Aconcagua: Cifelli & Team Return to Pampas de Las Leñas
Posted by: Dominic Cifelli, Ben Luedtke
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Aconcagua
Elevation: 9,582'
Today was a bitter sweet day for all of us. Post decent day after celebrating a successful summit push, descending 4500’ from Camp 3 to thicker air with post celebrations at base camp, and waking up in the dome tent with the team sprawled out on the floor catching up on some much need rest as well as a reset for the journey back down through the Relinchos Valley and Vacas Valley and into the comforts at Pampas de Leñas at 9582’ in total a 19 mile hike. Along the way, we saw a heard of Guanacos, a quick glimpse of the infamous poisonous tailed mouse, stopped by this mysterious spring coming out from the side of the mountain, and was able to cool down at the Fountain of Youth. A much needed reset and everyone, seems to have knocked off a couple years as the youth came out in everyone with lots of laughter and a nice reset! After the 7.5 hour trek, we as a team celebrated with cervesas, fresh fruit, juices, and a delicious BBQ to replenish the calories we consumed during the grind through group suffering. The group ended the night discussing how to properly eat hotdogs, the origins of a sandwich, and many other important topics that makes the world turn.
Time for more Andes Origen Rubia cervesas and celebrating the successful trip as well as reminiscing on what this journey meant to each one of use. It sure has been memorable and one for the books! One more four hour leg back to Los Penitentes and our expedition will come to and end when we arrive back to Mendoza, Argentina.
Back to a mad game of Farkle and hopefully a first win for me.
RMI Guide Dominic Cifelli & Team
Comments (1)
Love you Dom. Great journey. Please continue to keep yourself and the entire team safe as you return. Proud of you, Uncle Arty
Posted by: Arthur J Cifelli on