Aconcagua Expedition: Wedel & Team Start the Trek to Base Camp
Mendoza → Penitentes → Pampa de Leñas
Today was our official launch into expedition mode.
We left Mendoza and headed up into the mountains toward Penitentes — where we packed, sorted, weighed our bags for the mules, and had that classic moment of “how is this possibly all my stuff?”
Then… plot twist.
The road was shut down.
For a brief moment it looked like the expedition might end before it even began, but Carlos the Great (our driver, legend, problem-solver) worked his magic and somehow snuck us through. Expeditions never start without a little hoopla.
From there: boots on, packs up, and we hit the trail. Officially beginning our ~30 mile journey toward base camp.
Carlos sent us off properly with some rock and roll. Song of the day: Hard as a Rock by AC/DC (I told you he was a legend).
We rolled into Pampa de Leñas after a lovely cloudy walk. It lightly rained here and there. That combined with a slight breeze kept us feeling cool and happy. Spirits are high and the Andes are already delivering.
Drop a song in the comments for tomorrow’s walk — we need all the beats we can get.
RMI Guide Jess Wedel and the Aconagua team
