Medoza - Acongagua

We wanted to spend a day driving up the Andes to the Chilean border which we had been told had stunning scenery.  Originally, we intended to hire a car, but on comparing cost and risk factors, decided to take a car and driver, also that way we both got to really enjoy the views.

It’s a long way – 80K to the foothills alone, then through the pre-Andes, the mid-Andes, then finally the real thing.  We were not ill-advised; the scenery was magnificent right from the foothills up to our goal, the mighty Aconcagua, the tallest peak in the world outside the Himalayas.

We stopped a couple of times on the way up, to break the long drive, once at a pretty little stone bridge said to have been laid by the national hero and liberator  Las Heras in the 1800s, and at the Bridge of the Incas, an amazing natural bridge made of sulphur and thus bright orange and yellow.  A hotel built many years ago with thermal hot spas was demolished in an avalanche  but the bridge and therapy rooms survived – look more like prison cells!-  though they too are now getting ensulphured:

The craft stalls at the Inca bridge were great, but we were keen to press on to the mountain, so I made sure the driver and Mick would let me stop there again on the way back for a bit of a browse!

These are random articles that have been left under the dripping sulphurous waters until they become petrified in sulphur – boots, bottles, all sorts. Didn’t feel the need to bring one home!

We were lucky again to have a perfectly clear day, as often the top of the pass is in the clouds. We arrived at the National Park entrance to Aconcagua  and found ourselves amongst lots of very earnest mountaineers with all the gear, making us feel a little inadequate with our basic trainers and day packs!   There’s a short day-trippers’ circular track which was very pretty and takes you to the best view of the summit; we went on a bit but didn’t make Base-camp One as we didn’t want the driver to get anxious!  We were very aware of the altitude of about 10,000 feet – the summit is 23,000 feet, so a bit of a way to go!! – and it certainly got our pulse rates up! The climbers have to stay for a week at camp 3 or 4 before attempting the final haul. 

One chap we passed on the way back was almost on his knees with exhaustion, I didn’t like to ask if he’d made the top! It was a splendid and memorable hike: