Day 3 - Up to to Base Camp

Up early as the mules need to get up to base camp and then back down to the road head. The camp is very pretty prior to dawn with a variety of lights and reflective patches.

Spot of yoga before we head off.

Then we head across the river into the valley. As we are crossing it at about 07:130 and it is a rather chilly morning, the water is freezing and there is a rather painful few minutes until our feet go comfortably numb.
We turn into the Relenchos valley along a rather tricky riverside path (lots of scree and mudslides) and up to a col where we get our first really good views of Aconcagua. Then it is a long undulating walk up the valley

to base camp where we are greeted with kisses from the lovely Ilena who prepares an excellent lunch for us as we put up our tents.
Again the afternoon sun is really strong and we retire to our tents for some much needed rest.
Base camp is a semi-permanent group of large tents (dormitories, mess tents, cook tents etc) owned by various agents. We opt for the tough options and remain in our tents!

 

Tomorrow is a rest day to acclimatize before we start to lay provisions further up the mountain and acclimatize at higher altitudes.