Much talked about landslides have been efficiently cleared by the Argentine authorities and we are now on our way to the Horcones Gate. I forgot how vivid the landscape colours are around here with lapis high skies and ochre rocks.
Ossy and I spent a few hours in Fernando Grajales warehouse doing expedition packing. Fernando, the late patriarch of the family and a formidable high altitude climber in his age, has set up an indispensable operation of getting expeditions supplied with mules and basecamp support.
In the blue box that I was packing, Ossy put in a lot of treats that I know my 6-year old would die for 🙂 and so may I on the n-th hour of the summit day.
It’s lovely to be back here and run into old friends and experienced expedition leaders. I stopped in Uspallata on my way here to give a hug to Shinji Tamura, my guide on Manaslu, from whom I learnt so much, not least the importance of being patient. Last night in Mendoza we had a dinner with Gareth Madison, one of the few successful commercial operators on K2. We talked Nepalese politics, Everest and this obsessive love for all things mountains with all share.
Today, it is a breezy two hour walk to the Confluenzia camp followed tomorrow by ascent to the Mulas Base Camp with, hopefully a summit over the weekend. But I will listen to my body and let it take time to adjust longer if necessary.
Have a good day, everyone!
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