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Aconcagua - Base Camp to Camp 2

Written by Katie Ayres, February 2022

Yesterday (1 February) the team undertook the mammoth acclimatisation hike from Base Camp (4,300m) to Camp 2 (5,500m) via Camp 1 (4,800m). This is billed as the 'second hardest' day of the expedition, and it did not disappoint.

The team set off from Base Camp at 6.45am in freezing conditions but soon warmed up slogging up the steep scree slopes to Camp 1. Having done this hike before it was a much nicer experience this time: following the metronomic pace of our guide Lucas, plus actually being able to breathe and take in the views helped, as did our packs being significantly lighter.

Our increased confidence was soon obliterated leaving Camp 1. After a gentle traverse, what looked like a fairly innocuous slope up to the saddle through which we would find Camp 2 turned out to be a hellhole of steep zigzags. With few landmarks to break up this bleak wide slope, each rest stop (taken hourly) looked demoralisingly close to the previous stop and the ridge of the saddle above us remained stubbornly out of reach. Fortunately Betty - another one of our guides - led us at a much-needed gentle pace and kept up the encouragement. The start of a snowstorm didn't help matters but group morale remained stubbornly high. In fact, what made the whole experience bearable (verging on fun(?!) at times) was doing this as part of such a great group of people. The team moved well together and offered support to each other when the going got tough.

We eventually rolled into Camp 2 some 8 hours after setting out from Base Camp. Contrary to the perceived wisdom that all other groups on the mountain are to be shunned and hated, a kindly group of Americans immediately evacuated the dome for us to take a rest. The group had a short collapse - with a few headaches given the 5,500m altitude - and some well-deserved calories. After dropping off the team kit (never has 5kg felt so heavy) it was time to turn around and get down the hill, fast.

Goggles and many layers on, we started hurtling down the hill in the snowstorm attempting to keep up with Lucas. Thank god for no wind! Horizontal snow and steamy goggles made visibility somewhat challenging, but after 3 hours we found ourselves warming up inside the dome at Base Camp with as many pizzas as we could eat. The food has been absolutely excellent throughout, although a slight correction to the previous blog - the apple pie recipe was from Scotland, as Scottish Mark would like to clarify.

This was absolutely a hard, hard day in hard conditions too, but was made possible, and dare we say enjoyable(?) by the unswerving positivity of the group. The reality of summit day is dawning, but thankfully we have today as a rest day - so last showers, washing and enjoying the sun before the ascent begins for real tomorrow. Please note the team will be 'off the grid' for the next 6 days!

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