Aconcagua Expedition: Wedel & Team Carry to Camp 2
Hello dear readers,
As I lay down in my tent after another eventful day on Aconcagua, I can hear what sounds like a freight train. And as I type that, the sides of the tent bend into my face as that freight train reaches camp — in the form of 40+ mph winds.
This has become a fairly normal occurrence for the 2026 Aconcagua season.
Here’s what you need to know. Today we carried loads up and up a traverse we’ve been staring at since the first time we saw Aconcagua nearly a week ago. Near the top, we stopped, pulled on our hard shells, and braced ourselves. We knew we were about to get blasted as we crossed the Ameghino Col.
We were right.
Huge gusts ripping through. A brief moment of calm, then another hit. And another. We kept moving. Sometimes stopping to brace. Short breaks. Then back to it.
Before long, we dropped into Camp 2 — snow spinning off the ridgelines, winds strong enough to knock you off balance if you weren’t paying attention. We dove into the dome tent as fast as possible, grateful for even a small reprieve.
There’s plenty more wind in the forecast, but there’s also still hope. If we keep doing the right things, day after day, we may earn a chance at the top. For now, we stay right here in the moment.
Tomorrow we move to Camp 2. Hopefully with less wind. But either way — we’re ready. We’re ready.
I’m beyond proud of this team for charging hard, staying mentally and physically strong, and still laughing with me along the way.
RMI Guide Jess Wedel
P.S. did you figure out who Lady Whistledown was? That’s a secret I’ll never tell. ��
