Next day we continued along a monotonous track going up a very wide U-shaped Horcones Valley, now and then hopping over the river. The weather was (unlike so far) rather shabby, there was some pretty cold wind and a bit snowing from time to time. Just before the last steep ascent a thunderstorm caught up on us and the last piece was done in a nasty blizzard. Still, late afternoon we managed to check in at Plaza de Mulas (4350 m a.s.l.).

Now there were two days in the base camp awaiting us. We ate, drank much water (suggested consumption 4-5 litres daily), played bridge. We also all visited the doctor (whose services are granted by the Park free of charge) in order to check how we acclimatise. Our blood saturation results were quite various, from 85 per cent (very good, almost ready to try at the summit) to 72 per cent (poor, much rest suggested). In the evening of the second day off a piece of bad news came. In two days a serious weather breakdown was expected – minus 40ºC up on 6000 metres above and a wind of 150 kms per hour. Therefore on the following day we would walk to acclimatise to Nido de Condores (“Condor’s Nest”, second camp, ca. 5500 a.s.l.).

Cerro Cuerno - one of the most spectacular peaks around		"Los penitentes"
West face of Aconcagua viewed from Plaza de Mulas		South-west ridge viewed from Horcones Valley