"The Climb" - Miley Cyrus

Day 3
"The Climb" Miley Cyrus??   I know its a song for little girls but I liked the words and Brad downloaded it.

Schedule is set and in a perfect world I will be standing on the summit Feb 15th then the walk out takes 2 days last one is 24 miles with a full pack.

Gustopho finally made it after flight problems. He is another interesting fellow, a software developer. He and his camera man Gabriel are filming  his quest for the seven summits for Brazilian TV. They have a drone and got some real cool videos that they will share with me.  We traveled to start the trip with the camp doctor she spends 4 months a year on the mountain treating over 100 patients a day she gets 2 weeks off the mountain in the four months and has been doing this for the past 10 years. She arrived and was trying to get a helicopter to bring her to base camp, otherwise it is a 8 hour mule ride.  In order to pass to the high camps you have to get the doctor to approve  you to the next level. They traverse to high camp 19,000 and help with rescues. She said it was the best job in the world.

I know I am talking about the people and places more than the mountain. I have always been fascinated with other cultures and I have a great cross section of the world here.  I observed today the Argentine men kiss when they greet, not on the lips just a peck on one cheek.  I haven't been kissed yet but when in Rome...plus there are plenty of days for me to complain about my aches and pains and the disgusting thing you have to do if you go 2 on the mountain.

I am still feeling good now that we started, less anxious. Ready for higher I see climbers returning dirty, limping, looking like Zombies.  They tell of the horror too come.  Water is scarce but Max and mules carry 200 liters of water that we will use until we reach snow at 18k.  So far everyone is getting along great and enjoying the mountain to yesterday was like a foot race everyone jacked up and going fast.  I felt under trained, funk from the trip and late night I hope.  Jan is remarkable she has recently been diagnosed with diabetes and her insulin got lost she started and they are flying it in. And at the age of 70 is one of the best mountaineers on the team. It took her 3 attempts on Everest until success and she missed the summit of Aconcagua by only 100 meters and was told to stop after 18 hours of scaling a screet slope.

Today was much better. We climbed to the south face of the mountain 8 miles  and got some spectacular views of the mountain from the glacier.  14k and back to 11k. Climb high and sleep low is what we will do for a few days. Tomorrow is the second hardest day of the climb we walk to base camp 14 miles 14500 ft 8 miles flat on a river bed with big rocks and bad footing.  There was a rock fall that could have been bad if we where a little slower.  We also have a risk of being trampled by mules. They are running down the trail we climb and don't yield so we yell "mulas!" and dive behind a rock.  We have 4 liters of water and fairly light since most of out gear went to base camp 3 days ago.  Feeling great drinking my water, got fried by the sun ears are blistered.  Passed first physical: blood ox 91 hr 70 bp 120/70.  No signs of alt sickness but some of the others are suffering.  Lilly said to the group she is the weak link. She is a 59 year old surgeon that has climbed some of the hardest peaks in the world including Nepal.

Why          Seeing the south face of Aconcagua

Why not    sunburn