So there we were, moving into the "Blanca". A few hours of hiking brought us to the mouth of Quebarada Ishinca. With "burros" hauling the big part of our load, we arrived in style to Ishinca Base Camp, home for the next 7 days. Unsettled weather only allowed brief glimpses of the ice-cloaked, jagged "rajus" above. If our senses weren't already overstimulated enough, we sat down to a dinner of fresh trout at 14,300'. Stormy skies passed leaving us with a magnificent sea of stars highlighted by the Southern Cross. Until tomorrow, "buenas noches". -Spanish climbing word of the day; la cumbre (the summit) RMI Guide Elias de Andres Martos