivers were a little higher than previous seasons because of the large amount of snow on the mountain, this should make for good route conditions higher up on the mountain. Our plan now is to rest and relax for one day to organize our equipment for the higher camps and the day after begin our first load carry to Camp 1. Everyone is doing great and we are hoping this nice weather will hold for us!

Garrett Madison

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