Day 7  -  Carry to Camp 3

The normal route on Aconcagua is Base Camp, Camp 1, Camp 2, Summit. However most groups are now doing Base Camp, Camp 1, Camp 3 (from another route), Camp Cholera, Summit. This latter route allows a bit longer for one to aclimatise and then a shorter summit day which is proving very popular. We are doing the latter route as well.
A stream has sprung up overnight which has flooded the area just in front of our tent. Oddly it seemed to do so just before it became very cold as all the water has in fact frozen so we are surrounded by ice. We have pitched our tent at the top of the group and so have been hit first.
We carry our tent some way down the little valley  to find a new spot - however as it is not clear what has caused this new stream it is not clear where it will head off to next - fingers crossed!
The morning is quite slow as we wait for it to warm up before heading off to Camp 3 up the steep col. This does give us a seperb view back down to Camp 1 and beyond.

Camp 3 is a lot higher colder and bleaker at 5,680m:

The going is noticeably tougher today as, despite the reasonable footing, the path is steep and the altitude is beginning to really effect people some people. When we get back, we have a long afternoon recovering and chatting at camp before having to head to the tents early in the evening as it gets very cold when the sun goes behind the mountain which is at about 7pm. We have had the first casualty of the trip as one of the group needs to head back to Base Camp having not been able to make much of the ascent to Camp 3.

Food today:
Remains of pasta from last night
Two melted and then resolidified chocolate bars
Poor relation of super noodles with some ham and cheese.