- Return to Pampa de Leñas -

Me, Daniel, and Pumps when we ran into Daniel on our way back to Pampa de Leñas.

Journal:

"January 26, 2000 - Day 15 - Descent to Pampa de Leñas - The next morning we were up by 8am - surprising when you think of people's conditions the night before and how altitude enhances the effects of alcohol.
    Since the mules would be taking our heavier gear today, packing was faster, and so were we.  We left our duffels in a pile for the mule team, threw on light day packs and started shooting down the mountain.  We were motivated by two things: 1) to get off the *?!/ mountain, and 2) to out pace the clouds that were starting to spill over into the valley.
    We made quick work (3 hours) of the Relincho Valley, though the stream was higher and the crossings therefore harder. [Along the way we ran into Daniel who was heading back up to Base Camp.  Pumps and I took a quick photo with him and Pumps gave him a new baseball cap - which Daniel put on in place of his own immediately] When we reached Casa Piedra - where we had first seen Aconcagua from our camp site - we turned and saw that Base Camp and everything above it was completely clouded in - Camp 2 was probably getting snow!
    We switched into our sandals and made the crossing of the Vaca River - which was also higher with a swifter current.
    After a 20 minute break we were off again.  The group had been moving very quickly, but now Pumps was starting to have problems with his feet that slowed him down significantly.  I chose to hang back with him (as he did  for me when we were higher up and I was having difficulty) and we worked our way toward Pampa de Leñas.
    The overcast sky provided some heat relief, and only a few drops of rain occurred.
    After 7 hours of hiking we made it to Pampa de Leñas, but still on the other side of the river from camp.  Without mules it would be a very wet and dangerous crossing - and we had nothing to change into since the mules were carrying it all.  So we played cards until Juan arrived with the mules and helped us with the crossing.
    We got the tents set up just before some rain came down, had dinner, and went to sleep.
    For my dinner I had some spaghetti and meatballs that my friends at Achex had given me as a send-off gift - it was a refreshing (and tasty) change in food."

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