This photo shows the basecamp Team CWVC is headed to.

The CWVC team made it to the Confluencia camp last night, elevation 10,892’. The team is doing well and moving up to the base camp, Plaza de Mulas at 14,009 feet on schedule.

Yesterday, part of the team stayed at the Confluencia camp and conducted a portion of the case study work. According to CWVC Team Leader Pete Quintanilla, “…It was some of the best data collection we have done yet!”

The other part of the team did a 4 hour acclimatization hike towards the the south face.

Billy Costello and Pete Quintanilla, along with a few of the guides had an early start today leaving at 2 AM, and the others leaving a bit later, to avoid the heat of the day on the 12 mile beautiful river bed hike today. This hike is amazing. It is open, dry and very hot during the day. This area reminds some climbers of a lunar landscape!

This one shows the wide open terrain of part of the today’s hike. It’s not all flat, as there is steep terrain too!

It’s estimated with the gain in altitude of 3,114’ and 12 miles it may take the team aprox. 12- 15 hours of moving today. They will take a well deserved rest day tomorrow at Plaza De Mulas, the basecamp for staging for the upper mountain.

The reports are that it is very dry in the mountains this year, though they are expecting a dusting of snow in a few days, which will be good.

Check back daily for updates, as there is more to come as the CWVC Aconcagua Summit Challenge Team continues the ascent!